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Heat over CEB top seat as country faces worst-ever power crisis
View(s):Amidst one of Sri Lanka’s worst-ever power crises triggered by fuel shortages, insufficient capacity and repeated breakdowns at the Lakvijaya coal power plant, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is feuding over the post of General Manager (GM).
The spat erupted after Power and Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge extended by one year the term of M. R. Ranatunga, the former GM, via a letter dated November 16 last year. Mr Ranatunga turned 60 in January and the law mandates Ministerial approval for extension of the GM’s tenure.
A month later, on December 12, Minister Lokuge issued a letter reversing the extension. He gave no reason and Mr Ranatunga petitioned the Court of Appeal (CA). Meanwhile, another senior engineer D. C. R. Abeysekera was tipped to be General Manager and was cleared by the CEB Board. But this did not go through. Later, he too petitioned the CA–this time to prevent any possibility of Mr Ranatunga’s extension.
This week, the CA issued an interim order directing the CEB Board “not to appoint an GM, on permanent basis, upon the retirement of Eng. Ranatunga (which is due on 13.01.2022) until the date of the Argument of this case”.
“This interim order will not impede or obstruct the power of the Board of Directors of CEB to appoint a suitable person in terms of Section 5(1) of the CEB Act, on temporary basis, enabling such appointment to be made permanent by the said Board of Directors subject to the final determination of this case,” it said.
Consequently, the CEB appointed Susantha Perera, former Additional General Manager (Transmission)–who retired in November 2020–as acting GM. He assumed duties on Friday. But CEB engineers are deeply divided over the GM’s position with a breakaway faction of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) called the CEB Senior Engineers’ Association (CEBSEA) calling for Mr Ranatunga to be appointed Acting GM and the CEBEU opposing it.
Among other things, the CEBEU accuses Mr Ranatunga of backing the contested Yugadanavi deal which sees US-based New Fortress Energy buying shares of the power plant while also signing up to supply 10-years worth of LNG to the CEB.
The CEBEU backs Dr Abeysekera to the post of Acting GM and says “the bogus appointment being made by Chairman CEB is not acceptable” to them. “…members are hereby requested be vigilant and not to entertain Dr. M N Susantha Perera as the General Manager of CEB,” a forwarded message states.
| Be ready for daytime power cuts; CEB engineers warn Expect major daytime power cuts due to shortage of fuel and receding water levels in reservoirs, the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union has warned. People have been asked to be prepared for four hour power cuts daily. Union president Saumya Kumarawadu told the Sunday Times that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) only has 3000 Mt of diesel which would last for two to three days and furnace oil that will last for 22 days. He explained that after three days the CEB had to carry out power cuts and reduce the demand. If this was not done, the CEB would not be able to maintain stability in power distribution. He said they faced restrictions in using reservoir water to generate hydro power. The water in the reservoirs are mainly maintained for agriculture, drinking and environmental purposes while electricity is generated as a byproduct when the water is released. The union pointed out that delays in constructing approved power plants and cancellation of new power generation projects had left the country without alternative power plants which could have supplied power during breakdowns. | |
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