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Officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) held discussions with member manufacturing companies of the Sri Lanka Ceramics Council (SLACC) last week, in an effort to address electricity related problems, such as voltage and failures faced by the companies.

Frequent power failures and low voltage was causing immense hardships to the industry struggling to remain competitive. SLACC was very pleased with the response of the officials of the CEB who had come well prepared with solutions.

General Manager of the CEB Ranjith Fonseka, together with representatives from the Distribution and Transmission Divisions of the CEB Gemunu Abayasekera, Deputy General Manger, D. R. Pulieperuma, Additional General Manager, Region III, Ms. Badra Jayaweera - Additional General Manager, Region I and Dr. H.M. Wijekoone - Chief Engineer were present along with Sunil Wijesinha, President SLACC and members of the Council representing, Lanka Tiles Ltd., Lanka Walltiles, Ltd., Royal Ceramics Lanka Ltd., Dankotuwa Porcelian Ltd. and Royal Fernwood Porcelain Ltd. The SLACC was pleased that the CEB took the discussion very seriously and that the General Manager himself attended the discussion.

Questions of critical importance relating to the ceramics manufacturing companies were forwarded to the CEB on an earlier date giving the latter an opportunity to study and prepare responses, which were expressed during the panel discussion.

At the conclusion of the session, the CEB undertook to make some adjustments immediately and further study the other problem areas. "The approach of the CEB was very professional" said one of the industrialists and was very pleased with the rapport established.

The Council which has for several years been advocating coal power because of its lower cost, appreciated the decision taken recently to commence the Coal Power Plant at Norochcholai. The council has pointed out to the Government on several earlier occasions that high electricity costs, which were higher than their competitor countries, were seriously affecting the future of the industry.

Ceramics is a very high energy consumer and high costs of electricity, gas and diesel are causing havoc to their competitiveness. "At least we can now think seriously of future investments now that the coal power project is on stream", as industrialist said the council hopes that a future government would not reverse the decision again.

The CEB and the Ceramics Council agreed to meet once every three months to continue the dialogue on issues pertaining to power supply. Overall, the discussion was hailed as a very successful beginning to strengthening the dialogue between the manufacturers and the CEB.

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