My Creative Work Started in Balangoda

Although I was not sure what I should do at the beginning of my carrier, I developed myself into recognition within short period of time.

The first thing that became popular was the detection of daily failures of 33kV line to Milk Board factory in Kaltota Road, Balangoda. The HT line originated at the town council substation has a set of DDLO switch and a set of pin insulators to take jumpers to the line. I saw the insulator's color changed at the connection point with some white spots. This was pointed out to my linesmen and later to the Engineer. No body took a note of it and the DDLo fuse blowing continued almost daily. When fuses are inserted it holds and at night when deposits of dew increases the 33kV line's insulation drops and fuse blows.
At last, I managed to send my linesmen up and asked him the replace the insulator to notice that a tiny hole created within the cap of the insulator with a crack caused the power failure and that was that failure.

My Engineer, finally asked me why I suspeccted the insulator and I said it's color deterioration made me suspected and the swinging of the set of insulators and jumpers at the time of inserting a fuse with man's force. The swinging of the set of insulators and structure managed by complete replacement of the rail pole structure with solid concrete pole structure.
The Engineer then instructed others not to use rails for such cases except at intermediate poles.

Do you have electricity problems need attention

If you have any type of electricity problem, you may contact me so that I can help you. The problems may be one or more of following types.

• that needs attention of Ceylon Electricity Board / Lanka Electricity Company

• Electricity wiring problems

• experience low voltages

• frequent breakdowns

• any other matters

my contact numbers are

• 0777-256256

• pwamar@sltnet.lk

My episode with Area Engineer

New Engineer Reports

In 1971, after insurgency,a new engineer came to Balangoda area. I had to pick him up at a well known guest house to see him first time. When we try to get in to the vehicle,I occupied the middle seat of the land rover and he showed a displeasure and got in to the seat.

He does not like others to be in the front seats while he travels.

As the time goes, one day, I went to Panawenna tea factory to find accommodation for my workmen to commence construction work of the 33kv line and substation. I failed to take my crew as promised and after a week my engineer called me to see him.

When I entered the room I usually take a seat but this time he asked me who asked to sit. I got up and tried to leave the room but the engineer called me to show a telegram. The telegram reads that your engineer failed to reach my factory though promised.

The content 'Engineer" did not like the area engineer as he thought that I usually behave like an Engineer.Then I explained the matter to him and this was the beginning of my dislike on him.

There were more stories....

IESL Part II

In 1972 The results of IESL(IEC) in 1972 came out indicating that I passed the examination and is required to submit coursework pertaining to the offered subjects. The IESL arranged course work at Katubedda campus for which I had to pay for it.

Upon submission coursework the Institution offered me to follow a 2 year full time course for part III and that too to be arranged in Katubedda.

Since I had to depend on my salary and two years no pay leave caused me to switched to CEI and the part I excemption was asked for but the results of IESL part II did not submit by the Secretary ,IESL.

I did not gave up and completed CEI part I succesfully . At this time , My transfer to Kandy office by the then additional General Manager caused me to discontinue education for sometime. During this period I did all sort of things to improve my financial situation and slowly started the part II together with Mr.Wasantha Kumar and Asoka Subasinghe. I did not sit for the examination while others sat for it and completed it.

The pressure on me by the additional General Manager increased as such I had to stop sitting for the exam.

My efforts to recommence have not suceeded as such I waited for appoinment by way of CEB Examinations in 1979.

How I Managed JVP Insurrection in 1971

In 1971 April,several clashes reported with police. It started at Wellawaya Police and spread through out the island. Luckily for me, no such clashes in the area of Balangoda but sooner the Govt. made some arrangements to protect its assets . A army platoon occupied my office in Balangoda and started their operations for the area.

The Engineer on 6th April called me at home as it was a declared holiday, asked me to arrange for 33kV line round the Grid Substation premises and vanished. On hearing this Mr. Lionel Ranwala, a famous artist who was trapped with my brother because of curfew, asked me not to do these killing actions as you have no licence to make electrical fences to kill people. Ranwala and my brother were teaching together at R/Kiriella MMV. So when the engineer called back with confirmation of fence told me to start tomorrow. Then I asked Engineer to give me a letter in writing to erect a line below 6 feet vertically as it does not have any safety to humans. That ended with my request and never mentioned about it again. I must thank Mr.Ranwala who is not living now.
The density of insurrection went down as the govt. managed to secure their strong holds and security in Balangoda continued in Balangoda.

