• Sector hit by years of negligence, mismanagement, political interference 
• Key CEB position related to ensuring system stability, preventing blackouts still vacant 
• CEB had disconnected ground-mounted solar energy without PUCSL or Cabinet approval

Sri Lanka’s crippling power crisis is not merely an infrastructure failure – it is a direct result of leadership negligence, mismanagement, and political interference. 

The Sunday Morning has uncovered shocking details that reveal how repeated warnings were ignored, critical decisions delayed, and a key leadership role remained vacant for over two years, leaving the country’s power grid vulnerable to collapse.

At the centre of this crisis is the inexplicable delay in appointing an Additional General Manager (AGM) – Transmission (Non-Wired Operations), a position crucial for overseeing system stability, preventing blackouts, and planning future energy needs. 

Despite multiple attempts by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya to fill this role, The Sunday Morning reliably learns that a powerful Government-affiliated adviser had deliberately obstructed the process for undisclosed reasons. This obstruction, coupled with the CEB’s failure to act, has left the nation exposed to repeated system failures.

Even more alarming, the CEB was warned five times about the grid’s vulnerabilities, yet no action was taken. These warnings, if heeded, could have prevented the massive blackout that plunged the country into darkness. 

The question now is not just one of incompetence but of accountability as well: who benefited from keeping the system in a state of crisis? Why was a key leadership role left vacant despite urgent warnings? And most importantly, how many more failures will it take before those responsible are held accountable?

An unseen hand

A senior engineer at the CEB, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed to The Sunday Morning that the role of Additional General Manager – Transmission (Non-Wired Operations) was crucial for managing the power grid, forecasting shortages, and planning future energy needs. 

However, with no dedicated official in place, these responsibilities have been pushed onto an already overburdened official, causing dangerous delays in critical decisions. In one instance, the failure to act on time had put the entire power sector at risk, forcing the CEB to impose scheduled power cuts.

In a desperate and legally questionable move to prevent another blackout last week, the CEB remotely disconnected ground-mounted solar energy without obtaining approval from the Cabinet or the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). 

“This was an illegal decision,” the engineer alleged, stressing that the CEB had no authority to unilaterally disconnect renewable energy sources, especially at the expense of investors.

“This crisis boils down to one issue – there is no responsible official overseeing these operations,” the engineer lamented, calling on authorities to immediately fill the vacant position before the sector faced another catastrophic failure.

The Sunday Morning also learns that key decisions tied to the role of AGM – Transmission (Non-Wired Operations) remain paralysed, jeopardising the country’s entire power grid.

Repeated warnings ignored

Against such a backdrop, it has also been revealed that National System Control Centre (NSCC) Deputy General Manager Eng. M.B.S. Samarasekara, in a letter addressed to the AGM – Transmission (Non-Wired Operations) on 12 November 2024, had raised concerns regarding the challenges faced by the country’s power system two weeks prior.

The letter, titled ‘Immediate Mitigatory Actions to Improve System Demand and Stability During Weekends and Holidays with High NCRE Penetration,’ highlights the impact of the rapid increase in rooftop solar installations on power system operations.

According to the letter, Samarasekara had warned that this issue was particularly severe during extended holidays, especially on ‘sunny Sundays’ when industrial and commercial power demand was significantly low.

On such days, many dispatchable power plants remain inactive to accommodate the must-run Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) generation. This leads to substantial frequency fluctuations due to low system inertia. 

The situation becomes critical during system disturbances, frequently triggering the Under-Frequency Load Shedding (UFLS) scheme and heightening the risk of tripping major thermal power plants, particularly the Lakvijaya Power Plant, as stated in the letter.

Furthermore, the letter also discloses that the NSCC Deputy General Manager had previously raised concerns about this issue, referencing earlier correspondence. 

“This further refers to my same numbered letters dated 7 June 2024, 19 June 2024, 26 June 2024, and 31 July 2024 regarding the above concerns. This is to bring to your attention a matter of significant importance regarding the stability and reliability of the Sri Lankan power system, especially considering the rapid increase in rooftop solar plant installations and other inverter-based NCRE plants,” the letter reads. 

The letter outlines several key observations about the stability of the Sri Lankan power system.

On 22 September 2024, the system had experienced its minimum demand of 670 MW at around 10.53 a.m. During this period, significant frequency fluctuations were observed despite efforts to adjust machine loads. To prevent further demand reduction and to improve system inertia, approximately 160 MW of NCRE generation was curtailed between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

This curtailment was necessary to maintain an adequate level of dispatchable generation, which helped the system demand rise to 820 MW, allowing for the dispatch of higher inertia plants and improving overall system stability. 

Additionally, the letter highlights concerns about the rapid fluctuations in system frequency, particularly during periods of exceptionally low demand, indicating an alarming level of instability. This instability emphasises the urgent need for mitigation actions, such as incorporating fast frequency arresting solutions. 

Finally, the letter notes that the increasing reliance on non-dispatchable renewable energy sources, particularly during low-demand periods, has required the NSCC to shut down more dispatchable plants, significantly reducing system inertia. This loss of inertia heightens the risk of a total system collapse in the event of faults or disturbances.

Furthermore, the letter outlines several remedial measures to improve system stability and manage low-demand risks. It suggests introducing new tariff rates for industries during weekends and holidays to encourage increased electricity usage. It also proposes operating large hydropower plants like Victoria, Kotmale, and New Laxapana in synchronous condenser mode to provide reactive power support, and evaluating the feasibility of operating Gas Turbine Generator 7 in this mode to stabilise frequency fluctuations. 

Additionally, it stresses the need for fast frequency reserves, energy storage systems, and the establishment of an NCRE control desk at the NSCC. It further recommends reviewing spinning reserve requirements as more NCRE is integrated into the system, creating a curtailment mechanism for future NCRE plants, and evaluating the operating power and ramp rates of hydro and thermal plants to improve system inertia and accommodate additional generation.

Waiting for another disaster?

Despite the situation being communicated to the AGM – Transmission (Non-Wired Operations) in November last year, no action was taken by the CEB regarding the predicted system instability, which led to a nationwide power outage on 9 February. 

Following the outage, the Norochcholai power plant went into safe mode, disconnecting itself from the grid due to the ripple effects, causing the country to experience scheduled power cuts for nearly four days due to the loss of coal power until the plant resumed operations. 

Engineers have warned that if this situation were to arise again, the Norochcholai plant could break down, potentially leading to a severe power shortage that could last for weeks.

With the current extreme drought affecting the country limiting hydropower generation, engineers argue that putting national assets at risk through decisions made by influential figures in the ministry is unjustifiable and a serious violation of law. 

The Electricity Act No.20 of 2009 mandates the provision of an uninterrupted power supply, with the PUCSL responsible for enforcing this obligation and holding the CEB accountable. Any disruptions in the power supply are considered a breach of this legal duty, and the PUCSL has the authority to take action against the CEB if required standards are not met.

CEB stance 

When The Sunday Morning contacted CEB Spokesman Eng. Dhammike Wimalaratne, he emphasised that every position within the CEB played a vital role. 

“If a role exists, it serves a purpose, and no position is more important than another,” he stated. He further noted that power generation, transmission, and distribution relied on the contributions of multiple individuals at every stage.

“Discussions and actions have been ongoing well before the November letter. Some measures, such as adjusting solar PV inverter settings, require months to yield results. Steps have been taken to address the concerns in both the short and long term,” Wimalaratne explained.

Commenting on the vacant AGM position, he stated that the CEB was taking the necessary steps to appoint a suitably qualified and competent individual to the role.