TU action threatened over CEB Bill

COLOMBO: The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Protective Organisation yesterday said if the Government presents the draft of the Electricity Board Act in Parliament today or tomorrow, they will take countrywide trade union action.

"The CEB has faced several burning problems. The draft bill has not made any recommendations to overcome the CEB's burning issues. The proposed draft bill intends to transform the CEB into eight companies with eight Board of Directors," Convenor of the organisation Ranjan Jayalal told a media briefing at Nippon Hotel yesterday.

He said nearly 15 CEB trade unions have already joined hands protesting against this draft bill in Parliament. The JVP has also pledged to defeat this bill in Parliament. Once the Government presents this Bill, all CEB employees will withdraw from working sites with immediate effect.

The issue of the CEB is a matter which will directly affect to country's national security, he added. "A massive development should be made within the CEB. We totally agree with it. What the Government is attempting to do is to sell the CEB by pretending that the Government is going to make changes within the CEB. We urge the Government to move a bill in consultation with all CEB trade unions to develop the CEB," he said. Jayalal said this bill will decide the future of the Government. "The Government is attempting to sell the CEB. This draft bill is very similar to the bill presented by former UNP Government.

The people have to bear a heavy electricity cost due to wrong decisions taken on behalf of the CEB from time to time. The CEB is running at a loss of Rs.50 million per day. But 14,500 CEB employees are not responsible for this situation," he said.