Writ petition against electricity tariff revision dismissed by Court of Appeal

• The petitioners claimed that the said Cabinet  decision dated 09.01.2023 is beyond the legal power

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

A public interest litigation filed seeking an order  quashing the Cabinet Decision approving the electricity tariff revision was  yesterday dismissed by the Court of Appeal.   

Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices  Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola decided to dismiss the  petition in limine (at the beginning) without formally issuing notices  on the respondents.  

Electricity and Renewable Energy Association and Centre for  Environmental Justice had filed this writ petition naming Ceylon  Electricity Board (CEB), Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka  (PUCSL), the Cabinet of Ministers and the Attorney General as respondents.  

The petitioners state that the amended General Policy  Guideline for the electricity industry and the proposed electricity  tariffs approved by the Cabinet of Ministers had by-passed the  provisions of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act and the Public Utilities  Commission of Sri Lanka Act and undermined the functions of the PUCSL,  the Regulatory Authority. The petitioners claimed that the said Cabinet  decision dated 09.01.2023 is beyond the legal power.