Power pirates cough up Rs 22m

Ridma Dissanayake

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Special Investigation Unit officials collected Rs 22 million as fines imposed on power pirates during operations carried out throughout the island last month.

This amount was made up of Rs 2.1 million as court fines and Rs 19.9 million as outstanding dues, totaling Rs 22 million. Two hundred and fifty six power piracy cases were reported during the last month, of which 143 were electricity metre manipulations while the other 113 cases involved obtaining power illegally . The raids were conducted by the CEB Special Investigations Unit. Meanwhile, Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said a colossal amount of income is deprived to the CEB due to the theft of power and other electricity related malpractices.

Power and Energy Ministry sources said all measures are in place to disconnect illegal power lines.

Those nabbed twice for power piracy will not be given electricity connections.

The sources said measures are in place to take legal action against persons obtaining power illegally and the CEB is on alert to nab power pirates islandwide. The Power and Energy Ministry called for public assistance to nab power pirates.