The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) stated that they are currently discussing the initiation of legal proceedings against the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) latest electricity tariff hike, before the Supreme Court (SC), and that the relevant application would be filed soon.

Following approval being granted by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the CEB had raised the electricity tariffs by between 18% to 20%, with effect from 20 October.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (25), the ECA’s General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that they are currently in discussions with legal experts regarding the initiation of legal action against the latest tariff hike. “Filing an application against the tariff hike is not something that can be done in a hurry. We need to assess everything, and then make the relevant submissions. We are now in the process of collecting the data and discussing with the legal experts. We also hope to meet the Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian, President's Counsel M.A. Sumanthiran tomorrow (26), to seek some advice in this regard.”

On 18 October, the PUCSL held a public consultation on the then proposed electricity tariff revision in Colombo, to gather the ideas and suggestions of around 30 parties including members of the public, and CEB officials, before deciding on greenlighting the CEB’s request to increase electricity tariffs. Two days later, on 20 October, the PUCSL granted its approval for the 18% tariff hike, a move that has attracted opposition from several parties including the general public.

Following the PUCSL’s approval to hike electricity tariffs, several parts of the country saw protests against the same, and they had been organised by Opposition political parties such as the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna led National People’s Power. Heated situations among the protestors and the Police had also arisen during some such protests, particularly those held in Colombo.