• Power Ministry to discuss with CEB 

BY Dinitha Rathnayake

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to exempt tourist zones from power cuts, during the discussion on the power and fuel issue at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting held on Monday (21).

Ranatunga had pointed out that the tourism industry could be hampered due to the power cuts at a time when the tourism industry is on the rise again after the pandemic, The Morning learnt.

He had stated that requests have been made in this regard and that therefore, at least tourist areas should be exempted from power cuts.

Ministers Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa, and Mahinda Amaraweera had also expressed their support for this request.

Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development State Minister Duminda Dissanayake, who participated in the Cabinet meeting on behalf of Power Minister Gamini Lokuge, had agreed to take further action after discussing with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) whether the power cuts will be divided into four zones and whether tourist zones can be exempted from it.

 

At present, there are 16 tourist zones gazetted islandwide. The tourist areas are Nilaveli, Maduganga, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee, Kalkudah, Pinnawala, Dedduwa, Bentota, Kuchchaveli, Kalpitiya, Unawatuna, Negombo, Beruwala, Mount Lavinia, Yala, and Ella.