Only 2 diesel generators working out of 50 purchased under emergency power agreement

Only two out of 50 diesel generators purchased under an emergency power purchase agreement are currently operational, Parliament was told today.

By Sandun Jayawardana
United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Parliament that though the generators had been installed at Thulhiriya, Kolonnawa and Matugama, only two were currently in working order, though millions of rupees had been used to purchase them.

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Dr Nalinda Jayathissa too exposed that the deal to purchase the generators had been plagued by serious tender malpractices. The generators had been brought into the country in December, last year. Each generator had to be stored inside a 20 foot container. In addition, there were other facilities that were needed for the generator to function, including a cooling unit, diesel stock tank and a setup transformer.

The tender had not been awarded to the bidder recommended by the Technical Evaluation Committee, resulting in court action being filed.

While diesel stock tanks were needed for each of the 50 generators, only 25 had been imported, he further revealed.

Moreover, the generators were later found to be unsuitable for function in Sri Lanka and many had stopped by late January, Dr Jayathissa stressed.

Dr Jayathissa said CEB and Ministry officials were directly responsible for the fraud. “A former CEB general manager, a former additional general manager and the ministry secretary are responsible,” he alleged. 

United National Party (UNP) MP S.M. Marikkar urged Parliament's Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to conduct an inquiry into the allegations that only two out of the 50 diesel generators are working, and to summon the officials concerned.