• Charges lack of transparency and weak stakeholder consultations
• Claims insufficient time given to submit suggestions and no public notice given
• Alleges that elements of ‘Coal and Diesel Mafia’ are trying to sabotage regulator PUCSL

The Electricity Consumers' Association (ECA) yesterday (2) called for the report of a committee headed by Energy Ministry Secretary, Udayanga Hemapala, proposing amendments to the Electricity Act No. 36 of 2024, to be discarded.

They argued that amendments should be proposed through a transparent consultation with genuine stakeholders.

In January of this year Cabinet of Ministers authorised the Energy Ministry Secretary to appoint a committee to make recommendations on amending the Electricity Act. The ministry has now invited suggestions from stakeholders regarding the recommendations made by the committee.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika claimed that certain contractors who are providing services to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have also been members in the Committee.

"Two persons connected with the coal and diesel mafia were on the committee. They are attempting to shut down the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka under the guise of amending the Act. Therefore, we request that this committee report be discarded, and amendments be proposed on a proper consultation with genuine stakeholders,” Dhammika alleged.  

He also charged that the notice calling for suggestions on the amendments proposed by the said committee has only been published on the Energy Ministry's website, whereas such notices are traditionally published in national newspapers in all three languages. "This notice was published on the Energy Ministry's website on 28 January. The English version stated the deadline as 7 February, but the Sinhala version did not mention any deadline. After we pointed out that the given period was insufficient for stakeholders to submit their suggestions, the deadline was extended to 14 February."

Dhammika further claimed that the 35-page report prepared by the committee, headed by Energy Ministry Secretary Udayanga Hemapala, proposing amendments to the Electricity Act is published on the ministry's website only in English, and added that it should be made available in Sinhala and Tamil so that everyone can understand its content.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and the Secretary to the ministry were not available for comment regarding the allegations made by the ECA.