20 October 2023 11:49 am Views - 695
With the latest increase in the electricity tariff for the third time, it is clear that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is not independent and the commission is dancing according to the tune of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government, said Samagi United Trade Union Force (SUTUF) convener and media spokesman Ananda Palitha.
He told the Daily Mirror that this 18 percent tariff increase was done according to the plan and the instructions of the IMF.
"The IMF had requested to increase the tariff based on cost, but the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) gave the plan on a cost basis on June 30, and that was approved. The CEB cost is calculated once every six months," he said.
"The reservoirs are overflowing and hydropower generation is higher. While increasing the electricity tariff by 18% the government is ready to gain a higher profit," Ananda Palitha said.
Therefore, the PUCSL is not independent. With the increase in the electricity tariff, the prices of all connected essential consumer items, such as photocopies, telephone charges, water tariffs and transport costs too will increase, he said.
"There will be a collapse of factories, unemployment will increase, we cannot not even think of a salary increase, and staff will be reduced," Palitha added. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)