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CEB senior engineers slam CEB Engineers’ Union

07 Dec 2021

BY Pamodi Waravita The Ceylon Electricity Board Senior Engineers’ Association (CEBSEA) yesterday (6) called for an impartial investigation into the unusual power outages that occurred in the country in the last two weeks, and claimed that the CEB Engineers’ Union’s (CEBEU) actions in connection with the matter are suspicious. “We ask for an impartial investigation into the unusual power outages that occurred in the last two weeks, including the most recent one on 3 December which came at a time when there was no drought or inclement weather that could disrupt the power supply. The investigation will reveal the truth behind these incidents, and whether they were acts of sabotage. It is suspicious that this occurred during the ongoing trade union action of the CEBEU, whose demands have not even been clear in recent times. There is a way to achieve one’s demands – through professionalism and through discussions. Power outages which cause inconveniences to the public and which are disruptive and irresponsible are not the means to achieve these causes,” CEBSEA Media Co-ordinator Eng. Nandika Pathirage claimed at a press conference held yesterday. Eng. Pathirage added that the investigations into the outages should not be interfered with and that it would be easy to find the truth behind the matter as there are “clear duty positions in charge of the different responsibilities within the CEB”. On 29 November, a number of areas around the island reported power outages, whilst there was an islandwide blackout on 3 December. CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando has reportedly filed a police complaint regarding the outage on 29 November and is also conducting an investigation to determine whether the outages were a result of acts of sabotage. Meanwhile, CEB General Manager Eng. M. Ranatunga has raised suspicions that the islandwide power blackout which occurred on 3 December was related to the said ongoing trade union action. However, CEBEU President Eng. Saumya Kumarawadu has reportedly stated that the recent outages were not linked to the CEBEU’s trade union action. The CEBEU’s demands are that the CEB not proceed with the “improper and illegal” New Fortress Energy Inc. liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal, and that the CEB prevent the politicisation of the post of the CEB General Manager and stop the abrupt transfers of CEB senior management personnel. The CEBEU has been engaged in trade union action since last month over these demands. When questioned about their stance on the controversial agreement with the US-based energy company New Fortress Energy Inc., the CEBSEA said that they cannot state their stance on it as it is an ongoing legal issue, as petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court regarding it. “The Government is responsible for bringing in low-cost power plants to the country. These agreements could happen either as government-to-government agreements, or tenders or predetermined rates. The Cabinet of Ministers has the power to do these purchases. If the Cabinet makes a purchase and if somebody says that that is illegal, then they can go to court about it. That has already happened. However, low-cost power plants must come to the country. Otherwise, this country will be destroyed,” said Eng. Pathirage. The New Fortress Energy Inc. deal has received much criticism over the past month as it has allegedly been acquired outside of the proper tender procurement process and without proper cabinet approval. CEB Chairman Ferdinando said recently that the content of the agreement cannot be disclosed due to a condition in the agreement and that the agreement has not even been presented to the CEB yet. The CEBSEA said that they also broke away from the CEBEU as it does not represent honest interests anymore, and that its demands are reflections of personal interests.


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