COLOMBO — Trade unions representing Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have threatened to defeat a new electricity reform bill even if it is passed in Parliament.
Trade unions on Thursday (25) held a demonstration against the bill near the parliament complex, with parallel protests also organized in Galle, Tangalle and Hambantota.
General Secretary of the Ceylon Electrical Workers Union Ranjan Jayalal told reporters at the demonstration that the bill offers no benefits to CEB workers or to the seven million CEB consumers but proposes to split the utility into several entities and offer them to foreign companies. “Even if it is passed, we will defeat it outside parliament,” he vowed, adding, “We will definitely take legal action. It will take six months for the act to become active. In six months, there will be no Ranil or Kanchana or this government,” implying neither President Ranil Wickremesinghe and nor Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijeskara will be in power by November.
Sri Lanka’s presidential election is due to be held between September 17 and October 18 this year.
Jayalal also called on members of parliament to act on their conscience and not raise their hands in support of the bill.
The Attorney General has issued a certification to proceed with the new draft bill on electricity sector reforms.
Stakeholders, or any interested individuals, had two weeks to review the gazetted bill, and two more weeks from the day of presenting it to parliament to challenge the bill’s legality.
Once approved by Parliament, the new Electricity Act will enable the unbundling of CEB services, restructure it, improve efficiency, transparency and accountability and allow private sector participation across generation, transmission and distribution.
A condition of Sri Lanka’s ongoing program with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the reform of state-owned enterprises, including the CEB.
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