Government to Increase Electricity Tariffs to Please IMF

07-Oct-2025

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To satisfy the International Monetary Fund and secure the fifth tranche of funding, the government has decided to increase electricity tariffs by 6%. 

The Consumers’ Association, led by M.D.R. Athul, expressed distrust of the Independent Public Utilities Commission (IPUC) and criticized consulting the public as a waste of time and government resources.

During a press briefing at the association’s office in Colombo, he said that the Sri Lanka Electricity Board recommended the 6.8% tariff increase to the IPUC. 

The IPUC is collecting public opinions province by province, with a final hearing scheduled for the 15th in Colombo. 

However, the IPUC will not announce a decision to reduce tariffs but will approve the increase.

He noted that the last tariff adjustment had generated up to 8 billion rupees in profit for the Electricity Board, but favorable factors for a tariff reduction were ignored, while only reasons supporting an increase were considered. 

He reiterated that the government is raising tariffs to satisfy the IMF and that consulting public aspirations is pointless, as the IPUC operates according to government objectives.