The government has obtained financial assistance from the Japanese International Co-operation Agency to clean up major hydro-power generation reservoirs at Laxapana, Wimalasurendra, Inginiyagala, Bowathenna and Ukuwela affected by heavy siltation.

The silt has reduced the flow of water to the turbines adversely affecting power generation and the clean-up project would commence shortly with JICA assistance, Power and Energy Ministry said.

Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne told The Island that for the last 5 years the major reservoirs in several areas had not been cleaned up and as a result the amount of power generation (1,200 MW) from hydro-electricity had been below what was expected.

Minister Seneviratne said it had been found that a number of areas in Sri Lanka had been affected by intermittent power failures, blackouts and power interruptions due to faulty transmission and distribution network. The Ministry received a large number of complaints of such shortcomings daily from electricity consumers, factory owners and industrial complexes.

He said that action had already been taken to repair all faulty transmission and distribution facilities and national grid sub-stations would be set up in Ambalangoda, Puttalam, Jaffna and Kurunegala to ensure an uninterrupted service. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide Rs. 2,900 million to repair and modernize the electricity transmission and distribution networks, he said.