CEB crackdown on Power pirates

by Ananda Kannangara

The Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is conducting on the spot investigations on large scale illegal power tapping by private sector business tycoons countrywide.

This was decided on by the CEB, on the directive of Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne following numerous complaints by the civil society.

Minister Seneviratne told the `Sunday Observer' that all power pirates will not only be severely dealt with, but also the Board will look into the possibility of imposing a long standing power supply termination for losses, caused to the CEB.

It is reported that a large number of tourists hotels, guest houses, factories, saw mills, rice mills and several industrialists in the country are tapping electricity in a systematic manner, causing heavy losses to the CEB annually.

Meanwhile, Manager (SIB) of the CEB, S. D. L. Karunasena said that 10,045 raids were conducted during the first nine months of this year and Rs. 107.5 million was recovered.

"The raids are conducted during the day and night and the majority power pirates were detected tampering with meters," he said.