Minister of Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe said on Monday that no decision has been taken on whether water tariffs will be increased this year, telling reporters that any revision would be considered only at the next scheduled review at the end of June.
Addressing the media, the Minister said the water bill is reviewed twice annually — on January 30 and June 30 — and that the second review is the next opportunity for a tariff change.
“We cannot say anything yet. We can only decide based on the situation at that time,” Ranasinghe said.
The clarification comes as households brace for higher utility costs following the electricity tariff revision that took effect on May 10, under which most consumers saw their power bills rise by between 8 percent and 14.4 percent. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved the special tariff revision on May 9 after the National System Operator submitted a revised cost-recovery estimate on April 27.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) — the state utility under Ranasinghe’s portfolio — operates on a separate tariff cycle and has not requested a public consultation on a 2026 revision. NWSDB’s last published tariff schedule remains in force.
Ranasinghe did not indicate whether the June review would propose an increase. Operating costs for the utility have risen with higher pumping-energy costs following the electricity tariff hike, and Cabinet approved a USD 250 million ADB-supported water and sanitation programme on May 7 that will require future capital expenditure recovery.
