• Existing licences valid until six cos. formally established 

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) stated that, as the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) moves ahead with its restructuring into six new companies, the relevant licences will be issued under the names of those companies once they are formally established, and that until then, the existing licences will continue to remain valid.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the PUCSL’s Director - Communication, Jayanat Herat said that the PUCSL has currently issued four distribution licences, one transmission licence, and generation licences to the relevant power plants under the name of the CEB. "These licences will remain in force until the restructuring process is completed and the new companies are legally in place. The PUCSL will then issue the licences under the names of the respective entities."

The assets transfer process, which is central to the restructuring of the CEB, must be completed before 1 February of this year (2026), according to a written directive recently issued by the Energy Ministry Secretary, Professor Udayanga Hemapala, to the CEB General Manager. Under the restructuring programme, the CEB’s operations are to be carried out in the future through six newly established companies, with steps already under way to systematically transfer all CEB-owned assets to the respective entities. Employees have been assigned to the newly formed companies, whereas those unwilling to transfer were given the option to apply for voluntary retirement. As a result, 2,173 employees have applied for retirement. The Ministry has instructed the CEB to complete the payment of compensation to the affected employees within the first week of February. Upon completion of the restructuring process, the CEB will be liquidated, and its operations will continue under the six new companies.