Economy

Sri Lanka’s CEB makes operating loss in Dec 2024 quarter as revenues plunge

Published

1 year ago

March 6, 2025

Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Electricity Board has made an operating loss of 3.0 billion rupees in the December 2024 quarter, and made a marginal net profit with the help of other income and gains, interim accounts showed.

CEB’s revenues plunged 28 percent to 111.8 billion rupees in the December 2024 quarter, from 156.2 billion rupees, while cost of sales grew 49 percent to 116.2 billion rupees, leading to gross loss of 4.49 billion rupees, down from 78 billion in 2023.

Sri Lanka got exceptional rains in 2023 in the inter-monsoon period, keeping costs down. Selling prices were also higher.

With the help of other income and gains of 11.3 billion rupees in the December quarter, the CEB covered some of its administration costs of 9.8 billion rupees with an operating loss of 3.0 billion rupees.

There was finance income of 3.6 billion rupees and it was not specified whether it was a foreign exchange gain.

For the full year the CEB had made 11.7 billion rupees of forex gains, as the rupee appreciated with deflationary policy.

In the year to December the CEB posted profits of 144 billion rupees, helped by forex gains and also a 26 billion rupee capital gain from sale of shares of LTL holding to West Coast Power reducing its debt.

Concerns have been raised at Sri Lanka’s electricity tariff policy and way forward looking pricing is not made.

In the first quarter of each year, there is a dry period, which leads to higher thermal generation though now there is rooftop solar helping reduce the fuel usage and allowing to manage with coal, which is cheaper.

The International Monetary Fund has said Sri Lanka missed a structural benchmark after the Public Utilities Commission cut fuel electricity tariffs by 20 percent in January.

Source – Economynext

Economy

Sri Lanka to Launch First Digital Motor Insurance Card from May 1

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has announced that the country’s first digital motor insurance card will be introduced from May 1.

The Ministry stated that this initiative represents a significant step toward advancing national digitalization while also enhancing public safety.

By replacing physical plastic cards, the move is also expected to contribute to environmental sustainability across the country.

The Ministry added that the digital motor insurance card will be officially launched in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, the Insurance Association of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lanka Police.

Economy

Sri Lanka Confirms Hackers Diverted USD 2.5M Meant for Australian Debt Repayment

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2026

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Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance has revealed that cyber hackers infiltrated the computer system of the External Resources Department, leading to the fraudulent diversion of a foreign debt repayment of nearly USD 2.5 million intended for Australia.

Addressing the issue, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, said the intrusion was first detected in January 2026, when officials became aware that hackers had attempted to gain unauthorized access to the External Resources Department’s systems and compromise them. Upon identifying the threat, the Ministry immediately alerted law‑enforcement authorities.

He said reports were lodged with the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL‑CERT) and the Computer Crimes Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police to investigate the attempted system breach. In parallel, ministry officials instructed the External Resources Department to conduct an internal review to determine whether any further damage had occurred beyond the initial incident.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the cyberattack had taken place earlier than first detected. A review of previous months’ transactions uncovered that hackers had intercepted email communications linked to a government‑to‑government debt repayment involving Australia.

Economy

Hackers hit Sri Lanka Finance Ministry as USD 2.5M storm erupts

Published

4 days ago

April 23, 2026

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The Government is facing scrutiny following reports that $ 2.5 million (nearly Rs. 800 million) of Treasury funds was diverted during a foreign debt repayment, with the amount yet to reach the intended creditor country.

The funds were part of a bilateral payment to Australia amounting $ 22.9 million, with settlement due in September 2025.

The Treasury has appointed a Technical Investigation Committee to probe a suspected fraudulent payment involving $ 2.5 million linked to a bilateral transaction with Australia. The committee includes two Deputy Secretaries to the Treasury and will be co-chaired by A.N. Hapugala and S.S. Mudalige. The other members are National Planning Department Director General K.T.I. Premaratne, Legal Affairs Department Additional Director General A.K.D.D. Arandara, and Information Technology Management Department Assistant Director E.D. Shirantha.

The Committee has been tasked with probing the risk of fraudulent payment instructions received via email, which may have contributed to the disappearance of the funds remitted to Australia. It has been directed to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the incident and submit its report at the earliest.

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