Small entrepreneurs say most of them cannot afford generators and it makes no sense investing in them as they bring no return. Lanka Monthly Digest Managing Editor, Hiran Hewavisenti said small entrepreneurs are deeply disappointed with the government. Mr. Hewavisenti said a lot of time seems to be wasted in Parliament on bribery and corruption and going into past assassinations. But very little is being talked about the power crisis and what must be done to counter it. Businessmen feel the government and opposition prefer to ignore the issue till the catchment areas fill up and the situation is not critical any more.
Most industrialists are critical about the non-existence of a national energy policy.
Governments may come and go but the national energy plan has to be implemented whoever holds the reign of power, they say. The private sector in general is critical of Sri Lanka's over-dependence on hydro power, specially the large projects. They advocate mini-hydro power schemes, the use of coal power, solar power and wind power, which are all practical projects. Industrialists are heavily critical of environmentalist lobbies which suppressed a 'long overdue' coal power project. They say Sri Lanka cannot afford to take the same stand on environment as the developed west which is now on a different plataeu of growth and development and long since passed the stage we are in.