All trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have decided to escalate their ongoing “work-to-rule” campaign into a second stage from September 16, after weeks of silence from the government on critical staffing and restructuring issues.
The CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU), one of the most influential bodies within the utility, cautioned that the government’s failure to address deepening concerns could cripple the country’s power sector and derail the reform process.
CEBEU President Dhanuska Parakramasinghe told The Island that the unions had no choice but to act.
He added: “Since we haven’t received any meeting or any positive response from the government, the Minister, or the Secretary, we have decided to move to stage two of the campaign. Stage one will continue, but the second stage will be notified formally to the Secretary, the Chairman, and the General Manager of the CEB on Monday, September 15,” he said.
Parakramasinghe stressed that the unions were still waiting for documents the Power and Energy Ministry had promised, particularly relating to the confirmation of appointment letters. “If those documents arrive by the 15th, we can review them and reconsider our course.
But as of now, no assurances have been delivered,” he added.
According to CEBEU, one of the most serious threats to the organisation’s future is the erosion of its technical workforce.
“The sad truth is, if excess people exist in the CEB, they are not the technical staff. The technical side is critically short. Over the last two to three years, nearly 4,000 experienced people—including engineers, accountants, HR officers, and executives—have left. This has reduced the workforce from 26,000 to 22,000. Most of those who left were technical people, and now the remaining staff are covering multiple roles, heavily overloaded and exhausted,” Parakramasinghe explained.
He said the government’s suggestion of a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) as part of restructuring was dangerous.
He stressed: “Government shouldn’t push people to take VRS. Instead, they need a proper mechanism to retain skilled, experienced staff. We are not asking to keep everyone, but these technical people must be retained. CEB cannot be run with outsiders who lack experience. If these people leave, they cannot be replaced overnight. It takes at least two to four years to train replacements,” he warned.
The union has warned that the exodus of experienced staff and a possible continuation of industrial action could have serious economic consequences. Sri Lanka’s fragile economy depends on reliable power supply to sustain industries, exporters, and service sectors.
Analysts say investor confidence could also be shaken if restructuring plans collapse or power stability is threatened. “If reforms are rushed without stakeholder buy-in, the electricity sector risks systemic failure. That has implications far beyond the CEB – it will directly impact competitiveness and productivity,” a senior industry consultant told The Island.
The CEB, one of the country’s largest state-owned enterprises, has long been burdened with financial losses running into hundreds of billions. Successive governments have pledged to restructure it, but unions argue reforms are being pursued without adequate consultation.
CEBEU chief urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to step in personally.
“Authorities are aware of the situation but are not telling the truth. Reforms without proper mechanisms and guidelines will collapse. We ask the government and the President to intervene, to ensure reforms are done with all stakeholders. Reforms take time. There must be a system of checks, corrections, and participation. Otherwise, the entire restructuring process will be a failure,” he said.
Union leaders said they were not opposed to reforms but demanded transparency and proper sequencing. “You cannot reform overnight. It takes time, a loop system, error correction, and accountability,” Parakramasinghe emphasised.
With the second stage of industrial action imminent, power sector insiders warn of growing uncertainty. Though unions have so far avoided disruptions to supply, escalation of the dispute could slow down operations and delay critical projects, including renewable energy expansion and transmission upgrades.
The government has yet to formally respond to the unions’ latest announcement. But energy sector observers say the confrontation underscores the delicate balance between reform and labour stability at the country’s largest utility.
For now, the CEB’s future – and the stability of Sri Lanka’s power supply – hinges on whether the government engages in dialogue before the unions tighten their campaign.
By Ifham Nizam 