News

More power cuts ahead? – CEB to decide today

Published

1 month ago

February 10, 2025

editor

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is expected to decide today (10) whether power cuts will be required to be imposed as the Norochcholai coal power plant remains disconnected from the national grid.

A special discussion regarding the situation is scheduled to take place today, as authorities assess the electricity supply following the island-wide power outage that occurred yesterday (09) at approximately 11.15 a.m. The disruption was linked to an incident at the Panadura grid substation.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody attributed the outage to an accident caused by a monkey entering the substation. However, the CEB explained that the incident led to an imbalance in the power system, triggering the widespread blackout.

Efforts were made to restore power, but the process was hindered due to low electricity demand on Sunday. While the CEB had fully restored power by 6.00 p.m., all three generators at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant were automatically disconnected due to the activation of its protocol system.

This shutdown resulted in a loss of 900 megawatts to the national grid. As electricity demand increased after 6.00 p.m., several areas experienced power outages. To counteract the shortfall, the CEB obtained electricity from thermal power plants, ultimately restoring power across the island by 9.45 p.m.

Despite these efforts, the CEB has stated that it will take approximately four days to restart the three generators at the Norochcholai plant. Today’s meeting will focus on strategies to manage the electricity demand and avoid power cuts during this period.

Meanwhile, Minister Jayakody issued a press release addressing the power outage, stating that the absence of a proper system to balance the national power supply was a result of past government policies. The statement further criticized previous administrations for implementing unplanned and short-sighted energy programs, which, according to the ministry, contributed to the recent disruption.
(adaderana.lk)
(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Misuse of plantation funds and lands exposed in parliament

Published

2 hours ago

March 15, 2025

editor

Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna, addressed Parliament, alleging that numerous associates and officials, including former ministers, have recently received substantial sums of money and government lands under the pretext of various cultivation projects, which were subsequently not implemented. He announced that investigations will be initiated into these matters.

Minister Vidyarathna accused former Minister Salinda Dissanayake of acquiring 76 acres of fertile land from the Kurunegala Plantation Company through a company he personally established.

Additionally, he claimed that a friend of former Minister Arundika Fernando was allocated 21 acres of fertile land belonging to the same company, misrepresented as barren land, with the transaction allegedly authorized by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister further alleged that Anoma Gamage, wife of former Primary Industries Minister Daya Gamage, received 140 million rupees purportedly for an agricultural project, which was never executed.

These allegations were presented during the debate on the expenditure head of the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure.

He also stated that former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda was granted 180 million rupees for a cultivation project, and that 82 million rupees were given to the son of former Ministry Secretary Bandula Wickramarachchi for a similar initiative.