- PUCSL asked to fix submission dates
- Ministry says proposal coming soon
The Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) stated the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) should announce definite deadlines for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to submit electricity tariff revision proposals.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the current electricity tariffs were meant to remain in effect only until the end of this year (2025) and that a new tariff revision should come into force from January 2026. However, he claimed there appeared to be no preparation on the part of the CEB to submit a proposal any time soon.
“I checked with the PUCSL last week, and they still have not received any tariff revision proposal from the CEB. When it is dry weather, the CEB presents proposals very promptly. But now, when hydropower generation is at its peak, there is no urgency. This is why the PUCSL should clearly declare specific dates by which tariff revision proposals should be submitted. Otherwise, every time, the CEB fails to act on time." he said.
The ECA earlier stated the upcoming tariff revision in January 2026 should bring a substantial reduction for consumers, given the sharp increase in hydropower generation in recent months. Dhammika claimed that earlier forecasts presented by the CEB on hydropower availability had been inaccurate, leading to higher tariffs that consumers were forced to bear unnecessarily.
When contacted by The Daily Morning, Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Prof. Udayanga Hemapala, who also serves as the Acting Chairperson of the CEB, said: “The deadline for submitting the tariff revision proposal was 15 November. The CEB requested an extension from the PUCSL, and the proposal will be submitted shortly.”
Sri Lanka’s hydropower sector, which includes major schemes such as the Mahaweli system and several reservoirs across the island, continues to play a crucial role in meeting national electricity demand. In recent weeks, heavy rainfall has rapidly increased water levels in key reservoirs, significantly boosting hydropower generation across the national grid.