Relief measures proposed for affected consumers

Afive-member committee appointed to look into public complaints regarding the unreasonable increase in electricity tariffs during the curfew period, has reportedly proposed that relief be granted to electricity consumers, an official said yesterday.

He told Daily Mirror the report will be taken up for discussion during the Cabinet meeting today. The Committee chairman, Power and Energy Ministry

Additional Secretary Hemantha Samarakoon handed over the report to minister Mahinda Amaraweera, who appointed a five-member committee last week following the concerns raised by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about the grievances of electricity consumers.

The public complained that their electricity bills had been calculated in an unreasonable manner during the COVID-19 curfew period.

“Several matters pertaining to concessions on electricity tariffs have been included in the report and action will be taken following the recommendations made at the Cabinet meeting,” the official said.

The other members of the committee included three officials representing the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and an official from the Lanka Electricity Co. (Pvt) Ltd. (LECO). Meanwhile, when contacted a senior ministry official declined to reveal the content of the report until it was submitted to the Cabinet today since the committee was appointed as a result of recommendations made at the previous Cabinet meeting.