Minister of power and energy Kanchana Wijesekera has refused to retract the new electricity act even if all 24,000 electricity workers went to courts against it.
Legal action will only serve to refine the bill further, he told the media yesterday (19).
Wijesekera said the electricity bill will be tabled in the House soon.
He outlined a provision allowing individuals to challenge any constitutional or illegal aspects in it within 14 days of its presentation.
These challenges, he specified, will be adjudicated by the Supreme Court, with recommendations forwarded to the speaker.
He also referred to criticism that the new act politicizes the power sector.
The present act is more susceptible to political influence compared to the proposed legislation, claimed the minister.
Only a handful of individuals, including former president Maithripala Sirisena and former minister Wimal Weerawansa, have submitted proposals for the bill, suggesting minimal opposition within political circles.
