Sri Lanka ahead in rural electricity supply

Uditha Kumarasinghe

Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne said Sri Lanka is far ahead in the field of providing electricity to the rural people compared with other countries in the region. Of our total population, 80 percent have been provided with electricity. Minister Seneviratne in an interview with the Daily News expressed his views on the current political situation and developments that had taken place within the country’s power and energy sectors.

Q: What do you think of the great victory achieved by the Government to defeat terrorism in the North?

A: This is a great victory achieved by the country in our recent history. At present, the entire country is seen in a jubilant mood as the Government has completely rescued the country from the clutches of LTTE terrorism.

The LTTE was militarily defeated and the nation freed from three decades of LTTE terror due to great sacrifice made by our valiant soldiers in the battlefield.

Therefore, we should extend our gratitude to the President, Defence Secretary, Commanders of three Armed Forces and valiant soldiers towards the great attempts made to totally eradicate LTTE terrorism from Sri Lankan soil.

Our Armed Forces through their humanitarian mission has set an example to the entire world on how to defeat terrorism and rescue civilians from the clutches of the terrorists.

Q: According to you what kind of political solution should be introduced to address the problems of the Tamil community as terrorism has been eradicated completely?

A: It is quite clear that there should be a political solution. Unless there is a political solution that will satisfy the interests of those people and restore peace, terrorism might resurface.

We should not let it happen. If we have defeated terrorism in the war front then we must also defeat terrorism ideologically.

In order to do so there should be a process where their rights are ensured by way of democratic means. Then they will start thinking that they are also a part of the Sri Lankan nation.

Q: Can you comment on the progress of the power sector projects at present?

A: The Power and Energy Ministry has undertaken several power projects including the coal power plant in Norochcholai, hydro power plant in Upper Kotmale and Kerawalapitiya thermal power plant.

At present the Kerawalapitiya thermal power plant has been commissioned and work on the coal power plant in Norochcholai is also underway. I hope we can commission these two plants by the end of next year.

From the first stage of Norochcholai power plant, we hope to get 300MW of power. The second and third stage of this project is under discussion with a Chinese Bank.

At the same time, we are contemplating having another coal power plant in Trincomalee. At present the discussions are going on with the Indian Government because this is going to be a joint project with the Indian Government.

The Upper Kothmale hydro power plant is expected to be commissioned in 2011. At present the work relating to Upper Kothmale project is also in progress. I can say the work is very satisfactory and up to expectations.

Q: Have you explored the possibility of going for alternative power sources such as wind and solar power?

A: We have focused much attention on alternative power sector development which is known as renewable energy. We have also set up a separate authority to develop these alternative power sources. We have also issued several Letters of Intent(LOIs) to produce renewable energy. There seems to be much enthusiasm for the generation of wind power and we are giving every possible assistance to those who come forward with power sector development and other renewable energy development programs.

Q: What are the measures taken by the Ministry to provide electricity to the people in rural areas?

A: I think we are far ahead in the matter of providing electricity to rural people in Sri Lanka.

When we compare ourselves with other countries in the region, we are far ahead. Of our total population, 80 percent of the people has been provided with electricity which is mainly required for their domestic lighting.

Another rural electrification project is under discussion and it is going to be financed by the Iranian Government. We will be able to implement this project within four months.

Q: There is talk that the CEB is to be privatised. Is it true?

A: This is absolutely untrue. Because we never had the idea of privatising the CEB. We only want to reform the CEB.

The recent Act passed in Parliament intends to make the CEB more efficient. This reformation does not mean that the CEB will be split into several companies and it will be privatised thereafter.

This Government will never privatise any Government venture like the CEB. The CEB is one of the major Government ventures.

Q: Domestic electricity bills have risen by an unprecedented rate causing hardships both to ordinary consumers as well as industrialists. What is your answer to this?

A: When we talk about the tariff, I should say the CEB is still incurring losses. Because 65 percent of the electricity required by the CEB is generated out of fossil fuel. When prices of fossil fuel increased last year, the CEB had to incur huge losses in generating power.

Having incurred losses, the CEB had to sell electricity at very law rates. The Ministry of Power and Energy is very conscious of its social responsibilities. Therefore,the CEB did not get the opportunity to increase the tariff in keeping with the cost of production.

As a result the CEB is incurring a loss. When the public say that the tariff is more, unfortunately the CEB is unable to give it at a lesser tariff because the cost of production is high.

The only solution to this issue is to resort to power cuts for long hours a day like in the case of India, Bhutan or Nepal. But we don’t resort to power cuts. We have been providing electricity 24 hours a day. So in these circumstances, it is not possible for the CEB to provide electricity at a lower rate.