CEB IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS(SOLUTION – “Cash Up No Tick”)

Gamini Lokuge, Minister for Power, at a recent press briefing has said the CEB is experiencing financial liquidity problems as consumers have failed to settle their monthly electricity bills. The failure of consumers to paying their bills was due to political interferences when the government directed the CEB to refrain from disconnecting the power supply and following a public announcement being made to that effect. The consumers took this to their advantage and even those who could pay defaulted. It is a common practice, in every home or business establishment to place priority in their monthly budget for settlement of utility bills and Electricity and Water bills head the list curtailing or postponing other domestic requirements. If the CEB was allowed to handle this matter, it may have granted the same facility without a public announcement, by adding a clause in the ‘RED NOTICE’ –‘Part payment accepted’

This reminds me of a Notice Board, prominently displayed at a grocery shop which read “Cash Up No Tick “. When inquired from the grocery shop owner, he said that he cannot supply all the needs of customers if he had no sufficient cash. If credit is allowed, he would have to cut down certain items and if that happens, customers would go to other shops, ultimately, he would have to put up shutters with a notice “Bankrupt – Closed”

Let this be a lesson to governments and politicians not to interfere with commercialized state organizations, such as the CEB, CWE. and make the entire country and its people to difficulties and suffer. Vote catching announcements and actions should stop in the national interest.

G.A.D.SIRIMAL BORALESGAMUWA