President Anura Kumara Dissanayake held a key discussion with representatives of trade unions affiliated with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), assuring that the government is committed to addressing employee concerns and safeguarding their rights during the ongoing restructuring process.
The meeting took place at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (13). During the discussions, the President said the government expects to resolve the concerns of CEB employees at the earliest possible opportunity and expressed confidence that trade unions would cooperate with the government during the transitional period.
President Dissanayake emphasised that the government’s position is to ensure that all employee rights currently enjoyed within the CEB will be fully protected under the proposed corporate structure. He assured that workers’ rights would continue to be safeguarded within the new companies to be established under the restructuring plan.
Extensive discussions were held on issues arising from the restructuring process, while attention was also focused on identifying mechanisms to address employee concerns. Trade union representatives acknowledged the challenges stemming from the ongoing Middle East conflict and the government’s response to the situation. They also affirmed that no action would be taken at this stage that could disrupt government efforts or serve political interests, pledging their support for the effective implementation of the restructuring process.
Union representatives highlighted two main concerns during the transition: the need for proper appointment letters within the new companies and the establishment of a collective agreement. They noted that these matters had already been discussed in a recent meeting with Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and expressed hope that the President’s intervention would help expedite solutions.
It was also noted that a collective agreement between the new companies and employees has already been drafted and will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval and implemented as soon as possible.
The President stressed the importance of trade unions and management working together from a neutral standpoint to finalise the collective agreement and resolve outstanding issues. Highlighting the objectives of the CEB restructuring, he said future government economic plans are closely linked to the availability of reliable power, emphasising that energy remains a central pillar of the national economy.
He also pointed to challenges related to data management within the CEB, noting that the restructuring process includes establishing a formalised data management system along with stronger financial discipline to ensure the effective functioning of the sector.
Discussions were also held on plans to improve employee efficiency, while the President commended the dedication of CEB staff during emergency situations, including the recent Cyclone Ditwah.
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody and Deputy Energy Minister Arkam Ilyas were also present at the meeting.
