30,000 power breakdowns reported as CEB work-to-rule campaign drags on

Electricity Engineers’ Union escalates trade union action  

More than 30,000 electricity breakdowns were reported across the country on Sunday due to adverse weather, with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Technicians’ Union warning of delayed restoration efforts as their work-to-rule campaign entered its 32nd consecutive day.  

The union’s chairman, Kosala Abeysinghe, issued the stark warning, stating that the ongoing trade union action, a protest against the government’s restructuring plans for the CEB, is severely hampering repair operations.  

“If the government responds appropriately, breakdowns can be restored immediately,” Abeysinghe stated. “Earlier, we restored up to 60,000 breakdowns within 48 hours, but under the current campaign, restorations will take longer than expected.”  

Abeysinghe also revealed that none of the CEB employees have accepted the voluntary compensation scheme offered under the restructuring process. The prolonged work-to-rule campaign and the refusal of the compensation package highlight the deepening dispute between the government and CEB employees over the future of the state-owned power entity.  

Meanwhile the Electricity Engineers’ Union has decided to suspend all work regulations from last evening, escalating its ongoing trade union action, Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance convenor Ananda Palitha said.  

Palitha told the media that the move was not arbitrary but followed formal notification to all relevant authorities through written documents outlining the reasons for the decision.