No power interruptions from today as tariffs increased - Kanchana

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says an uninterrupted power supply will be provided from today (Feb. 16) onwards as the new power tariff revision has been implemented.

Speaking during a special press conference regarding the electricity tariff revision this morning, Minister Wijesekera mentioned that the President has also directed him to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the people.

Furthermore, he stated that the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has agreed to provide an additional loan of Rs. 22 billion for the purchase of coal, with the approval being granted for the electricity tariff revision.

Accordingly, the new electricity tariff revision will be implemented from today (Feb. 16), the Minister said.

“If the proposal we brought in January was implemented in January, it would have been easier for us. However, I think we can ensure uninterrupted power supply from today, in spite of any delay.”

The Minister, who pointed out that several individuals had attempted to spread rumours that the tariff revision is done in order to cover the previous losses of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), emphasized that this new system has been proposed only to cover the cost of generating electricity from today.

“The main reason for implementing this new tariff revision is that during the debt restructuring, there was one condition of the IMF that the funds cannot be provided for the public institutions such as CEB, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and SriLankan Airlines from the Treasury or the Central Bank hereon”, he added.

Commenting further, the Minister also explained that the CEB did not have a system of charging the tariff to meet the cost bared in providing electricity, but under various governments, the treasury filled the gap between the cost and the imposed tariff.

“I do not believe that there will be any other hike in the electricity tariff in the near future. By implementing this system, our government hopes to continue an uninterrupted electricity supply”, Minister Wijesekara asserted.

Furthermore, he stated that the burden on people will be reduced through the next revisions and the electricity bill will be reduced for the people.