• The CEB has a collective agreement where every 3 years their own salaries are increased by 25%

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday said that he had decided not to forward the proposal to the cabinet meeting regarding the increase of the electricity bill by 300 percent, as proposed by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).  

He said the CEB has a collective agreement where every 3 years their own salaries are increased by 25%.  

“With no plans for renewable energy or cost reduction in generation, the high cost of salaries and generation costs are put on consumers,” he said.  

Several CEB trade unions have decided to take action to withdraw from the renewable projects that help to reduce the cost of generation while making harassment of the people and government unacceptable, the Minister said.  

Therefore, the CEB should allow renewable projects to proceed and reduce generation costs rather than increase tariffs to pay for their own salaries, he added.    

• With no plans for renewable energy or cost reduction in generation, the high cost of salaries and generation costs are put on consumers