Nandana Udayakumara, Vice President of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Technical Engineers and Superintendents Association, has raised serious allegations against what he calls an “electricity mafia” within the board, accusing them of exacerbating the current power crisis in Sri Lanka. Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo, Udayakumara revealed that the CEB has been purchasing electricity from private power plants at a time when there are ample coal reserves in the country and hydropower resources are underutilized.
According to Udayakumara, the Norochcholai Thermal Power Plant, which has the capacity to meet a significant portion of the country’s electricity demand, is not operating at full capacity. He claims this is a deliberate tactic by certain officials to create a market for private power suppliers, who are allegedly benefitting from the increased demand for electricity. He referred to this practice as part of a long-standing issue with corruption and mismanagement within the board, which he dubbed the “electricity mafia.”
Udayakumara further explained that this manipulation of the energy sector has contributed to the rising electricity tariffs, as the CEB is forced to pay inflated prices to private power plants, even when public resources remain underused. He stressed that this practice is a waste of public funds and has long-term negative effects on the country’s financial stability.
He also warned that if this trend continues, the CEB may face a severe financial crisis. Udayakumara highlighted that the CEB is currently running low on funds, which may lead to an inability to purchase power during the dry season expected in February and March 2024. He suggested that, as a result, the country could face prolonged power outages of four to five hours a day, reminiscent of the severe power cuts Sri Lankans experienced earlier this year.
The engineer’s statements have sparked concerns about transparency, governance, and accountability within the CEB, and raised questions about the role of private power companies in Sri Lanka’s energy sector. Udayakumara called for immediate reforms within the board and stressed the need for better utilization of the country’s energy resources to prevent further disruptions.
