Kanchana calls for inquiry into allegations levelled by PUCSL Chief

• COPE Chairman Dr. Charitha Herath confirms inquiry fixed for Tuesday
• Power and Energy Ministry Secy., CPC Chief, PUCSL Chief, and top officials to give evidence before COPE

 Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday insisted that an inquiry should be held on allegations levelled against him by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Chief on fuel pricing and procurement. 

Taking to Twitter, Minister Wijesekera called on the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath to summon him and the officials from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for an investigation. 

“I would like to kindly request @charith9 to call CPC & myself to the CPOE to inquire into the allegations made by PUCSL Chairman on FuelPricing & Procurement. An inquiry should be held on if the COPE & the Public was misled by PUCSL Chairman or CPC on fuel pricing & any other matter,” he tweeted yesterday.

The move follows the PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake’s statement before the COPE this week claiming the CPC can issue petrol and diesel to the public on average Rs. 200 lesser than current domestic market prices. 

In response to the request made by the Power and Energy Minister, the COPE Chairman Dr. Herath said relevant parties have already been summoned for an inquiry on 12 July, whilst thanking Minister Wijesekara for his interest.

“Thanks, @kanchana_wij for engaging. We’ve already decided to summon Sec of Power & Energy, chair+officials of CPC & PUSL Chair on 12th July at 10 am to look at this issue. Happy to invite Hon Minister Kanchana to the committee to get your views on the matter,” COPE Chief responded to Minister Wijesekara’s tweet yesterday.

Since the appearance of the PUCSL officials before the COPE on 5 July, the matters divulged during the inquiry have created much stir among the public and the Government.