Water supply would be disrupted if the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers did not restore power during breakdowns, Convener of the Water Supply Trade Union Collective Alliance, Engineer Upali Rathnayake told the media yesterday, November 3.
Mr. Rathnayake said that they fully supported CEB unions protesting the sale of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant shares to US firm New Fortress Energy. The US Company was also to be entrusted with supplying LNG to Sri Lanka without any tender procedure, he said.
Mr. Rathnayake also said all pumping stations and water purification plants needed electricity. Most such installations did not have generators, he said. Therefore, if there was a power failure, there could be disruptions to the water supply.
“The privatisation of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) is also on the cards. All progressive unions are with the CEB workers,” he said.
Minister of Water Supply, Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that they were attempting to ensure that there would be no disruptions to the water supply. However, it was impossible to provide generators to all pumping stations and water purification plants. “So, I can’t deny that the CEB union action will impact the water supply,” he said.
