Handunnetti requests minister not to make emergency power purchases

27 February 2020 09:05 pm - 4 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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COPE Chairman and JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti today requested Power and Energy Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage not to resort to any emergency power purchases claiming that it was a huge loss to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

He said emergency power purchase had been done since 2010 and that CEB had incurred a loss of Rs.70,000 million only during 2017 and 2018 due to such purchases as revealed by the COPE report.

He said the Treasury had provided a loan of Rs. 29 billion to the CEB during that period and that most of those funds had been used for emergency power purchase.

“Power and Energy Minister Aluthgamage raised objections when the previous government made emergency power purchase. Now he can stop it as the subject minister. The Diesel power generating companies are behind this scam and those who are operating these companies are former CEB employees,” he said adding those were the people behind the moves to obstruct solar power generation.

Mr. Handunnetti said CEB was carrying out uninformed power cuts to convince the people of the need to make emergency power purchase and justify it. (Ajith Siriwardana)

Comments - 4

iwathu Friday, 28 February 2020 04:49 AM

Good move Mr handun

Ralahamy Friday, 28 February 2020 07:10 AM

This is a free economy, where every one is making money. You must be happy that men with imagination and entrepreneurship are making use of the situation, to join the wealthy club. What is wrong if the Minister joins them, because there is no alternative.

JeffK Friday, 28 February 2020 07:11 AM

Only way to stop emergency power purchases is to build two over 300MW power plants. That is at-least 3 years away. Or probably JVP wants power cuts so they can claim that capitalism has failed so let's march towards communism.

Jayantha Ranatunga Friday, 28 February 2020 07:26 AM

We all know that emergency power is costly and should be avoided as much as possible. The sad fact is we are driven to this situation due to postponement of base load power plants by various sectors of the country who were sabotaging those projects by falls promises of solar and wind coming to rescue.

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Handunnetti requests minister not to make emergency power purchases

Comments - 4

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