Former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), Janaka Ratnayaka, has strongly criticized the current chairman's handling of the recent public consultation on electricity tariff revision.

Ratnayaka expressed his discontent during a media address following the consultation held on February 15 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

Ratnayaka emphasized that the conduct of the current chairman during the consultation was not only inappropriate but also unacceptable. He highlighted the fundamental purpose of the PUCSL, stating that it was established to safeguard the welfare of the public, a responsibility that demands utmost professionalism and sensitivity.

Ratnayaka claimed that the current chairman lacks the necessary experience to handle such crucial public matters, evident in his confusion between a public consultation and a public hearing. Ratnayaka also accused the chairman of resorting to inappropriate language to control the individuals making presentations during the consultation, a tactic he condemned as wholly unacceptable.

Ratnayaka further underscored the inadequacy in the composition of the present PUCSL, pointing out the absence of a qualified businessman member representing the business community on the board. He called upon the political hierarchy and the Constitutional Council, responsible for appointing members to independent commissions, to exercise greater diligence in future appointments.