• Responds to growing concern over Bill’s ‘shortcomings’  

In the wake of growing criticism against the proposed Electricity Sector Reforms Bill, the relevant regulatory body, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) stated that there is no capacity for them to intervene to rectify the shortcomings of the Bill, if any.

Posting on the social media platform X on 18 April, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that the Bill would be presented to the Parliament, claiming that the amendments suggested by the stakeholders in January had been added to the revised Bill. It has since attracted criticism from several parties such as Opposition political groups, civil society organisations and unions within the sector.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (24), PUCSL Member Douglas Nanayakkara said that the Bill had been referred to them on an earlier occasion, and that they had accordingly made some recommendations. “We made some recommendations in relation to the aspect of consumer protection, and they have been accommodated by the Ministry of Power and Energy.” 

When queried as to whether they would consider reviewing it again in view of the growing criticism against the Bill, he said: “We, as the PUCSL, cannot do anything other than make recommendations. If anyone sees any deficiency in the Bill, they can challenge it before the Supreme Court (SC).”

The proposed Bill focuses on liberalising electricity supplying agencies such as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), increasing private sector participation, strengthening regulatory frameworks, addressing the electricity tariff structure to ensure cost recovery, balancing the financial needs of electricity providers with consumer interests, promoting renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, investing in infrastructure to improve grid reliability, reducing losses, and facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources.

The Electricity Consumers' Association recently lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka over the proposed Bill while the CEB Workers’ Union has also pledged to challenge the Bill before the SC once it is tabled in the Parliament.