Leader of the United National Party (UNP) and Former Premier Ranil Wickramasinghe has stressed that the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the country’s power and energy regulator can only be abolished through an act of parliament. Wickramasinghe has noted this is because the PUCSL was established through a parliamentary act.
Wickramasinghe made these comments during a meeting with party seniors at his residence this week. During the meeting he had noted that the PUCSL established in 2002 during the presidency of Chandrika Bandaranaike with the aim of regulating institutions such as the Electricity Board and providing relief to the people, was able to intervene in the problems of the CEB. He said closing down the Commission would cause major problems for consumers as well as raise doubts as to whether the order was made to increase electricity prices.
Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka P.B. Jayasundera in a letter this week instructed the Secretary of Treasury S.R. Attygalle to take necessary steps to close down the PUCSL.
