22 October 2022 12:00 am Views - 191
By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana and Indika Sri Aravinda
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday said they will revise the recently amended exorbitant electricity tariffs for the places of worship, which created much controversy within the clergy, and will charge a concessionary rate up to the first 180 units.
President PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake told the Daily Mirror the revision of the amended tariffs for the places of worship was considered following a series of requests made by the religious leaders and the growing dialogue on the matter through media and social media.
“Many religious leaders informed us that due to the amended tariff structure from August 10, they were getting a tariff increase of 575%, which is an exorbitant amount to pay. The tariffs of the religious places, which had been untouched for a long time, had to be amended as most of these electricity consumption were found to be due to public activities than its personal usage,” he said.
Ratnayake said even in the extraordinary gazette issued in 2008 defines a place of worship as a residence of the clergy thus the usage of utilities like electricity should be for their personal use.
“However, it has been noticed that many of these places are involved in various public activities like letting the premises to hold tuition classes, for matrimonial purposes etc.