• Consumer group along with SJB point to nepotism/cronyism overlooking 167 experienced IESL-registered in-house staffers   

The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) stated that the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) move to recruit 60 engineers is questionable at a time when the institution is to be restructured under the recently passed Electricity (Amendment) Act.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that according to the Act, the CEB is scheduled to undergo restructuring from this month, with employees to be assigned to separate institutions covering generation, transmission, distribution and other functions. He added that a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) is also to be offered to employees who wish to leave, and questioned the urgency in recruiting engineers when the Board is on the verge of major reforms.

“This is an attempt to create positions for the children of those already holding top positions in the CEB. The recruitment process is being pushed through in an unusually short time. A competitive examination was held at the University of Peradeniya on 2 August. Candidates who have passed the exam have been contacted by phone on 11 August and told that interviews would be held on 14 and 15 August. However, a legally valid results sheet has not yet been published. In the past, recruitment procedures for engineers took up to two years. For instance, applications first called in September 2017 were not finalised until 2019,” he alleged.

Dhammika further claimed that appointment letters for the new recruits are expected to be issued before 25 August, and noted that the timing effectively prevents legal challenges, as the courts are currently in recess and are due to reopen only on the same date. “Under the new restructuring, even those recruited now would be entitled to the VRS scheme. This means that new engineers could resign within days of their appointment and still receive compensation of at least Rs. 900,000 for executive grades. The vacancy list published on 14 August includes positions across all categories. But, the CEB is in an unusual hurry to recruit engineers.”

He also stressed that there are currently 167 experienced staff members within the CEB who are registered with the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka (IESL) and already meet the professional requirements that engineers should possess. “Many of them, serving as Superintendents in electrical and mechanical divisions, have over a decade of experience in the CEB. Despite this, the administration has overlooked them in favour of external applicants. This is a serious injustice to long-serving employees whose expertise has been ignored. The authorities should suspend the ongoing recruitment at least until the reforms in relation to cadres are implemented.”

Meanwhile, the Samagi United Trade Union Force, affiliated to the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), alleged yesterday (18) that although the Government is moving to recruit more engineers under the Electricity (Amendment) Act, the CEB already has an adequate cadre of engineers. These allegations were made by the group’s Spokesperson and Convenor Ananda Palitha during a media briefing. He alleged that the move is aimed at recruiting the Government’s acquaintances.

Attempts to contact the CEB to inquire about these allegations and the hiring of engineers were not successful. Energy Ministry Secretary and CEB Acting Chairperson Prof. Udayanga Hemapala was not available for comment.