• Unions to decide on final escalation of protest action today 
• Electricity supply essential service gazette for P’ment approval today  
• PSA opposes any future CEB shares’ sale in the backdrop of profitability 

The leave of all employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has been cancelled. The CEB General Manager has stated that the directive will be in place until further notice.

An extraordinary gazette notification was issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 21 September, declaring all services connected to the supply of electricity as essential public services. The order issued by the President stated that services provided by any public corporation, Government Department, Local Authority, or co-operative society engaged in the supply of electricity are likely to be impeded or interrupted, thereby necessitating the declaration. With the declaration, all services related to electricity supply are being treated as essential public services.

Moreover, the Committee on Parliamentary Business Chaired by Speaker of the Parliament Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne yesterday (23) decided to present the Gazette notification issued by President Dissanayake declaring “all services connected to the supply of electricity as essential services” to the Parliament today (24) for approval. Accordingly, the gazette notification Number 2454/68 issued on 21 September under the Essential Public Services Act, No. 61 of 1979, is scheduled to be presented for approval today without debate.

Meanwhile, all unions affiliated to the CEB have decided to continue their ongoing work-to-rule union action until today. This was announced on Monday (22) at a media briefing by the General Secretary of the CEB Nidhahas Sevaka Sangamaya, Prabath Priyantha. He stated that if the authorities fail to provide satisfactory solutions to their demands, a decision on the next phase of the union action will be taken today. 

“On 24 September, representatives from 25 unions will meet again. If no constructive discussions take place within the next two days, we will be compelled to move to the final stage of union action. Whether it will be a one-day strike, a token strike, or an indefinite strike – we will clearly announce our decision on 24 September,” he said. CEB unions have emphasised that continued inaction or the lack of engagement from the authorities will result in an escalation of their union efforts.

Also, the People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA) expressed opposition to the ongoing restructuring process of the CEB, alleging that it would pave the way for the eventual privatisation or sale of the institution. The PSA’s Executive Member Duminda Nagamuwa voiced these concerns at a press briefing. 

“They (the Government) claim that there will be no privatisation or the sacking of employees. However, when the CEB is restructured into several entities, the foundation of the Act (a reference to the Electricity [Amendment] Act) changes. This allows these entities to be sold on the stock market at any time. They will then claim that the CEB is not being sold, but that only some shares are being sold,” he claimed, alleging that the Government may also use conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund to justify such share sales.

He further pointed out that the CEB recorded a profit of Rs. 143 billion last year (2024), making it a profitable institution, and hence questioned as to why the Government is planning to split it into several entities under the restructuring process.

However, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that the present Government remains consistently committed to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s energy sovereignty, and that there is no intention at any time to hand over the electricity sector to private entities. He emphasised that ensuring control over the country’s energy sector is a key Government policy, given its critical role in economic development, national security, and national independence. 

President Dissanayake further noted that the Government’s objective is not to privatise but to eliminate the existing inefficiencies within the institutional structure of the electricity sector and to establish a streamlined, well-regulated institutional framework. President Dissanayake made these remarks while attending a progress review discussion on the ongoing electricity sector reforms, held on Monday at the Presidential Secretariat. Speaking at a discussion held with members of the committees appointed for power sector reform, and directors of the newly established State-owned companies, he emphasised the urgent need for a new institutional framework to replace the outdated structures of the CEB. 

“The existing system is no longer sufficient. The need for reform is undeniable,” he said, highlighting the goal of ensuring reliable and affordable electricity to the public, while maintaining Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over its energy resources. President Dissanayake assured that no employee will face a reduction in salary or position, that employee rights will be fully protected, that any unresolved matters involving the CEB will be addressed before integration into the new entities, and that all existing rights and assets of the CEB will be secured under the new structure. He emphasised that institutions exist to serve the public, not merely their employees, and that the reforms aim to deliver a more efficient, uninterrupted power supply at a fair price. If this is achieved, it will be a victory for both the Government and the employees, he said. The meeting also featured extensive discussions on the challenges and suggestions related to the reform process.