A brewing dispute inside the Ceylon Electricity Board raises urgent questions about private sector contracts, transparency, and whether electricity consumers will ultimately foot the bill.
The Association of Engineer Qualified Superintendents of the Lanka Electricity Board has written to the President opposing a proposal to recruit engineers from the private sector on a contract basis. The trade union argues that bringing in external professionals through a private intermediary undermines fairness within the institution.
According to the association, qualified engineers already serving within the CEB have met the required standards, making outside appointments unnecessary and potentially discriminatory. Representatives claim the recruitment process, reportedly facilitated by a company named Sri Lanka Energy, lacks transparency.
They warn that contracting private sector engineers could create an additional financial burden for the CEB, increasing operational costs at a time of economic strain. Concerns have also been raised about whether selections are based on merit or personal connections. The union fears that any excess expenditure may ultimately be recovered through higher electricity tariffs.
