News
PUCSL Chairman insists fuel can be sold a lot cheaper
By Saman Indrajith
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Janaka Ratnayake has told the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that petrol and diesel can be priced at approximately Rs. 250.
He made this statement when the COPE summoned PUCSL officials to examine the Auditor General’s report for PUCSL for the years 2018 and 2019 and current performance of the Commission.
During the meeting, Rathnayake mentioned that when he checked the import prices of petroleum and the taxes levied by the government, he had realised that both petrol and diesel could be sold at cheaper rates.
Rathnayake pointed out that petrol and diesel could be sold at Rs. 200 less than the current price. He also said that the government had collected a tax of Rs. 280 on one liter of diesel imported on 01 July.
The PUCSL Chairman said it was his personal opinion and did not reflect the view of the PUCSL.
The COPE members questioned Ratnayake on his qualifications for becoming the chairman of the commission. Ratnayake said he had obtained a Special Degree in Public Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and a Postgraduate degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Colombo. He said that he had also studied at Harvard University. As for his political qualifications, he stated that since 2005, he had been a supporter of the Rajapaksas.
COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath said the statement made by PUCSL Chairman regarding the fuel price would be discussed at length, and the officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy and the PUCSL Chairman would be summoned before the COPE in the future to further examine it, Prof. Herath said.
The COPE also looked at the decision taken by the commission to rent a Benz car, manufactured in the year 2005, without fuel or driver from a company called General Business (Pvt.) Ltd without entering into any agreement for one year from 07 December 2021.
The annual rent for the vehicle was Rs. 4.5 million and on 31 May 2022, Rs. 2.18 million had been paid to the aforesaid company.
The COPE members pointed out that the documents on hiring of this vehicle had not been submitted for audit, and they included a recommendation for hiring a 15-year-old vehicle, as well as the irregularities in calling for bids for the hiring of the vehicle, and the issues of transparency in the payment of rent for it Accordingly, the COPE Chairman recommended that an investigation be conducted and a full report submitted.
The COPE also informed that the Organisation Structure and Salary Structure of the PUCSL should be developed on the recommendation of the National Salary and Cadre Commission and the approval of the Department of Management Services. The COPE recommended the Finance Minister to submit an amendment to the Cabinet for approval.
The COPE pointed out that Rs. 45.8 million had been paid to the staff of the institution as 11 types of allowances. The committee also said that Rs. 86.8 million, of the total operational cost (49% of the total amount) had been spent on public awareness programs.
The COPE also discussed the electricity generation plan for the years 2018-2037. The officials present mentioned that data on another new generation plan had been submitted in 2021 and it had not been approved as the appropriate requirements were not met. The Committee mentioned that when the political authorities changed, problems arose due to the change of those plans.
Under the Electricity (Distribution) Performance Standards Orders mentioned in a special gazette notice issued in 2016, the commission had been assigned to prepare and enforce performance rules within 36 months, but that task had not been completed, the COPE said.
The members of the committee were Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Indika Anuruddha, (Dr.) Harsha de Silva, (Dr.) Nalaka Godaheva, Jayantha Samaraweera, Premnath C. Dolawatta and Madura Withanage were present. Also, several MPs who are not members of the committee also participated with the permission of the chairman of the committee.
It has been reported quoting police sources that the death toll from the renewed unrest at the Negombo Prison which this morning, has risen from nineteen to twenty five (25).
A clash initially broke out between two groups of inmates (a group of remand prisoners and a group of convicted inmates serving sentences) at the Negombo Prison at around 1.00 p.m. on Sunday (05).
Two inmates died in yesterday’s clash, while around 40 others sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at hospital.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the children of Sri Lanka are well capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical ways of thinking, and that the Government is committed to equipping them with the required knowledge and modern technologies necessary to realize their full potential.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending the opening of the ’Arumasiya’ Exhibition and the occasion of laying the foundation stone for a new three-storey building at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, on the 4th of July.
During the visit, the Prime Minister officially declared open the exhibition showcasing the students’ innovations and creative talents and commended them for their remarkable achievements. The Prime Minister also participated in the ceremony of laying the foundation stone for the construction of the College’s new three-storey building.
Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:
“It is a pleasure to participate in this special event at Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, the school where Sri Lanka’s first female Prime Minister received her education
I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition featuring the outstanding creations and innovations of the students. What I witnessed was a group of talented young people who have moved beyond textbook learning and are capable of viewing the world with creativity and critical thinking.
We are introducing a new education reform process that moves away from a rote-learning, examination-oriented system towards a practical and skills-based one. The Government is now systematically completing all the necessary preparations to implement the new education reforms scheduled to commence in 2027.
Our objective is to ensure that every child leaving school has access to vocational and technical education that matches their individual talents and meets the demands of the modern labour market. We are committed to transforming vocational education into a field that enjoys the same dignity and recognition as university education.
Finally, I commend the Principal and the academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College for organizing this exhibition, and to the students and parents whose dedication made this event a success.”
The event was attended by Members of Parliament for Ratnapura District Wasantha Pushpa Kumara and Sunil Rajapaksha, the Mayor of Balangoda and members of the Municipal Council, the Zonal Director of Education, the Principal and academic staff of Balangoda Vidyaloka Central College, parents, and students.
Prime Minister’s Media Division
The appointment of a Special Parliamentary Ombudsman (SPO) to inquire into the complaints against the Attorney General, as promised in the NPP manifesto, is on hold, pending the establishment of an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.
Authoritative sources told The Island that the Justice and National Integration Ministry was awaiting the recommendations, regarding the new legislation for the establishment of such an Office, from a Committee of Technical Experts, chaired by Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC.
Responding to a query raised in Parliament by SJB lawmaker Ajith P. Perera about the delay in appointment of SPO, Justice and National Integration Minister Harshana Nanayakkara said the government couldn’t take a decision until the Kodagoda Committee made recommendations.
Nanayakkara said that the positioning of the SPO couldn’t be decided before they differentiate the powers of the Attorney General and the an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers.
According to the NPP manifesto, provincial Sub Officers were to be established under a senior Additional Solicitor General.
Opposition sources pointed out that the relevant Cabinet decision was taken on 7 May 2025. According to the Cabinet Office, the government decided to establish an Independent Office of the Public Prosecutor and provincial Sub Officers in line with a proposal made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in her final report on Sri Lanka, submitted in September, 2024.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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