GoSL indifferent to Jaffna power shortage

[TamilNet, Sunday, 17 June 2007, 15:18 GMT]
Sri Lanka government's disinterest in co-operating with Jaffna peninsula electricity suppliers to transport urgently needed lubricants from Colombo for their generators has resulted in the break down of normal electricity supply to Jaffna peninsula, civil sources in Jaffna said. "Kool-Air" firm, operating from Kaangkeasanthu'rai, faces imminent crisis of complete break down if lubricants are not brought from Colombo urgently, according to sources close to the power-generating company.

Agriko firm, located in Chunnaakam is the other source of electricity, produced by its generators, to the peninsula.

Jaffna district residents endure more than four hour powercut every night, while confined to the house by the night curfews imposed by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA).

Residents have regular protested to the local governing bodies, voicing their dissatisfaction of the irregular and insufficient electricity supply and demanded corrective measures.

Local officials of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board (SLEB) face serious difficulties in maintaining adequate electricity supply to Jaffna peninsula due to security and administrative issues, according to sources close to SLEB.

Meanwhile, an International Agency had come forward to issue electricity from generators installed on a ship anchored at sea in the north of Sri Lanka, informed sources from Jaffna said.

The SLA high command in Jaffna had insisted on anchoring the supply ship in Kaangkeasanthu'rai harbour which is under the control of Sri Lanka Navy.

When the said firm declined to do so the SLA along with SLEB officials had offered alternative harbours at Point Pedro, Ma'ndaitheevu and Kaarainakar.

But the international firm had preferred the harbour at Mullaiththeevu, a coastal town in the LTTE held Vanni, saying that it could cater to the electricity needs of Vanni, Anuradapura, Trincomalee and Jaffna peninsula as Mullaiththeevu is located in a central position.

The SLA, however, rejected the proposition for security reasons, sources close to SLEB said.

Laxapana hydro electricity plant had been supplying the entire needs of Jaffna peninsula until the arrangement collapsed due to clashes between the LTTE and government forces in 1990.

Since then, Kool-Air from Kaangkeasanthu'rai and Agriko from Chunnaakam had been providing electricity to Jaffna peninsula.

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