(1) This Act may be cited as the public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act, No. 35 of 2002 and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may appoint by Order published in the Gazette. Different dates may be appointed in respect of different provisions of this Act.

(2) This Act shall apply to the public utilities industries set out in the Schedule to this Act, the regulation of which is vested in or assigned to the public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.

(3) Parliament may by resolution amend the Schedule to the Act by adding thereto any utilities industry or removing therefrom any public utilities industry, where such addition or removal is considered necessary or expedient in the public interest.

(1) There shall be established a commission, which shall be called the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission").

(2) The Commission shall, by the name assigned to it by subsection (1), be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, and may sue and be sued in such name.

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 5, the Commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of the Constitutional Council, of whom-

(2) The first members of the Commission shall be appointed within four months of the coming into operation of this part and any subsequent vacancy in the commission shall be filled within three months of the occurrence of the vacancy.

(1) The Constitutional Council shall, before giving its concurrence to the appointment of any person as a member of the Commission under this Act, satisfy itself that such person is qualified for appointment under subsection (1) of section 5 and is not disqualified for appointment under subsection (2) of section 5.

(2) Decisions of the Constitutional Council to give its concurrence for appointment of persons as members of the Commission shall be by majority vote.

(3) The Constitutional council may require any person being considered for appointment as a member under section 3 to furnish it with such information as it may require for the purpose of discharging its functions under subsection (1).

(4) The Minister shall, within one month from the date of occurrence of a vacancy in the Commission transmit to the Constitutional Council for its concurrence, names of persons in the order of preference to be appointed as Commissioner. The Constitutional Council, where it concurs as regards the persons to be appointed as members of the Commission, shall express its concurrence to the Minister at least one month prior to the date before which the Minister is required to make such appointments.

(1) The members of the Commission shall be persons with ability and integrity and have shown capacity in addressing problems relating to engineering, law, economics, business management, accordingly or administration-

(2) A Person shall be disqualified from being appointed, or continuing as a member of the Commission it-

(1) A member of the Commission may resign from office by letter in that behalf addressed to the Minister, and such resignation shall take effect from the date on which the resignation shall take effect from the date on which the resignation is accepted in writing by the Minister.

(2) The Minister may remove a member of the Commission from office after an address of parliament supported by a majority of the total number of members of parliament (including those not present) has been presented to the Minister for such removal, after compliance with the procedure set out in section 7.

(3) The term of office of a member of the Commission shall be five years from the date of appointment ;

Provided however, that the first members of the Commission, other than the member who is appointed as the Chairman, shall hold office for periods of four, three, two years and one year respectively, as the Minister shall determine.

(4) Where a member of the Commission vacates office by death, resignation or other cause, the Minister shall with the concurrence of the Constitutional council, appoint, having regard to the provisions of sections 5 and 7, another suitable person in his or her place, and the person so appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the terms of office of the member whom be or she succeeds.

(5) A member of the Commission whose term of office is due to end otherwise than by removal shall be eligible for reappointment for not more than one further term of office (whether consecutive or otherwise).

(6) Members of the Commission shall be paid such remuneration as may be determined by a resolution of parliament and such remuneration shall be charged to the fund of the Commission. Members of the Commission shall exercise, perform and discharge the powers, duties, and functions of the commission on a part-time basis in accordance with the terms and conditions of their respective letters of appointment.

(7) A person shall not for a period of three years after he or she ceases to be a member of the Commission, acquire, hold or maintain, directly or indirectly, any office, employment, consultancy arrangement or business in Sri lanka where he or she may be liable to use or disclose information acquired by him or her in the exercise performance and discharge of the powers, duties and functions of the Commission, and if he or she acquires any such interests involuntarily or by way of succession or testamentary disposition, he or she shall divest himself or herself of such interest, within two months of the acquisition of such interest.

