Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara says that the government has agreed to accept all the amendments proposed by the Supreme Court to the ‘Sri Lanka Electricity Bill’.

Responding to a question from SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella in Parliament today, the Minister stated that the Sectoral Oversight Committee was notified, and approval was obtained yesterday (04).

He added that the government will not propose any other amendments to the bill.

“As the government, we agreed to accept all amendments proposed by the Supreme Court. Accordingly, the government will not present any other amendments. In addition to this, the Sectoral Oversight Committee presented on more amendment, to bring down the limit from 50% to 15%, to which we agreed.”

He said that the government intends to present the amendment to the Parliament tomorrow and that the debate on the bill is expected to go ahead as scheduled.

The Speaker of Parliament yesterday (04) presented the Supreme Court’s determination regarding the proposed the “Sri Lanka Electricity Bill” which was recently submitted by the government.

The Supreme Court informed Parliament that several clauses of the Electricity Bill do not comply with the Constitution. These clauses must be approved by a special majority in Parliament, and one clause must also be approved by a referendum, the country’s apex court ruled.

Presenting the Supreme Court’s decision on the bill to the House, the Speaker said that if the relevant clauses are amended, the bill can be passed by a simple majority in Parliament.