CEB collects Rs 83 m in fines

by Ananda Kannangara

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) collected Rs. 83 million in fines from power pirates countrywide during the past four months and warned that if anyone is found guilty of tapping electricity illegally in the future he would be severely dealt with and the power supply would not be restored for a considerable period.

According to the CEB, not only those who live in unauthorised structures, boutiques and shanties in the Colombo city and suburbs, but even certain tourist hotels, guest houses, factories, saw mills, rice mills and several industrialists in other districts are in the habit of tapping electricity. CEB, Investigation Manager L. Senaratna told the Sunday Observer that nine investigation squads, of the CEB’s Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) have already been deployed in all districts to crack down on power pirates.

He said that these squads are conducting on the spot investigations on large and small scale illegal power tapping.

“We cracked down on many power pirates in Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Kalmunai, Vavuniya, Mannar and Silawathura during the past two months,” he said.

He said that the CEB conducted over 100,000 raids during the first nine months of this year and collected Rs.107.5 million in fines.

He called upon the public to be vigilant over power pirates and make complaints to the CEB Head Office in Colombo or the sub stations in the area and prompt action will be taken against the power pirates.

Senaratna said that several power pirates were nabbed for tampering with electricity metres recently.