A bold parliamentary pledge reignites debate on energy pricing as the government claims progress on cutting electricity costs while defending fuel and tariff realities.
The government has already met its commitment to reduce electricity bills by one-third within the next three years, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody told Parliament today (06). Addressing lawmakers, the Minister said the administration has made steady progress toward lowering electricity tariffs despite rising operational challenges.
He revealed that the average cost of a unit of electricity, which stood at Rs. 37 in 2024, has now been reduced to Rs. 29. This reduction, he said, reflects ongoing reforms in the energy sector and improved cost management at the national level.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister outlined the government’s next cost reduction target. He stated that the aim is to bring the average unit cost down further to Rs. 25. If this target is achieved, he said, the overall electricity bill could be reduced by approximately 32 percent, delivering substantial relief to consumers.
The Minister reminded the House that the National People’s Power government is acting in line with its election promise to cut electricity tariffs by 30 percent within three years, made at a time when the unit cost in July 2024 was Rs. 37.
Meanwhile, he informed Parliament that the Ceylon Electricity Board has proposed an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs to cover an expected fiscal deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026.
Addressing fuel pricing concerns, the Minister said, “It is impossible to provide fuel at the price at which it is unloaded from the port,” explaining that significant distribution costs apply beyond that point. He added that the Opposition Leader’s remarks ignored these basic realities.
