'No intention of increasing electricity charges'

The Power and Energy Ministry has requested the Public Utilities Commission to maintain the present electricity tariff charges without increasing them, said Deputy Minister Premalal Jayasekara in Parliament yesterday.

The Deputy Minister also said that the Ministry had no intention of increasing the electricity tariff, as powers to make the decision in this regard, was on the Public Utilities Commission.

He said that a large number of new power generation projects were to be originated in the next 10 years by the CEB and private sectors, adding that the government would be able to supply electricity at a more reasonable price in the near future, as a result of these projects. The deputy minister was responding to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.