The Health Ministry and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have successfully reached a consensus to resolve the issue of unpaid electricity bills amounting to Rs. 160 million for seven state hospitals.
Among the hospitals with outstanding bills, the Colombo National Hospital’s unpaid electricity charges total Rs. 120 million. Additionally, the National Dental Hospital, De Soysa Maternity Hospital, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, National Eye Hospital, National Institute for Nephrology Dialysis & Transplantation in Maligawatta, and Castle Street Hospital for Women owe a combined sum of Rs. 40 million.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella revealed that after extensive discussions with the CEB and the Auditor General, a decision was made to create a payment schedule in collaboration with the Treasury to settle these outstanding bills.
Dr. Saman Ratnayake, Additional Secretary to the Health Ministry, provided assurance that the state hospitals in question would not face power interruptions as a result of the arrears. The parties involved agreed to settle the three-month arrears within the next two months, and Rs. 120 million has already been allocated to the Colombo National Hospital to clear its unpaid electricity bills.
