The opposition says the Ceylon Electricity Board should be fully restructured.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Parliamentarian Niroshan Perera said he is of the view that the CEB must be reorganized to end the electricity monopoly.
MP Perera noted that the citizens, industries or the country’s economy did not benefit from the current electricity monopoly.
He said if the CEB was functioning to the optimum level, then the country would have progressed.
MP Niroshan Perera stressed that some officials have even acted above politicians at times and prevented people from receiving low-cost electricity.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Parliamentarian Madhura Withanage accused certain Ceylon Electricity Board engineers of sabotaging renewable energy generation projects on a regular basis for personal gains.
Speaking in Parliament, MP Withanage said although the country has abundance of sunlight and wind power, some CEB engineers are not in favour of initiating low-cost renewable energy projects.
He said some officials are keen on purchasing electricity through tenders from diesel powered or coal powered power plants.
MP Madhura Withanage said it is common knowledge that such purchases are beneficial for individuals and not for the country.
The Parliamentarian said although the country has sunshine around the year, the public has been experiencing 13-hour power cuts which is unacceptable.
He said some officials and engineers are still pushing for high-priced spot purchasing during the current climate where the public cannot afford basics.
Former Minister Ali Sabry says certain individuals are discouraging foreign investors by making false assertions. MP Sabry said the country and the people must think anew to rebuild the nation.
He said during the past 14 years, SriLankan Airlines was Rs.572 Billion in debt and the poor Sri Lankans had to contribute to repay it.
MP Ali Sabry said certain factions are continuing their fear mongering tactics now regarding the Adani Group and Indian investments.
MP Sabry noted that investors should be welcomed with open arms.
He said large-scale investors will not come to a country to merely produce 10 to 100MW of power.
The Parliamentarian noted India is a rapidly developing country and investors are arriving in the country in a bid to produce electricity domestically and sell it to the Indian market.
He said Sri Lanka had potential of producing 15,000MW of power in recent years through wind and hydro and yet no one capitalized on it.
MP Ali Sabry said when wind is flowing freely around the country and if investors are willing to make use of it, it should be encouraged.
MP Ali Sabry said some investors are keen on providing low-cost electricity to locals and then export the rest which will also generate much needed foreign exchange.
The Parliamentarian questioned as to how the country can be built and Sri Lankans can progress if people continue to sabotage all new initiatives.
