Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, who tabled the proposed Electricity Sector Reforms Bill to the Parliament yesterday (25), agreed to grant an opportunity for Parliamentarians within the course of next week, to discuss it on the Parliamentary Opposition's request.

Following the tabling of the Bill in the Parliament, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP and Chief Opposition Whip, attorney Lakshman Kiriella said that there had not been a proper discussion with MPs regarding the Bill. 

“I remember that you (Wijesekera) called us (MPs) for a meeting about two years ago, and I also attended that meeting. However, there has been no discussion with the MPs since then. It is better if the Government can have a proper discussion with the MPs and explain what they are going to do with this Bill.”

In response to him, Wijesekera said that the Ministry had invited both Government and Opposition MPs to discuss the Bill even in December of last year (2023). Although several MPs had attended it and made recommendations, he claimed that Kiriella had informed that he would not be able to attend it. 

“If someone does not attend when we invite them for meetings and then say that the Bill was not discussed, it is not fair. They have the opportunity to challenge this Bill before the Supreme Court if necessary. We can then discuss the committee stage amendments at the Ministerial Consultative Committee.”

Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa also said that MPs should be provided with an opportunity to discuss the Bill in addition to during the Parliamentary debate on the same. “This Bill was amended due to various reasons. What we talk about is not the discussions on the previous versions of the Bill. It is this version of the Bill that you (Wijesekera) and the other relevant authorities are satisfied with. Discussing this during the Parliamentary debate and consultative committees is something different. In addition to that, MPs should be given an opportunity to discuss this Bill.”

In view of the requests made by the Opposition, Wijesekera agreed to provide MPs with the opportunity to discuss the Bill during the course of next week. “We are ready to discuss this next week in a way that all MPs can attend to.”

The Electricity Sector Reforms Bill, which seeks to provide for the establishment of the National Electricity Advisory Council, was published in the Government Gazette on 17 April. It also seeks to provide legislative measures applicable to the incorporation of corporate entities, in which all activities connected to the generation, transmission, distribution, trade, supply and procurement of electricity are vested. The Bill further provides for the repealing of the Ceylon Electricity Board Act, No.17 of 1969 and the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009.