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Business interests prevent CEB system control post from being filled
View(s):By Niranjala Ariyawansha
The failure to appoint a permanent official to one of most crucial position of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Additional General Manager (AGM)-transmission (non-wired), due to the business interests of few individuals allied to the government, has created a critical predicament, as reported to The Sunday Times.
Highly placed internal sources of CEB said that although the sudden power outage that occurred across the country on February 9 was due to technical reasons, the lack of a permanent official responsible for the AGM-transmission (non-wired) directly affected its control.
System planning, system control and large-scale transactions of thermal and renewable energy power purchasing responsibilities are included in the AGM- transmission (non-wired) role, and this position has has faced extremely serious political intervention under the previous government.
A senior official of CEB, who requested anonymity, said that the previous government’s Minister of Power and Energy took steps to implement certain projects by removing qualified, highly competent officials who could make stern decisions, and appointing politically motivated officials.
“The previous government worked through such officials to include the controversial Adani, Poonakarin and Oddamawadi projects in the generation plans. Even under this government, the CEB management is refraining from appointing a permanent officer to the post of AGM-transmission (non-wired) at the behest of several external and internal corrupt officials who are seriously interfering in to CEB,” the official said.
Instead, he said, an acting AGM, who has been busy in another department, had been appointed to oversee the work on this turf for the past few years.
“The AGM-transmission (non-wired) is responsible for directly supervising the system control of CEB. This officer is responsible for taking immediate action in the event of a total failure in the national grid. A very capable senior officer in CEB is appointed to that position. This position is second only to the general manager. Although the responsible officers have informed the administration on several occasions that serious problems may arise due to the non-appointment of a permanent officer to that position, the administration has remained silent to this day,” he said.
Accordingly, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) in charge of System Control, Buddhika Sumanasekara, had informed authorities in writing on November 12 of last year under the heading ‘Immediate mitigatory actions to be taken to improve system demand and system stability during weekends and holidays with high NCRE penetration to the system’.
The letter, seen by The Sunday Times, states: “This is to bring to your attention a matter of significant importance regarding the stability and reliability of the Sri Lankan power system, especially considering the rapid increase in rooftop solar plant installations and other inverter based NCRE plants.”
Before that, on several occasions, including June 7, June 19, June 26 and July 31, 2024, the DGM had issued written warnings to the authorities.
According to the above official, interviews were held for several other AGM posts that were vacant about a month ago and all those vacancies have now been filled.
“But even though there are qualified officers, only the highest and most important post of AGM-transmission (non wired) is vacant. The board of directors does not give any reason as to why a permanent officer is not being appointed to the post,” he said.
When we asked, the Chairman of CEB, Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, said that he was unable to an answer on this issue and suggested referring it to the energy minister.
Although many attempts were made to contact the Minister of Power and Energy, Kumara Jayakody, he did not answer the phone.
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