Power supply to 500,000 consumers disconnected, red notices sent to 5 mn: Sajith

4 December 2023 11:40 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 19 Bookmark

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BY AJITH SIRIWARDANA AND YOHAN PERERA

Parliament, Dec. 4 (Daily Mirror)- Power supply to some 500,000 electricity consumers have been disconnected during the last few days for defaulting bills while red notices have been sent to some 5 million people, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said today.

He told Parliament that the question he raised under Standing Orders 27/2 regarding the unreasonable increase in electricity tariffs has not been answered yet and therefore, his privileges have been infringed.

He said he raised a question saying that it was unreasonable to increase tariffs when the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was getting a massive profit as hydropower is generated at maximum capacity now.

Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha said steps will be taken to answer the Opposition Leader's question shortly.

Comments - 19

SouthAfrican555 Monday, 04 December 2023 12:35 PM

Jeez, Louise, really? Half a million disconnected? This is shocking. How 3rd world is that?

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RROSH Monday, 04 December 2023 12:40 PM

This idiot hasn’t got no idea about business. This idiot needs to be at school before going to the parliament

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Sokrates Monday, 04 December 2023 01:52 PM

This man may or may not be an idiot. However, the fact is that Sri Lanka has one of the highest electricity costs. This results from the poor management under the influence of the Rajapaksha administration. Customers now have to pay the debts accumulated under the previous regime. Furthermore, the CEB is 4 to 5 times overstaffed, which is the result of politicians dumping their election supporters there. This was also confirmed by the current minister responsible. First of all, the surplus employees must be laid off. Private subcontractors are no longer allowed to be employed. Overtime and weekend work may only be approved in absolute emergency situations. Then the management must be replaced. Then the holiday bungalows and the bungalows for the chief engineers have to be sold. As a final step, the CEB must be split up and sold to several experienced non-Chinese foreign companies.

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Saman Silva Monday, 04 December 2023 01:56 PM

you seem to have illigimate incoem sources

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by stander Monday, 04 December 2023 02:56 PM

You miss the point, What is the point of making profits while keeping half of the public in the dark for a company owned by public. You need to grow a heart first.

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Sanjaya Tuesday, 05 December 2023 12:09 PM

He pointed it as a dire issue on half million families which will destroy livelihood as well not as an idiot as any idoit can realise the grave problem which is developing to a social problem if not addressed

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We are the Change. Monday, 04 December 2023 12:41 PM

Families must learn to live within their means. Defaulting on liabilities and living life as normal is not the way to get out of this mess. As a country we defaulted, as families we default. As companies, they will be defaulting. This is not the correct way to deal with the mess. If total electricity bill cannot be paid at least pay a part and keep it from snowballing into an unmanageable debt.

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Upul Monday, 04 December 2023 12:45 PM

So what about it? At least some public officers are dooing their job. Does 'Piyano ge Puthano' want to give free handouts in exchange for votes?

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Ram Monday, 04 December 2023 01:57 PM

That could be about 5% of the households. They should have been given time to pay in instalments and directed to use less energy until all arrears paid. Politicians are not bothered about the poor

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Cheers Monday, 04 December 2023 02:11 PM

He will give free if he becomes the president write it and keep it so it can be verified when he is in power only talking

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Sokrates Monday, 04 December 2023 04:02 PM

@ Ram. Sri Lanka has 22 million inhabitants. That's about 5 million households. This means that 10% have had their electricity disconnected only in the last few days and nearly the most households are at risk of being switched off. If these numbers are correct, then only the top 10,000 will soon be supplied with electricity.

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Janaka Monday, 04 December 2023 06:24 PM

Only in the recent past that the Government boasted that electricity connections were given to some remote households who never had this luxury before. Now they are being disconnected. What a Crime ?

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rip van winkle Monday, 04 December 2023 07:41 PM

5,500,000 should form a New Party. This is record.

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Abd Monday, 04 December 2023 09:35 PM

What’s would be your remedy if you are elected?

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Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 05 December 2023 12:33 AM

Sajith can initiate paying bills on their behalf and get the electricity back.

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Paramanathan Tuesday, 05 December 2023 06:03 AM

The lower-middle-class demographic typically consumes an average of 130 to 150 units of electricity per month, amounting to a cost of 8,000.00. This substantial amount poses a financial burden that ordinary individuals cannot easily bear. The electricity tariff has been increased multiple times within a year, seemingly without due consideration. The responsibility for this issue lies with both the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the current as well as past ministers of power and energy. There appears to be a pattern of continuous mistakes, as they persist in raising the unit price without implementing effective cost-cutting measures. The CEB is currently plagued by issues of excessive staffing, and the overtime costs are exorbitant. Additionally, there is a heavy reliance on thermal energy, which comes at a higher cost. Despite these challenges, the efforts to invest in solar energy remain insufficient.

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Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 05 December 2023 05:16 PM

This is the best and most accurate reason for higher electricity costs. CEB has also been blocking low cost solar energy initiatives for decades.

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Sagara Tuesday, 05 December 2023 10:53 AM

The Pohottuwa/ UNP can be sure of winning the votes of these consumers at the next Elections ?

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Ravana Tuesday, 05 December 2023 12:19 PM

Reconnection fee is Rs 1000 odd 500,000 x 1000 = what an income for CEB Similar problems facing SLT, it is charging fees for a cancelled connection without sending anyone to collect their instrument or advising the customer to return it. How will the next generation know about the rules, it's not advertised in the papers everyday or anything

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