41. Extraction of electricity to be an offence

Official English translation. The Sinhala text prevails. Open the official Sinhala text, official PDF on documents.gov.lk

(1)

Every person who takes, uses or extracts any electricity –

(a)

which is in the course of being transmitted or distributed by a transmission or distribution licensee; and

(b)

otherwise than in pursuance of a contract made with a distribution licensee or other transmission licensee, commits an offence and shall, on conviction after a summary trial before a Magistrate be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand rupees and to an additional fine in a sum of money being the value of the loss or damage caused to the licensee as a result of the act or default constituting such offence or to imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding three months or to both such fine and imprisonment. Any sum recovered as an additional fine shall be paid to the licensee on application made to court.

(2)

Any person who aids or abets the commission of any offence punishable under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and be liable to the same punishment as is provided for such offence.

(3)

Where two or more persons are convicted of having committed the same offence whether as principal offender or abettor, the value of such loss or damage may be apportioned among such persons and the amount so apportioned shall be imposed on each of such persons as a fine.

(4)

A certificate issued by the licensee shall be received as proof of the value of such loss or damage in the absence of evidence to the contrary. In the absence of any agreement, a licensee may charge the offenders for electricity supplied as if it were electricity supplied to a consumer in accordance with the method of charging provided for in the licence.

Read on from s 42

Part XIV

Repeals and Transitional Provisions

Read on from Part XIV

41. Extraction of electricity to be an offence

Repeals and Transitional Provisions

Schedules