President holds key talks with CEB trade unions on restructuring

Colombo, March 13 (Daily Mirror) - 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 issues faced by employees 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. He also expressed confidence that trade unions would extend their cooperation to 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 that have arisen in relation to the restructuring process, while attention was also focused on identifying mechanisms to address employee concerns.

Trade union representatives acknowledged the challenges arising from the Middle East conflict and the Government’s response to the situation. They also affirmed that no actions would be taken at this stage that could disrupt the Government’s efforts or serve political interests, and pledged their support to ensure the restructuring process is implemented effectively.

Union representatives highlighted two main concerns faced during the transition: obtaining proper appointment letters within the new companies and the need for a collective agreement. They noted that these issues had already been discussed in a recent meeting with the Minister of Energy and expressed hope that the President’s intervention would help expedite solutions.

It was also noted that a collective agreement has already been drafted between the new companies and employees and that it would be submitted to the Cabinet for approval and implemented at the earliest opportunity.

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, President Dissanayake said future government economic plans are closely linked to the availability of reliable power. He noted that energy is a central component of the national economy and emphasised the need to establish a strong institutional framework to prepare the energy sector for future demands.

He also pointed to challenges related to data management within the CEB, noting that the restructuring process places emphasis on establishing a formalised data management system along with strong financial discipline to ensure the effective functioning of the sector.

Discussions were also held on targeted plans to improve employee efficiency, while the President commended the dedication of CEB staff during emergency situations, including the recent Cyclone Ditwah.

Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody and Deputy Minister of Energy Arkam Ilyas were also present.