Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says while millions of people have been displaced by Cyclone Ditwah, the government is preparing to increase electricity tariffs by 11.57%.
In a special video message, he stated that although the present government came to power promising to build a prosperous country and a better life, instead, it is now laying the foundation for a poorer country and a harsher life by raising electricity bills.
Premadasa pointed out that government members, when in opposition, pledged on every platform to reduce electricity bills by 33%, for example, lowering a Rs. 9,000 bill to Rs. 6,000 and a Rs. 3,000 bill to Rs. 2,000, but after coming to power they have forgotten those promises and are instead planning to raise tariffs by 11.57%, betraying the public mandate they received.
He further said that millions of citizens voted for the current government because of its promise to reduce electricity bills, a pledge even publicly declared by the President.
“Now, having gained power on the backs of the people, the government is betraying that trust, violating the human and fundamental rights of electricity consumers, and leaving them helpless through broken promises and deception,” the Opposition Leader said.
Premadasa also criticized the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), saying that although they once claimed they would renegotiate IMF conditions to benefit the people, they too are now implementing IMF agreements unchanged, thereby imposing unlimited hardship and pressure on the public.
He stressed that even in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, which left millions in distress, the government is still preparing to raise electricity tariffs without concern, and urged it to abandon this wrong course of action and instead fulfill its promise to reduce bills by 33%.
Sajith Premadasa concluded that the people must rally against a government that violates their mandate in this way, condemning such anti-people actions that heap unbearable pressure on citizens. (Newswire)