Committee on CEB Draft Bill meets today

The Ministerial subcommittee on the proposed Electricity Board Draft Bill will meet today to resolve the issues concerning the powers of the subject minister, a ministry media release said.

The committee chaired by Power and Energy Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne will comprise Constitutional Reforms Minister DEW Gunasekera, Environment Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Plan Implementation Minister P. Dayaratne and Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama.

The committee will discuss the concerns with regard to the powers going to be vested in the Public Utility Commission to regulate the power sector resulting in reducing the subject Minister's power under the Bill.

The release said the Bill would be tabled in Parliament after the Cabinet approval is obtained.

Forty Trade Unions affiliated to the CEB had informed the Government that they are not against the establishment of a regulatory body and would support the Bill subject to certain Amendments.