News

Power tariffs can be reduced by 35%

Published

2 years ago

2025/01/13

Thilina Walpola

SJB trade unionist:

… alleges current pricing formula helps fleece consumers

by Shamindra Ferdinando

Alleging that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had sought to put off the scheduled power tariff revision, on the basis of false data and assessment provided to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), prominent SJB trade union activist Ananda Palitha yesterday (12) said that the PUC could grant as much as 35% reduction in rates. Power and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament last week that electricity tariffs would not be reduced soon but the government had decided not to increase electricity tariffs further in the future.

Convener of the Samagi trade unions and consumers collective Ananda Palitha said so in response to The Island query after having made representations to the PUC, along with other interested parties, during public consultations held in respect of the impending tariff revision expected to be announced this coming Friday (17).

Taking into consideration substantial profits earned by the state enterprise, the PUC could order the CEB to implement tariff revision, Ananda Palitha said, pointing out that the CEB, in early December last year, informed the PUC of its inability to grant relief during the January-June 2025 period.

In terms of a decision taken by the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, the PUC was to implement four tariff revisions annually, the trade union leader said. Responding to another query, the former UNPer alleged that regardless who wielded political power the CEB always tried to minimise tariff reductions. Thanks to PUC’s interventions, electricity consumers received a 21.9% decrease in rates in March 2024, though the CEB proposed only a 4% decrease, Ananda Palitha said.

In July 2024, the PUC had declared a 22.5% decrease though the CEB proposed only 3% reduction, Ananda Palitha said, adding that the next revision was to be announced in October 2024, soon after the presidential election.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake had assured the public of a substantial drop in electricity tariffs as he knew of the impending revision but the CEB implemented its usual strategy to deprive the consumers of much needed relief, Ananda Palitha said. Had President Disanayake appointed members to the PUC at the time he made appointments to the CEB, the PUC could have intervened, Ananda Palitha said. The PUC consists of Prof. K.P. Lalith Chandralal (Chairperson), Piyal Hennanayake and Dr. M. Chathuri Samanmali Fernando.

Ananda Palitha said that tariff revisions hadn’t been implemented after the July 2024 change and the CEB was making a determined bid to derail the whole process, with the backing of the new government. President Disanayake owed the public an explanation why he continued to delay the promised tariff reduction, knowing the significant decrease in costly thermal generation.

Declaring that he, along with several other concerned persons, recently made representations to the PUC regarding the responsibility on its part to provide relief to the hapless consumers, Ananda Palitha alleged the NPP government, too, seemed to be wholly disinterested in electricity consumers’ woes.

Having won both the presidential and parliamentary elections, the NPP was now playing a different tune, Ananda Palitha said, finding fault with Power Minister Kumara Jayakody for trying to mislead Parliament. The political activist said that over and over again, the CEB had been badly exposed for furnishing false information and making wrong assessments to the PUC, though no remedial measures were taken.

Ananda Palitha mentioned three specific instances when the PUC proved the CEB data and assessments utterly wrong. In August 2022, the CEB proposed a 110% increase in tariffs though the PUC permitted a 75% hike, whereas in February 2023 the CEB proposed 85% increase but the PUC brought it down to 66%.

In July 2023 when the CEB declared that the maximum downward revision that could be granted was 3%, the PUC reduced the rates by 14.2 percent, Ananda Palitha said.

The CEB’s response couldn’t be obtained as the position of spokesperson remained vacant.

Ananda Palitha said that the government should also look into the CPC earning unconscionable profits at the expense of the public by supplying diesel required for thermal generation at much higher prices. The issue at hand is that successive governments have allowed the CPC to manipulate the entire process thereby causing heavy burden on the electricity consumers, Ananda Palitha said, adding that both the CEB and CPC should be held responsible for this unfortunate situation.

The SJBer questioned the rationale in the CEB procuring its supplies from the CPC at the same prices as ordinary consumers. Electricity tariffs couldn’t be substantially reduced as long as the government allowed the high-handed manipulation involving the top management of the CPC and CEB to continue.

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News

CIABOC member’s appointment: Controversy over Speaker under probe heading selection process

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Opposition should intensity its focus on the forthcoming selection of a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and remain vigilant as Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne, MP, the head of the Constitutional Council (CC) tasked with making the relevant recommendation, is under investigation by the CIABOC, sources familiar with the ongoing inquiry told The Island.

Chethiya Goonasekara, PC, is expected to complete his three-year term on Dec 31, 2026. Sources pointed out that CIABOC Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation made by the 10-member Constitutional Council.

The CIABOC initiated the investigation following a complaint lodged by suspended Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne in early February this year. Sources said that as Goonasekera is scheduled to complete his term toward the end of 2026, the CC would have to call applications soon to choose the successor.

