AG’s opinion sought on three recommendations | Daily News
electricity tariff increase

AG’s opinion sought on three recommendations

PUCSL unanimously agrees at National Council meeting

The National Council that met yesterday decided to seek the opinion of the Attorney General with regard to legal provisions of certain matters in the Electricity Act and the Public Utilities Commission Act related to raising the electricity tariff.

Although the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission had a different opinion regarding the increase in the electricity tariff revision from the beginning, he along with other members of the commission expressed unanimous agreement to the above at the meeting with the National Council.

Accordingly, it has been decided to seek the opinion of the Attorney General regarding the approval of an interim tariff increase until the end of the process to increase electricity prices and regarding the possibility of approving the interim increase effective from January 1, 2023.

In addition, it has been decided to seek Attorney General’s observation, whether the preliminary guidelines announced by the Minister of Power and Energy can be submitted to the National Council without being tabled in the Parliament.

Although it was suggested that the related letter should be sent to the Attorney General yesterday itself, Janaka Ratnayake, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, has stated that they need time until today morning to send the letter.

Earlier, the members of the Public Utilities Commission discussed with the National Council regarding the increase in the electricity bill, an agreement could not be reached due to the existence of two opinions between the Chairman and the other members of the Commission.

In addition to the above matters, incidence of some commission members receiving threats was also discussed in the National Council that met yesterday.

Representing the National Council were Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Ministers and Members of Parliament Tiran Alles, Nazeer Ahmed, Kanchana Wijesekera, Indika Anuruddha, and Sagara Kariyawasam had participated. Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon, General Manager Rohan Seneviratne and other officials, Public Utilities Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayake, Deputy Chairman Udeni Wickramamasinghe, members Mohan Samaranayake and lawyer Chathurika Wijesinghe also participated.

 


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