Instructions from subject Minister to implement tender procedure in a more transparent manner when calling bids…

Three million dollars of saving remains as procurement of coal at a high price was avoided through following a transparent tender procedure in calling bids of coal companies
A100 MW solar power plant to be constructed in Mannar will be connected into National Power Grid by 2020
A new 100 MW solar power project will be constructed in Siyambalanduwa of Monaragala
New solar power projects covering main cities in the country will be initiated

Ravi Karunanayaka, Minister of Power, Energy and Business Development said that the confidence placed on us by the public can be safeguarded only through implementing the tender procedures in a more transparent manner when calling bids and thereby an institution can be maintained in a profitable manner and therefore, a complete transparency should be reflected when calling bids in future and opening such bids as well, and gave instructions to relevant officials to follow such tender procedure in such a transparent manner.

The Minister gave these instructions to relevant officials, while participating in a progressive review meeting held today (08) in order to observe current progress in Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, Lanka Electricity Company, Lanka Coal Company and Lanka Transformers Ltd operating under the purview of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development.

Chairmen of Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council, Lanka Electricity Company, Lanka Coal Power Company and Lanka Transformers Ltd, and the Vice Chairman of Ceylon Electricity Board and including State Minister Champika Premadasa attended in this progress review meeting.

In this meeting, the subject Minister paid his particular attention how to work where people’s belief can be ensured by reducing malpractices taking place within an organizational structure.

The Minister said that 03 million dollars of saving remains as procurement of coal at a high price was avoided through following transparent tender procedure in calling bids of coal companies, and a complete transparency should be reflected when calling bids in future and opening such bids as well, and gave instructions to relevant officials to follow such tender procedures in a more transparent manner.

Minister Ravi Karunanayaka further added that it is necessary to plan to create production avenues within the country and thereby to provide new job opportunities, in identifying respective organizational structure in an effective manner and thereby to perform the operations of such organization in an efficient manner and fulfill the rights and welfares of the employees.

The Minister said that Sri Lanka has paid its attention on moving its already existing power sector towards renewable energy strategies available at a lower price, such activities should be carried out island-wide, solar power projects based on main cities should be initiated. He further added that a 100 MW solar power project will be constructed in Siyambalanduwa area of Monaragala, and it is proposed to connect 100 MW solar power project to be constructed in Mannar into National Power Grid by 2020.

The subject Minister Ravi Karunanayaka said that the power supply has already been updated covering whole country but only around 03 million CEB customers are paying their monthly electricity bills at less than 60 rupees, and gave instructions to respective Heads of Departments to avoid malpractices, and to transform Sri Lanka’s power sector into a sustainable path and thereby to make their respective institutions which can provide a good service for the people.