Trade unions at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have vowed to press ahead with their industrial action, despite the threats issued by president Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior government ministers.
Braving torrential rain, union members staged a protest outside the CEB headquarters in Fort on Thursday (18), causing significant traffic disruption in the city’s commercial centre.
The unions launched a work-to-rule campaign on 4 September and escalated their actions this week, with many workers reporting sick in what they say is a clear message of resistance to the government’s push to divide the CEB into four separate entities.
Dhanushka Parakramasinghe, an executive member of the CEB Engineers’ Union, said a further escalation of action is under discussion, with a final decision expected today.
At a press briefing, CEB National Employees Union Secretary Ajith Devapriya said the president’s recent comments were “threatening” and unbecoming of a leader who speaks of democratic values.
“We are not afraid. We didn’t get our jobs as a favour from the President. We’re only asking for transparency, fairness, and a proper compensation package if employees are to be let go,” he said.
Kosala Abeysinghe, President of the CEB Technicians’ Union, also warned that protests could intensify in the coming days if the government continues to ignore union demands.
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