COLOMBO, Feb 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – Sri Lanka, yesterday, decided to suspend daily power cuts, as a 66 percent increase of electricity tariffs came into effect.
Power and Energy Minister, Kanchana Wijesekera, said that, the new tariffs came into effect, as it has been approved by the regulator.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), approved the revision despite its Chairman, Janaka Ratnayake, raising objections.
Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe directed the authorities to provide concessions for low-income families and solar rooftop systems, for religious places and government educational institutions.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued a directive to the minister of power and energy and the relevant officials, to implement the tariff revision, ensuring the uninterrupted power supply for the electricity customers,” the President’s Media Division said, yesterday.
Sri Lanka raised electricity tariffs by 75 percent in Aug, 2022. However, the state-owned electricity producer, Ceylon Electricity Board, said, it continued to make losses, and in Jan, this year, the cabinet of ministers authorised another tariff hike.– NNN-XINHUA
