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Multiple unions hold protest against Yugadanavi deal 

08 Dec 2021

  • CEB, SLPA, and CPC march to Presidential Secretariat 
By Buddhika Samaraweera   Trade unions representing the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) held a massive protest in Colombo yesterday (8) against, what they claimed are, plans by the Government to sell national resources and the agreement executed with US-based New Fortress Energy Inc. on the Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya.  The main demonstration of the protest was held in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station after which they marched towards the Presidential Secretariat at Galle Face Green. There, several trade union representatives had the opportunity to hold discussions with officials of the Presidential Secretariat.  Speaking to the media after the discussion, CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance (CEBJTUA) Convenor Ranjan Jayalal said that a petition signed by employees of the CEB, the SLPA, and the CPC against the sale of national resources was handed over to the Presidential Secretariat officials.  “Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Malkanthi Rajapaksa and a group of officials had a lengthy discussion with us. They listened to us very attentively. In particular, the trade union leaders of the CPC informed them about the massive deal going on at the CPC and the SLPA trade union representatives informed the officials of the plans to sell the 13-acre land owned by the SLPA,” he said.  He further said that the officials of the Presidential Secretariat had promised to give them an opportunity to hold discussions with the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa within a period of week. Jayalal also said that he believed that the opportunity for a discussion would be given within a week and if the sale of national resources was not stopped even after that discussion, a massive trade union struggle would be launched in the future.  He said: “So far the Government has not discussed these matters with us. They have been negotiating with various other parties, but they should discuss with those who are really involved in this struggle. Therefore, we hope to have this discussion within a week. However, if the sale of national resources is not going to end even after that, we have the ability to take trade union action against the President and Prime Minister. We will definitely do that.”  The said trade unions earlier launched a series of protests on 3 November challenging the sale of national resources in front of their respective workplaces.  New Fortress Energy Inc. has said that it has signed a framework agreement with the Government to construct a new offshore LNG receiving, storage, and regasification terminal, primarily located in the Kerawalapitiya Power Complex, to supply gas to Sri Lanka’s power plants. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) announced on 26 October that the Government is set to receive a $ 250 million inflow from the partial divestment of the Yugadanavi Power Plant to New Fortress Energy Inc. and that the first tranche of the same is expected in November and December 2021.


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