News
Rains stir hope, then betray power-cut-hit Lanka
Weather gods have not been much of a help to overcome the present power crisis as the rains that stirred much hope earlier this week gradually decreased, with some reservoirs receiving zero rainfall on Friday.
“We expected the rains to continue, especially in the catchment areas. A few days of rain increased the power generation from 20 to 30 percent,” said Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) spokesperson and Additional General Manager Andrew Navamani. He said only heavy rains in the catchment areas could reduce the current power cuts while the country faced a fuel crisis.
The sluice gates of the Thabbowa Resevoir were opened Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
With reduced rainfall, daily hydropower electricity generation was limited to 21 percent (6.18 GWh) on Thursday. The coal power still remains the biggest source of power generation. It accounts for 52.1 percent of the total generation.
Hydro catchment areas need heavy rains of 100-150mm continuously for several days for hydropower generation to increase, according to Meteorology Department Director-General Athula Karunanayake.
“Earlier this week, an atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka resulted in heavy rains. But that was limited. The present inter-monsoon season will bring scattered rains lasting an hour or less with thunder and lightning. Unless there are atmospheric disturbances in the Bay of Bengal or deep seas, there won’t be heavy rains till the onset of the southwest monsoon in the last weeks of May, he said.
Hydro catchment areas continue to receive meagre rainfall with Victoria receiving 1 2mm of rain, Randenigala about 4.3 mm, Rantambe 4.3 mm, Samanalawewa 4 mm and many other reservoirs receiving zero rainfall on Friday.
Meanwhile, the people who were given a three-day break from power cuts during the National New Year once again experienced power cuts yesterday. The Public Utilities Commission said there would be two hours and 15-minute power cuts between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. today. 
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