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Minister pushes for power tariff hike: PUCSL Chairman refuses to budge
By Chaminda Silva
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake yesterday said that his outfit would frustrate attempts being made to jack up power tariffs.
He said that Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera had no authority to increase the tariff in an ad hoc manner.
“The Minister needs the approval of the PUCSL to increase the electricity tariff. If the Minister increases it without our approval, we will take legal action,” he said.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had been making profits since the tariff was increased in August 2022, he said.
“Another price hike in quick succesion cannot be justified; it will have an adverse impact on the people and the industries reeling from current economic chaos,” he said.
Ratnayake added that the CEB had not submitted any request for a fresh increase in electricity tariff.
“There is a way of revising the tariff. The CEB has to present a proposal and then we decide whether to approve it.
There is no point in placing a proposal to increase tariffs before the Cabinet. Probably, the Minister is trying to scare the people,” Ratnayake said, adding that the Minister and the CEB could not ask for a tariff hike based on the possibility of power cuts.
Minister Wijesekera recently said that there would be severe power cuts unless a 65 percent tariff increase was effected.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Power Champika Ranawaka has rubbished the government’s claim that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is incurring losses, and questioned the validity of the load forecasting for 2023, upon which the CEB’s decision to jack up power tariff again is based. Ranawaka is reported to have said the country’s daily electricity consumption is 37 Gigawatt hours, and the CEB’s claim that it will increase to 48 Gigawatt hours next year is far-fetched, and the CEB has not factored in a decrease in the demand for power in the current depressed circumstances.
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Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO] to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola, Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna, Walapane, Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.
News
IMF pledges additional aid to Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah destruction
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), on Thursday, signalled strong solidarity with Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, confirming that it is actively exploring options to provide further support for recovery and resilience beyond the existing Extended Fund Facility (EFF).
Julie Kozack, Director of the IMF’s Communications Department, opened her remarks with heartfelt condolences:
“Our deepest sympathies go out to the people of Sri Lanka for the effects of the devastating cyclone. Our hearts mourn the loss of life that has taken place,” she said, extending condolences to other Asian nations also grappling with severe flooding, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
On Sri Lanka, Kozack emphasised that the IMF is closely engaging with authorities, development partners, and counterparts to assess the humanitarian, social, and economic toll of the disaster.
“Large parts of Sri Lanka have been affected by floods, and we expect economic activity to be adversely impacted, in addition to the significant human toll,” she noted.
The IMF is awaiting the completion of a rapid post-disaster damage assessment, led by Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with international partners, to better gauge the economic impact.
“We are continuing to support Sri Lanka’s recovery, reform, and resilience under the EFF arrangement. Our staff is looking into options to further support Sri Lanka in the recovery process,” Kozack confirmed.
She reiterated that the Board meeting, scheduled for 15 December, remains on track, following the staff-level agreement on the fifth review reached in October—prior to the cyclone.
“We will provide additional details as the assessment of economic needs and damages moves forward, and as we have more information to inform our thinking around the options,” she added.
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Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP
Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir was sworn in as a Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National List Member of Parliament before Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (05).
His appointment follows the resignation of SJB Parliamentarian Muhammathu Ismail Muththu Mohamed, who stepped down from his position on 28 November.
The SJB subsequently nominated Thahir to fill the resulting vacancy.
Accordingly, the Election Commission issued a Gazette Extraordinary declaring Naina Thambi Marikkar Mohamed Thahir a Member of Parliament, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981, as amended by Section 6 of the Elections (Special Provisions) Act, No. 35 of 1988.
With the issuance of the gazette, and the subsequent swearing-in, Thahir has officially assumed duties as a National List MP, representing the SJB.
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