A new power plant to be constructed every 2 years : State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage

Colombo (News 1st): State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage expressed the following views with regard to the government's future power generation plans, during a media briefing today (Jan 29).

"The Ministry of Power has no plan to amend the act to construct power plants in the country. We will only follow our long term power generation plan. Some are trying to make this country a coal power hub. We have not taken such a decision. We will prepare a power generation plan for 20 years that will be reviewed every 2 years. Accordingly, every two years, a new power plant will be constructed. During the period between 2014 and 2020, no power plant was constructed in Sri Lanka. Because the former government failed to construct power plants as per the long term power generation plan, the government was compelled to suffer a loss of Rs 604 billion, on behalf of the CEB. Former minister of power and former secretary to the ministry Batagoda are clearly responsible for this. If these power plants were constructed on a timely basis as per the long term power generation plan, by now 800 megawatts of power could have been added to the national grid. The UNP halted the construction of all power plants due to be constructed under the long term power generation plan. Former minister Karunanayaka and former secretary Batagoda executed a plan to purchase power at a higher cost. Several ministers of the previous government had brought many personal projects to the CEB. Former minister Champika Ranawaka, Malik Samarawickreme, Ravi Karunanayaka, and Sagala Rathnayaka are among them. In another two months, we could commence the construction of power plants."

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake making a comment regarding this requested everyone to refrain from pointing fingers at others for their inabilities. Did he question as to why Ranjith Siyambalapitiya is not being questioned about this? He stressed that Siyambalapitiya has served the ministry for 6 years. He went onto note:

"Ask anyone at the ministry about the change I initiated at the ministry during the 11 months I served as the minister. We minimized waste and worked towards streamlining processes in the right direction. As I am aware of this subject, I met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 4 weeks ago. I warned him, that if the CEB continues in such a manner, Sri Lanka will face a power crisis in another three months. I also told him that we as the UNP will extend our fullest support in this regard. There are several issues in the administration of the CEB. This is the reason for all problems."