The newly-gazetted Sri Lanka Electricity Bill will be re-gazetted to address minor mistakes, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Spokesman Deputy General Manager Noel Priyantha confirmed to The Sunday Morning yesterday (9).

Reiterating the CEB’s involvement in preparing the new Sri Lanka Electricity Bill, he assured that the upcoming gazette would correct any identified errors.

Concerns were raised in Parliament by Opposition political parties regarding the date of the gazette’s issuance. MP Dayasiri Jayasekara informed Parliament that although the date mentioned in the gazette was 5 December, it had been entered into the website on 8 December.

National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake also raised concerns that the discrepancy in dates would limit the public’s ability to review and challenge the gazette in courts. 

Dissanayake highlighted that if the bill was submitted to Parliament more than seven days after being gazetted, the time for challenging the bill in courts would be limited.

Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Dr. Harsha de Silva highlighted errors on page six of the gazette, stressing that as the Sinhala version would prevail in case of ambiguity, the gazette must be re-gazetted.

Meanwhile, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera announced on Friday (8) that the bill would be presented to Parliament in January. 

“We will present the bill in January. Therefore, there will be time for anyone to file petitions. The committee appointed to prepare the bill held a meeting to get the opinion of MPs. Only 12 MPs attended the meeting. Discussions have been held with trade unions as well,” he told Parliament.

Attempts made by The Sunday Morning to contact Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M.P.D.U.K. Mapa Pathirana proved futile.