Passenger Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday appointed a four-member committee to provide recommendations to provide relief to the electricity consumers with high electricity bills from March to May, during curfew times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ministry’s Additional Secretary Hemantha Samarakoon will be Chairman of the Committee while other three members from the Ceylon Electricity Board including its General Manager have been appointed, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said. According to the briefing made by Minister Amaraweera on the matter during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa directed him to appoint a Committee to grant the public concessions.
The final report of the Committee is expected to be submitted to the Minister by Monday and concessions will be granted after the report is handed over to the Cabinet meeting next week, the Minister said.
“Most of the consumers had not paid their electricity bills for March, April and May. The due amount that CEB should receive was estimated as Rs.20 billion during this period.
However,electricity bills considering the domestic usage were issued from June,” Minister Amaraweera said.
But, consumers have complained with regard to the unusual hike in the charges of electricity bills from March to May, during the lock-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the CEB said the domestic electricity usage has increased during the pandemic situation compared to February.
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