NO power cuts until Contempt of Court case is concluded; CEB assures the Supreme Court

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The Ceylon Electricity Board has assured the Supreme Court that it would 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 Uditha Egalahewa appearing for the Ceylon Electricity Board made the assurance to the court and pointed out that during the said period no power outages will take place.

The matter was called up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P. Padman Surasena, Yasatha Kodagoda, and Shiran Gunaratne on Thursday (2).

The application will be taken up for consideration at 11:30 AM on Friday (3).

The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka 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