(a) the Minister has sent a notice to the member that it is proposed to remove such member from office on any one or more of the following grounds, namely, that he or she-

accompanied by full particulars relating to the proposed grounds for removal, and has afforded the member an opportunity of making representations against the proposed removal ;

(b) the Minister, having considered any representations made by the member, has reported to parliament, that the proposed removal of the member, on the grounds specified in the notice sent to the member is justified and has forwarded together with the report, the representations made by the member to parliament ;

(c) parliament, having considered the report of the Minister and the representations made by the member, has passed an address, supported by a majority of the total number of members of parliament (including those not present); for such removal.

(1) The Minister shall appoint one of the members of the Commission to be the Chairman of the Commission (hereinafter referred to as "The Chairman").

(2) The Chairman may resign from the office of Chairman by letter in that behalf addressed to the Minister and the resignation shall take effect from the date on which it is accepted, in writing, by the Minister.

(3) The Chairman shall cease to be the Chairman if he or she is removed from the office of member of the Commission under section 6.

(4) The term of office of the Chairman shall be five years.

(5) The Chairman shall not, on vacation of the office of Chairman, be eligible for reappointment as chairman.

(6) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 7, the Chairman shall, within one month of his or her appointment, nominate a member in writing, to be the Deputy Chairman to discharge the functions of the Chairman during his absence from office due to illness or any other cause.

(1) The Chairman shall summon all meetings of the Commission. Any member of the Commission may, by written notice, request the Chairman to call a meeting of the commission and the Chairman shall not otherwise than for good reason, refuse to do so.

(2) The Commission may decide any matter, which is determined by the Chairman to be urgent with the agreement of the majority of the members.

(3) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Commission and in the absence of the Chairman at any meeting, the Deputy Chairman shall preside at such meeting.

(4) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall be three members including the Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman, the quorum shall be three members including the Deputy Chairman.

(5) all matters for decision by the commission shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members of the Commission. The decision supported by the votes of a majority of the members of the Commission on any matter shall be deemed to be the decision of the Commission on that matter.

(6) All decisions of the Commission, supported by reasons, shall be in writing and the seal of the Commission affixed thereto in accordance with paragraph (c) of section 10.

(7) In case there is an equality of votes on any matter to be decided by the Commission, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

(8) Subject to the preceding provisions of this section, the Commission may regulate the procedure in regard to the meetings of the Commission and the transaction of business at such meetings.

(9) No act, decision or proceeding of the Commission shall be deemed to be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy in its membership or defect in the appointment of any member thereof.

(a) shall be determined by the Commission and may be altered in such manner as may be determined by the Commission ;

(b) shall be in the custody of such person as the Commission may determine from time to time ;

(c) shall not be affixed to any instrument or document except with the sanction of the Commission and in the presence of two members of the Commission who shall sign the instrument or document in token of their presence.

(1) The Commission shall within three months of the appointment of its first members, and thereafter whenever a vacancy arises, appoint a person to be the Director-General of the Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Director-General") who shall be the Chief Executive officer of the Commission. The Commission shall determine the conditions of employment including remuneration of the Director-General.

(2) The Commission may appoint one or more deputy directors-General as it considers necessary with responsibility for a specific industry.

(3) The provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of section 5 and subsection (7) of section 6 shall, mutatis and mutandis, apply in relation to the appointments of the Director-General and the Deputy Directors-General.

(4) The Director-General shall subject to the general direction and control of the Commission, be charged with the conduct of the day to day activities of the Commission required for the exercise of its powers, performance of its duties and functions and the administration and control of the staff of the Commission.

(5) The Commission may delegate to the Director-General only its decision making powers in relation to the administration and control of its staff other than those concerning the Director-General.

(6) The Director-General shall attend meetings of Commission. However he shall not attend a meeting during such time any matter relating to him or her or to the appointment of a successor to him or her is discussed. He shall not be entitled to vote at such meetings.

