Two members of the Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) have tendered their resignations to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization & National Policies.

Accordingly, Mohan Samaranayake and PUCSL’s deputy chairman Udeni Wickramasinghe have stepped down from their positions with immediate effect.

Wickramasinghe vacated his position, citing personal reasons.

Meanwhile, Samaranayake, in his resignation letter, said the work environment and the work style of the electricity sector regulator have become highly unprofessional, unpleasant and intolerable.

“The situation has degenerated to such an extent that on January 20, 2023 when a special meeting of the Commission was held, a group of thugs was organized and allowed inside the Commission’s premises who directly threatened me with physical assault and destruction of property. This act of hooliganism was justified by insinuation by Chairman, PUCSL at the National Council meeting held in Parliament on January 24, 2023 with the participation of members of the Commission. His justification of threats against me indicates that I run the risk of being threatened and even assaulted in future,” he continued.

Samaranayake accused the PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnakayake of violating Section 9(5) of the PUCSL Act and continuing to make decisions and statements purported to be that of the Commission without the concurrence of the rest of the members thereby making other members redundant.

He also stressed that he has been “humiliated and painted villain before the society.”

Failure on the part of the government authorities to counter legal and other arguments against the proposed electricity tariff hike with irrefutable facts, which leaves people in the quandary, Samaranayake added.