CEB takes back assurance on suspending power cuts

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ceylon Electricity Board informed the Supreme Court on Friday (3) that it would be withdrawing the assurance that it gave to refrain from imposing power cuts until the Contempt of Court application filed by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is taken up for consideration, and the matter is concluded.

President's Counsel Romesh De Silva appearing for the CEB made the announcement to the court.

The matter was taken up in the presence of Justices Gamini Amarasekera, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe, and Shiran Gunaratne for consideration.

Thereafter, the President's Counsel noted that the assurance will be withdrawn with effect from Friday (3).

President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing for the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka requested for an interim order to prevent the CEB from imposing Power Cuts during the period of the Advanced Level Examination is over, if the respondent is withdrawing the assurance that it gave to the Supreme Court on Thursday (2).

However, the Supreme Court rejected the request and fixed the matter to be taken up again on the 7th of February at 1:30 PM.

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had moved to the Supreme Court against the Ceylon Electricity Board for failing to follow the directive to provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity until the end of the G. C. E. Advanced Level examination.

For the first time in Sri Lanka's history, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka filed a Contempt of Court case with the Supreme Court on 31st of January 2023 against the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, and the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) determined that the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy, the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, and the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation had failed to abide by the settlement arrived at before the commission with regard to the continuous supply of power during the period pertaining to the Advanced Level Examination commencing from 23rd January to 17th February 2023.

The Commission said it treats the said blatant disregard of the CEB to provide an uninterrupted electricity supply during the examination period as a gross violation of a child's right to education.

The Commission found the unbecoming and outrageous behaviour of the State Officials of the CEB as an intentional affront to justice and contempt of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, said a statement from the Spokesperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

The Commission reiterates the position that the sole purpose of this intervention is only to ensure the rights of Citizens and in particular that of the A/L Candidates are duly honoured, and the Commission assures its continuous efforts in upholding the rule of law of the country and Fundamental Rights of its citizens