(7) The Director-General may, with the approval of the Commission, delegate to a Deputy Director-General or any staff of the Commission, any power, function or duty which has been validly delegated to him or her, except the power of Delegation conferred on him or her, except the power of Delegation conferred on him or her by this section, and such Deputy or staff shall exercise such powers and perform such functions and discharge such duties in accordance with a general or specific direction of the Director-General.

(8) The Commission may remove from office the Director-General or any Deputy Director-General appointed under subsection (1) or (2) as the case may be.

(1) The Commission-

(2) Staff shall include the Director-General and Deputy Directors-General for the purpose of this section.

(3) The Commission may make rules in respect of all or any of the matters referred to in subsection (1).

(1) Every member of the Commission, the Secretary the Director-General, Deputy director-General (if any), and other Staff of the Commission shall, before taking up office, sign a declaration of secrecy in such form, in such manner and before such authority as may be prescribed by the Minister. All agents, consultants and advisors of the Commission shall be required by the commission to adhere to such secrecy requirements.

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1), shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction after summary trial before a Magistrate be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees or to imprisonment of either description for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(1) The Commission shall exercise, perform and discharge its powers, functions and duties under this Act and any other industry Act reasonably with fairness, impartiality and independence and in a manner that is timely, transparent, objective and consistent with this Act and such other Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the provision of subsection (1) the Commission shall exercise, perform and discharge the power, functions and duties conferred on or assigned to it by or under this Act and any other industry Act, in a manner which it considers is best calculated -

(1) The Commission shall have the following powers as reasonably required to carry out its functions :-

(2) Any person to whom a request for information has been made under this section shall duly furnish the Commission with the information, books, accounts or other documents.

(3) Any person who without reasonable excuse fails to furnish any information, books accounts or other documents required of him or her by the Commission under subsection (2), shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction after summary trial before a magistrate be liable to a fine not exceeding one million rupees and where the offence is a continuing offence, to an additional fine of fifty thousand rupees for each day during which such offence continues :

Provided however, that a person referred to in this section shall not be compelled to produce a document which he or she could not be compelled to produce in civil proceedings before a court or to furnish information which he or she could not be compelled to give in evidence in any such proceedings.

(4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5), any information with respect to any particular business which-

shall not, during the lifetime of that individual or for so long as that business continues to be carried on, be disclosed by the Commission without the written consent of the individual or business.

(5) Subsection (4) shall not apply to any disclosure of information-

For the purpose of this Act any information contained in an electronic record, printed on a paper, stored, recorded or copied in optical or magnetic media and produced by whatever means, shall be deemed to be also a document.

(a) to engage, subject to section 13, from time to time the services of consultants or advisors as it may consider necessary to assist in the discharge of its functions and remunerate such persons out of the Fund of the Commission in such manner and at such rates as may be determined by the Commission ;

(b) to enter into agreements with regulated entities ;

(c) to acquire and hold property movable and immovable, and to sell, lease, mortgage, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the same ;

(d) to enter into such contracts as may be necessary for the exercise, performance and discharge of its powers, duties and functions ;

(e) to acquire such right, privileges, licences and authorities as may be necessary for the effective discharge of its functions ;

(f) to levy fees ; and

(g) generally to do all such other acts and things as are incidental to or consequential upon the exercise, performance and discharge of its powers, duties and functions under this Act and any other industry Act.

(a) exercise, perform and discharge the powers, functions and duties conferred on or assigned to the Commission by or under this Act or any industry Act.

