…10% to 20% decrease on the cards

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Energy Ministry couldn’t intervene in the electricity tariff revision as the exclusive authority to do so was vested with the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) in terms of the relevant Acts, authoritative sources told The Island.

Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody’s recent declaration in Parliament that tariff revision wouldn’t be implemented for a period of three years had no legal validity, sources said. Minister Jayakody said so in response to a query raised by SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera.

The PUCSL would make its position on the tariff revision known to the public on Friday (17), sources said, adding that available data indicated that tariffs could be reduced by 10% to 20%.

Earlier, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) proposed to the PUCSL that tariff revision should be put on hold for six months, beginning January 2025. The PUCSL, appointed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake consists of Prof. K.P. Lalith Chandralal (Chairperson), Piyal Henanayake and Dr. Chathuri Samanmali Fernando.

In terms of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 35 of 2002 and the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009, the PUCSL is the regulator, hence its authority couldn’t be challenged by the Minister.

Sources said that the PUCSL considered available data, assessment and information before deciding on tariff revision. The Energy Minister, or the Secretary to that Ministry, could have made representations to the PUC during recent public consultations, sources said, adding that several lawmakers appeared before the Commission recently.

The PUCSL couldn’t be deprived of its authority unless the NPP government amended both Acts, sources said.

Alleging that Minister Jayakody deceived the Parliament with regard to the tariff revision issue, Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera told The Island that he would raise a privilege issue in the House. The issue here is whether the Minister is conversant with the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 35 of 2002 and the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009.

The Minister seemed to have ignored the fact that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government, in 2023, began introducing four tariff revisions annually. Before that, tariff revisions were effected twice a year.

The last revision was in July 2024 when the PUC reduced power tariffs by 22.5% against the backdrop of the CEB claiming that the maximum affordable was just 3%.

The CEB has requested that the PUCSL revert to the old system as four revisions a year seemed an unnecessary exercise.

We quoted SJB trade unionist Ananda Palitha in yesterday’s issue (13 January) of The Island that electricity tariffs could be reduced by as much as 35% as ,contrary to CEB’s claims, the state enterprise earned significant revenue gains, running into billions of Rupees.

Lawmaker Jayasekera pointed out that Minister Jayakody declared in Parliament that the NPP never promised an immediate electricity tariff revision. That declaration was contrary to President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s assurance, in the run up to the presidential election, that one third of the electricity bill would be reduced, along with the fuel price.

However, the electricity tariff revision was to be announced in October 2024, in line with the previous government’s decision to implement four revisions annually, the former Minister said.

Referring to revisions, both increases and reduction in electricity tariffs, sources pointed out that on every occasion, since 2022, the PUCSL had no option but to disagree with the CEB’s false assessments for obvious reasons. The CEB always proposed higher increases and low reductions in line with their overall strategy, sources said, emphasizing the responsibility on the part of the Ministry to engage the PUCSL.

The government must realise that the PUCSL is the economic, technical and safety regulator of the electricity industry, and the designated regulator for petroleum and water services industries as well. The PUCSL also has been assigned as the shadow regulator for the lubricant market in Sri Lanka.

On Duruthu Poya yesterday, the Indian High Commission in Colombo inaugurated a Mobile Exhibition Series titled ‘Buddham Sharanam Gacchami’ at Maha Bodhi Agrasrawaka Viharaya in Maligakanda. The exhibition showcases paintings depicting significant episodes from the life of Lord Buddha, along with other values of importance to Buddhism and spirituality by icons of modern Indian Art. Harmonizing modernity with tradition, the exhibition captures the timeless essence of Buddhist philosophy while highlighting its universal appeal.

The exhibition was curated by the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, India, with its first showing in Sri Lanka on the occasion of Vesak in May 2024. The High Commission will organize the exhibition in various Buddhist temples across the country on every Poya day this year. Alongside the launch, the 12th edition of the ongoing mobile exhibition showcasing the rich Buddhist Heritage in India was also held at the temple.

Indian Consulate in Hambantota also organized a captivating photo exhibition themed “India through Sri Lankan Eyes” at Kasagala Raja Maha Viharaya, marking Duruthu Poya Day. The exhibition was inaugurated by Members of Parliament Nihal Galappaththi and Athula Welandagoda along with Indian Consul General in Hambantota Harvinder Singh, in the presence of Chief Prelate of the Kasagala RajaMaha Viharaya Ven. T. Indasiri Sumana Thera.

These exhibitions received appreciation from hundreds of devotees, who commended the Indian High Commission for the initiatives which help further strengthen the civilisational bond between India and Sri Lanka while fostering a deeper understanding of Buddhist art and culture, a media release from the Indian HC said.

Milinda Moragoda, founder of the Pathfinder Foundation, met Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenghong to discuss bilateral relations between the People’s Republic of China and Sri Lanka.

The luncheon discussion covered various subjects on relations between the two countries in the context of the Pathfinder China-Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre (CSLCSC), inaugurated in 2015, which saw numerous Chinese Think Tanks and academic institutions focusing on the South Asian region. One of the areas of interest was to host Chinese academics and subject specialists focusing on China-Sri Lanka relations at the CSLCSC for extended periods as it had done before the COVID-19 pandemic. Another area was to examine the possibilities of translating historical Chinese books covering China–Sri Lanka relations in all aspects. The Foundation made a significant contribution in 2020 by translating a Chinese publication on ‘Prevention and Control of Covid-19’, authored by Professor Wenhong Zhang, into Sinhala and Tamil languages for distribution among the public free of charge.

The visit to the Chinese Embassy was part of the Pathfinder Foundation’s ongoing engagement with China. Both countries have enjoyed an uninterrupted close relationship since historical times, particularly in the modern period. The Chinese Ambassador visited ‘River Point’ in October 2024, where the Foundation functions. Since then, several Chinese delegations have visited the Pathfinder Foundation to exchange views on the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the last being a delegation from the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS) representing the Institute of Military Legal Systems Studies (IMLSS) based in Beijing.