Showers of blessings, but blackout for the people - Editorial

26 June 2013 05:07 am - 1 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

In the afterglow of Poson—the day on which Arahat Mahinda brought the hallowed dhamma of the Enlightened One to Sri Lanka and changed the history, civilisation and culture of this country—it is tragic or horrifying to see millions of people groping in the dark or being kept in the dark on the vital issue of electricity generation and why their monthly bills have gone up to shocking level.

"three private companies owned by three powerful businessmen are trying to make tens of millions of rupees from thermal power generation"

The root cause for this and other crises is the breakdown of democratic principles such as good governance, accountability, transparency, checks and balances.

For the past few months the Rajapaksa regime, the Ceylon Electricity Board and an alleged mafia comprising three private companies connected to the CEB appear to have being playing double or treble games with all sorts of cross currents and undercurrents with wires crossed here, there and almost everywhere.

With heavy monsoon rains continuing for the past few weeks the Victoria and Kukuleganga reservoirs are overflowing and the spill gates have been opened. Normally this is peak time for hydro-power generation which costs much less than thermal power. And therefore the monthly electricity bills of millions of people could have been reduced. But the Electrical Engineers Association President, Nandika Pathirage said recently the operation of the Kukuleganga Power Station had been suspended due to a defect in one of its turbines.

The Victoria reservoir also reached its spill level after heavy rains during the past few weeks but strangely one of the three turbines of the Victoria reservoir also was switched off for what engineers claimed was a sudden repair. Following this the National Grid has lost 70 mega watts.

National Electricity Consumers Movement Secretary Bandula Chandrasekera said the Kukuleganga power plant also contributed 74 mega watts to the National Grid and due the nonuse of the two turbines, power had to be bought from the private operated Thermal Power Plants.

Opposition party leaders charged there was a mafia operating in the CEB and it was mainly responsible for the massive increase in electricity bills.

UNP parliamentarian and economist Dr. Harsha De Silva charged that the Rajapaksa regime and top CEB officials had created the mafia of three private companies in the CEB. Most independent observers believe these three private companies owned by three powerful businessmen are trying to make tens of millions of rupees from thermal power generation and therefore there is substantial validity to the allegations of some fowl play to sabotage the operations of the hydro-electric power plants.

Not only opposition leaders and electricity consumers even an outspoken government minister recently hit out at this mafia in the CEB. Minister and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa said if a few individuals were bribed they would release water from Victoria and other reservoirs, thereby creating a need for more thermal power generation which meant more profits for the private companies.

If the CEB uses more hydro electric power at a time when Sri Lanka is enjoying an abundance of rain and showers of blessings the so called fuel adjustment surcharge could also be reduced or removed thus further reducing the electricity bills and burdens on millions of suffering people. But the people are getting blackout blows with the process of lies, damn lies, statistics and deception continuing. If the Rajapaksa regime does not act honestly and act fast to defuse this crisis and give some releif to the people, then high tension is likely to build up and a powerful public explosion looms with no trip switch for the ruling elite.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 1

Jayantha Wednesday, 26 June 2013 05:47 AM

This issue was not highlighted clearly even in your Sinhala newspaper "Lankadeepa". This is a tragedy that we always experience, as larger section of the readers are deprived of these facts by Sinhala newspapers. Publishers seem to two sets of standards for different readers.
Jayantha

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Showers of blessings, but blackout for the people - Editorial

Comments - 1

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

Driving into Colombo’s money spinning car parks!

The runaway prophet?

Veil of uncertainty covering naked truth behind death of schoolgirl

Unwanted attention

Lurking predators make some temples unsafe for novice monks

Reforming abortion law in Sri Lanka

Discrepancies and doubts associated with WFP initiative

Most Viewed in News

Did you attend Natasha’s comedy show? Police will quiz you

Dasun Shanaka hasn’t lived up to even 1% of expectations in IPL, Virendar Sehwag says

State Minister Arundika intervenes to release Chinese passenger detained with forged passport

SL among 15 most miserable countries

Why is GR’s staff still heading a unit at President’s Office?

MP who smuggled gold leaves for Dubai

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Thief breaks into Sri Lankan temple in Adelaide

Govt. to get tough on those speaking against religions

Five detainees sit for GCE (OL) exam

Food security improves , but still 17 percent moderately insecure - WFP

MIRROR CRICKET

Dimuth recalled, Dushmantha returns for Sri Lanka’s ODI series against Afghanistan

Chennai Super Kings win fifth IPL title

Wins for CCC, Moors SC, Chilaw Marians, BRC and NCC

Nutritionist and psychologist hired for Sri Lanka team

World Rugby Investigation on Sri Lanka in July

Dimuth recalled, Dushmantha returns for Sri Lanka’s ODI series against Afghanistan

Chennai Super Kings win fifth IPL title

Dialog Sri Lanka Open Golf Championship tees off today