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CEB pushing for further increase in electricity tariffs

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by Ifham Nizam

A tug-o-war between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) continues, with the former calling for another electricity tariff hike. A senior management official of the CEB told The Island that despite the price hike CEB would lose Rs. 12.00 per unit. “Our income is Rs. 264 million and expenses stand at Rs. 600 million. We need Rs. 800 million to cover up but we get only Rs. 400 million,” he added.Structural reforms would certainly fatten the electricity bills unless authorities find a method to cover up the difference or consumers will have to be in the dark, he said.

Others however insist that authorities will first have to make CEB more efficient by shedding its dead weight and eliminating corruption as the public utility is too unwieldy with a huge unproductive staff; much of its work is subcontracted to outside companies.Current rains have helped increase hydro power generation. The Castlereagh, Mousakelle, Victoria and Kotmale reservoirs are almost brimful.

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera last week said: “Even though a hike is a very difficult thing for the people, it must be done at this time

“The CEB needs to pay Rs. 76.8 billion to private power plants and Rs. 29 billion for renewables including rooftop solar. Ceypetco has to pay 31 billion rupees.”

The minister said that even though the CEB had expected revenue of 869 billion rupees from tariff hikes, the PUCSL had only given approval for Rs. 500 billion.

“A tariff increase is a must, and that has been done with measures being adopted to protect the low-consumption groups,” he said.

The majority of Sri Lanka’s electricity consumers use fewer than 30 units a month, and the current tariff rates offer that group a 75 percent subsidy on the rate per unit.



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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

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RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.

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