Jan 21, Colombo: The Board of Directors and officers representing several institutions including the Sri Lanka Public Utilities Commission and the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) were summoned and questioned at the National Council regarding the increase in electricity charges.

This was discussed when the National Council met in Parliament on Thursday under the chairmanship of Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana and with the presence of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The officials representing the Electricity Board pointed out that the Public Utilities Commission should quickly give a decision on the proposal to increase electricity charges brought in by the Ceylon Electricity Board recently along with the approval of the Cabinet.

Making a remark, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission mentioned that the necessary calculations should be completed first.

Accordingly, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana said that the Electricity Board and the Public Utilities Commission should discuss this matter and take a final decision. Therefore, after such discussions, it was decided to call all these parties to the National Council again on the 24th.

In addition to this, the draft of the final report of the National Council sub-committee on identifying programs related to economic stabilization was also presented to the National Council by the chairman of the said committee, Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Minister Tiran Alas, Kanchana Wijesekera, Nassir Ali Ahmed, State Ministers D. V. Chanaka, Sisira Jayakody, Indika Anuruddha, Members of Parliament Johnston Fernando, Patali Champika Ranawaka, A. L. M. Athaullah were present at the Committee meeting held.

Furthermore, the Secretary General of the Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake and the Chief of Staff and Deputy General Secretary of Parliament Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera were also present at the Committee meeting held.