The Hon. S.M. Marikkar

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Since today we are taking up the Second Reading debate on the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, I wish to place the following on record.

¶ 02 On 11, 15 and 17 July 2025, the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development met and, after obtaining views from multiple stakeholders on the Sri Lanka Electricity (Amendment) Bill, presented its report to this House on 22 July 2025. We informed the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy to obtain the concurrence of the Attorney-General on several points. Although the Committee agreed to allow the residual shares of LTL Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. to be vested in a residual company, since the Attorney-General’s approval had not been obtained, the Committee agreed to amendments brought accordingly.

¶ 03 On the consumer protection points proposed by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), after obtaining the Attorney-General’s opinion, the relevant amendments have been made, and the Committee granted approval.

¶ 04 The clause on directors’ liabilities proposed to be streamlined into a single clause by the Ministry of Power and Energy was also approved by the Committee.

¶ 05 A proposal that a determination be required on transmission schemes proposed by independent transmission licensees is not included; therefore, that clause remains as in the principal Act and was approved.

¶ 06 Acting in line with the Committee’s decision to make amendments according to the Attorney-General’s opinion, the Ministry has submitted the amendments to Cabinet. At the meeting of the Committee on 05 August 2025, it was confirmed that nothing beyond what was discussed at the three meetings had been included in the Cabinet Memorandum.

¶ 07 Thank you.