Nearly 300,000 unauthorized street lamps - Ranawaka
Ariyapala Wansathilake Kurunegala Central Special
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Minister
Champika Ranawaka |
There are nearly 300,000 unauthorized street lamps-throughout the
country, said Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.
He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Kurunegala district Ceylon
Electricity Board (CEB) office on Friday.
The minister said that electricity wastage in the industrial and
commercial sector ammounted to Rs 30 million and domestic wastage was Rs
20 million per day. He said 80 percent of the economic growth targeted
by the Mahinda Chinthana would depend on the energy sector.
“We should understand that economic growth cannot be achieved without
developing the power and energy sector,” he said.
“Nearly 65 percent of the power supply is generated through power
stations which are run by fuel. The CEB has to spend Rs 14 to produce
one electricity unit. However the CEB gives one electricity unit to the
customer for Rs 10.80,” Ranawaka said.
“As a result, the CEB faces a Rs 50 million loss per day. In
addition, nearly 20 percent of power generation is wasted in Sri Lanka,”
the minister said. He said a programme has been implemented to educate
3.4 million electricity customers regarding this.
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