CEB employees to get Rs. 400 discount on electricity bills

COLOMBO: A discount of Rs. 400 on electricity bills will be granted to all CEB employees as an immediate measure of relief. This follows discussions power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne had with representatives of the Joint Council of CEB Trade Unions on September 22.

A press release by the Power and Energy Ministry said the meeting was held in response to several demands of the Unions.

Among the demands were exemption of 90 units from the electricity bills of CEB employees, reviving the collective agreement on salary increment every year instead of the present three year basis.

Minister Seneviratne pointed out that considering the current financial crisis facing the CEB, he has decided to grant a discount of Rs. 400 to all employees on their monthly electricity bills as an alternative measure of relief.

The Minister told the delegates that the financial crisis facing the CEB which is running on a Rs. 93 billion overdraft incurring a daily loss of Rs. 50 million should be borne in mind by all CEB employees and they should extend their support to the institution at present to prevent its total downfall.

He requested the unions to suspend the current agitation campaign and render their dedicated support towards increasing the efficiency and productivity of their institution.

The Minister said when the upper Kotmale hydro scheme and the Norochcholai, Kerawalapitiya and Trincomalee coal power schemes come on stream, the CEB would be able to make a turn around by reducing power generated by fuel powered thermal plants from 65 percent to 10 percent.

The CEB would then be in a position to grant more relief to CEB employees. The release said at this meeting union delegates thanked the Minister for taking steps to add the Rs. 1,200 monthly allowance to the basic salary of CEB employees as requested by their membership.