The army supplied with tin Beer and rich food and we, staff in my office, too enjoyed with them by providing arrack to them we managed to taste tin beerand other imported food types .

How workmen removed Conductors

It was in 1971 before, insurgency, I noticed loss of a Aluminium drum at my site and I questioned my stores man who looks after them noted that it stolen by somebody while they were sleeping last night. I did not believe what he mentioned as he started scratching the head while answering. The matter was kept as secret since I did not questioned the linesmen in charge.
It was after 3 weeks that I noticed a person believed from Local Body nearby inquired for some more items from the store man but both did not know that I just entered from the yard from back side and listen to the conversation.
Immediately I came in to the scene and the visitor vanished. I called all the workmen and inquired the matter and noted that the item was sold to local body for Rs3500.00 by the linesmen.
Workmen were transferred out of site as a punishment as they brought back the item the following day.

Local body officers had the power to purchase such a big item? who knows what happened?

My Motor Cycle accident

It was in December,1969, immediate after my marriage, I traveled with my engineer with his Vespa scooter home after work.I was behind and all of a sudden the scooter slipped on newly tarred road with more sand on it and I left standing while my boss collapsed.
Immediately I made attempt to raise the well built Engineer with the support of neighbors but he collapsed immediately causing some internal damages. However, he managed to travel home and following day we heard the news that he admitted to Ratnapura Hospital for damage to ribs. My boss went on leave for 1 Month and advised me, immediately after reporting back that you must learn first aid before everything.
The cause of the fall was that the engineer was not raised by us properly.

Damage to Lightning Arrester 132kV

In early December 1969, around 11.30PM , a huge blast occurred which made almost all the people surrounding Balangoda Grid Substation,alive.
No body knew what it is until the following day. It was a busting of 132kV Lightning Arrester due to a lightning stroke in the 132kV system.These things happen very rarely and there was no communication at all for the people to know unless it passed by mouth to mouth.The ceramic Arrester damaged into pieces without causing any injury to in workmen who were on duty inside the control room, a few meters away.
It was replaced the following day by the heavy maintenance unit who traveled from distance location.

How to be a Liar to Internal Audits

During my first three months of service, I went home in one weekend. My home town is Ratnapura but it takes 2hours to travel by bus.When I returned for work the Chief Clerk told me that Internal Audits have come and tell them that you were away on site inspection but travel led by bus.

So when I went down to my office there was two gentlemen questioning my staff and I ignored them and opened my office. In a while the two officers came in and introduced themselves as who they are. I was not bothered and attend to my usual work and a taller person started telling that they came for inspections which their duty and wanted some registers. I immediately responded and ask what the audits means ,if they are to check everything.

I heard the name of the audits in co-operatives in villages and they come to check accounts as such I inquired the use of registers where there are no accounts to check up. Then the big man explained what their duties and they visit every where for inspections.

He then asked me where I was in the morning as the time I reached was 10.00 AM. I said I went home last Saturday and this is thetime that I reached. Since there was no attendance register for Foreman as they were treated as field officers ,then the officer said OK that's fine and you managed to report for work at 10.00AM by travelling 30Miles and 2 miles of walking.

He then briefed me how I should maintain books and others to follow methodical systems.

The following day , as usual I reported for work at 7.00AM and to see that the so called audit officers waiting for me. The big man questioned why so early?. I said this is my usual time of reporting and by 7.45 everyday, I distribute my workmen for work and then attend to my other things. The officers observed that the drivers washed the vehicles and bathe before 7.30 AM and ready to load things .

They praised me for my arrangements and left my scene.

Before their departure ,the big officer explained that your Chief Clerk told me that you may be in the field but you did not try to become a liar by saying that I was in the field. That is good and keep it up the good work.

