The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the Hon. Minister, in answering (a)(i), said that steps will not be taken to repeal the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024. This Act was passed by the previous Government amidst strong opposition. In the 2024 policy statement – the NPP Energy Policy Framework – on page 18, the Hon. President stated that new legislation would be brought. That means a new Act. The energy sector needs reform; modern business practices must be introduced; we must move forward with the world. However, Hon. Minister, there is a major issue in the present Act. Even if institutions are unbundled, there is no holding company to control them, including oversight of financials and policy. There were many other issues. It is due to those criticisms that your Government, especially the Hon. President, specifically said: “New legislation for electricity will be passed with proper stakeholder consultation.” But instead of bringing a brand-new Act, you are bringing a limited set of amendments, which appears to us to be continuing the process of the Wickremesinghe Government.

¶ 02 We have seen the draft now presented. Looking at it, there is no structure to control the institutions that will be carved out of the CEB; the Secretary to the Ministry cannot control them. This is a serious problem. Further, what happens to LECO, LTL Holdings and other subsidiaries is not addressed in the draft. Therefore, why are you breaking the promise, given the people’s mandate, to bring a new Act based on expert input working with your Government?