August 11, 2023

Press Release

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) successfully mediated a resolution to a dispute between the Ceylon Electricity Board and the landowners in the Siripagama area of Ratnapura which revolved around a segment of the transmission line that connects the national electricity grid with the southern province, passing through the aforementioned land.
In accordance with the electricity dispute resolution procedures outlined under Section 53 of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act No. 20 of 2009 which was published in the special gazette dated January 25, 2015, the mediation process took place today (11th August 2023). Private appraisers had initially recommended a compensation of 41 million rupees for the land used during the construction of a 630-meter section of the transmission line and this amount was later revised to 9.6 million rupees following the criteria of the Asian Development Fund. However, the Ceylon Electricity Board only agreed to offer 1.69 million rupees as compensation.
On August 8, the issue was brought to the attention of the PUCSL, and within a mere 3 days, the commission managed to reach a resolution. The landowners, a family from the Ratnapura area, demonstrated their commitment to contributing to a seamless electricity supply for the public by agreeing to donate the land to the government without any compensation. This step reflects their concern for the country’s present electricity requirements.
Today, the family members, along with the General Manager of the Sri Lanka Electricity Board, signed the agreement in the presence of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the PUCSL. This agreement paves the way for the commencement of the transmission line construction, as per the Ceylon Electricity Board’s plan. The agreed-upon terms include the construction of the electric cable through the private land with a minimum height requirement of 20 meters, adhering to regulations pertaining to condition and continuity. The agreement comes into effect immediately.
Under Section 39 of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act, the PUCSL is entrusted with mediating disputes in the electricity industry. This dispute resolution mechanism, introduced in 2011 and updated in 2015, has proven effective in efficiently addressing conflicts involving licensed entities providing electricity services and other stakeholders, including consumers and companies. In the case of the transmission line dispute, Mr. Roshan Weerasuriya, Deputy Director of the Consumer Affairs Division of the PUCSL, chaired the dispute resolution committee, alongside experienced external members Ms. C. Ellawala , Attorney at law and Eng. Gamini Senanayake.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Jayanath Herath, Director of Corporate Communications, Phone: 077 2 943 193

Professor Manjula Fernando
Chairman
Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka

Attachment: Special Gazette Announcement Regarding Electricity Dispute Settlement Procedure