The big man was Mr.Bastian Pillai and the other officer was Mr.Vairamuttu.

contd

How to deal with opening of Electricity Schemes

The opening of Wellandura scheme off Kahawatte

in 1969, after June, it was scheduled to inagurate the Electricity Scheme for Wellandura which came under Kahawatte Town(Local Body). The opening of the scheme had the function in the Wellandura Temple and the opening carried out by the Hon.C P De Silva, The Minister of Power,Irrigation and Land and the Leader of the House. The CEB team led by the Area Engineer, Divisional Manager-South,and some senior EFF who were given enough authority to handle any situation. There were gangs at each Isolater for guarding against some activities by groups. I had the oppoutuinity of being with the DMS,EE whom used the Anglia car where I seated in front.
Neither DMS nor EE could better Sinhala and interpret of speaches. I was asked to do the interpreters job to brief the speech of the Minister. The Minister started his speech and since he used to stammer ,it was not possible to understand his speech well. However, I managed to brief my bosses from what I gather. They were under the impression that the Minister and the Hamuduruwo, Ven.Attudawe Gunaratna may criticise the work of DGEU .

The ceremony ended up without ant power failure and I learned that when a Minister responsible for Power visits an Area , it is the duty of the Engineer to look after the power so that there are no black outs.

How do I obtained my Electrical Engineering Experience: How I attended First Power Interruption

How do I obtained my Electrical Engineering Experience: How I attended First Power Interruption

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How I attended First Power Interruption

When CEB plans for line maintenance usually a 33kV line interrupted at a grid Substation,those days. Usually on Sundays a line is interrupted during that time.There was no problem of feedback as the lines are open at one end by an Isolator, a switch mounted on towers or poles which operates from the ground by a long handle. An Isolater cannot open with the load on.

There was an Isolator for each 33kV line in between two area boundaries and it could not be reached without 2-3 hours traveling from a grid. So the interrupted line is dead for 20-30 miles(miles used during that time).The roads were not good and in a hill area reaching Isolator further delays due to its installation in a mountain where workmen to walk about 100-200 yards ,in a jungle or tea land.

During my first interruption, I had to travelled to a place called Durakkanda ,a village off 15miles from Balangoda along the Rassagala to open the Isloater there.Opening of this Isolater assisted the EF Ratnapura to close one of their Isolators to feed back up to Durakkanda as the line beyond Durakkanda was under EF ratnapura. After opening the isolater, I noticed my linesmen and Golaya went little further and brought a pot and some other things supposed to eat. The pot was full of Kitul Toddy and boiled Manioc with maldive fish sambol. I was given an opportuinity to sip and I did with my firm refusal. I sipped it and ate maniioc with sambol.

These were very tasty during our young days. We came back and started cleaning insulators of the 33kV line in addition to connection to a new substation. The insulators were full of fungus and glass appearance was totally covered with fungus. There was three gangs to work and working on an interruption on Sundays were compulsary.

Strike by DGEU Employees

In 1969 , the strike organised by the unions of the then DGEU was very interesting to me. I did not anything about it as I was new to the organisation. It was in 1969 ,one afternoon at about 2.30 pm the power went off .I was in the grid-Balangoda at that time and staff were talking things in favour of strike.
When I got to know that the workmen too wanted to join the strike, I called all inmates to handover keys of substation control room and gates before they walk out. I had gusts to tell them as I was the only person who went against labour actions. The workmen left the substation and I waited inside until power supply restored around evening but with the dark. The workmen returned to their respective work places and I left for home.

Later,I came to know that the strike led by the Engineers of the DGEU with the collaboration of the other trade unions.
I could gather lot of information with respect to labour action by the unions only in the following evening because all the communications from and to were inoperative at that time and I did not know to whom I should contact etc.

It was understood that the labour action by the trade unions was successful and that they got some of the most important issues sorted out like.

1. Salary issue
2. Pension issue for those who completed 8 years in the DGEU
3. Medical Issues
4. To enjoy leave as in the Govt.Services.
5. etc etc

MoneyMakingMethods

Post of ES Construction

When I assumed duties as EF in Balangoda area, there were two depots and were maintained as Balangoda and Kahawatte with a very big area like Balangoda,Pelmadulla and Kahawatte. It went upto Uda walave but in between Madampe and UdaWalave there was no power to the in between areas.

