Power cuts sheer mismanagement by Govt., says MR

Opposition Leader and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday blamed the crippling power cuts to sheer mismanagement by the Government and failure to develop new electricity generation.

“The power crisis, which affects the ordinary public and the small and medium and micro sectors most, is due to sheer mismanagement on the part of the Government and lack of planning. This Government also hasn’t added an additional new megawatt for the past four years,” charged Rajapaksa. 

His outburst was during a breakfast meeting with editors of English and Tamil media yesterday. 

Joining Rajapaksa, MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage alleged that the current power crisis was an “organised” one for power mafia and a supportive Minister and a Secretary to profit from resorting to emergency power. 

“During our regime, we had new generation plans, including Sampur Coal Power plant and a LNG project. But this Government cancelled both whilst re-tendering on LNG with vested interests,” the MP claimed. He said that the Government which refused to pay Rs. 17 per unit for additional power from Kerawalapitiya is now going to pay Rs. 35 per unit from barge-mounted emergency power.  They schemed to time the power cuts ahead of the Avurudu so there is a valid case to resort to expensive emergency power and profit in the process,” Aluthgamage charged.  

He also said that the power crisis was a creation by unscrupulous officials whilst proposals amounting to 100 MW by the renewable industry had been overlooked or delayed.