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‘Bring in Petroleum, Water Acts to address power sector crisis’

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/8

Sahan Weerasooriya

SJB asks Prez whether he is only interested in fully implementing 13 A

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Convenor of the Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance, Ananda Palitha, yesterday (07) alleged that the failure on the part of successive governments to properly implement the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Act No 35 of 2002 prevented the PUC from performing its regulatory responsibilities.

Palitha said that as long as this Act, introduced during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the Prime Minister of the UNP-led UNF government, way back in 2002, remained not fully implemented, electricity consumers wouldn’t get a fair deal.

The primary reason for the ongoing controversy, over the proposed electricity hike, approved by the Cabinet-of-Ministers, was the non-implementation of the relevant Act, the former UNP activist said.

Former Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) employee, Ananda Palitha, switched his allegiance to the SJB, in the wake of the UNP split in the run-up to the last parliamentary election, in August 2020.

The trade union leader said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe should take immediate measures to implement the relevant Act. Referring to President Wickremesinghe’s recent declaration that he would have no other option but to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution as it was law of the country, the SJB activist urged the UNP leader to implement the PUC Act, as well.

In terms of this Act, the PUC is the watchdog for Petroleum and Water, in addition to Electricity, Palitha said. Pointing out that though the PUC received authority to regulate the electricity industry, in terms of Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009, Palitha said that respective Acts, pertaining to Petroleum and Water, were yet to be passed by Parliament.

The Act, passed in 2002, was meant to empower the PUC as the economic, technical and safety regulator of Water, Petroleum and Electricity sectors. Palitha said that in spite of the PUC Chairman Janaka Ratnayake’s declaration of his readiness to regulate the Petroleum and Water sectors, Parliament was dragging its feet. The SJB representative said so in response to The Island queries.

Asked whether his trade union alliance intended to pressure the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government over this issue, Palitha said that those at the helm of political authority should realize that full implementation of the (PUC) Act of No 35 of 2002 would benefit the government. Proper regulation of Electricity, Petroleum and Water would enable the PUC to make available services, at an affordable price, Palitha said.

Instead, successive governments had deliberately denied constitutional authority to the PUC for obvious reasons, Palitha said, alleging that those who financially benefited through ‘deals’ kept the overall process under their control.

Referring to the abortive bid made by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) recently to provide electricity, without interruption, during the duration of the Advanced Level examination, and its decision to seek judicial intervention in that regard, Palitha questioned the responsibility of Parliament. Palitha said that the electricity industry was in deepening turmoil as the issues therein couldn’t be addressed unless the PUC received oversight powers over Petroleum and Water sectors, too.

Palitha declined to comment on recent accusations that he, along with the Secretary of the Electricity Consumers’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, threatened two PUC members, Mohan Samaranayake, and its Deputy Chairman Udeni Wickremesinghe, as the matter was before the Fort Magistrate Court. Since then Samaranayake and Wickremesinghe sent in their resignation letters.

Asked whether he expected the PUC to address the issues at hand, the SJB official pointed out that progress couldn’t be made until Parliament enacted the relevant Petroleum and Water acts, on the lines of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009. Palitha said that the recent disclosure of Lanka Coal Company Chairman Shehan Sumanasekera’s urgent request for money for procurement of coal underscored the crisis in the power sector. “All this is part of a continuing drama. Have you ever heard of any previous Coal Company Chairman discussing such a matter with the media,” Palitha asked.

Sumanasekera has warned of possible disruption of operations at the Norochcholai coal-fired power plant complex, unless USD 12.32 mn (Rs. 4.56 billion) could be made available.

Palitha said that the government was trying to justify steep increases in electricity tariffs. The ongoing crisis was brazenly used by interested parties to pursue their agenda meant to facilitate the privatization of the CEB, Palitha said, urging the Opposition to pressure the government to enact the relevant Acts, pertaining to the Petroleum and Water sectors.

The trade unionist said that he was quite surprised that the Opposition, and all those demanding a system change, pushed hard for legislation that would make far reaching change in the lives of the hapless public, as well as save industries from collapse, due to intolerable power tariffs.

Against the backdrop of a near 70 percent power tariff increase last year, if electricity rates go up by another 65% percent, consumers would have to implement their own blackouts to save on electriity bills, the SJB official said.

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Dr. Bellana: “I was removed as NHSL Deputy Director for exposing Rs. 900 mn fraud”

Published

6 hours ago

2025/12/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dr. Bellana

Interdicted Deputy Director at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka (NHSL) Dr. Rukshan Bellana yesterday (29) alleged that the powers that be moved against him for seeking the CIABOC (Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption) investigation into a massive fraud at the NHSL laboratory.

