SJB censures efforts to remove PUCSL Commissioners

Thursday, 10 December 2020 01:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Says such measures could reduce public interest mandate of commission
Pledges to stand against move

By Asiri Fernando

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara yesterday alleged the Government was exerting pressure on the Commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) to resign, and pledged to stand against the move.

Speaking at a press conference, Bandara warned the move by the Government will rob the public of fair access to utilities and provide an opportunity for appointing henchmen who will support corruption. “We condemn this move by the Government. This will affect the rights of the people, and we will stand against it,” Bandara said. He was joined at the press conference by SJB Member and Weligama Provincial Councillor Rohan Jayawickrama.

“Last week we saw President’s Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundara take steps to abolish a key institution charged with protecting the rights of the public, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). P.B. Jayasundara has no legal right to issue such an order. We recall that France had King Louie XVI, who said he was the law of the land. Now this Government is moving in the same direction that says President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the law of the land,” Bandara charged.

Bandara pointed out the PUCSL plays an important role in protecting the rights of the consumer in relation to the utility service providers. He explained that the PUCSL Act dictates that two engineers, an auditor, a lawyer and an economist should be appointed to as the Commissioners of the institution.

“P.B. Jayasundara’s directive is not legal. Neither the Secretary to the President nor the President has the power to abolish the PUCSL. The Commissioners are appointed for a period of five years. The mechanism in place to replace the Commissioners is given in the Act. Now that they issued the order to abolish the PUCSL and realised they don’t have the power to do so, the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle has called all five Commissioners and has pressured them to step down. Why is this? They want to remove independent Commissioners and replace them with ‘yes men’. We will not allow this to happen, we will fight against this,” Bandra said.

The Opposition MP accused the Government of moving away from their policy of allowing professionals to be appointed to key posts. “The Government is planning to force out the professionals in these institutions and replace them with henchmen. Is this the ‘viyathmaga’ journey the President requested?”