President issues directive for uninterrupted power supply with record tariff hike
COLOMBO– Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday (16) directed the Ministry of Power and Energy to ensure uninterrupted power supply after the proposed record tariff hike is implemented.
Sri Lanka has faced blackouts almost daily since February last year as the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) did not have dollars to buy fuel to generate thermal power in the face of the island nation’s unprecedented economic crisis.
The CEB has decided to implement a 66% increase in the electricity tariff from February 15 after a dragged conflict between the CEB and its regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). The latter has informed the CEB it had approved the tariff hike.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed Power and Energy Minister and relevant officials to ensure uninterrupted power supply for electricity customers….once the PUCSL tariff revision is implemented, the President’s Media Division said in a statement.
It also said the president has asked the power ministry to provide concessions for low-income families and provide solar rooftop systems for religious places and government educational institutions.
After the president’s directive, Power and Energy Minister at a press conference confirmed that there will not be any power cuts from Thursday.
-economynext.com
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