Goonasekara received his appointment from President Ranil Wickremesinghe in January 2024. A Justice W. M. N. P. Iddawala was appointed Chairman of the CIABOC. The other commissioner is K. Bernard Rajapakse.

Asked whether Iddawala and Rajapakse, too, would complete their terms soon, sources said that in terms of the Anti-Corruption Act No 09 of 2023, the Chairman of CIABOC would hold office for a period of five years, second commissioner (K. Bernard Rajapakse) for four years and the third commissioner (Chethiya Goonasekara) for a period of three years.

Sources said that the Opposition as well as civil society representatives in the CC should take up the issue of Speaker facing an investigation by the CIABOC taking part in the forthcoming selection process. Responding to queries, sources emphasized that the issue was whether in terms of Section 107 of the Anti-Corruption Act the participation of the Speaker in the selection process amounted to a violation of the Act itself.

The current members of the CC are Dr Jagath Wickramaratne, Speaker and Chairman of the Constitutional Council, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Prime Minister, Sajith Premadasa, Leader of the Opposition, Bimal Rathnayake, MP, Aboobucker Athambawa, MP, Ajith P. Perera, MP, Sivagnanam Shritharan, MP, Austin Fernando, Civil society representative, Prof. Wasantha Seneviratne, Civil society representative and Ranjith Ariyaratne, Civil society representative.

Sources pointed out that in spite of the sensitivity of the case, the CIABOC recorded Kularatne’s statement in the second week of August, six months after he lodged the complaint.

The CIABOC on 3, 8 and 10 Sept recorded the statements from the Transport Officer, Deputy Director, Administration and Assistant Director, Finance regarding the use of facilities by the Speaker, those assigned to his staff and other relevant matters.

The NPP named Dr. Wickramaratne as the Speaker after Asoka Ranwala resigned over controversy regarding his higher education qualifications.

SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayaskera has repeatedly raised the issues concerning the Speaker with the focus also on the Speaker using two government-managed residences, relevant staff in addition to expenditure on food, transport and fuel provided to the Speaker’s private secretary.

Political sources said that trouble erupted after the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Council in late January sacked Kularatne accusing him of providing false information to secure his appointment. Before being appointed as the Deputy Secretary-General of Parliament in 2023, Kularatne held several high-ranking positions, including Secretary to the Chief Government Whip, Additional Secretary to the President, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Additional Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.

The SJB declared in Parliament that Ranwala should be brought back as the Speaker as they have no faith in Wickramaratne. MP Mujibur Rahuman jokingly told parliament that the Opposition wouldn’t raise Ranwala’s educational qualifications.

News

GMOA: Countrywide cadre revision not done since 2015

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Dhammika

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has stressed the need to conduct a comprehensive countrywide cadre revision urgently.

GMOA spokesman Dr. Lasitha Dhammika told The Island that the failure on the part of successive governments to conduct cadre revision caused the deterioration of the public sector health services. Due to the absence of required statistics, they hadn’t been able to fully comprehend the situation on the ground and to ascertain the requirements of the public.

Dr. Dhammika pointed out the expansion of the services without supporting statistics and the need to initiate an immediate cadre revision. According to him, the GMOA had raised this issue with successive governments without success. The GMOA spokesman said that they also sought relevant information from the Health Ministry in terms of the Right to Information (RTI) Act two weeks ago but was yet to receive response.

(SF)

News

Namal sends defiant message from remand custody

Published

2 hours ago

2026/09/14

Thilina Walpola

Namal

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser and MP Namal Rajapaksa, currently held in remand custody, sent a defiant message from behind bars to supporters at the party’s “Jana Satana” rally in Anuradhapura on Saturday (12), vowing not to bow to what he described as political pressure from the government.

The message, issued from the Colombo Remand Prison, was addressed to those who gathered at the rally, which he described as a decisive new beginning for the SLPP.

Rajapaksa thanked supporters for their solidarity, saying he could feel the warmth of the brotherhood being shown to him, even from within the prison.

Quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, he said “difficulties break some men but make others”, adding that the challenges his movement had faced had only made it stronger.

He credited his father with teaching him to grow stronger in the face of adversity.

Accusing the government of failing to honour its election promises, he pointed out that rising costs of living and tax burdens were placing considerable pressure on the public, including small and medium enterprises, farmers, fishermen and workers.

He alleged that state investigative institutions had been politicised under the government, claiming that allegations against individuals connected to the government were not being investigated fairly, though these claims were made by Rajapaksa and have not been independently verified.

Rajapaksa also criticised the government over its handling of constitutional reforms, the delay in holding Provincial Council elections and what he described as a lack of opportunities for young people entering the job market.

He concluded by declaring that he would not surrender to what he termed the Government’s political power and would not be intimidated, insisting that determination cannot be imprisoned.

He also urged supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and respectful of the law throughout their campaign.