Prasanna submits Cabinet paper to extend electricity relief to tourism sector

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga will submit a special Cabinet paper today to provide further concessions on electricity bills to hotels, restaurants and home-stay units registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).

The proposal to further extend the electricity bill concession granted by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to tourism entities registered with SLTDA had already been submitted to the Cabinet office, he said yesterday.

From 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021, tourism entities were given an electricity concession. This was further extended till the end of this year, whilst also adjusting the unit price of electricity in the hotel sector after comparing it with other industries.

The Minister has requested the CEB in the new proposal to provide relief for tourist hotels, restaurants and homestay units that were registered with the SLTDA, to pay all the outstanding accumulated electricity bills from March 2020 to 31 December 2021 in 36 instalments, with effect from 1 January 2022. 

He has also requested the CEB not to terminate the electricity supply until the end of that period.

“It is hoped that the gradual recovery of the tourism industry will address the problems faced by them from next year,” Ranatunga said.