• Says Comm.’s authority to handle public complaints would be abolished, leaving public with court-based legal action as sole recourse  
• SJB alleges Govt. attempting to include ‘unconstitutional’ provisions contrary to AG’s view 

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has informed the Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Infrastructure and Strategic Development that the proposed Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill would severely violate the rights of electricity consumers.

During a recent session of the SOC, the PUCSL has warned that if the Bill is passed, consumers will have to go to court even for minor issues, as the Commission’s authority to receive and handle public complaints will be abolished through the Bill.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, sources within the PUCSL stated that they attended a session of the SOC last week to discuss the proposed Bill, which has now been presented to the Parliament. “We made submissions regarding flawed areas in this Bill to the SOC last week. When this Bill was introduced during the last Government too, we pointed those areas out, but no attention was paid to them."

They warned that if the Bill is passed, the PUCSL’s authority to receive public complaints would be removed. “Through this, the PUCSL’s authority to receive public complaints has been abolished. If this is passed, electricity consumers will have no way to lodge complaints. Even if it is a minor issue with an electricity bill, the public will have to go before court. In addition, there are many other adverse effects,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), alleged that due to the Government’s arbitrary conduct concerning the said Bill, which was to be tabled in the Parliament today (24), the necessary reforms have been obstructed. SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar expressed these concerns during a press briefing held yesterday (23) in Colombo. He added: “The Attorney General (AG) decides whether a Bill is constitutional or not. How can the subject Minister include unconstitutional matters in the Bill when the AG has stated that there are unconstitutional matters in the Bill?” He added that although several rounds of talks were held with the relevant parties, including the PUCSL, the Lanka Electricity Company (Private) Limited, and the Ceylon Electricity Board, a clear decision was taken to obtain the AG’s approval with regard to two provisions of the Bill. However, he alleged that despite that, the Government is attempting to go against that decision and alter the said two provisions as per the Government’s needs, and that that is why the Bill cannot be presented in the Parliament today as scheduled. “Owing to the Energy Minister’s arrogant conduct, the entire process gets derailed. At the same time, his conduct adds a black mark on the Government.”

Energy Ministry Secretary, Prof. Udayanga Hemapala was not available for comment.

The Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill was first introduced by the previous Government led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, but it faced strong criticism from several parties, including members of the current National People's Power (NPP) Government who were then in the Opposition. At the time, they claimed that the Bill would weaken public oversight and hand over too much power to private players in the energy sector. However, now in power, the NPP is pushing to pass the very same Bill. This has sparked fresh opposition, with unions in the energy sector and Opposition parties accusing the Government of betraying its earlier stance.