News
Power bill shock: Poor households could see 305% hike under new policy
The NPP government’s proposed National Electricity Policy could see households consuming between 0–30 units of electricity face a 305% increase in their monthly bills, the Secretary of the Electricity Users’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, warned on Friday.
The public consultation for the policy concluded on January 9, during which the government outlined plans to phase out subsidies currently provided to low-usage consumers. At present, households using up to 30 units pay just Rs. 215, including fixed charges. This is a system designed to support the country’s poorer households, Dhammika said.
He said that under the proposed policy, this subsidy would be gradually removed, with bills for 30-unit households projected to rise to Rs. 870 by 2029, reflecting recalculated unit rates and fixed charges.
Conversely, the policy would reduce electricity costs for high-usage consumers. Households consuming 300 units, who currently pay Rs. 13,920, would see their bills drop by 38%, to around Rs. 8,697.
“The proposed policy effectively shifts the burden from wealthier, high-usage households to low-usage, often poorer households,” Dhammika said. “It is, in essence, taking from the poor to benefit the rich.”
More than 100,000 households in Sri Lanka currently consume fewer than 30 units per month and stand to be most affected if the policy is implemented. With the consultation period now closed, these consumers are expected to play a decisive role in shaping public opinion on the policy.
by Anuradha Hiripitiyage ✍️
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce from tomorrow (15th)
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Fair weather will prevail except for a few showers in the Uva, Eastern, Western and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Rathnapura districts
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