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Solar panels for religious sites discussed

12 Sep 2022

  • Considered as solution to electricity tariff increase
Kanchana warns non-payment by religious places will result in disconnection   By Buddhika Samaraweera   Following allegations that many religious sites including Buddhist temples cannot bear the recent 555% increase in electricity tariffs on religious sites, the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs has focused its attention on discussing possible solutions with the Ministry of Power and Energy and implementing a programme to provide solar panel systems to religious places. Speaking to The Morning, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayake said that he had discussed the revision of electricity tariffs of religious places with Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera on several occasions. He also said that even after the tariff revision, the charge for a unit of electricity used at religious places remains at a lower rate, compared to the charge for the same at other places. “It is true that in some religious places, the electricity bill has considerably gone up. In the face of this situation, this issue should be resolved in a way that is fair for all parties including the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the religious places, and the country. We all need to understand that there is a crisis which affects almost everyone including both clergy and laymen. Therefore, everyone should consume electricity sparingly.” Noting that former Speaker of Parliament and Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikayarakshaka Sabha Chairman Karu Jayasuriya has also requested the Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Ministry to intervene to resolve the issue, Wickramanayake said that he hopes to discuss the matter further with the Power and Energy Ministry within the week starting from today (12). In addition, he said that the Ministry has planned to implement a programme to provide solar panel systems to religious places, including Buddhist temples. Claiming that most religious places are unable to bear the recent 555% increase in electricity tariffs, Sri Bodhiraja Temple in Embilipitiya Chief Incumbent Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera said last week that it seems as if the Government is “punishing” religious places with the move to increase electricity tariffs. For instance, he said that the electricity tariff of the Sri Bodhiraja Temple in Embilipitiya which houses about 75 Buddhist monks who are still studying which was Rs. 60,000 before has now become Rs. 300,750. However, in a tweet yesterday with a video of a statement by the Thera, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said: “Statement made by former MP and former Leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya Ven Omalpe Sobhitha Thera. Unfortunately, the Ven. Thera falls into the same category as the political category as stated below. Non-payment of Electricity bills will result in disconnection.” The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on 9 August 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 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.


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