PM pledges power-ful steps to prevent blackouts

14 March 2016 07:38 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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While expressing his regrets over the islandwide blackout experienced on Sunday and the interruptions in some places today, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government will take short and mid term solutions to prevent similar interruptions in the future through necessary reforms, reorganization and restructuring in the power sector.

“I on behalf of the country convey my regrets to the people over the blackout on Sunday which paralyzed day to day life. This is the third time a blackout was experienced within a short space of time and is a serious situation and cannot be forgiven any longer,” the Prime Minister said in a statement yesterday.

“We were elected to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Accordingly we will put into place midterm and short term steps to ensure that there is an uninterrupted power supply and will take steps to introduce reforms, reorganization measure and restructuring in the power sector,” he said in his statement.

He said the absence of a plan to face future challenges had led to the blackout. The Prime Minister said such a plan would be drawn shortly with the assistance of local and foreign experts
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered the officials of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers to submit a report on the steps they intend to take in order to avoid future power interruptions in a week.

He had given this order when he met the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranjith Siyambalapitiya , Deputy Minister Ajith P Perera and CEB officials including engineers.

He said the investigations would be carried out to determine as to who was responsible for the power failure.

Meanwhile, the Premier ordered officials of Power and Renewable Energy Ministry and the Ceylon Electricity Board( CEB) officials earlier to come up with midterm and short terrm plans within a week, to prevent islandwide blackouts.

Accordingly the Minister of Power and Renewable Energy Ranjith Siyambalapiya, Deputy Minister Ajith P Perera and CEB officials will meet next Monday to decide on measures to prevent further power interruptions. Minister Siyambalapitiya is to make a special statement in Parliament on the matter on March 23. (Yohan Perera)

Comments - 8

onlooker Tuesday, 15 March 2016 07:02 AM

Talk talk , no action

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cheers Tuesday, 15 March 2016 07:36 AM

You and your henchman have dragged sri lanka in to dark with no prosperity or development and your future will be also bleak

1 3

Missaka Tuesday, 15 March 2016 07:38 AM

Never experienced any blackout during MR regime. Why did we scrapped agreements with small private sector power suppliers to CECB, which could have prevented such situation if they were kept ready and going.

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kaboos Tuesday, 15 March 2016 08:09 AM

your apologies are accepted. We are with you.

3 0

RANIL Tuesday, 15 March 2016 11:33 AM

You failed again!

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Vijay Tuesday, 15 March 2016 01:51 PM

Mr. Prime Minister, we are very much disillusioned about the conduct of your government. Besides the cost of living we are also being burdened by the frequent power cuts.

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Nalaka Tuesday, 15 March 2016 01:57 PM

You promised 50 thousand employment opportunities and our excellency the President is globe trotting limiting himself only for photo opportunities with world leaders there is nothing tangible being felt by the masses except for the fabulous power cuts which your government had gifted us with. We can no longer believe in your assurances.

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Ravi Wednesday, 16 March 2016 09:52 AM

It's all over! Time to go home.

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