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JVP threatening crippling strikes
Govt. to go ahead with restructuring of CEB: Unions split
By Chris Kamalendran
The Government has decided to go ahead with the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board despite threats by the JVP to launch potentially crippling strikes in vital sectors such as power supply, fuel distribution and the railway.
Power and Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha told The Sunday Times the government had decided to proceed with the re-structuring programme after some of the trade unions expressed support for the move.

Mr. Premajayantha on Friday met more than 30 trade union representatives to discuss the restructuring. But the JVP-affiliated Viduli Sevaka Sangamaya’s General Secretary, Ranjan Jayalal, said that despite Friday’s meeting they would oppose the latest restructuring plan. He acknowledged that some unions had changed their positions and were supporting the latest restructuring plan but his union was standing firm and would launch strikes in the electricity, petroleum and railway sectors if the government went ahead with the move.
In the meantime, the government also has decided to go ahead with the Upper Kothmale and Norochcholai power projects earlier opposed by the CWC and other groups.

The minister said initial tenders had already been awarded for the Kothmale project and work would begin soon in the the St. Clair’s estate area.
CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman who has been opposing the project was due to meet with President Chandrika Kumaratunga last evening on the issue. For the Norochcholai coal power project, the government is to sign an agreement with China in September after a feasibility study is completed by next month.

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