The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) alleges that several members of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) are no longer qualified to hold their positions as per the PUCSL Act, No. 35 of 2002.
ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika told The Daily Morning that he is planning to write to Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara in this regard, seeking some sort of a solution.
“As per Section 7(iv) of the PUCSL Act, if members have not attended the Commission’s meetings for three consecutive months, they become disqualified to hold positions as member (of the Commission). PUCSL Chairman Prof. Manjula Fernando, Deputy Chairman and attorney Chathurika Wijesinghe, Member Douglas Nanayakkara, Member Sellampola Gedara Senaratne, and Member Ranjith Kaluthanthrige have not attended meetings for more than three months, thereby becoming disqualified to hold their positions. They have not attended meetings from 15 February to 23 May, 2023.” Dhammika argued.
Dhammika added that from November 2023 to date, these members have not legally approved the proposals submitted to the PUCSL concerning the power sector and the PUCSL’s functions, expressing concerns that this situation may adversely affect the country’s power sector and eventually electricity consumers.
Noting that the Minister has been vested with the powers to terminate their membership as per Act, the ECA General Secretary said that he is planning to inform the Minister of this in writing.
The Daily Morning’s attempts to contact the PUCSL yesterday (19) to inquire about its stance with regard to Dhammika’s claims proved futile.
Section 7 of the Act relates to the ‘procedure for the removal of members from office’, which, under Section 7(iv), identifies a member “having refused or failed to discharge his or her functions for a period of three months or more as a ground for removal.”
However, the Minister cannot remove a member of the Commission from office unless the Minister has sent a notice to the member that it is proposed to remove such member from office on any one or more grounds identified in the Act.