• Urges Energy Min. and PUCSL to directly intervene 

The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has urged the Energy Ministry to direct the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to cover losses caused by the recent cyclone using its own revenue, instead of seeking loans that would ultimately burden electricity consumers.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the CEB has reported losses of around Rs. 20 billion following the cyclone. He said the CEB is seeking assistance from the World Bank (WB) to recover these costs, raising concerns about whether the support would come in the form of a loan or a grant. He stressed there is no justification for obtaining a loan, warning that any borrowing would eventually be passed on to consumers through higher electricity tariffs. "The CEB has around 7.8 million consumers and earns approximately Rs. 467 billion annually from electricity sales. In addition, it collects about Rs. 47 billion each year through fixed charges. This revenue should be used for situations like these."

He also called on the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to intervene and ensure that consumers are not made to pay for losses through future tariff hikes.

Energy Ministry Secretary and Acting CEB Chairperson, Prof. Udayanga Hemapala was not available for comment.

CEB officials told the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development recently that cyclone-related damage has caused losses of about Rs. 20 billion to the CEB and Rs. 252 million to the Lanka Electricity Company. They also informed the Committee that discussions are underway to obtain funds from the WB to cover these losses. Committee Chair, S.M. Marikkar advised officials to seek the funds as a grant rather than a loan.