CEB: Suspending power cuts in view of GCE A/L exam not possible

By Ifham Nizam

Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman (CEB) Nalinda Illangakoon has informed the electricity sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), that the CEB is not in a position to maintain a continuous power supply for the benefit of the students sitting the GCE A/L examination, which commences today.

The CEB chief has said that to suspend interruptions to the power supply during time frames of Options 1 and 2, thermal plants of both the CEB and Independent Power Plants (IPP), will have to be utilised more.

He has also said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation is not providing credit facilities to the CEB for this.

“The CEB is facing severe cash flow issues,” he said.

People’s Bank or other banks refuses to extend credit facilities to the CEB as it does not consider the CEB capable of paying back loans without a tariff increase,” he added.

The PUCS has approved power cuts of two hours and 20 minutes for today (23).Accordingly, power will be interrupted for one hour during the daytime and one hour and 20 minutes during the night for Groups A – L and Groups P – W.The power cut schedule has been announced despite the PUCSL’s decision to suspend power interruptions after 07:00 p.m. in view of the GCE A/L examination.