Threat of blackout as CEB unions launch strike

There is a threat of a blackout as Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) unions announced the launch of trade union action today.

CEB engineers said that they will go on strike over 4 key demands.

The CEB Engineers Union said that one demand is to withdraw the proposed amendment to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act.

Meanwhile, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that CEB engineers union have discussed of a possible nation wide blackout in protest of the amendment.

“Unions which have deprived many of renewable energy, low cost power supply and the right to uninterrupted power supply is using the threat of protest to block much needed reforms,” he said in a tweet.

He said he hopes to get the necessary support for the amendments made to the CEB Act in Parliament, which 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 Minister also yesterday (Tuesday) tabled the committee report into the findings of the 29th November and 3rd December blackouts that caused the shutdown at the Norochcholai coal power plant.

The report states that it does not have evidence to rule out pre-planned human interference and recommends to investigate it with the support of IT professionals. (Colombo Gazette)