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Litigation between State ventures Minister orders PUCSL to bear legal costs

10 Dec 2019 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}      

  • PUCSL had sued the CEB for its  alleged continued refusal to provide vital  information pertaining to the power sector

 

 

By Sandun A. Jayasekera

Power, Energy and Commuter Transport Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday ordered two leading State ventures under the purview of his Ministry who are in a court battle against each other to reimburse legal fees. Minister Amaraweera gave this order when he held a discussion with the staff of the State owned power regulator Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). 

At the discussion, it was revealed that the PUCSL had sued the power monopoly Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for its alleged continued refusal to provide the PUCSL certain vital information pertaining to the power sector.   


“During the litigation, the CEB paid Rs. 550,000 to a President’s Counsel at a time and the PUCSL Rs. 105,000 to its PC.   


While expressing his displeasure over the litigation by a State venture against another State establishment, Minister Amaraweera instructed the PUCSL to settle the case amicably and not to proceed with the case any longer, a spokesman of the Power, Energy and Commuter Transport Management Ministry said.   In June former President Maithripala Sirisena vehemently criticised the PUCSL for taking legal action against the CEB and told the Cabinet he would not attend Cabinet meetings as long as the two State ventures settle the dispute within themselves peacefully without resorting to legal action.

 

 

The CEB paid Rs. 550,000 to a President’s Counsel at a time and the PUCSL Rs. 105,000 to its PC