February 03, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Electricity Board has recovered in excess of Rs. 90 million after intensifying action against electricity theft across the country last year, officials confirmed.

A series of island-wide inspections carried out by the Board’s Special Investigation Unit during 2025 exposed widespread abuse of the power supply, including tampered meters and unauthorised connections drawn directly from mains lines. In total, investigators detected more than 1,300 violations, causing significant revenue losses to the state utility.

According to Special Investigation Unit Manager Indika Fernando, the enforcement drive resulted in the recovery of nearly Rs. 93 million. The bulk of the amount was collected as compensation for losses incurred by the CEB, while a smaller portion covered court-imposed charges arising from prosecutions.

He said those apprehended came from a range of backgrounds, including commercial operators and professionals, and were found to have manipulated metering systems or bypassed them altogether to avoid paying for electricity consumed.

Fernando noted that surveillance and enforcement efforts would continue and encouraged members of the public to report suspected cases of power theft through the dedicated hotline. He stressed that the CEB remains firm in pursuing legal action to safeguard public funds and ensure fair use of electricity.