Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has come out swinging against the government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs, blaming it on the Electricity Board’s mismanagement and calling it an unjust burden on the people.
In a strongly worded statement, Premadasa pointed to the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) reported Rs. 18 billion loss in the first quarter of this year as a glaring indicator of administrative failure. “This isn’t a problem the public created, but they’re the ones being forced to pay for it,” he said.
Premadasa criticized the nearly 20% tariff hike being imposed on consumers, accusing the government of conveniently forgetting its promise to reduce electricity bills by 13%. Instead of offering relief, he said, the administration is “doubling down on failure” and shifting the cost of its inefficiencies onto already struggling households.
He vowed that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) would not remain silent. “We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people and launch a democratic resistance against this unfair decision,” Premadasa declared, signaling potential protests or parliamentary action in the coming weeks.
The opposition’s statement adds to growing public outrage over the tariff revision, especially as living costs continue to soar across the country.
