SJB will oppose sacking of PUCSL chairman

The main Opposition SJB announced on Friday that they would vote against the government’s plans to remove Janaka Ratnayake, the chairman of Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) from that body.

The parliamentary debate on the subject is scheduled to be held on May 24 (Wednesday) from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference held at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Colombo, Kiriella said the SLPP has announced their readiness to vote in favor of the proposal presented to parliament to remove Ratnayake from serving as a member of the PUCSL.

SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam said on Thursday that SLPP does not condone in any way the conduct of the Chairman of the PUCSL and his party would

support the motion to remove Ratnayake from the post.Kiriella said that the main opposition group would stand up for Ratnayake, as he stood against the attempts to increase the electricity tariff.The motion to remove Ratnayake was similar to the one that had been placed before parliament for sacking former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

“The entire world abhorred that. Similarly this move too will be opposed by the people because Ratnayake stood for the rights of the general public,” Kririella said.