Lankan man dies of heart attack after being presented with shocking electric bill

It said the man was told that the bill was due to a hefty tariff increase from last month and suffered a heart attack on the news,collapsing at the electricity board headquarters.

The newspaper did not give the victims bill amount,but said it was in line with the new 50 per cent tariff increase.

The man identified as SP Samaradasa collapsed on a chair,the newspaper said in a front-page report headlined: Electricity tariff claims first victim. The cause of death was identified as a heart attack, the paper added. He was dead on arrival at hospital.

Sri Lanka is one of the most expensive countries in Asia for electricity with a kilowatt hour costing up to 47 rupees 0.37.

About two thirds of Sri Lankas electricity is generated using coal or oil,while the balance comes from hydropower stations which cannot be used during droughts.