News
Electricity tariff reduction: 20% inadequate says consumers
By Anuradha Hiripitiyage
The government’s announcement of a 20% reduction in electricity tariffs has been criticized as inadequate by Sanjeewa Dhammika, Secretary of the Electricity Consumers’ Association. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on Friday, Dhammika argued that the reduction should have been at least 30%, given that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported profits of Rs. 200 billion over the past two years.
Addressing the media following the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka’s (PUCSL) announcement of revised tariffs earlier in the day, Dhammika raised concerns over the process used to determine the reduction. He revealed that the Auditor General had previously sent a letter to the CEB, dated November 30, highlighting inaccuracies in the data provided for tariff adjustments.
“These concerns seem to have been overlooked in the current tariff revision,” Dhammika said.
He further claimed that if the PUCSL had properly analyzed the data, a 30% tariff reduction could have been implemented. Such a move, he suggested, would have not only eased the financial burden on the public but also contributed to the country’s economic recovery.
Dhammika also accused the PUCSL of failing to take legal action against CEB officials responsible for providing incorrect data, despite having the authority to do so. Additionally, he criticized the absence of Ministers Nalinda Jayatissa and Wasantha Samarasinghe, who typically participate in public consultations on tariff adjustments.
“Did they stay away because they saw the possibility of a 30% reduction and wanted to avoid supporting it?” he questioned.
The association called for greater transparency and accountability in tariff adjustments, urging the government to act in the best interest of the public.
Earlier in the day the PUCSL said that higher projected surplus of 44 billion rupees helped for 20 percent reduction electricity tariffs from Jan 17, against a proposal by the CEB to maintain the same price.
The PUCSL has the authority to decide the prices, as per law. The CEB’s request to maintain the same tariffs for the first six months of 2025 comes with its projection of only 2.3 billion rupee surplus in the period.
“But the PUCSL’s assessment showed there could be a 44 billion surplus in the first six months and we decided that the benefit of this surplus should go to the public,” Jayanath Herath, director at the PUCSL’s Communication Unit, told reporters at a media briefing on Friday.
Representatives from the ’The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce’ met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Wednesday [24th of June] at the Parliament premises.
During the meeting, discussions focused on the Sri Lanka Economic and Investment Summit 2026 (SLEIS 2026), which is scheduled to be held on 12 and 13 October 2026. Attention was also given to digitalization initiatives, the introduction of digital technologies in schools under new education reforms, and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Sri Lanka’s education sector.
Representatives of the Chamber noted that the summit would serve as an important platform for encouraging both local and foreign investment, while also contributing to the shaping of the country’s future economic policies.
The meeting was attended by Krishan Balendra, Chairman of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce; Vinod Hirdaramani, Deputy Vice Chairman; Shiran Fernando, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer; Aliki Perera, Deputy Secretary General and Chief Operating Officer; and Anagi Rodrigo-Weerasekera, Chief Economist and Head of Economic Intelligence, along with several other representatives.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
A discussion to review the progress of the housing project under which 4,700 houses are being constructed for the Malayagam community with Indian assistance was held this afternoon (24) at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabath Chandrakeerthi.
Under this housing programme, 2,026 houses are to be provided to families identified by the National Building Research Institute (NBRI) as being at disaster risk. The remaining houses are expected to be allocated to eligible workers residing in the plantation sector.
Accordingly, the houses will be provided to Malayagam community families living on estates belonging to 22 Regional Plantation Companies, as well as estates under the State Plantations Corporation, Janawasama and Elkaduwa Plantations.
For the construction of each house, the Government of India has allocated Rs. 2.8 million, while the Government of Sri Lanka has contributed Rs. 400,000.
During the discussion, Chandrakeerthi instructed officials to ensure that the housing project is completed before the end of this year. He further directed that land identified for the construction of houses be released without delay and that the National Building Research Institute provide the necessary reports to identify suitable land for the project.
The housing project is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, the National Housing Development Authority, the State Engineering Corporation and the Plantation Human Development Trust.
Among those present were Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, K. S. Wijayakeerthi; Director General (Engineering), N. D. N. Pushpakumara; Director General (Planning), W. A. K. S. Damayanthi; the Secretary General of the Planters’ Association; and officials from the National Housing Development Authority, the State Engineering Corporation, relevant institutions and plantation companies.
(PMD)
It has been reported that Attorney at Law Rakitha Rajapakshe, the son of former Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) over alleged links with the underworld.
Venezuela earthquakes: At least 164 dead, 971 injured as toll rises
Representatives from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce meet PM
Progress of Housing Project for Malayagam Community families funded by India reviewed
South Africa stun South Korea to reach World Cup knockouts for the first time
Tremors of 7.5, 7.2 kill 32, injure hundreds in Venezuela
Former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s son arrested by CIABOC
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News7 days agoCreditor receives USD 2.5 mn as Lankan public bears loss from theft of Treasury funds
-
News6 days agoCreditor not yet paid
-
News6 days agoConsumers bearing 22% tax burden despite 18% VAT claim: Dr. Harsha de Silva
-
Features5 days agoNanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundara as three generations of family saw her
-
Features4 days agoSri Lanka developing independent hydrographic capabilities
-
Opinion7 days agoSriLankan Airbus struck by lightning
-
Editorial5 days agoFuel crisis: Beyond price debate
-
Latest News4 days agoSooryavanshi thumps fastest List A fifty as India A win tri-series