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Mahanayakas seek ‘lenient’ light bill from Ranil

22 Sep 2022

  • Write to Prez urging reversal of Aug. suspension of tariff concession, request temples to use electricity sparingly 
  • Buddhasasana Ministry in talks with religious leaders, pushing for alternatives like solar
BY Buddhika Samaraweera   In the midst of the controversial situation that has arisen with the recent 555% increase in electricity tariffs in religious places including Buddhist temples, the Chief Prelates (Mahanayakas) of the three main Buddhist Sects have requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe to formulate a lenient policy regarding the electricity tariffs in religious places. This request has been made through a letter dated 20 September signed by the Mahanayaka of the Malwathu Chapter of the Siam Sect, Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera, the Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Sect, Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, the Mahanayaka of the Amarapura Sect, Ven. Dodampahala Sri Chandrasiri Thera, and the Mahanayaka of the Ramanna Sect, Ven. Makulewe Wimala Thera. The letter which was seen by The Morning stated that it is regrettable that the concession given regarding electricity tariffs for religious places including Buddhist temples, has been suspended with effect from August. The Mahanayakas have mentioned that people staying away from religious places due to the non-performance of religious rituals which have been held for a long time, due to the increase in electricity tariffs, will cause adverse consequences in the future. “Most people come to Buddhist temples and other religious places at night after completing their daily activities. Considering the daily, weekly and monthly religious rituals, and the national and social role of religious places, the concession given in electricity tariffs for religious places was very useful. Therefore, before making such policy decisions to increase it, Government officials and Ministers should study it deeply,” the letter read. It further stated that Buddhist temples and other religious places are maintained with the people's money, but that the Government has taken measures to increase the electricity tariffs considering religious places as factories that earn financial profits. As a result, the monks claimed that many temples, pirivenas, and other religious places have become unable to maintain their activities, while the leaders of such places are also depressed due to unaffordable electricity tariffs. “We emphasise to the President that considering the role played by religious places including Buddhist temples in order to create a society enriched by values, and spiritual development aimed at public welfare, the Government should formulate a concessional policy regarding electricity tariffs in religious places. Also, in view of the crisis situation in the country, we have informed all Chief Incumbents of the temples, their students, and the lay folk to use electricity sparingly,” the letter added. It was further stated in the letter that all the relevant institutions should work urgently to overcome the current crisis situation in the country by referring to renewable energy sources, and providing electricity to the people under a concessional tariff system. It added that there is a possibility of providing a long term solution to this problem, through the Government starting a quick project based on religious places, encouraging the use of solar panels. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs is to inform the Mahanayakas and other religious leaders of the alternative solutions that can be taken including the promotion of the use of solar panels. Speaking to The Morning, Secretary to the Ministry, Somaratne Vidanapathirana said that the Ministry is currently in discussions with the relevant parties regarding the alternative solutions that can be provided to the issue which has arisen with the said increase in the electricity tariffs of religious places. He also stated that promotion of the use of solar panels is a top priority among the proposed solutions.  He also said that the Chief Prelates of the Buddhist Sects and other religious leaders will be informed of such in the coming days. On 9 August, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved an average 75% price hike for electricity tariffs for all electricity consumers in the country, which PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said was the first electricity tariff hike in nine years. He said that the electricity tariff hike was made after two proposals forwarded by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) this year to hike prices. According to CEB data, tariffs for electricity used at religious places have been hiked by 555% driving up the charge per unit from Rs. 7.42 to Rs. 48.65. Meanwhile, the Central Provincial “Sangha Sabha” (Monks' Council) of the Ramanna Sect met last week to discuss the Government's decision to increase the electricity tariffs of religious places including Buddhist temples by 555%. The monks who participated in the discussion expressed their opposition to the Government's decision, claiming that many Buddhist temples cannot afford the tariff increase. The monks also said that they would request the temples across the country to turn off all the lights and leave the temples in darkness on the upcoming Poya Day to protest against the Government's decision to increase the electricity tariff and the views expressed by the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera in that regard.  


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