Sri Lanka Electricity Bill Sparks Protests as Trade Unions Demand Withdrawal

COLOMBO (News 1st); Joint trade unions launched a three-day protest against the controversial Sri Lanka Electricity Bill, a proposed legislation that seeks to restructure the state-owned Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

The bill proposes dividing the CEB into six separate entities, all of which could be registered under the Companies Act. 

In response to the protest, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has reportedly moved to restrict the trade unions' actions.

However, the unions remain undeterred, emphasizing their demand for the complete withdrawal of the bill, and held a protest outside the CEB's main office this afternoon. 

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) trade unions descended upon the board's main office in Colombo Fort, kicking off a three-day protest against the controversial Sri Lanka Electricity Bill. 

The crux of their concern lies in the bill's proposal to divide the CEB into six separate entities.

Adding to the charged atmosphere, by the time the protest started, the police, the police anti-riot unit and the navy had been deployed near the main office of the Electricity Board. 

"We will defeat the efforts of Kanchana and Ranil Wickremesinghe to sell off the Norochcholai power plant to Adani, TATA, or the Chinese," declared Ranjan Jayalal, convenor of the CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance, during a fiery address outside the CEB headquarters.

Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has issued a stern warning to Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees, announcing zero tolerance for service disruptions and guideline violations. 

In an X message, formerly Twitter, Wijesekera stated that officials have been instructed to suspend any employee engaged in such activities.

The Minister confirmed that the proposed reforms, including amendments, have been submitted to Parliament for approval. 

Furthermore, Wijesekera announced that proposals to reduce electricity tariffs will be presented to the Public Utilities Commission next week. 

The bill aims to establish independent corporate entities responsible for activities related to electricity generation, transmission, distribution, trade, supply, and procurement, already performed by the Ceylon Electricity Board.

It also proposes for the establishment of entities for the regulation of the energy sector, and the issue of licenses.