(b) consult, to the extent the Commission considers appropriate any person of group who or which may be affected, or likely to be affected by the decisions of the Commission ;

(c) advise the Government, as the Commission deems appropriate, on all matters concerning any industry falling within the purview of this Act ;

(d) collect record and disseminate, subject to section 15 (4), information concerning any public utilities industries :

(e) prepare within six months of its establishment a regulatory manual containing a code of good practice governing the functions of the Commission and revise it as and when required ;

(f) exercise licensing, regulatory and inspection functions in respect of all matters provided for in any industry Act :

(g) enforce the provisions of licences, contracts and other instruments issued under the authority of any industry Act;

(h) regulate tariffs and other charges levied by regulated entities where required by any industry Act ;

(i) determine by mediation disputes arising in any public utilities industry ;

(j) set and enforce technical and other standards relating to the safety, quality, continuity and reliability of the public utilities industries ;and

(k) undertake such other incidental or ancillary activities which the Commission may consider appropriate for the effective discharge of any of its functions.

(1) The Commission may, in discharging the functions assigned to it by or under this Act or any other industry Act, and where it deems necessary in the public interest hold a public hearing in order to investigate or determine any matter. The public hearing shall be held in any manner not inconsistent with the principles of natural justice.

(2) The Commission shall, for the purposes of a public hearing referred to in subsection (1), have the power.

(3) Any person who has been summoned or whose interests are likely to be affected by any matter before the Commission may appear in person or by authorized representative.

(4) Every person who gives evidence at such public hearing shall, in respect of such evidence be entitled to all the privileges to which a witness giving evidence before a court of law is entitled in respect of evidence given by him or her before such court.

(5) The proceedings at such a public hearing shall be open to the public and the minutes, including a record of the evidence given and a statement of all facts taken into consideration, shall be kept by the Commission and made available to the public.

(6) Every offence contempt committed against, or in disrespect of, the authority of the Commission shall be publishable by the Court of Appeal as though it were an offence of contempt committed against, or in disrespect of the authority of that Court, and the Court of Appeal is hereby vested with jurisdiction to try every such offence.

(7) An act done or omitted to be done in relation to the Commission, whether in the presence of the Commission or otherwise, shall constitute an offence of contempt against, or in disrespect of, the authority of the Commission, if such act would, if done or omitted to be done in relation to the Court of Appeal have constituted an offence of contempt against, or in disrespect of the authority of such Court.

(8) Any person-

shall be guilty of the offence of contempt against, or in disrespect of the authority of the Commission.

(9) During or at the conclusion of a public hearing the Commission may-

(10) Every order or award made and every direction given in pursuance of paragraph (a) of subscription (9) shall be published in the Gazette, and a copy of every such order, award or direction shall be served on each party to the public hearing.

(1) An order, award or direction made by the Commission under section 18 shall, subject to subsection (2), be final.

(2) An appeal shall lie by any person aggrieved from an order, award or direction made under section 18 on a question of law, to the Court of Appeal.

(3) An appeal under subsection (2), shall be by written petition and shall-

(4) Where a petition of appeal is presented to the Commission in the manner and within the time specified in subsection (3), the Commission shall-

(5) The Court of Appeal may in determining such question of law, confirm, vary or annul the order, award or direction of the Commission or may remit the matter to the Commission with the decision of that Court on the question of law with such directions as may be deemed appropriate.

(a) the existence or suspected existence of any anti-competitive practices ;

(b) the acquisition; existence or suspected existence of abuse of a dominant position which may affect domestic trade or economic development in one or more markets in which a regulated entity operates ; or

(c) the creation or suspected creation of a merger situation,

(1) For the purposes of section 22-

(2) In this section-

"Control" means direct or indirect control of the whole or parts of one or more other persons ;

"Utility network" means a network or system, however defined in any industry Act, for the provision of utility services ; and

"Utility services" means the provision of goods or services in the public utilities industries.

(1) Where, upon investigation, the Commission is satisfied that an anti-competitive practice or merger situation exists but that it does not operate or is not likely to operate against the public interest, the Commission shall by order, authorize that anti-competitive practice or merger situation subject to such conditions as it may consider necessary or expedient.

(2) Where, upon investigation, the Commission is satisfied that a dominant position exists but that no abuse of that dominant position exists, the Commission shall by order, declare that no abuse of a dominant position has occurred, subject to such conditions, as it may consider necessary or expedient.

