Cabinet approval has been received to increase CPC credit limit to the CEB to Rs. 100 billion.
The current amount due to the CPC by the CEB is Rs. 88,230 million and having considered the financial difficulties faced by the CEB, this decision had been taken.
Due to the huge debt by the CEB to the CPC, the lagtter had stopped supplying fuel to the Kerawalapitiya power plant recently. As a result a power cut had been imposed without ministry approval.
Cabinet approval was also received to extend the contract of two private companies by another six months in order to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to the country.
Investigation into the power cut
Meanwhile, Power and Energy State Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that while fuel had been supplied to the CEB, a two hour power cut had been imposed by the CEB last Monday and on the directives of the President an investigation into this matter had been launched.
The State Minister said that the power cut was illegal and that is the reason an investigation had been launched.
He said that the CEB cannot impose such power cuts, but they had done so claiming there was no fuel. However, at that time the CEB had a fuel stock of 1500 tons, the State Minister said.
(Mirror)