Sri Lanka plans to expand operations to target the export markets for smart electricity meters in the future, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said today.

Taking to Twitter, Minister Wijesekera stated that Sri Lanka will commence the manufacturing of 3-phase and smart electricity meters this year.

The minister stated that single-phase meters required by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) are manufactured in Sri Lanka by ANTE LECO Metering Company.

Ante LECO Metering Company (Pvt) Ltd. which is a subsidiary of LECO produces 250,000 meters annually, he said. 

Minister Wijesekera stated that the company will expand manufacturing of 3-phase and smart electricity meters this year. 

“With the expansion, the company plans to fulfil the entire domestic requirement for single-phase, 3-phase and smart meters and also plans to expand operations to target the export markets in the future,” he said. 

Minister Kanchana Wijesekera further stated that he met the Chairman of Ante Meter Group, and officials of LECO and ANTE LECO Metering Company yesterday.

He added that the discussion focused on future plans and introducing their new meters. (NewsWire)

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Smart metering is expected to be introduced soon with arrangements being made to launch the pilot project in the Dehiwala – Mount Lavinia Municipal Council area, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera stated.

The Minister stated that the project is being implemented with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

He further stated that 31,000 customers will be given smart bills, adding that the customer will receive the bill as e- bills and SMSs without manual reading.

Minister Kanchana Wijesekera made the remarks at the Ministerial Consultative Committee meeting held in Parliament yesterday (09).

He further stated that steps will be taken to provide about 36,000 new connections that have been delayed due to the financial crisis in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) within a period of 6 weeks.

Due to the existing financial issues, there was a shortage of equipment to provide new connections and with the recent steps to increase the electricity tariffs, the strengthening of the financial sector of the board would enable new connections to be provided, the minister pointed out. 

He made the statement when the Members of Parliament raised issues in the committee that despite a large number of people having registered to get new connections, there is a big delay in issuing connections.

Minister Wijesekera also said that a program to minimize the cost of the institutions under the ministry, including the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Petroleum Corporation, is currently underway.

By changing the QR code fuel quota update to Tuesday, overtime expenses of nearly 20 million rupees to be paid to petroleum workers on Saturdays and Sundays can be saved, he revealed.    

The minister said that no new employees will be recruited for these institutions and the expenses have been reduced as much as possible through the management of the currently employed staff.

The committee also approved the orders published in Gazette No. 2313/47 and No. 2313/47 made by the Minister of Power and Energy under the Petroleum Resources Act No. 21 of 2021.

Members of the committee State Minister Indika Anuruddha Herath, Members of Parliament Chandima Weerakkodi, Nalaka Bandara Kottagoda and a group of MPs and officials of the institutions under the Ministry of Power and Energy were also present at this committee meeting. (NewsWire)

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