CEB must provide efficient service -minister

Ridma Dissanayake

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) depends on public money and is duty bound to treat their consumers in a friendly manner by providing an efficient service. This is the prime responsibility of the CEB, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka said.

"The CEB is one of the most important and most powerful institutions in the country. It has to play a major role, specially in the country's development programme", he added.

The minister was addressing the opening ceremony of the newly built E-City office in Gampola, Kandy, recently. The ministry hopes to provide a better and more efficient service to the public than in the past and consumers will be provided the opportunity solve their problems in a quick manner.

"According to current statistics and demands, the world's oil reserves will decline by by 2052. Gas resources are expected to run out within the next 60 years and coal will dwindle within the next 80 years. The world will face an energy crisis in the future", he stated.

"Sri Lanka is the only country in the Asian region supplying electricity around the clock to its people notwithstanding various problems encountered.

We must sustain this position while managing energy resources in a practical manner. We must try to reduce the electricity usage between 6 pm to 9.30 pm. This will greatly help manage electricity consumption," the minister said.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India and Japan have already introduced eight to 16 hour daily power cuts. We in Sri Lanka are fortunate that we do not have power cuts,unlike other countries.

The CEB employees and public should lend their support to face any future energy crisis. We should do our duty towards the country"the minister further said.