No threat of power cuts or non-restoration of power after breakdowns - CEB Chairman

There is no danger of power cuts being imposed or non restoration of power in the event of breakdowns tomorrow and day after, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando stated. 

Addressing a media briefing, the CEB Chairman said today that CEB trade union have not informed them that they will refrain from restoring power in the event breakdowns were to occur tomorrow and day after. 

CEB unions are due to hold a protest in front of the CEB Head Office in Colombo at 12.00pm tomorrow. They had earlier threatened to hold an island-wide strike tomorrow and on Thursday, where they warned that it breakdowns may not be attended to as part of TU action. The TU action is being taken in protest against the Government's decision to transfer 40% shares belonging to the Treasury in the Yugadhanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya  to US based company New Fortress Energy (NFE). The unions claim that the agreement is tainted with corruption and threatens the country's energy security by creating a monopoly for NFE to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

Mr Ferdinando said the matter was a political decision outside the ambit of the CEB, but said there were obvious advantages behind the deal. He said the CEB was due to obtain full control of the power plant in 2035 at no extra cost and that it will help the CEB to significantly bring down the payments that the CEB was currently making to run the plant.