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Religious sites displeased over electricity hike

09 Sep 2022

BY Buddhika Samaraweera Claiming that most religious institutions including Buddhist temples cannot bear the recent 555% increase in electricity tariffs, Sri Bodhiraja Temple Embilipitiya Chief Incumbent Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said that it seems that the Government is “punishing” such institutions through the move to increase electricity tariffs. Speaking at a media briefing yesterday (8), he said: “As a result of short-sighted, selfish, and corrupt politics, the people are in dire straits at present. An economic crisis has arisen in the country due to theft, fraud, and corruption by previous Governments. While the people are greatly suffering the consequences of politicians’ misdeeds, they have had to face another serious problem. That is the new electricity tariffs. Under these revisions, the electricity tariffs on religious institutions have been increased by 555%.” Noting that there are about 47,000 religious sites in the country, out of which 11,000 are Buddhist temples, he said that the recent hike in electricity tariffs has become unbearable for most of such sites, including the Buddhist temples. For instance, he said, the electricity tariff of the Sri Bodhiraja Temple in Embilipitiya, which houses about 75 Buddhist monks who are still studying, was previously Rs. 60,000, but has now become Rs. 300,750. “All the religious places in the country have to face this situation. Is the Government planning to stop religious activities through which the spiritual side of the people is developed? Most of the people have free time to engage in religious activities only after 6 p.m. So is the Government telling us to stop the religious activities at temples after 6 p.m.? How can temples and other religious places be maintained after paying this much of a bill? Also, with this programme, it seems as if temples and religious places are being punished by the Government.” The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on 9 August approved an average 75% price hike for electricity tariffs for all electricity consumers in the country, which the PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said was the first electricity tariff hike in nine years.  He said that the electricity tariff hike was made after two proposals put forward by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) this year to hike prices. According to CEB data, tariffs for electricity used at religious places have been hiked by 555%, driving up the charge per unit from Rs. 7.42 to Rs. 48.65.


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