Lokuge said that the defaulters had been given a one-year grace period to pay the arrears in installments and that they would have to continue to pay the monthly electricity bills while paying the arrears. A special circular has been issued in this regard, the Minister said. He was responding to a question raised by Samagi Jana Balawegaya Colombo District MP Mujubar Rahuman regarding the electricity bill. MP Mujubar Rahuman questioned whether any relief would be given to a large number of people as they had lost their income during the Kovid period. He added that the electricity supply to many Colombo electricity consumers' homes has already been cut off due to arrears.