News
FSP: CEB twisting stats to help advance govt. agenda
Even if the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had not increased the tariff in October 2023, it would have made a profit of 40 billion rupees, Education Secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Pubudu Jayagoda said.
He added that the CEB can give a tariff reduction of 33 percent this year, given that it made a profit of 50 billion rupees in 2023 and because the estimates it has come up for 2024 are faulty.
“In response, the Minister of Power and Energy said that the CEB is making a profit and that he plans to distribute a part of the profit to the people. However, according to the laws that govern the CEB, this is an institution that should not determine prices in order to make a profit. The laws say that tariffs should be determined to cover costs in a just manner.”
Jayagoda said the CEB has determined that energy cost of generating electricity will be 351 billion rupees in 2024. This number was significantly lower in 2023, i.e., by 85 billion rupees. In 2023, the maintenance costs of power plants was 19.9 billion rupees. This has increased to 81 billion rupees for 2024. If we look at the distribution cost, it was 62 billion in 2023. In 2024, it will be 133 billion rupees.
“In 2023, the CEB had spent 21 billion rupees on salaries. This year, the salary bill is 43 billion rupees. All the data I have quoted is from a report the CEB sent to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). How can the salaries double? There is no decision on a salary hike or bonuses by the government,” he said.
Jayagoda said that these numbers are used by the CEB to calculate the cost of production. Even if the salaries of all CEB workers are doubled, the estimated cost of salaries would be 42 billion rupees.
“Obviously, this kind of mammoth pay hike doesn’t take place anywhere. Why have they exaggerated numbers like this? It is obvious that the government wants to exaggerate the cost of production, increase tariffs and make a huge profit.”
Jayagoda said that last year, close to a million households have had their electricity disconnected. He said that there is a long-standing debate on whether electricity should be made a profit-making business or whether it is for public good.
“We can’t think of electricity supply from a business perspective alone. Now, electricity is a mainstay of daily life, and states provide electricity at a concessionary rate because it boosts productivity and quality of life. Imagine what a devastating impact the disconnection of electricity must have had on families,” the FSP Education Secretary asked.
In the last two years, 19,000 SMEs, too, have seen the power supply discontinued. The Minister of Power and Energy states that he has made the CEB profitable, but when one looks at the economy as a whole, the overall economy has suffered.
“The high electricity costs make our products less competitive, both domestically and internationally. I think we all agree that we need to boost our exports. How can we do that when electricity tariffs are this high?”
Jayagoda said that in the report to PUCSL, the CEB calculated finance cost for 2024 has gone up by 18 percent compared to 2023. This is not possible because the interest rates have gone down consistently in 2023 and 2024. RK
The National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC), which is being established under the Presidential Secretariat with the aim of removing administrative and regulatory barriers that exist among government institutions in relation to investment and industry and expediting these processes, will be opened tomorrow (22).
The centre is being established on the President’s initiative with the aim of bringing about a positive transformation in the industrial sector. The centre will provide solutions to issues that arise in dealing with the government machinery when starting and operating a business, while also coordinating with the relevant government institutions to provide the necessary facilities.
The “ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) has been established at Building C-80, Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07, and is headed by Senior Additional( Secretary to the President, Seevali Arukgoda.
The centre will be opened under the patronage of Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Anil Jayantha Fernando and Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, with the participation of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The website https://nbfc.presidentsoffice.gov.lk is also scheduled to be officially launched on the occasion.
President’s Media Division)
Latest News
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.
The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.
Accordingly Judge Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat this morning (21).
Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.
(President’s Media Division)
Latest News
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
A discussion to review the further measures that could be taken regarding Sivarasa Anojan, a young Sri Lankan national who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (21), under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The discussion focused on the measures taken to date concerning Sivaraasa Anojan and the further diplomatic and legal steps that could be pursued. Attention was also given to expediting the necessary further measures that could be taken to secure his release.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to continue the necessary diplomatic engagement with the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia and to maintain close and continuous involvement in all further measures concerning the case.
Reaffirming the Government’s continued attention to the safety and welfare of Sri Lankans living and working overseas, the President also stressed the need for the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination and pursue all possible measures that could be taken in connection with the case.
Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffer, Governor of the Western Province Hanif Yusoof, Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism were also present at the discussion.
(President’s Media Division)
“ViYASA” National Business Facilitation Centre (NBFC) to be opened tomorrow (22)
Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea appointed as Acting President of the Court of Appeal
President instructs expediting further measures concerning Sivarasa Anojan, sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
It’s Shafali vs Athapaththu as Sri Lanka seek to stop India juggernaut
Trophy row unlikely to repeat in Japan
Powerful explosions at Syrian army site near Aleppo injure at least four
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