However, Madampe and Rakwana were electrified and ran under local bodies. We only maintained HT(33 kV) lines and substations.

Kahawatte area

This area was under a Minor Supervisor's control since there was no Foreman.

Balangoda Area

This place was under a EF (temp) who happened to be drunken officer and the EE was not happy with him.

There was a vacancy for the post of EF Construction

This place was filled by me and put directly under EE and was asked to look after the work of EF Balangoda due to absence of EF Balangoda.


RE Project 50

This was the time that 50 RE projects in progress and about 5 of such were in Balangoda area. Pinnawala RE scheme came under this project and that was my first construction job.


I did not know anything about RE Schemes nor about materials and layouts. The EE took me to the site once together with Linesman for pegging and I had to record pegging out details with the way the EE advised.

It was similar to the way we used to record level readings in a field book which we did for JTO.
The estimate then made with some calculations to sum up items to use with a template in a old file.
When Items to draw for the execution of the Job only I managed to identify them as the items were under a Store keeper.

Powerline Maintenance

Power line maintenance involve several aspects of looking at it and are summarised as follows.

1. Line patrol
2. Replacing of cracked insulators
3. Wayleave clearing
4. Replace other damaged items of the line

Out of all above first criteria plays very important part in the pre maintenance plan. The line patrol , if properly done, will realise what the maintenance gangs should plan out work. It tells the superintendent where and what extent of damage to the power line and how urgent its remedial actions.

It also suggests the dangerous vegetation that affects the line . So the maintenance crew can plan out interruptions, if necessary , to repair damage, clear wayleave and other work. This also suggests use of interruptions for connection of new power lines to the existing lines.

My First Day in DGEU

While I was chatting out with the staff of the Grid Substation-Balangoda ,the day I reported for work, The EE summoned me through a telephone link called carrier line and asked me to see him.

I walked up to his room , about 100m from the grid , I saw a man talked to the Engineer. The EE wanted me to sit and introduced the person as a linesmen. Then I was advised to go with the fellow and rectify the fault at a place called Maratenna Estate which bordered the Norton area and Balangoda area after thick jungle.

My problem

Although I went with workmen and tools I did not know what happened at the location and I did not have any idea about anything practical aspect of Electricity. How eatates or other places provide with power. What are the items in a power line etc.

My linesmen who whowed me the LT breaker , DDLO switch and power line but it was dark to note any thing. We climbed a hill to reach a pole where DDLO installed. He removed it and explained me how it functions since I was new to Job. The factory complained that they did not have power since evening and I was clueless about the power source. The linesmen under the impression that the power came from Norton and Connection from Balangoda in OFF position.

We spent their for 3 hours and waited nothing happening

We returned around mid night without any success and no body to report since there was no communications.

The following morning I explained everything to the EE and he said power came from Norton after mid night and we have to open the Norton end and close Balangoda end.

So off and close what..

It all ABS-Air Break Switch located on the power line and I saw the particular power line the same day at Balangoda. The tower line carrying 33kV to town and then end up at Maratenna.

I was posted as an Electrical Foreman GrIII in 1969 June by the GM-DGEU, the ex authority for power industry in Ceylon(those days). When I reported to then EE Balangoda, his immediate advise looked the government officers were such good characters.

He said "
You are a young man and immediately after JTO ,appointed to EF III, without any experience, in the electrical Industry. You can be a rich man in short time ,if you follow the methyods that most people will advocate, but you can serve long time in the organisation if you learn things and be honest. Do not listen to advises by various people but if you have any problem just discuss with me before putting to practice so that I can guide you."

So I chose the honest part as I carried such principles from my childhood.

continued...

Electricity

LOAD SHEDDING or POWER CUT

We now experience what is called "Load Shedding" which is an alternative word for Power Cut. This word is used by the technical personnel who are in the Power Field.

