INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has refused to approve the demand management program by Ceylon Electricity Board
(CEB).The electricity sector regulator said the demand management schedule violates and affects the rights of more than 331,000 candidates
sitting for the 2022 G.C.E
Ratnayake explained the decision was taken with the intention of safeguarding the human rights of the A/L examination candidates.In its
letter, Ratnayake went on to note that the PUCSL granted the approval for all requests made by the transmission licensee for scheduled power
interruptions made from February 18, 2022 to January 25, 2023 under Condition 30(10) of Electricity Transmission and Bulk Supply License No
EL/T/09-002.Meanwhile, the officials, who participated in the recent discussion with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) with
regard to the uninterrupted supply of electricity during the A/L examination, have vowed legal action against the officials of the rights
body, alleging that they were coerced into signing certain documents.Speaking on the matter, Minister of Power - Energy Kanchana Wijesekera
stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe too has been informed of the incident.Wijesekera said he was informed by the ministerial
secretary of the incident in which the officials in question, who had taken part in the discussion, had been pressurized into signing two
documents by two officials of the HRCSL, after having been threatened with jail sentences.On Wednesday evening (25 Jan.), the HRCSL convened
an urgent meeting with the top officials of the CEB, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) ,the Ministry of Power - Energy
and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), during which an agreement was reached not to impose power cuts during this period in order to
minimize the inconvenience caused to the students sitting for the exam.In response, the HRCSL has filed a defamation complaint against these
The complaint was also filed on the grounds of neglect, a statement issued by the HRCSL read, as scheduled power cuts of two hours and 20
minutes continued, despite the agreement reached by all parties at the said inquiry to refrain from imposing power cuts while the exam is
taking place.The Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, M
K Mapa, Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), M
Illangakoon and the Attorney General have been named as respondents in the complaint.Against this backdrop, the PUCSL has asked the members
of the public to inform the commission in writing of any unauthorized power cuts imposed by the CEB.Electricity consumers are urged to file
