Electricity consumers submitted an 18-count charge sheet to the Ministry of Power and Energy against its authorities, including subject Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, accusing the Ministry of attempting to privatise the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and halt naphtha usage next year (2023).
“They are preparing to cut power for four to five hours starting from January of next year. Their ulterior motive is to privatise the CEB. Ministers who try to sell national resources should not be in Parliament at all. This coal problem, the problem related to the power plant, and everything else has been deliberately ignored. The public is not going to pay for their ignorance. There are groups that have come forward to bring coal within two weeks, they have provided an interest payment relief period of two months, and they have taken measures to pay for each shipment, which means that there should be no electricity shortage.
“What they are trying to do is to stop the usage of naphtha altogether. The Kelanitissa Power Plant was purposefully destroyed, so they are functioning without naphtha from the refineries, in order to conceal the matter. We aim to notify these conspiracies to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), and to the Inspector General of Police (IGP). We will be taking legal action against them,” warned the consumers.
Wijesekera however, was not available at the Ministry and the consumers claimed that he was either unwilling to speak to them or was frightened.
Meanwhile, the United National Self-Employed Businessmen’s Association held a discussion with Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUSCL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake regarding Wijesekera’s “unlawful” decision to increase electricity tariffs next year (2023), warning him of refusing to pay the electricity bills if the tariffs are increased. Association Chairman Pradeep Charles told the media that Ratnayake had informed them that Wijesekera has no legal provision to increase electricity bills.
“We have repeatedly said that the public cannot bear the electricity bills. Around 25% of electricity consumers’ electricity has been suspended in their homes, especially in elders’ homes, for estate residents and other daily-wage earners. At a time like this, Wijesekera says that electricity bills are going to be increased from January next year. Ratnayake told us that Wijesekera has no legal provision to increase electricity tariffs, and that he will not allow Wijesekera to increase bills the way that he likes. He said that Wijesekera has no authority to do so even in February 2023.
“Even though he is a Minister, Wijesekera does not have sufficient knowledge to be one. He was given a Ministerial post because there was no one else for the job. If he increases tariffs in January 2023 by force, none of us will pay our electricity bills. The estate workers, the Peoples’ Voice Association, the Self-Employed Women’s Organisation, the United National Self-Employed Businessmen’s Association, and all civil organisation leaders will go from town to town telling people not to pay their electricity bills.
“We will see how long these corrupt and myopic politicians keep us in the darkness. The public is suffering because they are unable to pay their bills. We will get the public onto the streets and tell them not to pay their electricity bills. We are thankful to the PUCSL for showing some backbone and remaining an independent commission, without being guided by politics. We warn the Minister to not touch the people who are struggling in order to fill his stomach. If he increases the tariff, he will not only have to get out on the street, but he will be chased by women with brooms and sticks,” warned Charles.
Meanwhile, Wijesekera announced yesterday (21) that electricity tariffs will definitely be revised in January 2023, and said that a detailed report on the matter will be submitted at the first Cabinet meeting next year which is scheduled for 2 January 2023.