JHU criticizes govt's decision to increase electricity rates

The government affiliated Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) yesterday criticised the government’s move to increase the electricity tariff by 30% and called upon the government to dismiss this new amendment.

JHU Leader Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera releasing a press statement yesterday said that the move made by the government by increasing the electricity tariff is unjust as this new tariff amendment has favoured the privileged class in society and increased their electricity tariff rates in 1-20% while escalating the electricity tariff rates of the ordinary citizens by 50-120%.

"It is the ordinary citizens who preserve and cherish electricity most without wasting it and who have to pay more according to this new government decision. The electricity bills of the owners of small industries have been increased by 20% while the elec-

It is the ordinary citizens who preserve and cherish electricity most without wasting it and who have to pay more according to this new government decision

tricity bills of big industry owners have been increased by 10% and the electricity bill of small enterprises have been increased by 8-9% while for large enterprises electricity rates have been increased by 5% Ven. Omalpe Thera said. Commenting further Ven. Omalpe Thera said as a political party JHU strongly disapproves of this government's act and that compared with last year, it was wrong of the government to increase electricity prices when the prices of coal and petroleum have also not been increased in the world market.