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CEB mafia back to old tricks, alleges electricity consumers

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Sanjeewa

Renewable electricity generation curtailed

By Anuradha Hiripitiyage

Consumers have brought to the notice of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka an attempt by the Ceylon Electricity Board to curtail the generation of renewable electricity, especially by mini-hydro power producers during the weekends.

They suspect that this is yet another ploy by the CEB to push for emergency power purchases and to support the production of electricity through diesel generation that is also highly injurious to people’s health.

The National Organiser of the Electricity Consumers’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, in a letter to the Chairman of the PUCSL, states that CEB area engineers have informed the owners and managers of mini-hydro power plants and large-scale solar power projects to shut down their plants.

These officials are implementing a curtailment mechanism for solar power systems to reduce production when electricity demand is low. This move would be a blow to small-scale power producers who have invested with the expectation of both returns and cheaper electricity bills, he said.

Dhammika states that mini-hydro plants generate electricity at a minimal cost of around nine rupees per unit. In addition, the owners and managers of solar plants have also been informed, via phone, to shut down their plants. Over the weekends, around 50 to 60 such plants have been ordered to shut down.

“We believe this could be a destructive and conspiratorial step, and we urge an immediate investigation into the actions taken by certain CEB officials who have distorted the decisions made during the recent tariff revision. These economic predators and their supporters should be brought to justice,” Dhammika said.

“We kindly request that an investigation be conducted regarding the purchase of electricity from diesel plants and emergency electricity, without taking hydropower at the rate of nine rupees per unit, and that the PUCSL ensures the protection of consumer rights.”



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Payment of Compensation to the people who have lost their cultivable lands in implementing the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project

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Approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 27-06-2012 to provide cultivable agricultural lands from the lower Uma Oya valley to 276 farming families in Hali-Ela, Walimada, and Uva Paranagama Divisional Secretariat Divisions who have lost their cultivable lands due to the acquisition of lands for the
Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.

However, the aforementioned proposal could not be implemented due to the encroachment of a large portion of the identified lands by unauthorized persons, heavy forest cover, the threats posed by wild elephants, remoteness from their original settlements, and difficulties in adapting to other environmental conditions and social anomalies.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to pay an estimated compensation of Rs. 12 lakhs for each of these 276 farming families, based on the
recommendations submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to provide solutions for the issues arising in the implementation of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.

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Draft Bill of the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka to be Gazzated

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Policy approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 07.04.2025 to prepare a draft bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka in order to accomplish the requirement of a training institution to carry out studies in order to create chartered media professionals and mould intelligent media personalities with skills in order to enhance the quality and standard of the media society.

Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the final draft prepared by the Legal Draftsman for the purpose.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to publish the draft bill of Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka in the Government Gazette Notification and thereafter submit the same for the concurrence of the House.

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Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 to be amended

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The Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 has enabled provisions to impose telecommunication levy. The budget 2026 has proposed to introduce amendments for the act including changes imposed from time to time regarding the telecommunication levy.

Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated a draft bill for
amending the Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 including provisions to extend applicable to envisage all the tax amounts applicable from the year 2015 along with the telecommunication levy existing at present, applicable of taxes on unrecovered revenue (bad debts) and to extend the provisions of that act to cater the telecommunication suppliers.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the  President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said draft bill in the Government Gazette Notification and subsequently to submit the same for the concurrence of the House.

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