Reducing electricity tariffs by 20% will not solve the problem

The President has advised the Power and Energy Ministry to reduce the electricity tariff hike by 20%, the UNP claims, adding that increasing the tariff by 100% and then reducing it by 20% will make not solve the problem.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake stated that the President will announce tomorrow (May 1) at the May Day rally that he has directed the Ministry to reduce the tariff increase for bills under 150 units by 20%.

He said that the President, without attending the cabinet meetings, will throw the cabinet into the fire to score points with the public.

However, speaking at a press conference held in Colombo today (April 30), MP Attanayake said that increasing the tariff by 100% and then reducing it by 20% will not solve the issue as a further 80% will continue to burden the people.

He also pointed out that Minister Wimal Weerawansa will hold a separate rally tomorrow under the banner of the National Freedom Front while he has also made it compulsory for the employees of the National Housing Authority to participate in the rally.

Attanayake said that the government is forcing state workers to join its various rallies, bring them for the rallies in SLTB busses.