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BREAKING
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street

Sri Lanka under IMF grip, raises power prices again

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Feb 2023 16:09
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

The debt-ridden country, which is on the verge of economic collapse, has been facing a political crisis and is struggling with deteriorating social issues and security.

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  • Demonstrators protest inside the Presidential Secretariat premises, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 9, 2022. (Reuters)
    Demonstrators protest inside the Presidential Secretariat premises, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 9, 2022. (Reuters)

Officials reported Thursday that Sri Lanka's energy board raised customer prices by up to 275%, the second high increase in months as the insolvent island nation seeks an IMF deal.

Sri Lanka suffered from an unprecedented financial crisis last year as 22 million people endured months of food and fuel shortages, along with lengthy power cuts.

The people of #SriLanka are suffering amid a crippling economic crisis that has been accumulating for more than a decade.#srilankacrisis pic.twitter.com/oqsMLAm1pZ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 16, 2022

The government has defaulted on its $46 billion foreign debt and is negotiating a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund to allegedly repair its shattered finances.

"We had to raise electricity charges to be in line with IMF conditions that we cannot get handouts from the treasury," Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera told reporters. 

"We need to generate revenues to cover our costs," he added.

Electricity will now cost at least 30 rupees (eight cents) per kilowatt-hour. Meanwhile, the 275% increase in the lowest rate comes six months after a 264% increase.

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Larger users' prices have been raised by 60%, following an increase of 80% in August.

Wijesekera claimed that the tariff hikes would allow Sri Lanka's state electricity monopoly to halt the 140-minute daily blackouts now in force over the island.

"With increased revenue, we will be able to buy the fuel necessary to ensure uninterrupted power from today," he said.

It is worth noting that Sri Lanka suffered from daily blackouts of up to 13 hours last year as utilities ran out of money to buy imported fuel for generators. 

Months of protests during the height of the crisis pushed then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to depart the country and resign in July following allegations of economic mismanagement and corruption.

His successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has negotiated with international creditors and imposed tax hikes "to smooth passage of the IMF bailout."

Wickremesinghe predicted that Sri Lanka's economy will collapse by up to 11% last year and that the country would likely stay insolvent until at least 2026.

According to the UN Children's Agency, approximately one-third of Sri Lankans require humanitarian assistance as a result of the crisis.

  • economic crisis
  • IMF
  • Sri Lanka
  • high power prices

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