CEB engineers call off TU action

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: Ceylon Electricity Board engineers yesterday called off their planned work-to-rule campaign after President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured that the problems and grievances of State Services Engineers would be addressed.

The distribution of power and the maintenance of power installations will be carried out as usual without any interruption, President of the CEB Engineers Union Jayaweelal Meegoda said.

This followed a discussion between President Rajapaksa and State Service Engineers of Corporations and Statutory Boards where the President pledged to look into their grievances and problems and give them appropriate solutions, President’s media sources said.

The President’s meeting with the State Services Engineers’ Union representatives, including the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Engineers, was held at Temple Trees yesterday.

The President also affirmed that the skills and expertise of the indigenous engineers would be sought in all development projects undertaken within the country in future.

He pointed out that when the local engineers prepared their plans and estimates of the said projects, they should compile them in accordance with the going market rates of the day.

In response to the provision of ‘duty free’ vehicle permits for Engineers of State Corporations and Statutory Boards, President Rajapaksa explained to them the global challenges faced in the spheres of food and oil, a situation which has reached crisis levels also in Sri Lanka.

He noted that due to this situation prevalent in the country, the issue of these permits was temporarily suspended, and assured that these Engineers too would be entitled for the same facility, when such permits are issued in future to other state officials.

The Union lauded President Rajapaksa for his intervention and painstaking efforts to resolve the problems and grievances of the fraternity of Engineers in the State and Statutory Boards, including the CEB.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Minister Dallus Alahaperuma, Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and several others participated at this discussion.