News
Power cuts till 2027 unless generation capacity is increased
Sri Lanka will experience periodical power cuts until 2027 if the government does not take steps to increase power generation. CEB engineers say that people are in a state of shock over the sharply increased power tariff because the government failed to introduce the increases in an affordable manner.
CEB Engineers Union (CEBEU) President, Saumya Kumarawadu said: “The government should have increased the tariff at regular intervals. We haven’t increased rates in a decade and suddenly we have increased by a large amount. That’s why it has come as a shock to people.”
He said that the electricity tariff was last increased in 2012. In 2014, the tariff was reduced. Without increasing electricity tariffs, the CEB will have to get increasing amounts of money from the treasury.
“The government should have increased the tariff at regular intervals. We haven’t increased rates in a decade and suddenly we have increased it sharply. That’s why it has come as a shock to people,” he said.
Due to electricity shortages, the Norochcholei Power Plant has been operational non-stop, sometimes even without scheduled maintenance, Kumarawadu said.
“Even now a generator is down. It will be back online within 14 days. We had started maintenance on another plant in June and it was due to be back online in September. But this has been delayed till November.”
Kumarawadu warned there will be 10-hour power cuts without Norochcholai. However, the power cuts could be reduced in two weeks, when the generator comes back online, he said.
“Power cuts might have to go on till 2026 or 2027 unless new plants come up. A proposal to build an LNG power plant is still stuck in the Cabinet,” he said.
He said that while they support restructuring of the CEB, they oppose un-bundling and selling the CEB to various private players.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to the preparation of the Appropriation Bill for the financial year of 2027 at their meeting held on 30.06.2026.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been given to the Appropriation Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, 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 aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Latest News
Cabinet approves aditional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase 2026 Yala harvest
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to provide an additional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board on a reimbursable basis from the Rs. 7,500 million additional allocations granted to the Ministry to implement
the expedited paddy purchasing program for the 2026 Yala harvest.
Latest News
Cabinet nod to host the 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the CPA are planned to be held over three days in Colombo during April/May 2027.
Approximately 90 delegates including speakers, Deputy Speakers, Member of Parliamentarians, and Parliamentary officers representing member countries of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, in the Asian and South-East Asian regions, are expected to participate in these conferences.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Prime Minister of the Parliament of Sri Lanka to host the said conferences considering the opportunities to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and regional cooperation, as well as to enhance international recognition of the Parliament of Sri Lanka within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Draft of the Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2027 su mitted to the Parliament
Cabinet approves aditional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase 2026 Yala harvest
Cabinet nod to host the 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
SAARC Training Workshop on Financial Modeling for Renewable Energy Projects from 5th to 7th October in Colombo
National Children’s Week from 25th September to 01st October
Nairobi and Munich to host 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Sports5 days agoDDS set to lose Test captaincy
-
News5 days agoSri Lanka faces new grid challenge as rooftop solar surges: former CEB GM
-
Latest News5 days agoShafali, Deepti power India into sixth T20 Asia Cup final
-
Opinion7 days agoNavigating Sri Lanka’s Israeli Dilemma
-
Latest News4 days agoSri Lanka thwart Fatima Sana challenge to secure Asia Cup final spot
-
Features6 days agoLost for 90 years: Rare Goby resurfaces in Jaffna
-
News3 days agoGnanasara Thero absconding after SC ruling
-
News4 days agoAmmunition cache found in old Kandy bungalow