HRC announces suspension of power cuts in view of A/L

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Various stakeholders in the power sector on Wednesday has decided to suspend any power cuts until the conclusion of the GCE A/L examination, according to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

Issuing a press release the Commission said there will be uninterrupted power until February 17.Sri Lanka has been experiencing daily power cuts since early 2022 due to a foreign reserve shortage.About 45 percent of the country’s electricity is generated by thermal power, according to government data.

Earlier, the Ceylon Electricity Board had announced that it would not be able to ensure an uninterrupted power supply on account of the GEC A/L examination due to lack of funds.However, at a meeting held at the Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation agreed to provide fuel to the CEB.

The CEB has agreed to pay back the money in 60 days.On Tuesday, the Public Utilities Commission agreed to increase the electricity tariff by about 65 percent, making it the second steep increase in power tariffs in six months.