News

Opposition trade union meets AKD’s reps, flays CEB

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/9

Thilina Walpola

Controversy over delay in granting relief to electricity consumers:

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Convener of the SJB’s trade union wing, Ananda Palitha, has said that the country expected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s intervention to ensure that consumers received the immediate benefit of a downward electricity tariffs revision, which was long overdue.

Palitha told The Island that as NPP leader Dissanayake had assured the public in the run-up to the presidential election (21 Sept.) and, thereafter, an electricity tariff reduction, and the vast majority of electricity consumers had expected 30% to 35% downward tariff revision.

Palitha emphasised that it was up to President Dissanayake to prevent the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) from depriving consumers of relief. The President couldn’t go back on his election promise to reduce monthly electricity bills of Rs. 3,000 and Rs 6,000 by Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 3,000, respectively, Palitha said.

Asked whether the trade union intended to campaign for tariff reduction, Palitha said that they had taken the issue with Director General and Deputy Director General of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on 01 Nov. and subsequently written to President Dissanayake seeking his intervention.

The trade unionist said that in spite of the change of government the CEB seemed to be determined not to mend its ways. Having repeatedly assured the country of a much-touted system change, the ruling party must not allow the CEB to have its way in dealing with electricity consumers.

Palitha alleged that the CEB had deliberately delayed the submission of its tariff proposals to the PUCSL.

Responding to another question, Palitha said their trade union collective had received an opportunity to make a comprehensive presentation on behalf of electricity consumers to President Dissanayake’s senior aides at the Presidential Secretariat on 06 Dec.

“We explained how the top CEB management, particularly influential engineers, manipulated the whole pricing process to their advantage at the expense of the people struggling to make ends meet,” Palitha said, adding he hoped that the presidential aides had realized the gravity of the developing situation, particularly as within hours after their meeting the country was told anticipated tariff revision couldn’t be granted.

“How could the CEB declare that the tariff revision couldn’t be implemented after having offered 6% to 11% tariff reduction just a couple of weeks ago?” Palitha said. The incumbent political leadership couldn’t absolve itself of the responsibility for ensuring the CEB adhered to a Cabinet decision taken during the previous administration that there would be four tariff revisions yearly.

Palitha disclosed that the SJB trade unions had taken up with the President’s team Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe’s recent declaration that electricity consumers would be given a 30% tariff reduction over a period of three years whereas his leader had promised immediate relief.

Regardless of the CEB’s recommendations, the final decision in respect of electricity tariffs would be taken by the PUC, Palitha said, urging the NPP representatives to speak in one voice.

Palitha mentioned that both the government and the CEB owed an explanation to the public regarding the sudden declaration made by the latter that tariff reduction couldn’t be made as the government trade union leader at the CEB, Ranjan Jayalal, had disclosed on a live television debate the CEB earned Rs 62 bn profits in 2023 and so far Rs 142 bn this year. Jayalal made the declaration in support of his demand for thumping year-end bonuses for CEB employees, Palitha said, declaring providing relief to consumers should be the government’s priority.

Palitha said that Dissanayake who had been at the helm of the JVP since 2014 couldn’t be unaware how their union and other interested parties won their demands at the expense of not only the consumers but the entire country as well.

The SJB representative said that the country was yet to receive the benefit of the bulk of electricity being generated through hydro power.

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Latest News

Sun directly overhead Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon today (11)

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/11

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (11th) are Pomparippu, Anuradhapura, Mihinthale, Galenbindunuwewa, Agbopura and Serunuwara about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition NCM against Energy Minister defeated

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

A no-confidence motion brought by the Opposition against Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was defeated in Parliament yesterday by a majority of 104 votes.At the end of the debate, 49 members voted in favour of the motion, while 153 voted against it.

The motion, submitted to the Speaker on 19 March, was signed by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, SJB MPs, and other Opposition members.

It accused Minister Jayakody of failing to ensure the procurement of adequate and quality coal for the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai, alleging that such negligence amounted to a breach of ministerial responsibility over a critical national energy asset.

The motion also cited ongoing legal proceedings against the Minister, noting that he has been indicted by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and produced before the Colombo High Court under Section 70 of the Bribery Act, in connection with alleged acts of corruption during his tenure as Procurement Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company Limited.

The motion read: Vote of No Confidence against Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy,— Whereas the Provision in Section 6 of the Part III of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament which states that: “The Members shall on all occasions act in accordance with the public trust entrusted with them and shall always behave with probity and integrity, including the use by them of any public resources.” has been violated; And whereas the following rules of conduct set out in Section 9 of the Part V of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament have prima facie been breached, namely:- “(a) to be conscience; (c) to act so as to merit the trust and respect of the people; (e) to hold themselves accountable for the conduct and duties for which they are responsible;” And whereas it is observed that the Minister has failed, in his capacity as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers, to discharge the fundamental duties incumbent upon him in accordance with Article 28 of the Constitution;

And whereas it is established that the Minister of Energy has failed to discharge his primary duty of ensuring the procurement of adequate and good quality coal for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant;

And whereas such gross negligence in overseeing a critical national energy asset constitutes a fundamental breach of ministerial responsibility;

And whereas the Minister of Energy has failed to carry out the subjects and functions vested in him by the Notification of Gazette Extraordinary No. 2412/08 of 25th November 2024 of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, including taking necessary steps to reduce the losses at the institutional management level and technical damages that occur to the electricity generation and distribution system and reduction of costs for generating electricity and removal of uncertainties during generation;

And whereas the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has filed formal indictments before the Colombo High Court against the incumbent Minister of Energy under Section 70 of the Bribery Act (Chapter 26) for the offence of “corruption” in connection with acts of corruption allegedly committed while he was serving as the Procurement Manager of the Lanka Fertilizer Company;

And whereas, in light of the foregoing, the Minister of Energy has irretrievably forfeited the confidence of Parliament and the people of Sri Lanka by causing losses to public finances, endangering national energy security, corruptly mishandling the procurement process, being subjected to active judicial proceedings for the offence of “corruption”, and betraying the Government’s own “anti-corruption mandate”, and his continued tenure as the Minister of Energy is contrary to the public interest, the rule of law, and the principles of good governance;

That this Parliament resolves that it has no confidence in the competence of Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Energy to function as a Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers any longer.”

by Saman Indrajith

News

Chinese Ambassador assures Lanka China will not allow a fuel crisis to develop here

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/11

Thilina Walpola

Qi Zhenhong

Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong yesterday assured that China would not allow a fuel crisis to arise in Sri Lanka, under any circumstances, reaffirming Beijing’s continued support to the country.

The Ambassador made these remarks addressing the media after attending a dry ration distribution programme for 350 low-income families at Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, at Asgiriya, in Kandy.

Highlighting the longstanding ties between the two countries, Ambassador Qi said China has consistently stood by Sri Lanka and remains ready to extend assistance whenever required.

Amid concerns over global energy disruptions, stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict, he noted that several countries are already facing difficulties, but stressed that China is prepared to support Sri Lanka at any time.

He said that any potential fuel shortage in Sri Lanka could be managed with the involvement of China’s Sinopec.

Reiterating Beijing’s commitment to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and development, the Envoy also expressed hope that the current ceasefire in the Middle East would hold, while assuring that China stands ready to respond to any future developments and assist Sri Lanka as needed.

By SK Samaranayake