Deputy Minister Chaturanga Abeysinghe insists Sri Lanka’s power sector won’t be sold off to private capital, while simultaneously dangling “huge opportunities” for private investors. His message? Relax, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will remain under government control… just restructured as a Pvt Ltd company that somehow isn’t “privatization.”
Taking to social media, Abeysinghe declared that the restructuring of the CEB will not follow neoliberal policies. He claimed politics, YouTube pundits, and foreign economic advisory bodies had for decades failed to push Sri Lanka’s energy sector into private hands. Instead, he argued, the state will not only retain control but strengthen public ownership while restructuring into a “Pvt Ltd” model.
In his words, “Tell children that Pvt limited is a business model and its ownership is owned by the government.” At the same time, Abeysinghe assured that private capital still has “a huge opportunity for future investments,” suggesting that while ownership remains public, profits and stakes could easily flow into private hands.
The minister emphasized that Sri Lanka’s energy sector will not be privatized but reshaped to attract investment without losing state dominance. Whether this restructuring truly protects public ownership or simply opens back doors for private influence remains a contentious question.
For now, the government insists that this approach is a win-win—strengthened state control coupled with space for investors. But critics argue it’s yet another political balancing act: promising sovereignty while quietly rolling out the welcome mat for private money.
