• Churches to join protest following temples
• Electricity Consumers’ Asso. to secure 6.9 mn signatures by late Jan., requests public to switch off lights, light candles and come to nearest town on 8 Jan.

The 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, had secured nearly 30,000 signatures as of last morning

(4).

The association collected signatures from locals in the Giriulla area yesterday, and

hopes to move to Divulapitiya today (5), Meerigama and Maharagama on 7

January, and to Negombo on 8 January.

Speaking to The Morning, the association’s Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said:

“Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera is working towards launching this programme at

several temples on 6 January, and we are looking to do the same at prominent

churches in the Negombo area on 8 January.”

He added that the association hoped to achieve its target of 6.9 million signatures

within the following three weeks.

“On Tuesday (3) evening, we distributed leaflets to a number of private and public

institutions seeking their signatures, and also handed over leaflets to several

village heads in order to obtain signatures from residents of their villagers.”

Speaking further, Dhammika observed that the proposed electricity tariff increase

will cause low-income consumers to be the most disadvantaged.

“The 4.5 million low-income families are the ones who will be affected the most

by this proposal. About Rs. 100 billion of the additional revenue that they hope to

generate from the proposed electricity tariff increase is from low-income

consumers. The public is enraged by this proposal and have no outlet to vent their

frustration.”

Speaking of the postponement of the Cabinet decision on the proposed increase

of electricity tariffs, which was submitted by Minister of Power and Energy

Kanchana Wijesekera to Cabinet at Monday’s (2) Cabinet meeting, Dhammika

claimed that it was a scheme by Wijesekera and the Cabinet.

“We request the public to turn off your lights on 8 January between 6.30 p.m. to 7

p.m. and light candles and arrive at the nearest town to show your opposition

against this proposed increase in electricity tariffs, because a decision concerning

it will be given by the Cabinet at its meeting on 9 January. This will be our protest

against the Cabinet and the proposal for the increase in electricity tariffs.”

This public petition commenced from Matara and Galle on 1 January where the

association noted they recorded over 10,000 signatures. On Monday, the

association obtained signatures from the public in Kelaniya, the Galle Face Green,

and Colombo Fort.