Power minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has submitted the cabinet paper, prepared by the secretary to the ministry.

The cabinet paper claims the CEB needs to buy 55 mw of power from private power plants due to low water levels in hydro reservoirs.

As per the proposal, tenders were called during a very short period, from 01 to 08 of April, seeking the supply for three months, from April 28 to July 28.

Electricity engineers point out that no sudden need for electricity would arise as the southwest monsoons would become active during the period.

Several private suppliers have been engaging in a corrupt business of selling electricity to the CEB in cohorts with top officials of the Board.

Ministers and owners of leading newspapers are behind certain suppliers.

Conspiracy suspected

There is suspicion that the recent blackouts, power cuts and destruction of transformers in fires were all part of a conspiracy to buy from private suppliers.

The state will lose Rs. 2,000 million due to having to buy electricity for three months.

When the cabinet paper was submitted , minister Patali Champika Ranawaka objected to it, noting that it would be more profitable to buy from private generator owners such as hotels, commercial complexes etc. under the embedded network.

That will enable the addition of 300 mw of power to the national grid a day easily, he pointed out.

Disregarding his suggestion, two powerful ministers, corrupt officials and engineers of the CEB got together to see that the cabinet paper approved.

Plans are afoot to update this cabinet paper for several more years to buy from private suppliers.