Ravi K flags crisis in CEB restructuring, calls for urgent Government intervention

Friday, 27 February 2026 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Opposition MP

Ravi Karunanayake

Opposition MP Ravi Karunanayake has warned that the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is facing serious difficulties and urged the Government to act swiftly to prevent adverse consequences for consumers and employees.

In a statement, Karunanayake said the implementation process had stalled, particularly with regard to employees who had opted for voluntary retirement but had been unable to exit the institution as planned. He cautioned that delays and uncertainty surrounding the transition could create wider repercussions.

“The restructuring of the CEB has now run into a crisis situation. Those who opted for voluntary retirement have not been able to leave as intended. This is an issue the Government must urgently address, as the fallout will ultimately affect the public,” he said.

Karunanayake noted that previous attempts to reform the CEB had failed. An initiative launched in 2001 was abandoned due to the prevailing political climate, while another effort in 2017 did not materialise. He pointed out that the utility currently employs around 27,000 permanent staff and 3,000 temporary workers, underscoring the scale and sensitivity of the reform process.

“The people of Sri Lanka, CEB employees and the institution itself stand to suffer if this situation continues,” he said, urging authorities to resolve the matter without further delay.

Under the Electricity Amendment Bill passed by Parliament in August last year, the CEB is to be restructured into four state-owned companies as part of a broader reform program.