The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) has issued a public warning urging both homeowners and institutions to verify the legitimacy of service providers before installing rooftop solar systems.
This advice comes as a response to an increase in complaints about fraudulent companies falsely claiming authorization to install solar systems. With the growing demand for solar energy due to rising electricity costs and the push for sustainable energy solutions, the rooftop solar program has gained significant popularity.
SLSEA has stressed the importance of exercising caution when selecting service providers, advising the public to confirm that the provider is registered with the SLSEA.
Only service providers that are officially registered with the SLSEA are authorized to carry out solar installations.
To ensure the legitimacy of the service provider, consumers can check the official SLSEA directory, which is accessible online.
SLSEA has made it clear that no solar imports or installations outside the scope of registered providers are authorized, ensuring compliance with the required technical and regulatory standards.
Adding to the growing concerns surrounding energy in Sri Lanka, the Electricity Users’ Association recently protested in front of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding a controversial tender awarded by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for a 100 MW solar power project in Siyambalanduwa.
The protest, which took place on May 27, involved a formal written complaint submitted to the CID by the association. The complaint alleges that the tender was illegally awarded to a bidder with an inflated bid, resulting in an Rs. 8.7 billion fraud that could impact both electricity consumers and the national treasury.
Sanjeeva Dhammika, the National Secretary of the Electricity Users’ Association, highlighted that multiple companies were involved in this fraudulent activity.
However, he stated that the names of the companies would be disclosed later due to ongoing legal proceedings. If justice is not served, these companies’ identities will be made public in the future.
Further revelations have exposed questionable practices at the CEB regarding the awarding of this tender. Despite claims by CEB that it was incurring losses, leading to a proposed increase in electricity tariffs, concerns have been raised about the CEB awarding the tender to a “preferred” bidder.
This decision resulted in a massive loss to the government. The winning bidder is part of a consortium that includes Lakdanavi Limited, Blue Circle Pvt Ltd, and WindForce PLC. Lakdanavi is a subsidiary of Lanka Transformers Limited (LTL), in which CEB holds a 63% stake.
It has been revealed that senior engineers at CEB are allegedly promised lucrative jobs at Lakdanavi upon their retirement, creating a potential conflict of interest. The engineers are accused of awarding tenders to consortium partners, bypassing proper tender conditions.
The most senior engineers reportedly play a role in influencing tender decisions to favor these companies, with allegations suggesting that these actions disregard proper procurement procedures.
While the lowest bidder failed to meet technical requirements, they were allegedly denied the opportunity to submit necessary documents, raising further questions about the integrity of the tender process.
The controversy surrounding the CEB’s actions has fueled public distrust, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
