Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has sharply criticized the government’s management of Sri Lanka’s energy sector, pointing to a fragile national grid that struggles to cope with the growth of solar energy and fluctuating demand periods.
In a pointed social media post, Premadasa claimed that the government was deflecting blame instead of addressing the core issues.
“First, they blamed the monkeys. Then, they blamed past governments. But the real issue? A fragile grid that can’t handle solar growth and low-demand periods. Misinformation won’t fix power outages—serious reforms will, especially in the power sector. A real system change starts with transparency,” Premadasa tweeted.
Premadasa also shared a letter from the Deputy General Manager (System Control) of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), dating back to November 2024. The letter underscored the challenges posed by the increasing number of rooftop solar installations, which are creating instability in the power system due to low system inertia, especially during weekends and holidays when demand drops.
The Opposition Leader’s comments come at a time when Sri Lanka has been grappling with periodic power outages, raising public frustration and calls for reform in the energy sector.
Premadasa’s remarks add further pressure on the government to prioritize the grid’s stability and adapt to the evolving energy landscape.
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