Jathika Jana Balawega MP Lakmali Hemachandra has attributed Sri Lanka’s ongoing power crisis to a decade-long failure to invest in new power plants. Speaking during a program on Swarnavahini, Hemachandra criticized the lack of forward planning and alleged that electricity bills have been misused for political gain, further exacerbating the issue.
She highlighted that under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration, electricity tariffs surged by 400%, creating significant challenges for the country’s industries. Hemachandra stressed that this steep hike has compounded the difficulties in maintaining industrial operations amid the energy shortfall.
In response, MP D.V. Chanaka pointed to the controversial Uma Oya Power Plant project, claiming it was halted by the JVP in collaboration with the good governance government. He argued that this decision resulted in a loss of $400 million for the country. Chanaka added that despite initial fears that the project would cause Badulla and Bandarawela to sink, the power plant was successfully completed under former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, with no such incidents occurring in those cities.
The exchange reflects the broader debate over energy policies, with calls for immediate investments in sustainable power solutions to address the growing energy demands and prevent future crises.
