News
Opposition trade union meets AKD’s reps, flays CEB
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.
News
SLTDA Chairman confident necessary infrastructure in place to handle three million tourists this year
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Buddhika Hewawasam, has assured that Sri Lanka has the necessary infrastructure to meet the government’s target of attracting three million tourists to the country this year.
Speaking to the media, Hewawasam said the SLTDA is taking steps to streamline the process of investing in the tourism industry and is addressing the issue of foreigners running businesses in Sri Lanka while on tourist visas.
Hewawasam said that many tourist hotel rooms in Sri Lanka are not documented in government censuses, although they are catering to tourists. He added that, when combining both regulated and unregulated accommodations, there are sufficient rooms to meet demand.
“We do not intend to shut down illegal operations but aim to regulate them. By obtaining legal status, these businesses can benefit from certain government services,” he said. He also said that if businesses refuse to comply with regulations, authorities will take legal action.
Hewawasam expressed concern over the concentration of accommodation developments in existing tourist hotspots, rather than in locations with potential to become new tourist destinations. “To address this, we need to attract more investors. Government-owned lands earmarked for tourism are being placed under a land bank to simplify the investment process. The Tourism Development Authority is also facilitating the issuance of licences and permits to investors,” he said.
The SLTDA, he added, has an investment relations unit which is being digitised to further enhance efficiency.
Addressing the issue of foreigners operating businesses illegally while on tourist visas, Hewawasam said several such individuals on the southern coast had already been arrested, with some deported. “If a person on a tourist visa takes up employment or operates a business, they are no longer a tourist, regardless of their country of origin. We rely on tourism professionals and locals to report such cases and urge them to continue doing so.”
Hewawasam said the SLTDA is conducting operations in Unawatuna, Bentota, and Mirissa to address the issue and plans to expand these efforts across the country. “We have reached an agreement with the Acting Inspector General of Police and the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police overseeing the Tourist Police to assign two officers specialising in tourist policing to all police stations in tourist zones.”
He added that a centralised unit for tourist policing will be established, and the SLTDA has sought advice from the Attorney General regarding setting up a unit within the authority to pursue legal action against such individuals.
By Hemantha Randunu
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed Fort Magistrate Nipuni Lankapura, through a B Report, that investigations are underway into the disappearance of 29 vehicles belonging to the Presidential Secretariat.
The inquiry was launched following a complaint filed by the Presidential Secretary. The CID said a statement had already been recorded from an individual, who previously served as an Additional Presidential Secretary, regarding the missing vehicles.
The police have identified those who used 16 of the 29 missing vehicles. However, no information has yet been uncovered about the remaining 13 vehicles, the CID has said.
After reviewing the submissions, Magistrate Lankapura directed the CID to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a progress report to the court by 12 March.
By A.J.A. Abeynayake
The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal on Thursday (16) that the government had yet to reach a final decision regarding the agreement with India’s Adani Group to initiate a wind power project in the Vedithalathivu area of Mannar.
The Deputy Solicitor General, representing the Attorney General, also informed the court that several other significant cases, related to the project, were due to be heard by the Supreme Court in March.
The petition, filed by Sanka Chandima Abeywardena, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Haritha Sangvidhanaya (Green Organisation), seeks a writ order to nullify the agreement between the government and the Adani Group for the Mannar Vedithalathivu wind power project. The matter was taken up on Thursday before Court of Appeal Judge M.U.B. Karaliyadda.
Following submissions, the judge ordered the petition to be listed for further consideration on 23 May.
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