CEB’s decision to cost legal action today: PUCSL

■ PUCSL Chief Janaka Ratnayake says CEB Board of Directors’ decision is unacceptable and illegal

■ Reiterates power cuts imposed by CEB affect and violate human rights of 331,000 students sitting for A/L exam

■ Dismisses allegations levelled by Power and Energy Ministry Secy. on HRCSL meeting

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka yesterday affirmed that legal action for violating regulations against the Ceylon Electricity Board would be taken today (30).

Holding a special media briefing yesterday PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that the directive issued by the Board of Directors of the Ceylon Electricity Board would cost severe legal action for violating conditions of the Transmission Licence and the PUCSL Act.

“The Board of Directors of the CEB has sent a letter noting that under the directive of its General Manager, they have decided to continue power cuts. This is a violation of the PUCSL Act as well as the condition of the Transmission Licence. We will take legal action against CEB on Monday,” he added.

A letter sent by the CEB Additional General Manager Transmission to the PUCSL Chairman Ratnayake on Saturday informed that its Board of Directors has decided to interrupt the power supply.

However, Ratnayake said only PUCSL has powers vested via its Act to approve power cuts and the decision taken by the CEB was unacceptable and illegal.

PUCSL reiterated that the CEB will be legally held responsible for violating Condition 30(10) of Electricity Transmission and Bulk Supply License No. EL/T/09-002, if the power interruptions are continued from 26 January till 17 February when the GCE Advanced Level examinations are held.

The Commission continued to decline to approve CEB’s demand management program as it violates and affects the rights of 331,000 students sitting for the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination.

The new developments are amidst the PUCSL, Power and Energy Ministry, CEB and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation giving an undertaking on 25 January to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka to “not to impose power cuts until 17 February” by when the G.C.E. Advanced Level exams will be over.

Responding to charges levelled by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera on Friday, PUCSL Chief dismissed the allegations that the officials who participated in the discussion with the HRCSL were pressured into agreeing to an uninterrupted supply of electricity.

“No one was forced at the HRCSL meeting. It was a cordial discussion,” he added.

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Minister Wijesekera said he was informed by the Secretary of the Ministry that officials that took part in the discussion with the HRCSL on 25 January were pressured to sign two documents that they did not agree to by two members of the HRCSL.

He claimed the officials were threatened with jail sentences if they failed to sign the documents.