Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
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SJB Deputy General Secretary Mujibur Rahman
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Deputy General Secretary Mujibur Rahman yesterday slammed the power and energy sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), characterising it as a mere puppet under the control of the current Government. As a result, he called for the dissolution of the PUCSL in the public interest.
The veteran politician made these remarks at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday.
“The PUCSL’s primary purpose is to evaluate the fairness of energy and power tariff increases before granting approval. They should prioritise the interests of the people, but that is not the case,” he said.
He questioned how the PUCSL could grant approvals for the recent tariff hike when the Cabinet proposal that was approved clearly specified that electricity tariff adjustments should occur only twice a year.
Rahman said the PUCSL was merely a puppet, fulfilling the desires and requirements of the incumbent Government. He argued that such Commissions should be eliminated to conserve public funds.
He also pointed out that the Government’s use of the police to suppress public protests against the recent tariff increase is undemocratic. Rahman emphasised that the public has the right to take to the streets to voice their grievances and challenges resulting from this decision. “What else do you expect the people to do regarding the arbitrary decisions made by the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government?” he asked.
Rahman highlighted that, during the public consultations conducted before the recent tariff hike, both the general public and experts in the field had expressed their opposition to the tariff increase. “However, despite these objections, permission for the increase was granted,” he pointed out.
“Before the establishment of the PUCSL, the authority to raise tariffs rested with the relevant Minister or the Cabinet. Given the current situation, why do we still uphold this Commission? Its presence does not serve the interests of the people; rather, it has become a burden on the public,” he argued.
Rahman said the Commission should therefore be abolished if its sole purpose is to merely grant approval for every tariff increase proposed by the Government.
