Ministers do not control power supply – Champika

Minister of Megapolis and Western Development, Patali Champika Ranawaka, says that the country’s power supply system is not controlled by ministers and that those who stole billions by building cheap power plants are now talking about power cuts. 

He stated that four power breakdowns had occurred in the past 10 years and once even during the New Year in April 2009. After that for 6 whole years no nationwide blackouts occurred, he said. 

“This happened thrice within the past 6 months. So there is no reason for it to happen automatically,” the former Minister of Power and Energy said, addressing an event in Homagama.  

He stated that certain people are blaming the government and ministers for the blackouts. 

“However, the power supply system is not controlled by ministers. It is being controlled by engineers of the Electricity Board. They have apologized to the country for this,” Ranawaka said. 

He stated that the fact this issue is being politicized under such a situation is regrettable. 

The minister said that the very individuals who stole billions by building cheap power plants and cheap systems in the past are now talking about power cuts.