Ravi Karunanayake Demands Answers from Parliament on Power Crisis and Solar Energy Policy Contradictions

UNP National Secretary and Member of Parliament Ravi Karunanayake has written a formal letter to the Secretary General of Parliament, seeking urgent clarification on the national power crisis and recent electricity tariff developments.

The letter raises serious concerns about policy inconsistencies following the countrywide power outage on 9 February 2025. According to Karunanayake, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) attributed the blackout to an internal energy imbalance caused by excessive solar power input. However, this explanation has been rejected by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), which deemed the CEB’s report inadequate and non-compliant with inspection standards.

Citing Section 18 of the PUCSL Act No. 35 of 2002, the Commission announced plans to conduct a public hearing and launch an independent investigation involving all relevant stakeholders. Despite this rejection, Karunanayake noted that the same reasoning was used again during the Sinhala New Year period in April to suppress domestic rooftop solar generation.

Adding to the confusion, he highlighted that while local solar producers are being discouraged, Sri Lanka is simultaneously accepting international prices for 152 megawatts of solar power under a Cabinet decision announced on April 29—revealing a contradiction that disadvantages local renewable energy entrepreneurs.

Karunanayake’s letter outlines four critical policy concerns:

1. Mixed Messaging on Solar Power – Blaming solar energy while promoting it sends contradictory signals to both domestic and foreign investors.

2. Grid Mismanagement – The core issue lies in outdated infrastructure rather than solar input, pointing to the need for better system integration (e.g., storage, smart inverters, flexible baseload).

3. Policy Bias – Current restrictions on rooftop solar highlight a misalignment with national renewable energy goals.

4. PUCSL’s Rejection of CEB Report – Reinforces the need to shift blame away from solar energy and push for modern energy reforms.

Based on these issues, Karunanayake has requested the Speaker’s permission under Standing Order 27(2) to pose the following urgent questions to the Minister of Power and Energy:

1. Is the CEB still dependent on expensive thermal power for short-term needs? What are the unit costs of hydro, coal, thermal, solar, and wind power in 2024?

2. Is renewable energy not significantly cheaper than thermal? Doesn’t it also save scarce foreign exchange?

3. If solar was blamed for grid failure, why is the government now inviting international bids for 152 MW of small-scale solar projects?

4. Why are local solar entrepreneurs and cooperatives forced to compete with international firms for these projects, despite proven local success?

5. What reforms are being introduced to ensure fair access for domestic solar providers and reduce foreign-dominated procurement?

6. Why can’t international competition be limited to large-scale projects (over 100 MW) to protect local interests and prevent profit outflow?

7. What is the status of LNG procurement? Have tenders been called? When will LNG be imported? Are plants being approved without LNG planning?

8. Will electricity tariffs increase again due to the IMF’s cost-reflective pricing policy, despite the recent tariff reduction? If so, when and by how much?

Karunanayake’s letter urges Parliament to address these questions promptly, citing the urgent need for clarity and coherent energy policy amid the ongoing power crisis.