Minister Nalinda Jayatissa says restructuring the Ceylon Electricity Board into five state-owned companies is a vital step to ensure profitability, affordable electricity, and investor confidence, urging unions to support without resorting to strikes.
Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced that 60 percent of state-owned companies are included in the restructuring plan of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). He stressed that trade unions should extend their support when the Electricity Board takes steps toward reform instead of calling strikes for political reasons.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Government Information Department, the Minister said the restructuring of the CEB is essential to transform it into a profitable institution while continuously delivering low-cost electricity to the public.
According to Dr. Jayatissa, the restructuring proposal includes dividing the CEB into five companies that will remain 100 percent government-owned. This transformation, he noted, is crucial for attracting foreign investment and providing long-term relief to consumers.
The Minister further explained that a compensation and retirement scheme has been introduced for CEB employees, ensuring that workers are safeguarded during the transition. He emphasized that discussions were recently held with trade unions to understand their concerns and reiterated his request for them to positively contribute to the reforms rather than strike for political motives.
Dr. Jayatissa underscored that this restructuring is not privatization but a forward-looking measure to strengthen the electricity sector and secure Sri Lanka’s energy future.
