Do not increase electricity tariffs – Premadasa

The Government is going to purchase 11 aircraft for the bankrupt SriLankan Airlines while planning to increase the electricity tariff for the second time, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said in Parliament yesterday (05). “At a time when the country is facing a major economic crisis,   instead of providing relief to the people, it is unacceptable to resort to such wasteful actions,” the Opposition Leader noted.Therefore, Premadasa requested the Government to refrain from increasing the electricity tariff.

“After increasing the electricity tariff once, it has been decided to increase the electricity tariffs on two other occasions. The people cannot afford it,” the Opposition Leader noted.

He said, “When something like this happens during the examination period, even school children are helpless. The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission is also against this.

“Thousands of small and medium scale business persons will be seriously affected by these increases in utility bills. People’s demands should be listened to in a sympathetic and humane manner,” Premadasa said.