I served a two month internship at Ceylon Electricity Board between July – September 2019 that is mandatory for my Bachelor’s Degree. During my stay as an engineering trainee, I had to shift between multiple functional units of CEB, where I learnt many processes and procedures pertaining to Generation, Tansmission and Distribution of Electricity in Sri Lanka.

Transmission Operation and Maintenance – South

Transmission Operation & Maintenance- south branch is responsible for the functioning of all the components (lines, substations etc.) of the Transmission network in the southern network

I spent two weeks stationed in the Pannipitiya 220/132kV Grid Substation, where I learnt about the components of a substation, its operation and maintenance activities. Within this period, I also visited two places where I was able to closely observe hot line maintenance of transmission lines.

Transmission & Generation Planning branch

Transmission and Generation planning branch is responsible for planning and publishing “Long Term Generation Expansion plan” for the next 20 years, and this plan is revised every 2 years.

Transmission Design & Environment branch

Transmission Design branch are concerned with the design of new transmission line paths, towers and they specify the conductor requirements.

Here I was able to familiarize with design concepts such as clearances, span, right of way and different construction types of towers.

Transmission Construction Projects branch

 TCP branch has 2 major units: Transmission Line Construction Project, and Grid Substation Construction Project.

During my stay at this branch, I visited the Kerawalapitiya site, where a transmission tower was being relocated as its original location was becoming under threat due to poor soil conditions caused by nearby garbage dump.

Projects and Heavy Maintenance – DD4

 Distribution Division 4 encompasses Western Province South I region and the Southern Province region. There are two major units under this branch: Line Construction & Maintenance, and Substation Construction & Maintenance.

During my stay at this branch I visited multiple sites:

• Akuressa, Galle, where foundation works for new 33kV line was under construction.
• Panadura Primary substation, where routine maintenance was being done.
• Katubedda Primary substation, where augmentation was being done to replace transformers with higher power rating.
• Unawatuna, Galle, where a new primary substation was being constructed.

Colombo City branch

 This branch is responsible for all the distribution activities in Colombo City. Inside Colombo city the entire MV distribution is underground. It controls primary, radial, ring as well as satellite substations.

During my stay at this branch I visited Primary Substation D at Borella, where new transformer was being installed.