• Petition to collect 6.9 mn signatures underway islandwide
• Over 10,000 signatures on first day
• Temples to protest on 6 January

A public petition launched by the Electricity Consumers’ Association, seeking the signatures of 6.9 million electricity consumers in opposition to the proposed electricity tariff increase, commenced from Matara and Galle on 1 January 2023 before travelling to Kelaniya, the Galle Face Green, and Colombo Fort yesterday (2), while an islandwide programme over the same will be carried out at all temples on 6 January.

Speaking to The Morning yesterday, Association Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika stated that over 10,000 signatures were obtained on the first day. 

“We began our public petition in Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera’s hometown of Matara, and also collected signatures in Galle. We collected over 10,000 signatures on the first day. This morning (2), we obtained signatures outside the Kelaniya Temple, where we received about 3,500 signatures. By noon, we collected signatures at the Galle Face Green, and by 3 p.m., at two separate locations in Colombo Fort. 

“We are hoping to collect 6.9 million signatures from electricity consumers against the actions of the following trio: Wijesekera, Ministry of Power and Energy Secretary Mapa Pathirana, and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) General Manager Eng. Rohan Seneviratne. What they are doing is illegal, because they are acting in violation of the Electricity Act and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Act. 

“Wijesekera is no expert in this matter, so it is the PUCSL that should decide on these tariffs. We will go to court and take legal action against Wijesekera, who is trying to increase tariffs and we will use these signatures as a supporting document.”

He further noted that there was some victory in their struggle. 

“Wijesekera keeps changing the proposed tariffs. Initially, he said that the cost per unit would be Rs. 60, then he said it would be Rs. 52, and thereafter he reduced it further. So, there are some positive effects we see from our struggle. They now acknowledge that what they are proposing is illegal, which is why they said that they will hand it over to the PUCSL.”

Dhammika added that a programme will be carried out on 6 January at temples islandwide to gather signatures for the public petition, with the support of Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera. 

“It would take us months to collect 6.9 million signatures, so we have already made plans to launch this programme at temples, where we will work with village leaders and issue leaflets to obtain the signatures of electricity consumers. Sobitha Thera is also supporting us in this cause.”

Speaking further, he said: “We saw in a newspaper that a certain Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) has warned that in terms of the electricity tariff hike, the Police will act against those who go against the law. We are not acting against the law. We are exercising our democratic rights and are collecting signatures in a peaceful manner. A powerful political figure has contacted him, which is why he has made this comment. This DIG may be able to settle his electricity bills, but who will settle those of the police constables?”

Wijesekera noted last month (December 2022) that an increase in electricity tariffs in January 2023 would be inevitable, adding that a Cabinet paper will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers to increase electricity tariffs by around Rs. 48.40 per unit in order to ensure an uninterrupted supply of electricity.