FTZ industrialists cry foul over ‘unreasonable’ power tariff hike
– FTZMA Chairman Jatinder Biala
FTZMA Secretary Dhammika Fernando Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera
Alleges PUCSL had allowed a higher hike than what CEB had requested
Warns of closure and loss of competitiveness in export markets
Claims hike is deterrent to draw much-needed FDI to Sri Lanka
Says SMEs hardest hit; seeks meeting with Power and Energy Minister for win-win deal
The Free Trade Zone Manufacturers Association (FTZMA) has expressed serious concern over the recent hike in power tariff as “unreasonable” and warned of severe repercussions to exports and the economy if the anomaly is not rectified.
The FTZMA is the sole trade chamber representing BOI investor companies in the zones and has expressed its objection to the tariff in writing to Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera. It said that the published electricity hike by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) is “unreasonably beyond the requested raise” by the CEB and is a rising concern of the export manufacturing sector which uses more electricity.
“This is quite alarming, and we are dumbfounded by this unprecedented move by the PUCSL as some of the enterprises might be facing the danger of closure,” FTZMA Chairman Jatinder Biala and Secretary Dhammika Fernando informed Minister Wijesekera.
FTZMA has analyzed the proposed price hike by CEB versus what has been published and that industry sectors in all categories are currently experiencing the largest hikes. “This increme-
