CA dismisses writ petition against electricity tariff hike
COLOMBO: A writ petition seeking to quash the cabinet decision approving the electricity tariff revision, filed by the Electricity and Renewable Energy Association and Centre for Environmental Justice naming Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the Cabinet of Ministers and Attorney General as respondents was dismissed today in limine without formally issuing notices on the respondents by the Court of Appeal (CA) two-judge-bench comprising Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola.
Apparel sector appalled at latest electricity tariff hike
COLOMBO: The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) has expressed its apprehension regarding the impact of the electricity tariff hike on the country’s export sector and other electricity consumers.
Yohan Lawrence, JAAF Secretary General said that the tariff proposed by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is based on an overestimation of demand, which in turn leads to unnecessarily high tariffs being imposed on the consumer.
“The revised tariff announcements have disregarded the concerns raised and have increased electricity costs to over USD 0.12 per kWh, which is one of the highest among all our key competitors, in a period in which the industry is fighting to retain market share in weak global market conditions,” he added.
To offset the impact of the tariff increase, JAAF had proposed power wheeling and permitting companies to move from Net Plus to Net Metering. Lawrence further stated that the authorities needed to allow these reforms to be implemented as a matter of urgency adding that Sri Lanka has to scale up its renewable energy generation in order to reduce the cost of power to consumers.
Communication Owners’ Association announce hike in charges
COLOMBO: At a media conference Chairman of the All Island Communication Owners’ Association (AICOA), Indrajith Perera said the 66% electricity tariff increase has necessitated the increase in photocopy, printout and laminating charges by LKR 5.
He added that their business was already facing many challenges as a result of the suspension of imports and an increase in taxes on imported items such as communication equipment and devices.
Perera expressed his apologies to consumers many of whom are students. He went on to state that given the unpredictable nature of price increases in the country, their services were also in susceptible to further change.
First half of February records over 50,000 tourist arrivals
COLOMBO: According to provisional data from the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), a total of 54,685 international visitors entered Sri Lanka from February 1-14. This is a 15% increase from the previous year’s (2022) corresponding period.
From February 1-7 the total number of international arrivals was 26,506 and from February 8-14 it increased to 28,179 international arrivals.
Arrivals from the Russian Federation accounted for 26% of total arrivals for February 1-14 with India making up 12% and the United Kingdom (UK) 9%.
In order to achieve the targeted 105,000 tourist arrivals set by the Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka would need to have an average daily arrival of 3,581 till February 28.
