The Hon. Kabir Hashim

¶ 01 [4.59 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I move the following:

¶ 03 “Whereas the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has claimed a loss of Rs. 9.525 billion over the past six months and has sought Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approval for an overall 6.8% tariff increase for October–December 2025; and whereas the PUCSL has indicated the pricing tables lack a clear regulatory basis and that CEB’s resource use does not justify such a large loss; and whereas in recent periods CEB has repeatedly increased tariffs despite scope for cost management; and whereas this seems aimed merely at satisfying IMF conditionalities;

¶ 04 Given the NPP’s policy pledges for fair, transparent pricing of electricity and petroleum and its candidate’s pledge to reduce electricity bills by one-third upon assuming office; and given sharp increases in indirect and cascading taxes have already driven prices of goods and services to unaffordable levels; this House urges that the proposed electricity tariff revision be not implemented and that electricity bills be reduced by at least 15%.”

¶ 05 Supporting points: The Minister’s claim of a Rs. 95.25 billion loss or a core deficit of Rs. 79.8 billion is not grounded in reality. According to CEB’s own monthly accounts: April showed Rs. 4.6 billion surplus; May Rs. 7.4 billion; June Rs. 41.1 billion; July Rs. 51.8 billion; and August also projected profit. I table these from CEB’s own reports.

¶ 06 Placed in the Library.