The Ramanna Buddhist Sect, under the instructions of its Chief Prelate (Mahanayaka) Ven. Makulawe Wimala Thera, has called on all political parties representing the Parliament for a special meeting today (23) to discuss the latest electricity tariff increase requested by the Ceylon Electricity Board's (CEB).

Secretary of the Ramanna Sect, Ven. Aththangane Sasana Rathana Thera told The Daily Morning that they have decided to hold a special discussion with the leaders of all the parties representing the Parliament and their representatives today at 3:00 p.m. at the headquarters of the Ramanna Sect located at Elvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita.

The Ramanna Sect has also invited the Chief Prelates of the Asgiri and Malwathu chapters of the Siam sect and the Amarapura sect to participate in the discussion.

In a statement issued prior to the implementation of the electricity tariff revision by the CEB last week, Sasana Rathana Thera stated that CEB's preparations to increase the electricity tariffs again in the background where the people are facing many difficulties in the current economic crisis was extremely unfair. He said that the complaints made by many people and some clergy on a daily basis had proved that the CEB was going to commit an unfair act.

The statement further read that keeping silent in the face of the prepared decision to increase the electricity tariffs, which would have an extremely oppressive effect on the people, would be an underestimation of the suffering of the people, and this matter was discussed in depth at the Supreme Sangha Council meeting of the Ramanna Nikaya held on 13 October under the patronage of Vimala Thera.

However, since the CEB had received permission from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to increase electricity tariffs by 18%, The Daily Morning queried Ven. Aththangane Rathanasara Thera of the Ramanna Sect whether this meeting would take place as planned. He said that the relevant discussion would be held this evening as planned, and the matters that would be discussed during it would be referred to the relevant authorities in order to bring justice to the people.