Government achieving target of reducing power tariff by one-third within three years: Minister

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, January 6 (Daily Mirror) - The government is reaching towards the target of reducing the electricity tariff by one-third within three years as promised, where the average unit cost has reduced from Rs. 37 in 2024 to Rs. 29 by now, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody said today.

He told Parliament that the government is aiming to reduce the average unit cost to Rs. 25 and that if that is achieved, electricity tariff could be reduced by 32 percent.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister said the National People's Power (NPP) assured a 30 percent electricity tariff reduction within three years in July 2024 when the average unit cost was Rs. 37.

He said the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has proposed a 11.57 percent tariff increase for the first quarter of 2026 to cover up the deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026.