The machinery at the Wimalasurendra power plant that are capable of generating power for another 10 years are being dismantled, it is learnt.

It has been revealed that there’s a plan to sell the machinery as scrap iron.

Engineers attached to the power plant say that the machinery is being dismantled in order to fix new machinery with a life span of three years.

The Wimalasurendra power plant was built by B.J Wimalasurendra in the Norton Bridge area by crossing the Kehelgamu Oya. Engineers at the power plant claim that it should be preserved for its historical value, but instead it is being dismantled in this manner.

A senior official from the Power and Energy Ministry said that the CEB has taken measures to install new machinery at the plant since the old ones were in a dilapidated condition after generating power for over 30-40 years.

The official added that it was wise to use the Wimalasurendra power plant to generate power to the national grid rather than preserving it.

According to the official, apart from Wimalasurendra, the machinery at Victoria and Kotmale power plants would also have to be replaced with more efficient machinery within the next 10 years