We will cut power once O/L exams are over - CEB trade unions

The trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have issued a strong warning to the government, stating that if proper solutions are not provided for their eight demands and if the gazette notification to dissolve the CEB is issued, they will resort to severe trade union action immediately after the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination concludes.

They point out that if the government makes a wrong decision to illegally restructure without listening to their demands, they will be forced to implement this decision within the next 48 hours, even if reluctantly.

Union representatives emphasize that if the relevant gazette notification is arbitrarily issued without establishing a proper energy policy, disregarding employee issues and energy crises, they will take this step without any prior notice. They further state that this serious decision could severely impact the country and its people, and the government must bear full responsibility for it.

However, the CEB trade unions clarify that they are not prepared to take such strike action during this period when schoolchildren are sitting for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination, and the sole reason for their current restraint is the ongoing Ordinary Level examination.

This was revealed yesterday (February 23) at a press conference held in Colombo. Representatives including Engineer Sandaruwan Manchanayake, Executive Committee Member of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers' Union; Nandana Udaya Kumara, Deputy Chairman of the Technical Engineers' and Officers' Union; Kosala Abeysinghe, President of the Electricians' Union; and Prabath Priyantha, General Secretary of the Independent Employees' Union, participated in the event.

This warning has been issued following a recent statement by employees who have applied for the Ceylon Electricity Board's Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). These employees stated that the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board confirmed that the gazette notification to dissolve the board would be issued on February 28. Furthermore, they have been informed that the government will ensure that compensation payments for employees who choose to retire voluntarily will be provided without any issues.