Electricity regulator the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court, requesting fuel to be provided to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in order to provide an uninterrupted power supply to the electricity consumers.

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Power Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Power Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera, Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge, Energy Ministry Secretary K.D.R. Olga, Monetary Board, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the CEB, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Attorney General have been cited as respondents in the petition.

In the Petition, the Commission has submitted that far back from the year 2016, the PUCSL has sent several letters to take necessary steps to avoid the present crisis but none of the institutions have taken any steps in this regard, claiming that is the very reason for the prevailing crisis.

In addition, in 2017 it had requested to finalise the publication of the Government’s policy to enhance the component of renewable energy with the Least Cost Long Term Generation Expansion Plan (LCLTGEP). It also points out that since 2015 no major power generation plants were added to the system. 

It was also stated in the petition that due to the interruption of the electricity supply, the public at large are undergoing tremendous hardships and therefore the PUCSL has sought interim orders directing the Minister of Finance, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Governor of the Central Bank to allocate $ 200 million to purchase fuel and also directing the relevant ministers and authorities to expedite the process of generating electricity and to supply fuel.

The Petition was filed through Attorney-at-Law G.G. Arulpragasam.

Power cuts reduces to 8.5 hours today