(3) Where, upon investigation, the Commission is satisfied that-

(4) In determining for the purpose of this section whether an anti-competitive practice or merger situation operates or is likely to operate against the public interest, the Commission shall take into account all matters which appear to the Commission to be relevant to the matter under investigation and shall have special regard to the desirability of-

in addition, in the case of a merger situation-

(5) The commission shall give any regulated entity, which is the subject of an inquiry or investigation held by the Commission under section22, an opportunity to be heard and to produce oral or documentary evidence.

(1) Where the Commission reasonably belives that an activity identified under section 22 exists, without prejudice to section 15, the Commission shall have the power exercised by an officer of the Commission authorized in that behalf, on reasonable grounds, with an entry warrant issued by a Magistrate and on production, if required, thereof-

and no person shall obstruct any officer acting in the exercise of his or her powers under this section.

(1) The Commission is required to ensure that so far as possible, having regard to any relevant differences between the provisions concerned, question arising under this part in relation to the regulation of competition in the public utilities industries are dealt with in a manner which is consistent with the treatment of corresponding question arising under the relevant Act.

(2) in determining a question under this part, the Commission shall act so far as is compatible with the provisions of this part, with a view to securing that there would be no inconsistency between the principles applied, and any decision reached, by the relevant authority in determining that question and the Commission shall in addition, have regard to any relevant decision or statement of the relevant authority.

(3) In this section "relevant authority" means the statutory regulatory authority charged, under a relevant Act, with equivalent competition regulation functions for industries other than the public utilities industries.

(1) Any person who fails to comply with a relevant obligation shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall on conviction after summary trial before a Magistrate be liable-

and the court may in addition order such persons to refrain from carrying on those activities which are required to have been terminated, or to do such other acts as are required to be done, under the Commission's earlier order for such period as may be determined by the court or until such person complies with such order made under that section.

(2) The Commission may publish or cause to be published in such manner as it sees fit, the names and addresses of all persons convicted under this Act.

(3) Where any offence is committed by a body of persons, then-

shall be guilty of an offence, provided that such director, officer or partner shall not be deemed to be guilty of that offence if he or she establishes to the satisfaction of the court that such offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

(4) In this section , "relevant obligation" means an obligation cast on any person under this part, or the obligations under section 15 where applicable in this part, or an order of the Commission made under this part, or acts in contravention of such order.

(a) against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property;

(b) against unfair trade practices ;

(c) to be heard and to be assured that their invests will receive due consideration; and

(d) to consumer education.

(1) The Commission shall, after consultation with the Minister, appoint a Consumer Consultative Committee.

(2) The composition of the Committee shall be as prescribed by regulation.

(3) The functions of the Committee shall be to-

(1) The Cabinet of Ministers shall in consultation with the Minister in charge of a public utilities industry, formulate where it sees fit, general policy guidelines and issue such guidelines to the Commission through the Minister-

(2) Where any general policy guideline issued under subsection (1) results in the need for a regulated entity to subsidize the provision of any service of a public utilities industry to any socio-economic group or to a geographical area, the Commission shall, in implementing the policy guidelines, ensure that-

(3) The Minister shall-

(1) The Commission shall have its own Fund.

(2) There shall be paid into the Fund of the Commission-

(3) There shall be paid out of the Fund of the Commission-

(4) The Commission may, with the approval of the Minister in charge of the subject of finance, invest such moneys as are not immediately required for its purposes, in such securities as the Commission may consider fit and transfer or sell such securities.

(1) Any excess of the revenue of the Commission in any year over its expenditure for that year shall be carried forwards to meet its expenditure in subsequent years.

(2) The Commission shall, not later than September of each year cause to be published in the Gazette, a statement setting out its estimated expenditure for the next financial year.

(3) The Commission may revise its estimated expenditure for any year in that year and shall cause every such revision to be published in the Gazette.

