Minister of Power and Energy, Engineer Kumara Jayakody, assured that the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will not lead to privatization but will focus solely on separating electricity generation, transmission, and distribution into distinct entities. He emphasized that these institutions will remain entirely under government ownership, preserving them as critical components of national sovereignty.
Speaking to officers and employees of the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai during an observation tour, the Minister reaffirmed that the government’s stance remains unchanged from its pre-election commitments.
“We have always opposed selling these institutions, and our objectives and work plan remain the same. We stated even before the elections that government supremacy and ownership in the energy and financial sectors should be protected. We stand by that. There is no intention of privatizing these entities in any form,” Minister Jayakody emphasized.
He further clarified that the restructuring process is aimed at enhancing operational efficiency while ensuring that 100% government ownership is maintained.
“We are not selling any part of the CEB. Through restructuring, we are simply separating electricity generation, transmission, and distribution into distinct government-owned companies. This will ensure the long-term sustainability of these institutions and job security for employees,” he assured.
The Minister highlighted the significance of the Lakvijaya Power Plant, which contributes approximately 40% of Sri Lanka’s daily electricity demand. He stressed the need to maintain the plant at the highest operational standards to guarantee the continuous and stable supply of electricity to the nation.
Expressing satisfaction with the power plant’s current management and performance, Minister Jayakody commended the senior officials and employees for their dedication to ensuring smooth operations.
The visit was also attended by Additional General Manager (Generation) of the CEB, Nalaka Wijekoon, Lakvijaya Power Plant Manager G.W. Bamunusinghe, and a team of officials.
