Sri Lanka, June 18 -- A heated debate broke out in Parliament yesterday (17) as UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake criticised the government's handling of the country's renewable energy policy and power sector management.

The discussion came in the wake of the nationwide blackout that occurred on February 9 this year, which the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) blamed on excessive solar power destabilising the national grid.

Ravi Karunanayake raising the matter in Parliament, pointed out the government's inconsistent position on renewable energy.

He noted that while solar power was being blamed for grid problems, the government had at the same time called for international bids to build 152 megawatts of solar power projects across 18 locations.

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