Move to oust PUCSL Chief: GL finds fault with executive

Prof. G. L. Peiris, MP, yesterday (22) accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe of plotting to sack Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Janaka Ratnayake, who refused to toe the government line.

Lawmaker Peiris said so at their weekly media briefing at the Nawala Office of the rebel SLPP group. The academic alleged that the executive was busy crippling independent commissions and the operation against PUCSL was the latest move in that direction.

The former External Affairs Minister said that the rebel group would vote against the government sponsored motion that was to be debated and voted on Wednesday (24). The motion seeks to remove Janaka Ratnayake from the post of Chairman.

The motion needs a simple majority to be implemented.

Lawmaker Peiris alleged that the rebel group would back the official as he always represented the interests of the ordinary people. Referring to a recent declaration made by the PUCSL Chief, Prof. Peiris said that the current electricity formula couldn’t be justified, under any circumstances, as the targeted official was on record as having said that a 27 percent reduction of tariff could be given.

However, the government has ignored the PUCSL advice as it wanted to increase revenue, at the expense of hapless electricity consumers, Prof. Peiris said, claiming that there were a considerable number of disconnections due to the failure on the part of consumers to settle their bills.

Those who vote for the motion would find it difficult to justify their actions to the electorate, Prof Peiris warned. (SF)