(4) The expenditure of the Commission for any year, shall not exceed by ten per centum of its estimated expenditure (as revised from time to time) for that year.

(1) The financial year of the Commission shall be the calendar year.

(2) The Commission shall cause proper books of accounts to be kept of the income and expenditure assets and liabilities and all other transactions of the Commission separate accounts shall be maintained in respect of loans received.

(3) The Auditor-General shall audit the accounts of the Commission.

(4) The Auditor-General and any person assisting him or her in the audit of the accounts of the Commission, shall have access to all such books, deeds, contracts, accounts, vouchers and documents as the Auditor General may consider necessary for the purposes of such audit, and shall be furnished by the Commission or its officers with such information within their knowledge as may be required for such purposes.

(5) The Auditor General shall examine the accounts of the Commission and furnish a report-

(6) The Auditor-General shall transmit the report and statement prepared by him under subsection (5), to the Commission.

(7) For the purpose of meeting the expenses incurred by him or her in the audit of the accounts of the Commission, the Auditor-General shall be paid out of the Fund of the Commission, such remuneration as the Commission may determine. Any remuneration received by the Auditor-General under this subsection shall after deduction therefrom of any sums paid by him or her to any qualified auditor or auditors employed by him or her for the purposes of such audit, he credited to the Consolidated Fund.

(1) The Commission and the relevant person at each of the following :-

shall, in the case of the persons referred to in paragraphs (a),(b) and (c),not later than six months after the establishment of the Commission, and in the case of the persons referred to in paragraph (d), not later than six months after they are designated under that paragraph, make arrangements and prepare a written memorandum with a view to securing-

(2) As soon as practicable after a written memorandum is prepared, and whenever any revision of it is subsequently agreed upon as being appropriate by the Commission and each of the bodies referred to in subsection (1), the Commission shall send a copy of the written memorandum, or the revised memorandum, as the case may be, to the Minister for his or her information .

(3) The "relevant person" in relation to-

(1) No suit or prosecution shall lie against-

(2) Any expenses incurred by the Commission in any suit or prosecution brought by, or against the Commision before any court, shall be paid out of the Fund of the Commission and any costs paid to, or recovered by, the Commission in any such suit or prosecution, shall be credited to the Fund of the Commission.

(3) Any expenses incurred by any member of the Commission, secretary, Director-General, Deputy Director-General (if any), staff, consultant or Advisor thereof, in any suit or prosecution brought against him or her in any court in respect of any act which is done, or purported to be done, by him or her under this Act or any other industry Act or on the direction of the Commission shall, if the court holds that the act was done in good faith, be paid out of the Fund of the Commission, unless such expense is recovered by him in such suit or prosecution.

(1) The Commission shall within three months of the end of each financial year, prepare a report of its activities during that year and its proposed activities in the following year, and shall transmit a copy of such report together with a copy of the audited accounts of the Commission for that year, to the Minister.

(2) The Minister on receipt of a report prepared under subsection (1)-

(3) without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) every annual report shall contain-

(1) The Commission may make rules in respect of all or any matters for which rules are authorized or required by this Act to be made.

(2) Every rule made under subsection (1) shall come into force upon publication in the Gazette.

(i) any user of such goods or beneficiary of such services other than the person who buys or avails of such goods or services, as the case may be, for consideration paid or promised, or under any system of deferred payment when such use is made or services are availed of with the approval of the first mentioned person ;

(ii) any prospective buyer or beneficiary of such goods or services, as the case may be ;

(1) the practice of making any statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation which-

(2) permits the sale or supply of goods intended to be used, or are of a kind likely to be used, by consumers, knowing or having reason to believe that the goods do not comply with the standards prescribed by any industry Act or any regulation made thereunder relating to performance, composition, contents, design, construction, finishing or packaging as are necessary to prevent or reduce the risk of injury to the person using the goods ;