Close check on power piracy during Vesak

Public assistance sought to nab pirates:

Stern action against offenders:

Disna MUDALIGE

Incidents of power piracy is likely to rise during the Vesak period as individuals may try to tap electricity surreptitiously for various illuminations and dansal lighting, a Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) official said. The officials said stern action will be taken against the offenders. Meanwhile, the Power and Energy Ministry has requested the public to bring to its attention any incidents of power piracy. They can contact the CEB Investigations Unit on 2422259.

The CEB earned Rs 21.3 million as income from raids conducted by flying squads to nab power pirates in the month of March. Rs 3.9 million had been earned as fines imposed by courts while the rest had been recovered from rouge power consumers. Around 345 incidents of power piracy had been reported of which 237 had been incidents of illegal manipulation of electricity meters. The rest had been pirating by using hooks to the supply lines, CEB sources said.

The flying squad had nabbed 331 power pirates in January and has earned an income of over Rs 21.5 million. Compared with January and February statistics, there was a decline in power pirating incidents. However, with the approach of the festive season, the demand for power had increased and incidents of power piracy had gone up, the sources said.