Ceylon Electricity Board

What Ceylon Electricity Board does

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is a state-owned statutory body established by Parliament Act No. 17 of 1969 that operates as Sri Lanka's vertically integrated national electricity utility, responsible for generation, high-voltage transmission, and distribution across the island. Its generation portfolio spans the Laxapana and Mahaweli hydroelectric complexes (Victoria, Kotmale, Randenigala, Rantambe, Bowatenna, Polpitiya, New Laxapana, Upper Kotmale), thermal plants (Lakvijaya coal, Kelanitissa gas turbines, Sapugaskanda diesel), the Mannar Wind Farm (30 x 3.45 MW Vestas turbines, 103.5 MW), plus tele-metered mini hydro (195+ plants) and rooftop solar. Transmission infrastructure includes 220kV, 132kV, and 400kV lines, grid substations with SCADA/DAS, Static Var Compensators (Biyagama, ±100/-100 MVAr) and Breaker-Switched Capacitors (Pannipitiya, 100 MVAr), plus a 220kV underground cable network in Greater Colombo.

The utility serves every consumer class in Sri Lanka — domestic households, religious/general purpose, commercial, industrial, hotel, and bulk-supply licensees (LECO, LTL) — through tariff categories approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), with consumption-slabbed usage-based pricing, monthly billing, late-payment interest at 2% per month, and new-connection/augmentation fees. Revenue also includes the Standardised Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) programme under which CEB buys electricity from non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE) producers across 346 commissioned projects totaling 810.734 MW using a cost-based three-tier tariff.

Customer-facing channels include the CEBCare web portal (cebcare.ceb.lk) for new connections, rooftop solar PV clearance, complaints, and outage maps; an instant online payment gateway (payment.ceb.lk); an SMS service via short-code 1987; and an island-wide physical bill-payment network spanning People's Bank, Bank of Ceylon, Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, Seylan, HSBC, NSB, Sri Lanka Post, Cargills, Singer, and Abans. CEB is currently executing a large infrastructure pipeline funded by ADB, AIIB, World Bank, JICA, and AFD, and is undergoing a corporate restructuring effective 10 March 2026 that splits the entity into three successor state-owned companies: Electricity Distribution Lanka, Electricity Generation Lanka, and the National Transmission Network Service Provider.

Name

Ceylon Electricity Board

Legal name

Ceylon Electricity Board

Website

https://ceb.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is the Sri Lankan state-owned statutory utility that generates, transmits, and distributes electricity island-wide to domestic, commercial, industrial, hotel, and bulk-supply customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Utility Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Generation (22111), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Substation & Interconnection EPC (Collector/POI Substations, Switchyards) (EUAEADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wind Power Plant EPC (Onshore/Offshore) (EUAEAAAF), Power Plant I&C / SCADA / DCS EPC (EUAEAAAN), Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines) (EUAMAFAF)

Keywords

• Electricity generation
• Power transmission
• Electricity distribution
• Utility services
• Renewable energy integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Kandy

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Electricity Tariff Sales (Domestic, Commercial, Industrial, Bulk): Primary revenue from electricity retail tariffs billed to domestic households (under 42 kVA / over 42 kVA religious or general purpose), commercial, industrial, hotel and bulk-supply customers, with consumption-slabbed rates; e.g., April 2026 raised tariffs by an average of 8.5% for households/industries and 25% for consumers above 180 units (thehindubusinessline noted household +7.2%, industries +8.7%, hotels +9.9% effective April). Two-tier block tariffs and bulk-supply contracts.
2. New Connection & Service Application Fees: Revenue from applications for new electricity supply, augmentation, temporary service connections, tariff changes, meter testing, name changes, meter shifting, and pole/line shifting. Application forms are free but actual service connection costs are charged as estimates/vouchers to be paid at People's Bank or CEB POS counters.
3. NCRE / Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Power Purchase (Avoided Cost / Three-Tier Tariff): CEB purchases electricity from Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) small power producers under Standardised Power Purchase Agreements (SPPA) using a cost-based, technology-specific, three-tier tariff (fixed charge + variable O&M + fuel charge). NCRE includes small hydro, wind, biomass/den dro, agri/industrial waste, municipal solid waste, wave and solar energy. Cumulative commissioned capacity (as of 29 Nov 2024): 346 projects totaling 810.734 MW.
4. Rooftop Solar PV (RTSPV) & BESS Tariffs: Feed-in/Net metering tariff revenue from customers installing rooftop solar PV (with BESS or without) under the announced RTSPV 2025 and BESS Tariff 2025 frameworks, supporting CEB's national renewable energy targets.
5. Bulk Supply to Distribution Licensees (LECO, LTL): CEB sells wholesale power to Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) and Lanka Transformers Ltd (LTL), and other licensees for downstream distribution; footers on the CEB site link to leco.lk and ltl.lk as associated distribution entities.
6. Late Payment Interest & Reconnection Charges: Per government gazette 1527/25 dated 24.10.2008, CEB charges 2% monthly interest on unpaid account balances after 30 days and reconnection fees (processing charge + interest on amounts due) for disconnected services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Core offering

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is the integrated national power utility of Sri Lanka, supplying electricity through owned generation (hydro, thermal, wind, solar), high-voltage transmission, and island-wide distribution to households, commercial and industrial customers. It also operates digital customer platforms (CEBCare web portal, e-Bill, online payment gateway) and administers renewable energy power purchase programmes such as NCRE, RTSPV and BESS tariffs.

