President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledges swift solutions for Ceylon Electricity Board employees as the government moves forward with a major restructuring of Sri Lanka’s power sector and energy governance.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stated that the government’s priority is to address the concerns and challenges faced by employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board as quickly as possible while moving forward with the restructuring of the country’s electricity sector.
The President emphasized that the government hopes all stakeholders will cooperate with understanding during this transition period and support national efforts to achieve the broader objectives of reforming Sri Lanka’s energy sector and strengthening electricity management.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks while participating in a discussion held this afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat with representatives from all trade union associations of the Ceylon Electricity Board.
During the meeting the President explained that the government’s position is to ensure that the employee rights currently enjoyed by Ceylon Electricity Board workers will continue to be protected when the institution is reorganized into new companies. He assured trade union representatives that the rights of employees would remain safeguarded under the new corporate structures created through the restructuring process.
The President also invited the trade union leaders to work with mutual understanding during this transitional period and contribute constructively to the reform process aimed at strengthening the national electricity sector.
The discussion included detailed conversations about issues that have emerged during the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board. Participants also explored possible frameworks and mechanisms that could be introduced to resolve employee related concerns arising from the restructuring process.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake further explained that both trade unions and management authorities must adopt a balanced and cooperative approach when negotiating solutions to long standing unresolved issues within the electricity sector.
While explaining the broader objectives of the restructuring process the President stated that the future economic direction of Sri Lanka will be heavily influenced by developments in the energy sector. According to him energy will play a central role in the country’s economic structure in the coming years and therefore the electricity industry must be strengthened through a robust and efficient institutional framework.
The President also highlighted problems that have emerged due to uncertainty surrounding the availability and management of data within the electricity sector. He explained that the restructuring process places significant focus on establishing a formal and reliable data management system while introducing strong financial discipline across the energy sector.
The meeting also addressed plans aimed at improving employee productivity and operational efficiency within the Ceylon Electricity Board as part of the broader reform strategy.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also expressed appreciation for the dedication and commitment shown by electricity board employees particularly during the recent Cyclone Ditva which required urgent and coordinated efforts to restore power services across affected regions.
Speaking during the discussion representatives of the Ceylon Electricity Board trade unions said they are aware of the international challenges currently affecting the country including tensions in the Middle East and the wider economic pressures facing Sri Lanka.
They noted that trade unions recognize the difficult circumstances confronting the government and emphasized that they do not intend to create unnecessary difficulties or pursue political agendas during this sensitive period.
Trade union leaders stated that they are prepared to support the restructuring process and work together with the government to ensure that reforms are implemented accurately and responsibly.
However they also pointed out that two major issues remain unresolved for employees during the transition to new companies. These concerns include the need for proper appointment letters for workers transferring to newly created entities and the importance of establishing a formal collective agreement to safeguard employee rights.
Trade union representatives noted that these matters were previously discussed during a meeting with the Minister of Energy and expressed hope that the President would intervene to ensure that these concerns are addressed.
They further explained that a draft collective agreement between the new companies and employees has already been prepared and discussions have been held to present the agreement to the Cabinet for approval and implementation as soon as possible.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody and Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Ilyas who participated in discussions related to the restructuring process and employee concerns within the Ceylon Electricity Board.
