Champika confesses

The Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka has had to explain to the country regarding the breakdown of ‘Lakvijaya’ power station and power cuts being carried out at present.

For the first time Minister Ranawaka admits that the state of Lakvijaya Coal Power station in Puttalam is not satisfactory. He has said the power station has three errors from its construction.

The Minister says, “We cannot be satisfied with the power house from its construction. The power house was not constructed at the correct place, at the correct time and not with proper technology. The power house that was to be built in 1997 was one with international standards. However, we were unable to get this technology. It is the Chinese Government that provided us with technology for the power house. However, the necessary technological standards have not been completed.”

Speaking further the Minister says, “This power house is very important specially at a time like this. Without this power house we are unable to give electricity all 24 hours of the day when we are unable to generate hydro power.”

He said, “The power house broke down as it had to work continuously and also owing to a failure in the main transmission line from Lakvijaya Power Plant to Weyangoda. We would take all measures to restore power generation at the plant as soon as possible,” and added that, “This is not an issue that could be resolved by blaming one or two individuals.”

Lakvijaya Power Plant that was declared open in March, 2011 has been inoperative for 135 days on three occasions.