While the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has said that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would have to resort to emergency power purchases in order to maintain a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, the Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) alleged that the proposed purchases would cost about Rs. 40 billion (Bn).

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (9), the ECA General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika claimed: "There are reports that emergency power purchases will cost only about Rs. 4 billion, but, these reports are totally misleading, as they will actually cost about Rs. 40 billion. These reports are made to circulate so that those who benefit from emergency power purchases can go ahead without any interruption."

He also claimed that there are preparations to transfer all powers related to emergency power purchases that are currently with the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to the Minister through the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009. "The final approval for emergency power purchases is given by the PUCSL. They have prevented unnecessary emergency power purchases from happening on 16 occasions from 2016 to date. Therefore, those who are in need of making emergency power purchases are afraid that the PUCSL will block their way." Speaking further, Dhammika said that a well planned programme to pave the way for emergency power purchases is currently underway. "The relevant parties are aware that the PUCSL does not approve their proposals as they are. Therefore, a new strategy is there now. That is to introduce an Act that gives many powers to the subject Minister. The related Bill has already been referred to the Attorney General's Department. This Bill is very dangerous because it transfers all powers related to making emergency power purchases, deciding the rate at which emergency power will be purchased, determining the electricity tariffs, and issuing licences to power plants," he claimed.

Wijesekera said on Tuesday (8) that the CEB would have to resort to emergency power purchases to maintain a 24-hour uninterrupted power supply. He said that the CEB would ensure an uninterrupted supply of power countrywide and had no plans for power cuts but that it would have to procure the necessary supplementary power. He said that the operations of the Samanalawewa Hydropower Plant are likely to come to a complete halt by 16 August, following the Government's decision to release water from the Samanalawewa Reservoir in Balangoda to the Udawalawe Reservoir.