Emergency purchases if need arises

The Ministry of Power and Energy says if the prevailing dry weather continues over a long period, steps will be taken to purchase power from the private sector in a bid to minimise power outages.

Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy Suren Batagoda said the power supply will return to normalcy by mid April.

The Secretary also said measures will be taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply at all possible instances with the aim of reducing the inconvenience to the consumers due to power outages.

Suren Batagoda noted if a need arises to resort to emergency purchases from the private sector, a unit will be purchased at Rs.25 adding the CEB will ensure that the government will not incur any loses.

A four-hour daily power cut is in place since yesterday owing to the dry weather conditions experienced in the island.

Meanwhile the joint trade union collective of the Ceylon Electricity Board says the CEB is experiencing a crisis at present due to the unavailability of a power generation plan.

Speaking to NewsRadio Convenor of the collective Ranjan Jayalal said the power crisis is also a result of the failure of multiple governments and decision makers.

He noted the CEB could have considered the country's demand for power, the increase in the number of consumers and how to adjust the power generation accordingly.

On a related story, the Department of Meteorology says the country will experience a substantial rainfall by mid May.

Speaking to NewsRadio Director General of the Department Athula Karunanayake said moderate amount of rainfall can be experienced in April.