Samanalawewa leak repair delayed until 2025, experts warn decision puts people at risk
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to postpone until 2025 the sealing of the huge water leakage at the Samanalawewa Reservoir, the Sunday Times learns.
The minister's instructions come amidst warnings Moratuwa and Peradeniya University experts issued to the CEB that if this huge water leakage is not sealed immediately, massive destruction will occur on the right bank of the reservoir, and people downstream could suffer huge damage.
During a meeting held on September 14 with all CEB Additional General Managers (AGMs) and Deputy General Managers (DGMs) at the Ministry premises, the minister gave this order to the Deputy General Manager in charge of the Samanalawewa Reservoir.
A few senior engineers who participated in this meeting told the Sunday Times that the minister did not give reasons for postponing the repairs to 2025, though it is a matter of national emergency.
They alleged that the decision to postpone the sealing work was due to their intention to obtain maximum profit for the CEB from two mini-hydropower plants that use the leaking water to produce electricity.
Another reason for the postponement is the 700KW Upper Samanalawewa Mini Hydropower Project, which is being prepared for construction at a site close to the leakage.
The Sunday Times of September 10 revealed more about the dispute.
One of the two small hydropower plants near Samanalawewa Reservoir and the proposed 700KW upper Samanalaweva Mini Hydro Power Project belong to Sri Lanka Energies, which is 100% owned by the CEB. The other mini-hydropower plant belongs to a private businessman.
“The tariff paid to mini hydros will be reduced to a lower value in 2025. The CEB now pays Rs. 18 for a unit. It will become Rs. 6 in 2024. So the CEB intends to make maximum profit before 2025. That is the reason behind the postponement,” noted one of the senior engineers who spoke to the Sunday Times.
Sri Lanka Energies-owned minihydropower plant was built as an unsolicited proposal by Lanka Transformers without tender, the engineers noted.
“Without any technical knowhow, politicians have decided to delay the sealing of the huge leak in the reservoir. After an analysis of the behaviour of the groundwater in the right bank during the last 30 years, it was identified that there is a strong threat to the reservoir's stability. Under such circumstances, if the right bank of the reservoir collapses, who will be responsible for putting people in harm's way?" asked Dr. Jagath Gunatillaka of the Department of Geology at the Peradeniya University.
The Cabinet had decided in August 2021 that, taking into consideration the massive financial loss due to this water leak, it should be sealed immediately.
Although we tried to contact Ministry Secretary M.P.D.U.K. Mapa Pathirana, we failed.