The Ceylon Electricity Board Workers’ Union (CEBWU) demanded the immediate reinstatement of around 60 CEB employees who were suspended earlier this year (2024), for allegedly disrupting the services during a protest against the proposed Electricity Sector Reforms Bill.
Stating that the CEBWU has already commenced legal action against the ‘arbitrary' action taken by the CEB administration, the CEBWU General Secretary Ranjan Jayalal told The Daily Morning that the CEB administration's lack of interest to resolving the matter has delayed the ongoing legal process and justice for the suspended workers. Jayalal also stated that the suspended individuals and the unions have filed several cases separately under the advice of prominent lawyers, demanding the reversal of the said decision, but that the matter is delayed due to certain issues of the other party. He also noted that the CEB administration has not taken any measures to rectify its decision, even though they had many opportunities to reinstate those suspended employees. He further alleged that the hostility of the Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has made the issue more complex. Claiming that the CEBWU is hopeful about the ongoing legal actions, he said that they will be making every possible effort to do justice for the suspended workers.
On 15 January, the CEB suspended 15 clerical staff members in charge of cash counters for inconveniencing customers who had come to pay their bills, by closing the windows of the counters and refraining from accepting payments. On 20 January, 51 more employees of the CEB were interdicted for obstructing services by refusing to accept bill payments from consumers during their three-day protests staged against the proposed restructuring of the State owned electricity supplier, thereby bringing the total of interdicted employees to 66.
Ahead of the union action, the CEB management, by way of a circular, had cancelled the leave of all employees with effect from 2 January. However, in case of an urgent matter, employees were allowed to take leave with the approval of an executive officer attached to the respective division or branch.
In a statement to the media on 19 January, the CEB Spokesperson and Deputy General Manager (Business and Operation Strategy) Noel Priyantha said that the CEB had suspended 15 cash clerks for shutting down counters that accept bill payments from consumers. On 20 January, Priyantha further said that the number of suspended employees had increased to 66 and that an investigation was being carried out regarding the disruption of services.