The letter by Mr. Niel Perera, former Vice-Chairman, CEB about the natural gas power plant adds to the mystery of the approval for a NLG Power Plant which has started construction, though the CEB has not signed a Letter of Intent or signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy as reported in The Island Financial Review of 27th May, says "LNG energy awaits Japanese Study" LNG is a matter under consideration by the CEB. Because there is a MoU signed with the Japanese Government for doing a study. Once this is carried out we will take a decision whether to permit construction of the plant at Kerewalapitiya". With this authoritative statement, made officially, one would wish to know how a private firm was given permission to commence work.

I had also read Mr. O. S. Perera’s letter and I do not know in what official capacity he has said that NLG is cheaper, discounting expenses to be incurred on terminals etc. Which is the private firm which will not include recovery of such expenditure from the tariff?

It should be emphatically mentioned that International Lending agencies WBT, ADB, JAJCA, our own consultants, experts and knowledgeable Engineers of the CEB had vehemently objected to this for over three years.

Mr. Niel Perera, Former vice Chairman, also a professional qualified Electrical Engineer, who had served the CEB for well over 30 years and had held various positions up to be the General Manager and later ended up as Vice Chairman, should be thanked for the interest he takes on CEB affairs, even after his retirement, which shows his wish to serve the country with the vast knowledge he has gained and thereby saved the poor consumer of having to pay a high tariff due to the folly of politicians.

Can anyone unravel this mystery of how the private firm commenced work on the plant?