Dr. Bellana said so in response to The Island query regarding the circumstances the Health Ministry interdicted him on 18 December, through a letter, as directed by the Health Committee of the Public Service (PSC) Commission. “That letter has been signed by an Additional Secretary, as Health Secretary Dr. Anil Jasinghe was overseas,” Dr. Bellana said.

Dr. Bellana stated that the government had paid for reagents, contaminated or close to expiry dates, obtained from a leading local medical supplier, since 2022. He emphasised that his complaint to the CIABOC, and subsequent complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), were entirely based on the issues raised by the National Audit Office (NAO).

Responding to another query, Dr. Bellana said that the public funds, amounting to Rs. 900 mn, had been spent on chemical reagents past expiry dates. Regardless of the intervention made by the NAO, the NHSL continued to procure supplies from the same company, Dr. Bellana said, adding that he had received the unconditional support of the civil society. Among them were Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, President of Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA), President of Academy of Health Professionals Ravi Kumudesh, and leader of Mage Rata Sanjaya Mahawatta.

Dr. Bellana said that he had complained about the scam to the CIABOC in June this year.

Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, who also lodged a complaint with CIABOC, regarding the same matter, is on record as having said in September this year that the reagents had been procured over a three-year period without the proper approval of the Medical Supplies Division of the Ministry. Dr. Sanjeewa has alleged that some of the reagents were either contaminated or close to expiry dates, while contracts had been given to a single company at unapproved prices.

Dr. Bellana said that had there been a proper system for CIABOC and law enforcement authorities to act on findings made by the NAO they wouldn’t have personally intervened in the NHSL laboratory matter. “Parliament should look into this. Did Parliament take up the NHSL laboratory matter at the relevant watchdog committee or at the Sectoral Oversight Committee that handled health?” Dr. Bellana asked.

Asked whether the letter that informed him of his interdiction gave any specific reason for the action taken, Dr. Bellana said the Ministry had found fault with him for speaking to the media. The irate ex-official said that he never hesitated to take a stand against injustice. “When former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was accused of corruption, pertaining to medical procurement, I condemned the Minister. Lambasted those responsible for wrongdoings.”

Dr. Bellana said that the NAO had dealt with mega crime involving the public and private sector. “That is the undeniable truth. Parliament should look into this as public money is its responsibility. Having vowed to stamp out corruption, the NPP was allowing and encouraging those who had been making money at the expense of the sick, Dr. Bellana said.

Dr. Bellana said that as many as 10,000 tests were conducted daily at the NHSL. The racketeers had been active during Aragalaya as the NHSL and the private supplier reached agreement in 2022 and the process continued even after the last presidential election, conducted in September 2024.

Dr. Bellana said that the long delay in finalising the Auditor General’s appointment exposed the government. If those holding high political office were genuinely interested in fighting corruption, they wouldn’t have allowed that Office of AG stay vacant even for a day.

Dr. Bellana noted the tough statements issued by the Bar Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka and the Committee on Public Finance demanding the immediate appointment of AG.

Health Ministry officials were not available for comment.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

News

BIA unions demand bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries

Published

6 hours ago

2025/12/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

BIA unions, including those affiliated to political parties, are demanding bonuses equal to five months’ basic salaries.

A group of workers yesterday (29) protested outside BIA urging the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd to increase their bonuses. They claimed that the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Private) Ltd., Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, had assured them that they would be paid bonuses worth five times their basic salaries.

The SriLankan Nidahas Sewaka Sangamaya (SLNSS) of the airport, the Podujana Sewaka Sangamaya, the Pragathishili Sewaka Sangamaya, the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, and the SLNSS of SriLankan Airlines joined the protest.

News

People warned of rising water levels at Kotmale reservoir

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority has issued an urgent safety warning to residents living along the banks of the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River, as water levels in the Kotmale Reservoir are reaching maximum capacity.

According to a special weather advisory issued by the Department of Meteorology on December 26, 2025, heavy rainfall is expected in the catchment areas over the coming days.

In response, the Mahaweli Authority released a statement on December 27, warning that spill gates may have to be opened to manage the water flow.

Eng. A.M.A.K. Seneviratne, Resident Engineer and Deputy Director of the Kotmale Reservoir, stated that the opening of spill gates would lead to a significant rise in the water levels of both the Kotmale Oya and the Mahaweli River.

Areas on Alert

Residents in the following Divisional Secretariat divisions are urged to remain extra vigilant:

• Nuwara Eliya District: Kotmale West and Kotmale East.

• Kandy District: Udapalatha, Udunuwara, Doluwa, Pasbage Korale, and Ganga Ihala Korale.

Authorities have advised the public in these low-lying and river-adjacent areas to monitor the situation closely and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the protection of their property.

By S.K. Samaranayake