- Alleges that some decisions taken had detrimental impact on sector
- Says officials must be held accountable
The Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) has called for an investigation into several decisions made by Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya, who recently resigned from his post as Chairperson of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), citing that his actions had a significantly detrimental impact on the national energy sector.
Dr. Siyambalapitiya officially stepped down from his position on 9 May, concluding a tenure that began on 26 September 2024. During his time in office, he faced criticism over various decisions, including the controversial directive issued by the CEB to shut down solar power systems during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, ECA General Secretary, Sanjeewa Dhammika said that the directive issued by the CEB to shut down solar panels during the holiday season caused substantial harm to the renewable energy sector, which he said is vital for Sri Lanka's future energy sustainability. "We cannot allow officials to just walk away after causing such damage to a critical sector. A proper investigation must be carried out into Dr. Siyambalapitiya and others involved in making these decisions," Dhammika opined.
Dhammika also alleged that under Dr. Siyambalapitiya's Chairmanship, the CEB submitted inaccurate data to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) during the previous electricity tariff revision. "The CEB did not submit accurate data when electricity tariffs were being revised early this year. They also requested permission to continue with the tariffs that existed at that time, but the PUCSL intervened and ultimately reduced the tariffs. All these acts must be investigated," he added.
When contacted by The Sunday Morning, Dr. Siyambalapitiya had said: “I have resigned at the end of the period agreed upon when I accepted the position at the President’s (Anura Kumara Dissanayake) request. I have many family commitments. There are very capable professionals already in the CEB who will continue the work.” However, the Ministry of Energy is yet to acknowledge his resignation.