Nearly 20% of CEB engineers have migrated overseas

16 August 2025 11:11 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 23 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Nearly 20% of engineers attached to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have migrated overseas in recent years to secure lucrative positions with attractive salaries and benefits, CEB Media Spokesman Eng. M.H. Dhammike Wimalaratne said.

He said that over the past three years, 226 engineers — almost one-fifth of the CEB workforce — have left the country. Of them, 85% were Electrical Engineers, 8% Mechanical Engineers, and 7% Civil Engineers. Most have taken up senior roles in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.

“This trend reflects the growing global demand for Sri Lankan engineering expertise, particularly in the power sector,” Wimalaratne said, adding that CEB engineers are increasingly being recognized internationally for their technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, and leadership in power system operations.

He noted that the contributions of Sri Lankan engineers are playing a key role in strengthening energy systems abroad, underscoring their global competitiveness and ability to meet international standards in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Comments - 23

Sokrates Saturday, 16 August 2025 11:24 AM

In other words, the lazy and insufficiently qualified engineers remain in Sri Lanka.

10 34

Amaran Sunday, 17 August 2025 03:02 AM

STUPID REMARK. If SRI LANKA qualified Engineers are in DEMARD, this clearly indicates the QUALITY OF EDUCATION WE PROVIDE in our UNIVERSITIES. Do not criticise.

5 1

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 17 August 2025 04:37 PM

Hello Greek Philosopher, the comment is an insult to that great philosopher. If useless guys are left , how come you have electricity running. Inefficiencies are due to negative mindset developed by JVP over the years.

2 2

ExpertMatter Saturday, 16 August 2025 11:34 AM

What a stupid way to show this trend! Whether there are global demands or not. Its not the issue. This is a problem for the CEB. Experts are migrating because of the economic situation. Hes speaking as if it is something good. What are you going to do to solve this problem?

0 36

Mizaru Saturday, 16 August 2025 11:44 AM

I graduated from the Moratuwa University in the 1970s and joined the Overseas Telecommunication Service (now call Sri Lanka Telecom). This was at the time the exodus of Sri Lankan engineers began. I think over 80% found employment overseas and some in migrated. It was no big deal as fresh engineers from universit s were recruited. They too left and a new set was recruited and so on. These remarks from the CEB engineers are beardless .. .

1 32

Sri Wickrema Saturday, 16 August 2025 12:13 PM

Almost all the electrical engineers passed out from universities joined the CEB to begin their career path. And after obtaining enough experience they leave the CEB. That is how tax payer money works.

0 25

Mahila Saturday, 16 August 2025 04:58 PM

Cause is INADEQUATE pay, emoluments, PERKS AND ALLOWANCES, compared to that obtained worldwide!!??

3 0

Janaprith Samarasinghe Saturday, 16 August 2025 12:36 PM

I thought working in CEB was very lucrative for some engineers because of the corruption allegations. If the quality of Sri Lankan engineers are good, why so many power failures. Could it be poor quality spare parts or poor quality engineers skills etc.

2 20

Nimal Saturday, 16 August 2025 05:30 PM

Yes, right. Even though he says they have lucrative salaries etc, they can't do strikes and keep general public to ransom in these developed countries. No avenues for corruption and laziness. I know this well. For most of them, SL is the best.

0 4

Realistica Adams Saturday, 16 August 2025 01:27 PM

This is absolute rubbish. Suitably qualified and experienced engineers are in demand all over the world, there is nothing special about SL engineers. A fresh CEB Engineer’s salary is higher than a Director in RDA, this is the anomaly in salaries. If one compares the number of engineers in CEB with similar electrical utilities overseas, CEB has double. Too many and over staffed, therefore inefficient. What is the quality of service customers get? How many total blackouts? In rural areas the frequency and duration of failures is horrendous. Hope this government changes things drastically without giving into these con whingers who have held the whole country to ransom from the 80’s.

2 22

sam Saturday, 16 August 2025 04:53 PM

They should be bonded for free education. Also allow them to go as there is nothing lucrative here

1 5

Cassie Saturday, 16 August 2025 08:05 PM

That shows CEB staff retention rates are poor. This reflect badly on how CEB takes care of its staff and the incentives that would make them stay. If these numbers are not a sign of things to come for CEB then I don't know what is. Fix this mess before it is too late as the demand for electricity is rising daily. Now with electric cars too.

0 2

Naushad Farouque Samoon Sunday, 17 August 2025 12:58 AM

We need to produce more semi and fully skilled work force in all sectors of technical/medical/Nursing and all activities of economic need and the countries in the west do not produce enough to meet the demand and as such economic supply/demand etc come to play there is a world shortages in these skill and our youths should concentrate on basic skills attainment in all skills possible to provide this and PM is right to focus on skill and literate education which means we can produce enough skilled workers to supply world demand and we should rise up to fullfill these vacancies while keeping local employment saturated??? Good Luck Ceylon???

0 2

Indra Dasa Sunday, 17 August 2025 04:48 AM

Main reason is previous responsible governments failed to provide good quality of life for the majority citizens expect for very few Political families who involved in mal practices for a long period of time . Therefore most of the educated people left Sri Lanka even they like to be served for their mother land . Now some of them are thinking to returned to Sri Lanka after observing the way forward system changes taking place in the country including judiciary , civil services , Police and defence services .

1 2

DOT Sunday, 17 August 2025 04:51 AM

So, take new people. There is no shortage of under employees or un employees.

0 3

S P Sunday, 17 August 2025 07:44 AM

When you have very good prospects abroad, financial, social, medical, education for children etc. who wouldn’t leave? When a society becomes intolerable, have no future and no visible signs of improvement either, only a very few people will remain voluntarily. At a certain stage of their career they will make this decision. Who can blame them?

2 0

DW Sunday, 17 August 2025 08:25 AM

This is one of the reasons as to why in developed western countries it costs a lot of money to get an Engineering degree. In Sri Lanka, what's happening with free university education and all, it a form of corruption but from students' point of view, only politicians and government officers engage in corrupt activities. Corruption is embedded in Sri Lankan culture.

0 3

Jude Sunday, 17 August 2025 08:48 AM

Government must do something about this low life SOB's getting Free education and then leave the country. All university pass out should sign a ten year Bond!!

1 2

Jude Sunday, 17 August 2025 08:52 AM

This MF get everything Free And the free education, government must have this low life SOB's signed a Bond for 10 years serving in Sri Lanka after graduation!!

1 3

Dr Tissa Fernando Sunday, 17 August 2025 08:05 PM

Bond should be for everyone attending the free universities , serve the country for 5 years or convert the cost as a loan with interest and go abroad and then start paying installments. Would that not be fair?

0 1

Jasmine Sunday, 17 August 2025 10:45 AM

Hand over the CEB Adani group, they will run the CEB with 50% of the present work force at CEB. Colombo Port also over workforce night time no works paid billions as overtime, better to hand over CEB and Port to Adani group for the countries future.

1 4

Gunadasa Sunday, 17 August 2025 11:01 AM

Expert leave. Rogues and inefficient lot remain. Thats why the reason for current state of affairs like former Govts. Always bread down, no improvement and incurring losses.

0 3

Dr Tissa Fernando Monday, 18 August 2025 06:30 AM

The government will ensure that in 5 years now one has a need to leave as everyone will be better off here. The government will ensure that more engineers are created so excess will find jobs abroad.

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