• Energy Ministry denies official cancellation of projects
• CEB confirms project still in commissioning stage
• Infrastructure dismantled following Minister’s directive, Annasigala Farmers’ Org. alleges

Allegations have surfaced regarding the suspension of a power project in Badulla, which was set to provide electricity to over 200 families in the Sinhalayagama, Unakanda, and Annasigala regions. 

Despite being over 85% complete, the project has been halted, reportedly on the orders of Badulla District MP and Minister Samantha Vidyarathna, The Sunday Morning learns.

However, Ministry of Energy Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala denied any official cancellation of power projects since 26 September 2024.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, he stated: “The ministry has not taken any decision.”

He also emphasised that there had been no official communication with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) or the project developer regarding the matter.

CEB General Manager Wasantha Edussuriya also confirmed that the project was still in the commissioning stage.

“There is no reason to halt it because the project is still under commissioning. Sometimes it may stop under their requirement,” he said, redirecting specific questions to the project staff.

When asked about the timeline for resuming the project, he explained that the specific details were not available to him at the moment, as the projects were handled by different departments.

The project, designed to benefit families in the border regions of the Badulla and Monaragala Districts, was initially launched to address the last remaining areas in the Uva Province without electricity.

The initiative had already completed major components, including the installation of poles, cables, and transmission lines, at an estimated cost of Rs. 120 million.

In a letter sent on 3 January to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Annasigala Farmers’ Organisation President Lalapith Manawadu had alleged that the installed infrastructure, including transmission lines and electric poles, had now been dismantled on Minister Vidyarathna’s directive.

Residents in these villages have been appealing to various administrations for 17 years, requesting electricity for their communities.

Meanwhile, Vidyarathna’s Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure has contradicted the Energy Ministry statement by stating that the project suspension was necessary to facilitate an investigation into the land allocations.

The Sinhalayagama, Unakanda, and Annasigala regions, located within protected wildlife areas, have reportedly been illegally allocated to several politicians, according to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. 

This statement had been made in response to recent media reports claiming that Vidyarathna had halted the power project intended to provide electricity to over 200 families in these regions.

The ministry stated that the suspension of the project was necessary to facilitate an investigation into the illegal allocation of land within these protected regions.