Despite CEB running at a loss, no increase in tariff - Ravi K

By Sandun A. Jayasekera
Despite the fact that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) runs with an annual loss of Rs. 100 billion, the Power, Energy and Business Development Ministry would not increase tariffs or restrict the power supply at any cost, Minister Ravi Karunanayake said.   

He added that the main focus of the CEB would be to generate power at the lowest possible cost but lamented that there was no interest on the part of the government to resolve the power crisis through a financial commitment.   

Minister Karunanayake made these comments to the media on Sunday (5) when he made an inspection tour to the Gynaecological Hydro 
Power Plant.   

“Many people make comments on the power crisis. The biggest joke is the criticisms made by members of the last regime because it was they who contributed to today’s power crisis. I admit that our government also took a lukewarm attitude towards the power and energy sector that made the situation worse. Not only the politicians but officials must take then responsibility for power crisis we are facing today,” he stressed.   

Minister Karunanayake stressed the need to give a tax relief to the power sector in order to lessen the burden on the consumer and reiterated that the emergency power purchases would done in an extremely transparent and open manner paying the least possible cost per unit to Private Power suppliers.   

“I have determined not to make the current power crisis the legacy of the power and energy minister of a future regime. I will set in motion a sustainable result oriented strategy to generate enough power to meet the demand round the year with a buffer stock of minimum 1,000 MWs to face a possible drought, national calamity or a global power crisis that would affect ours,” Minister Karunanayaka emphasized.   

He noted that all power plants, distribution and transmission centres and sub stations have been provided with added security to ensure any untoward incidents taking place there and added he would present all suggestions made by officials and employees to the cabinet.