Energy Minister clashes with CEB

Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekare said he will not take the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to increase tariffs. 

This announcement was made amidst a possible nationwide blackout as a result of a 24-hour protest by the CEB Engineers Union starting from midnight today. 

Mr. Wijesekare took to social media to show his displeasure against the state electricity body over its reluctance to support renewable energy generation and refused to submit the request to the Cabinet. 

“CEB should allow renewable projects to proceed and reduce generation cost rather than increasing tariffs to pay their own salaries,” he said. 

He further added that the CEB has a collective agreement that every three years their own salaries are increased by 25 per cent. 

“With no plans for renewable energy or cost reduction in generation, the high cost of salaries and generation costs are put on the consumers,” he said. 

Tomorrow he plans to bring amendments to the CEB Act in Parliament. 

“This will pave the way for quick approval and implementation of long-delayed renewable power projects which will be vital for the power sector development and the economy,” the Energy Minister said. 

However, the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union yesterday decided to go on a 24-hour strike starting from midnight today demanding the withdrawal of proposed amendments to the Act. 

It said the government is planning to hand over wind and solar resources to a leading Indian firm. The unions also charged that the government is paving the way to privatise the CEB.