Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says amendments to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009 will definitely be tabled in Parliament today (9).
Minister Wijesekera said the amendments are a timely requirement and will be tabled in order to take forward several programs including renewable energy projects which are vital for the power sector.
The Minister however said certain trade union members are attempting to sabotage plans to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
Minister Wijesekera said he will not table the Ceylon Electricity Board’s request to increase electricity tariffs before the Cabinet of Ministers as the CEB is not supporting renewable energy generating plans.
Minister Wijesekera noted the CEB unions should allow renewable projects to proceed and reduce generation costs instead of increasing tariffs to pay salaries.
The Minister noted the CEB has a collective agreement that once every three years salaries should be increased by 25 percent.
The Minister said with no plans for renewable energy or cost reduction in generation the high cost of salaries and generation costs are transferred directly onto the consumers.
