• Queries how such fmr.-officials who ‘couldn’t’ improve CEB performance then can turn things around now

The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) yesterday claimed that preparations are underway to re-hire retired senior officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to lead the four new institutions formed following the restructuring of the board.

ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika questioned how these individuals, who were unable to improve the performance of the CEB during their tenure, would now be able to make the newly established entities profitable.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, he pointed out that the ongoing restructuring process appears to involve the recruitment of former CEB officials to key management positions in the new companies, instead of appointing new and efficient professionals capable of introducing reforms and improving efficiency.

“These are the same officials who contributed to bringing the CEB to its current state. How can these institutions develop under the same leadership? The ultimate burden of inefficiency within these institutions would once again fall on the public,” he charged.

The Energy Ministry Secretary and the CEB Acting Chairperson Prof. Udayanga Hemapala was not available for comment regarding the allegations leveled by the ECA. 

Under the new Electricity Sector Reforms Act, the CEB has been divided into four separate State-owned Companies: the National System Operator, the National Transmission Network Service Provider, Electricity Distribution Lanka, and Electricity Generation Lanka.

Current CEB employees had been given a two-month window to apply for transfers to one of the new entities, while those opting not to do so would be offered a retirement compensation scheme. The ministry had earlier announced that senior management positions in the four new companies would be filled by appointing top-level engineers from among the existing CEB staff.