PUCSL Chairman complains of intimidation

By Sujeewa Thathsara

Using political might to influence the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) would have devastating consequences, its Chairman, Janaka Ratnayake, warned on Monday.

The Commission was facing increased political intimidation, he said.

The government had wrongly interpreted the Sri Lanka Electricity Act and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act in a bid to increase electricity tariff, once again, without PUCSL approval, Ratnayake said.

“The PUCSL won’t let that happen. Sri Lankans have suffered greatly due to the economic crisis, and, according to the IMF, 2023 too will be a tough year. We increased electricity tariffs in August 2022 and increasing prices again now will have terrible effects,” he said.