• Wants CCTV footage of Pelawatte System Control Centre and staff notebooks therein examined for dereliction of duty   
• CEB says operationalising Norochcholai is a priority to reduce damage mgt. measures which hinder public activities 

The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) lodged a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) calling for an investigation into the nationwide power outage that occurred on 9 February.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (13), Association President Sanjeewa Dhammika alleged that the officials responsible at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have violated the Constitution by neglecting their duties. According to the information received by the ECA, he noted that there should have been three engineers on duty at the Pelawatte System Control Centre when the power outage occurred; however, it has been reported that none of the engineers present on the roster were at their posts at the time of the incident. 

“If such a breach of duty had occurred in any other situation, it would likely have been considered grounds for charges of dereliction of duty and willful negligence,” he added, stating that the said officials are guilty of causing mischief under Section 408 of the Penal Code for failing to discharge their official responsibilities. He further noted that the failure of duty has resulted in irreparable loss and damage to the public, businesses and the economy. He expressed concern that fingerprint machines were hastily installed following the incident, which he alleged was suspicious.

He requested the authorities to conduct a prompt investigation using the information provided by the ECA. In particular, Dhammika requested that the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from the Pelawatte System Control Centre, as well as the standard notebooks kept by all employees and security personnel at the Centre, be examined.

CEB Chairperson Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya was unavailable for comment.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, CEB Spokesperson, engineer Dhammike Wimalaratne said that the priority is to get the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai operational as such will prevent further damage management measures, the latter which are a major hindrance to daily activities of the public.