Financial Times

Limited scope for PUC
By Lenin Amarawickrama
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka, which was envisaged as a multi-sector regulatory body at its inception, has been confined to a limited role, with other regulators covering the operation of specialised services.

"The PUCSL is currently a small body but is expected to be the country's major regulator in years to come," said Professor Priyantha Wijetunga, Director General of the Commission.

The PUC's ability to widen its scope is limited owing to non -availability of relevant professionals and it has been forced to hire professionals on a part time basis for consultations, he said. The PUC now is only empowered to regulate electricity and water sectors.

"At the beginning the concept was to establish an independent electricity regulatory commission but the scope was widened to make it a multi-sector regulatory body. However, since the TRC was already in existence, that subject was excluded from the ambit of the PUCSL."

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