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2020-11-30

News Categories : Committee News 

An insurance compensation worth one million for a person whose death is caused by electrocution due to an electrical system error

The Hon. Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma stated that given the discussions held with Sri Lanka Insurance Corp. Ltd, it has been decided to set up an insurance scheme to provide compensation worth Rs. one million in the event of a death caused due to defects in the CEB's power system.

The Minister of Power, Dullas Alahapperuma stated that discussions were held as well with the Sri Lanka Insurance Corp. Ltd to introduce an insurance scheme to cover the losses incurred on household appliances due to power outages.

The Minister disclosed the above at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power held in Parliament, yesterday 30th November 2020.

The Minister also instructed the respective officials to initiate a procedure to inform consumers a week ahead when there is a power outage due to maintenance.

It was decided at the Committee meeting to formalize the process of supplying street lights to the areas belonging to the Local Government Authorities and to establish a standard for the street lights so supplied. The CEB spends Rs. 2 billion a year on street lights. The Committee also focused on the need to install solar powered street lights in areas where electric street lights cannot be installed.

The Committee drew attention to the large-scale property damage caused by lightning in active areas and it was decided to find a solution in this regard in consultation with the Department of Disaster Management.

Attention was also drawn to the need of establishing a formal system and a process that would not inconvenience consumers in the installation of solar panels throughout the country.  Hon. State Minister of Solar Power, Wind and Hydro Power Generation Projects Development Duminda Dissanayake stated that the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority
will initiate a regulatory process for this purpose.

It was also disclosed that a sum of Rs. 100 million will be provided under the Indian Loan Scheme for the provision of solar power kits to state-owned enterprises, he said. The aim is to gradually reduce the large amount of money spent on electricity bills by state institutions. A program has also been proposed to earn an income by renting out the roofs of government institutions to install solar power kits.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Parliamentarians Sarathi Dushmanth, B.Y.G. Ratnasekera, Samanpriya Herath, Charles Nirmalanathan, Secretary to the Ministry of Power Wasantha Perera, Secretary to the State Ministry Secretary Hemantha Samarakoon and other officials were also present at the occasion.

 

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