KANDY – The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has refused to continue maintenance of power supply to the Kandy General Hospital, the premier medical institution of the hill country, for non-payment of dues amounting several million rupees.

Secretary of the Kandy General Hospital, Ananda Silva disclosed at the meeting of the Kandy District Coordinating Committee (DCC) that the CEB was demanding a payment of Rs. 12.3 million according to bills prepared by the CEB.

The Board is demanding another payment of Rs. 40.33 million in respect of another estimate, Ananda Silva said.

He said, the hospital paid a sum of Rs. 8.3 million to the CEB, but still the CEB was refusing to attend to the maintenance work.

As a result, Ananda Silva said urgent treatment to the new-born and the members of the Security Forces was hampered due to power failure.

He stressed the need for the intervention of the authorities.

Kandy District Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne told the meeting that the matter should be taken up with the General Manager of the CEB.

The Ceylon Electricity Board should take a liberal attitude with regard to the recovery of arrears of tariffs and other dues, District Secretary Jayaratne noted.

Kandy District MP, Ven. Udawatte Nanda Thera chaired the meeting.

The meeting which was the first to be held this year, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake Chief Secretary, Central Province P. G. Amarakoon was present.