by Zacki Jabbar

Repeated breakdowns, at the Norochcholai coal power plant were being investigated and sabotage could not be ruled out, the government said yesterday.

Several causes including the technical process not being completed properly, negligence etc. were being examined, it said. But, sabotage could not be ruled out, Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo.

Asked to reveal the loss caused to the Chinese built 300 megawatt Norochcholai plant, which was commissioned in March last year, the Minister said it was minimal and did not run into millions of rupees as alleged in certain quarters.

Asked if the striking Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees’ services would be terminated Rambukwella replied in the negative, adding that the Power and Energy Ministry was looking at temporary recruitment to tide over the present crisis.

GCE A/L exam and Z-score

Denying that there was a major problem with regard to the GCE Advanced Level Examination question papers, the Minister said that there had been a few mistakes and they had been rectified.

He said that the Z-Score issue was before the Supreme Court and the Education Ministry was awaiting its ruling on petitions filed by around 100 students. Contrary to reports, the government was treating it seriously and would ensure that no one who had secured university admission would be victimised, the Minister said.