Sectoral Oversight Committee not amused by electricity regulator and CEB ignoring directive to digitalise

The Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans recently raised concerns about the indifference shown by Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) officials to digitalize their systems.These concerns were raised when the Committee perused the 2020 Annual Report of the PUCSL.

The Committee questioned why the PUCSL and the CEB is falling behind in working towards digitalizing the system when the Parliament has requested for a dispatch audit and accurate data.

The Committee was of the view that the inaction to carry out directives given by Parliament is a disrespect to Parliament. The Committee also expressed displeasure in the lack of action in digitalizing, emphasizing that inaction only empowers the mafia within the sector.

The Committee said this mafia only burdens the consumer and that the PUCSL officials should do more to rectify this situation.The Sectoral Oversight Committee met in Parliament, under the chairmanship of Member of Parliament Mahindananda Aluthgamage. The Committee looked at five annual reports presented.

Accordingly, the Committee took into careful consideration the Annual Report of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka 2022, the Annual Performance Report of the Department of Treasury Operations 2022, the Annual Report of the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development 2022, the Annual Report of the Lanka Sugar Company (Pvt.) Ltd 2017, including the Annual Report of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka 2020. These Annual Reports were approved by the Committee.

In consideration of the Annual Report of the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, the Committee inquired from officials present regarding the mechanism to dispose of waste water effectively.

The Committee stated that many developed countries have effective wastewater management systems and that the implementation of such mechanisms should be looked into.