Speaking in Parliament, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera raised concerns about an impending power crisis that could result in three-hour power cuts starting from August 16. Minister Wijesekera emphasized that the situation could be averted only if emergency power is procured immediately.

One of the key factors exacerbating the crisis is the strict reservation of water at the Samanala Wewa reservoir for power generation purposes. Minister Wijesekera clarified that there is no agreement in place to release the stored water for agricultural use. This allocation of water for power generation has inadvertently led to the necessity of purchasing additional power through procurement in order to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply from August 15.

The Minister's statement shed light on the interconnectedness of power generation and water management, underscoring that if the stored water had not been allocated solely for power generation, the need for purchasing supplementary power could have been avoided.

The looming power cuts raise concerns for citizens, businesses, and industries that rely heavily on stable electricity supply.