News
JVP: Abolition of PUCSL high-handed act
By Saman Indrajith
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara and Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle had no authority to abolish the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).
Speaking during the third reading debate on budget 2021, MP Dissanayake said that those two secretaries had no power to take such actions as the PUCSL had been established under an Act of Parliament.
“How can they scrap the PUCSL? Jayasundera and Attygalle have no authority to do so. If there is anything wrong with the PUCSL it is the Parliament which should take a decision on it. How can Jayasundera send letters to Attygalle to close the commission?”
“The PUCSL always stood for the rights of electricity consumers. Former Finance Minister of UNF Government Ravi Karunanayake tried to buy one unit of power for Rs. 26. He said that there would be a severe drought in the future and power units needed to be purchased. The Cabinet approved Karunanayake’s proposal too. It was the PUCSL which stopped that and said it was a burden on the country. Former Chairman of PUCSL is the Dean of Peradeniya University Engineering Faculty. Former Vice Chancellor of Moratuwa University was a member of the commission. These members are respectable people. How can Attygalle ask them to resign? That power is vested in Parliament. Only Parliament could remove a member of the PUCSL.”
MP Dissanayake said that the PUCSL came under the Finance Minister.
“Then how can the President’s Secretary send a letter to the Finance Ministry Secretary to close the commission,” MP Dissanayake queried.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted to the preparation of the Appropriation Bill for the financial year of 2027 at their meeting held on 30.06.2026.
Accordingly, clearance of the Attorney General has been given to the Appropriation Bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Latest News
Cabinet approves aditional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase 2026 Yala harvest
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to provide an additional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board on a reimbursable basis from the Rs. 7,500 million additional allocations granted to the Ministry to implement
the expedited paddy purchasing program for the 2026 Yala harvest.
Latest News
Cabinet nod to host the 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the CPA are planned to be held over three days in Colombo during April/May 2027.
Approximately 90 delegates including speakers, Deputy Speakers, Member of Parliamentarians, and Parliamentary officers representing member countries of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, in the Asian and South-East Asian regions, are expected to participate in these conferences.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Prime Minister of the Parliament of Sri Lanka to host the said conferences considering the opportunities to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy and regional cooperation, as well as to enhance international recognition of the Parliament of Sri Lanka within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
Draft of the Appropriation Bill for the Financial Year 2027 su mitted to the Parliament
Cabinet approves aditional Rs. 2,500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase 2026 Yala harvest
Cabinet nod to host the 8th Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the 3rd Joint Asian and South-East Asian Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
SAARC Training Workshop on Financial Modeling for Renewable Energy Projects from 5th to 7th October in Colombo
National Children’s Week from 25th September to 01st October
Nairobi and Munich to host 2029 and 2031 World Athletics Championships
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Sports5 days agoDDS set to lose Test captaincy
-
News5 days agoSri Lanka faces new grid challenge as rooftop solar surges: former CEB GM
-
Latest News5 days agoShafali, Deepti power India into sixth T20 Asia Cup final
-
Opinion7 days agoNavigating Sri Lanka’s Israeli Dilemma
-
Latest News4 days agoSri Lanka thwart Fatima Sana challenge to secure Asia Cup final spot
-
News3 days agoGnanasara Thero absconding after SC ruling
-
Features6 days agoLost for 90 years: Rare Goby resurfaces in Jaffna
-
News4 days agoAmmunition cache found in old Kandy bungalow