Premadasa seeks SC intervention to reduce high electricity tariffs

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court requesting an order that the current power tariffs be reduced.

A group, including the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Minister of Power and Energy, the Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy and the Attorney General, have been named as respondents to the petition.

The Petitioner has said it is undeniable that the several respondents, including the 2nd Respondent (the CEB), has made 52 billion rupees at the expense of the public, whose fundamental rights have been violated as a result.

The Petitioner has said that around 02 Jan., 2024, the Parliament Sectoral Oversight Committee Office in a letter to the Chairman of the PUCSL set out, inter alia, the observations, suggestions and recommendations of theirs to  alleviate the impact of the economic crisis … the Committee has revealed that at least 800,000 electricity connections have been disconnected over the last three quarters of 2023, due to the public being unable to pay irrationally, high-priced electricity costs and tariffs.

The Opposition Leader has requested the Court to grant, a) a declaration that the PUCSL, the CEB, the Minister of Power and Energy, the Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy have infringed on the fundamental rights of the Petitioner and/or the Citizens of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka guaranteed under Article 12(1) and Article 14(1(g) of the Constitution.

Premadasa has also asked the court to issue an order directing the aforementioned respondents to furnish all documentation tendered to and/or before the Parliamentary Oversight Committee.