Colombo (News 1st); The Government of Sri Lanka has decided to reduce the electricity charges for the months of March and April by 25%.

Joint Cabinet Spokesperson Minister (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardena speaking to reporters on Thursday (09) said there will be no disconnections to the supply of electricity and fines will not be imposed on consumers.

He said the President had instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to explore the possibility of the Ceylon Electricity Board making a certain contribution despite incurring a loss, considering the current state of affairs.

The Joint Cabinet Spokesperson said Minister of Power and Energy Mahinda Amaraweera had spoken with the engineers and the experts and reached a decision to add more relief to the consumers,

The Final decision is to be made at the next meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, said Gunawardena.

A statement from the Government Information Department said the incomes of those employed in various sectors have collapsed since people had to stay at home from March to May 2020 due to the Covid-19 epidemic situation in the country.

It added, considering this situation the Minister of Power and Energy appointed a committee to submit recommendations including concessions on the electricity bills.

Accordingly, the report submitted by the said Committee was presented to the Cabinet of Ministers by the Minister of Power and Energy.

The Cabinet of Ministers decided to request the Minister to carry out further study on the recommendations through the Treasury officials and to submit his proposals at the next meeting on the concessions that can be given to the public.

On Wednesday (08) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Government has decided to bear a portion of the electricity bills for the months of March and April of 2020.