Will unbearable electricity cost ruin livelihoods?

The time is ripe for the Auditor General to conduct a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the unbelievable claims of the Ceylon Electricity Board that it is running at a huge loss. This despite assurances from the so-called ‘Hon. Minister’ that there will be no power cuts or increases following the very high increases made in the recent past.

It is the duty of the Auditor General to ensure a full investigation on the independence of which the public could rely. There are unconfirmed reports that even the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax of CEB emloyees come off the public purse!

Despite assurances the Lanka Electricity Company, commonly known as LECO, sends us messages on our phones saying that “from September 2023 we have to pay an additional tax called the ” Social Security” tax. What social security do we need, and where is the legality behind such a move? If LECO is required to pay such a tax, that has to be borne by it and not by us.

They should pay it from their profits and not impose it on the poor consumers. If they make profits do they share it with the public?

I appeal to the ” Customer Relations Authority”, the Association of Electricity Consumers ” and the “Public Utilities Commission” to take appropriate steps.

Nihal de Alwis