(UTV | COLOMBO) – Trade unions say President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must issue an order to Minister of Energy.
Trade unions say President Gotabaya Rajapaksa must issue an order to Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila to provide fuel for an uninterrupted supply of electricity.
Trade unionist Ananda Palitha stressed the Head of State must intervene and issue orders to relevant institutions including the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
Palitha claimed the Sapugaskanda and Yugadanavi power plants lack the full requirement of fuel while there is shortage of fuel reserves in the country.
He added fuel is not being imported at present and the public is being deceived.
Ananda Palitha claimed former administrations did not refuse to provide fuel to the Ceylon Electricity Board through the CPC.
He noted the President issued an Extraordinary Gazette Notification declaring electricity an essential service, adding it should not be made an essential service only to suppress strike action.
He added it should be made an essential service to ensure an uninterrupted power supply to houses and factories.