Product overview

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) operates as an integrated utility providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution across Sri Lanka. Its offering is a single integrated utility service rather than a modular SaaS platform: the core service (electricity supply) is delivered through an island-wide grid that combines the legacy generation network, the national transmission network, and the distribution network that is being transferred to the new Electricity Distribution Lanka (EDL) successor entity. On top of this core, CEB offers a portfolio of customer-facing services and programs: the CEBCare Web Portal (new connections, rooftop solar PV clearance, complaints, outage maps, bill calculator), the e-Bill Service (electronic billing registration), Instant Bill / PIV Payment (online card payments), and an SMS Service via short-code 1987. Energy-supply programs include the Rooftop Solar PV (RTSPV) connection service, the Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) Standard Power Purchase Agreement programme (covering small hydro, wind, biomass, waste, and solar generators), and the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) tariff. CEB is also executing a large project pipeline — the Mannar Wind Power Project (103.5 MW), Broadlands (35 MW), Moragolla, Uma Oya (120 MW), Seethawaka Ganga, Kerawalapitiya–Port 220 kV underground cable, Sampur–Kappalthurai 220 kV transmission, the NTDND&EIP and PSRSP transmission programmes, the Greater Colombo T&D Loss Reduction Project, REATDP, and the Sri Lanka Energy Transition Program (P505052) — which collectively form the engineering backlog behind the core supply service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CEB Electricity Supply (Generation, Transmission and Distribution) Flagship integrated service combining electricity generation (hydro, thermal, wind, solar), high-voltage transmission, and island-wide distribution to households, commercial customers, industries and hotels in Sri Lanka.
• CEBCare Web Portal Online customer self-service portal providing new electricity connection requests, rooftop solar PV clearance applications, bill calculator, outage maps, complaint submission, and account registration for individual and business electricity consumers in Sri Lanka.
• CEB e-Bill Service Electronic billing registration service that allows electricity consumers to receive e-Bills and billing details by email in place of paper bills, accessible via the CEBCare Web Portal.
• CEB Instant Bill Payment / PIV Payment Online bill and PIV payment service allowing electricity customers to settle electricity bills and PIV payments instantly using Master, Visa, or Amex cards without prior registration.
• CEB SMS Service (1987) SMS-based customer notification service allowing electricity consumers to register their 10-digit account number to receive planned power interruption alerts, overdue bill reminders, and outstanding balance queries via short-code 1987.
• Rooftop Solar PV (RTSPV) Net-Metering / Connection Service Service enabling rooftop solar PV system owners to apply online for clearance, obtain grid interconnection, and operate under the RTSPV 2025 tariff announced by CEB.
• Non-Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE) Power Purchase Programme Standardised Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA) programme through which CEB purchases electricity from small hydro, wind, biomass/dendro, agricultural/industrial waste, municipal solid waste, and solar generators under a three-tier cost-based, technology-specific tariff.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Tariff Cabinet-approved battery energy storage scheme with a dedicated 2025 tariff for grid-connected solar PV plus BESS systems, intended to address the curtailment of grid-connected solar plants and absorb intermittent renewable generation.

Named customers1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT): Thailand's state-owned national power utility responsible for generation and transmission, supplying distribution utilities and large industrial users. Comparable to CEB in state-owned integrated utility profile and regional Southeast Asian operating context.
• Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB): Malaysia's largest state-owned integrated electric utility, operating generation, transmission, and distribution across Peninsular Malaysia. Directly comparable to CEB as a vertically integrated national utility serving a Southeast Asian developing economy with a similar generation mix transition challenge.
• PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara): Indonesia's state-owned national electric utility, monopoly provider of generation, transmission, and distribution services across the archipelago. Comparable to CEB as a state-owned integrated utility in a large South/Southeast Asian economy undergoing rapid demand growth and renewable transition.
• Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO): South Korea's state-owned integrated electric utility covering generation, transmission, and distribution. Comparable to CEB as a national integrated utility executing major grid modernization, SCADA/DCS deployment, and renewable integration programs.
• NTPC Limited: India's largest state-owned power generation company with a growing renewable portfolio, supplying power under long-term PPAs to distribution utilities. Comparable to CEB in scale of generation assets, multilateral-financed capex pipeline, and state-backed utility role in a developing economy.

Direct peers

• Sarawak Energy Berhad: State-owned vertically integrated utility of Sarawak, Malaysia, with significant hydropower generation and transmission/distribution operations. Comparable to CEB as a state-owned hydro-rich Asian utility managing similar grid expansion, IPP/SPP PPAs, and renewable absorption challenges.
• Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA): Nepal's state-owned integrated national power utility with hydro-dominated generation mix and ongoing cross-border/interconnection projects. Comparable to CEB in South Asian geography, hydro-rich mix, multilateral-financed transmission expansion, and similar institutional structure.
• Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB): Bangladesh's state-owned national power utility responsible for generation, transmission, and bulk supply to distribution entities. Comparable to CEB in South Asian developing-economy context, similar generation mix challenges (gas, coal, oil), and active multilateral-financed capacity expansion.

Regional players

• Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC): Sri Lanka's other major state-owned energy statutory body, operating downstream oil imports/refining/distribution. Adjacent comparator to CEB in domestic Sri Lankan state-owned energy sector context — comparable in institutional structure, governance, and exposure to IMF-driven reforms.
• Lanka Electricity Company (LECO): Sri Lankan distribution licensee that purchases bulk power from CEB and distributes in Western Province suburbs. Comparable to CEB's downstream distribution function specifically — historically linked via bulk-supply relationship and listed as an associated distribution entity on CEB's website.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ceylon Electricity Board