The Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) warned that if the Ministry of Energy bases decisions on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) advice regarding critical issues like electricity tariffs, it will pursue appropriate legal action.
It was recently reported that representatives of the Ministry were to meet a delegation from the IMF, and that the discussion would also focus on the electricity tariff revision.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, the ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that decisions on the electricity tariffs should be made in line with the relevant legal provisions, and subject to the final approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). "The Energy Ministry Secretary K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala recently said that they would discuss the electricity tariff revision with the IMF. Having such a discussion is in violation of the relevant legal provisions. It is the Government that the IMF has to deal with; why should they deal with individual Ministries?," Dhammika queried.
As per the relevant legal provisions, he said that the PUCSL, prior to granting their final approval for the tariff revision, should consult the public on the matter, but that nowhere in the provisions does it say that the relevant authorities should consult the IMF. "The Ministry Secretary's statement makes it clear that they are yet to study the relevant legal provisions. When they are making these dramas, the Ceylon Electricity Board's profits may go forgotten and the people will not receive its benefit. If they continue to violate the legal provisions in this manner and delay the implementation of tariff revisions, we will initiate appropriate legal action."
Last week, Hemapala said that they expected to prepare the electricity tariff revision proposal after obtaining the opinions of the representatives of the IMF as well. The electricity tariff revision, which was originally scheduled to be implemented last month (October) is now expected to take effect in January 2025.
Multiple attempts to contact the Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody proved futile.