Rs 18 m in fines from power pirates in May

Rasika Somarathna

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) raids against power piracy have raised nearly Rs. 18 million as fines in May.

The monies were collected by way of fines imposed on those who were nabbed for obtaining electricity illegally, the Ministry of Power and Energy said.

They said that the special detection unit set up on the instructions of Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka had nabbed 237 power pirates during May.

Among them, 152 were taken to task for fraudulently obtaining electricity by way of altering electricity meters.

The remaining 85 cases were where hooks had been used to obtain electricity illegally, the Ministry said.

The Power and Energy Ministry yesterday called for public help to nab fraudsters who attempt to obtain electricity illegally.

The ministry urged the public to report any such activity forthwith to the authorities on telephone number 1987.