The Government has reportedly decided to close the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), informed sources said.

In a letter, Secretary to the President P.B Jayasundara has conveyed this regard to Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S.R Attygalle based on a Budget Proposal, which states that changes should be made in the PUCSL and the Ceylon Electricity Board in order to create an efficient work environment to implement the power generation plan.

Accordingly, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance has been instructed to take necessary procedural steps to close the PUCSL and consequential steps to absorb the technical staff to the Department of National Planning and also deploy such staff to the Ministry of Power and to this office depending on their competencies to serve in respective places on planning and analytical work.

Attygalle has also been instructed that as tariff and connected regulatory work is within the Government purview, certain relevant provisions in the Public Utility Commission Act could be incorporated in Consumer Affairs Authority and Ceylon Electricity Board Act when Public utility Commission Act is replaced in due course. (Sheain Fernandopulle)