In a swirl of conflicting reports and public speculation, the Ministry of Energy has officially denied that Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya has resigned from his position as Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), claiming instead that he is merely taking personal leave to travel overseas.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Media Division, Dr. Siyambalapitiya has submitted a letter to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake requesting leave, citing personal reasons for his temporary departure from the country. “There is no truth in the media reports that the CEB Chairman is resigning,” a ministry spokesperson asserted, dismissing the growing wave of media chatter as misinformation.
However, the narrative becomes less clear-cut upon closer examination. In his letter, Dr. Siyambalapitiya reportedly indicated that his tenure was always intended to be short-term and that he is stepping down now that this period has come to an end and in a language that aligns more with a resignation than a temporary leave of absence.
Dr. Siyambalapitiya was appointed as Chairman of the CEB on September 26 last year, following the election of the National People’s Power-led government under President Dissanayake. His brief tenure saw him at the helm of Sri Lanka’s crucial power utility during a period of economic recovery and policy reforms.
The Ministry’s denial and the wording of the Chairman’s letter now raise more questions than answers. Is this truly a case of temporary leave or a quiet exit cloaked in official ambiguity?
As speculation swirls, the public remains in the dark about the real reason behind his sudden departure.