Yesterday and even today(14-05-2009),we experienced the load shedding for 40minutes in a rotation.The authorities are trying to cover 20MW of power during the night peak. This can be covered if the public are informed to reduce the use of num,ber of bulbs and other equipments by 30% so that the public will respond by 20% . This is a saving and a big saving for the utility.

I did not see any positive action by the CEB/LECO to convince the public in achieving the targets.

When I used public address system requesting the public to manage with one or two bulbs during peak hours they honoured that and I could cancel the load schedding. I even used LECO areas too where my feeders feed them.





Some Success

Thanks for no power failures during heavy showers with thundering this morning. It is necessary to analyse why failure of large scale occur after a prolonged drought.

Managing Areas My First 2 Months
The then engineer was following rules and regulations according to the procedures and the result was that the customers made complainments to the management. It was the time that I was planning to come to colombo and I was given the task of EE Homagama.

Let me explain how I managed area in Homagama when I took over in 1983 August.
It was during the 1983 riots between sinhala/Tamil people which spread islandwide.

My AGM was Mr.LW de Silva, who briefed me why I was entrusted this area and summarised the back log of Service applications, where payments made pending connections and where estimates to process.
Total stood up as over 600 cases in the two depots.

The practice of the then engineer was that only 4 services are connected by a gang and two days per week were allowed. The staff managed to complete 48 connections and the back log was rising.
I too was instructed by my predessor to not to violate from the laid down rules. But when I took over within a week ,I summoned a meeting with two ESS in charge of two depots and noted their difficulties.

These are the actions taken by me.

• allowed a gang of workmen to carryout new connections 7 days a week which included break down gangs.
• Suspended all line inspections for a month
• marked time for new jobs even during holidays as opposed to an ES and fully utilised gangs for clearing pending jobs
• Re started line inspection work and allowed even breakdown gangs to carry out new connections and thus a depot could complete minimum of 80 connections/month

My next task within 2 weeks

I went through the list of bulk consumers and noted all private and heavy consumers first and then all the other bulk connections. Then I started checking wiring of installations ,personally, and locked where ever no locking facilities were in order.

There was no wrong connections and my own system of monitoring bulk readings started without any fear.

Retail Consumers
(Continued)

P.S.-if anybody who cannot view my sites, please mail me on pwamar@sltnet.lk or talk to me on 0777-256256

Total Failures

Every sinhala new year day or after celebrations , we experienced , total failures blackening the country. However, this year is quiet different as there was no failures except the routine failures which I explained some time back.I think the system demand ,during the new year season, did not come down considerably for system controllers to take precautions.

We have to thank the CEB for maintaining power during the festive season without any black out. Since the CEB is in a position not to use more hydro ,due to reservior capacities gone down, the use of power must be kept to a minimum now.

we experienced power failures in the suburbs ,after a gale and lightning , it is unfortunate that the Ceylon Electricity Board cannot prevent these failures.

This is the rainy season and when we passed a prolonged drought , we have to accept the climate change and we must be prepared for it in advance. The HT lines be cleared for wayleaves and earth must be tested , take appropriate actions,at key points for easy flow of large currents developed as a result of lightning.

Bakmaha is famous for lightning and thundering and when bad period reaches ,the network improvements not carried out , the result is the blackening of the country. Every where failures due to fallen trees, lightning strikes.

Pannipitiya grid tripped several times when the rain started and only when at night the authorities managed to restore power. Who is responsible for?

How do you Live without Electricity

Since we are now used to use of electricity for all your day to day activities, no one has thought of living without electricity from the National Grid. The national grid will provide Electricity at a correct voltage,frequency and sufficient power to maintain an Industry/residences/etc. But there are instances when stipulated voltage is not provided due to power failures, distance from the power transformer to a resident/industry and other technical factors. The voltages in rural areas are generally very low. This where people tend to use other sources of energy as an alternative.

They are.

• Solar source
• mini hydro schemes
• bio mass methods
• Battery charged system where DC lights are wired intermittantly.
• stand by power from one or two lanterns
• High Powered torches
• use of candles
• Locally made standby power sources where thyrestor controlled charges are connected live to the house mains.

out of above large consumers use candles/ kerosene lamps as an alternative to darkness caused by power failures.
to continue...