• Min. responds to allegations of lack of consumer rights protection 
•  Says PUCSL should be broadened to cover water/fuel  

The Government is to introduce an Energy Transition Bill by early next year (2026), through which they are planning to rectify any shortcomings in the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, according to the Ministry of Energy.

During the relevant debate, the main Opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya Parliamentarian Ajith P. Perera raised questions about the lack of provisions to protect consumer rights and strengthen the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) in both the original draft of the said Bill and the amendments presented. 

He said: “Consumers have suffered real damage in the past. These types of incidents can happen again. To deal with such situations, we need stronger consumer protections. The PUCSL needs to be strengthened. But, there’s nothing in this Bill that does that. Why are consumer rights being treated so lightly?”

In response, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody denied that consumer rights were being weakened. “We have not done anything to reduce consumer rights. We will continue to protect them. The proposals you’re referring to were welcomed by us. You know it. They were included in the Bill during the relevant Sectoral Oversight Committee, but the court rejected them,” Minister Jayakody said.

He further said that the PUCSL should not be limited to electricity, and that they see it as a broader institution that should relate to water, electricity and fuel. “Once the current Bill is passed, we will move forward with a new Energy Transition Bill next year. We’ll include input from all parties, including the Opposition. You don’t need to have any doubts about that. We want to implement changes in a way that strengthens the energy sector and ensures national energy security. We haven’t abandoned anyone’s proposals. That Bill will definitely be presented by the beginning of next year,” he said.

The Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill was first introduced by the previous Government led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, but it drew criticism from several parties, including members of the current National People’s Power Government, who were in the Opposition at the time. Back then, they argued that the Bill would reduce public oversight and give too much control to private players in the energy sector. However, the NPP, having come into power, has decided to go ahead with the same legislation.

Meanwhile, the third reading of the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, was passed in the Parliament, with a majority of 96 votes yesterday (6). A total of 121 Parliamentarians voted in favour of the Bill while 25 voted against it. 

The bill, which was presented in the Parliament earlier this year by the Government, was also challenged in the Supreme Court (SC) following petitions filed by several parties including the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union. Accordingly, following the hearing of the petitions filed against the Bill, the determination of the SC was forwarded to the Speaker of the House. On 30 June, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Rizvie Salih informed the Parliament that several clauses in the proposed legislation have been found to be inconsistent with the Constitution. 

According to him, the SC determined that several clauses would require approval by a special majority in the Parliament as well as a public referendum in order to be enacted in the current form. However, he clarified that the constitutional inconsistencies would not arise if the relevant clauses are amended in accordance with the SC’s recommendations outlined in its determination. 

The Bill had also received approval from the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development. 

Following the commencement of yesterday’s sitting, Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody tabled the Bill for the second reading debate.