News
PUCSL: CEB increases tariff without managing its cash flow properly
By Ifham Nizam
The Cabinet-of-Minister has decided to ask the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to provide alternative recommendations to the proposed tariff rates before 15 Feb.
“There is a high probability that it would take five to 10 days more to revise tariffs, even if everything goes smoothly,” said a Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) official.
The PUCSL is in the process of studying the Cabinet recommendations, but public consultations was a key ingredient in its decision making, a senior official said.
The electricity tariff revisions, approved by the Cabinet, would be effective from 01 January 2023, Cabinet Spokesman, Minister Bandula Gunawardane, said yesterday.
A tariff hike of 65 percent in January 2023 was on the cards to offset CEB costs, a spokesman said.
CEB General Manager, Rohan Seneviratne, told journalists that the regulator had not allowed a sufficient increase in August last year. A majority of the consumers were ready to pay more, the GM claimed.
The General Manager’s statement has angered the public.
The PUCSL has stressed that the proposed electricity tariff hike is unacceptable and the CEB has not incurred a huge loss over the past few years.
While accepting the public petition, signed by 6.9 million electricity consumers, at his office, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake yesterday said the CEB did not incur losses.
He said that the main cause of the loss was the CEB’s inability to manage Rs. 35 billion cash flow properly.
When valuing one tonne of coal, there was a price discrepancy of USD 90. “There is an error in this calculation,” he said.
“The proposal for the electricity rate revision is an illegal decision taken by the Ministry,” PUCSL Chief stressed.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975
By Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-01, policy approval was granted to amend the definition of the term “animal” in the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 by including, pigs, goats, and sheep, in addition to cattle and buffaloes, within the interpretation section of the act.
In accordance with the said approval, the Legal Draftsman has drafted an Amended Bill in all three languages, and the clearance of the Attorney General has also been obtained.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish the draft Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Government of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in Sri Lanka and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to the affairs of the said cultural centre, in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the operation of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre.
According to the provisions of the aforementioned MOU, upon completion of the construction of the project, the cultural centre should be transferred to the Jaffna Municipal Council through the Government of Sri Lanka.
Following such transfer, the relevant parties have reached an agreement to establish a ‘trust’ for carrying out the management activities of the centre. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft trust deed prepared for that purpose.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to establish the trust to continue the management activities of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975 to be amended
Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 amended
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
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