• Kanchana discusses post-CEB restructuring framework   

Ministry of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said on Tuesday (13) that following the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), arrangements will be made to operate the CEB’s Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees Trust Fund (ETF) payments and retirement pensions through a separate institution.

Speaking at the annual conference of the CEB Technical Engineers’ and Superintendents’ Union, Wijesekera also presented information about the need for restructuring the CEB and how the restructuring process is to be implemented.

He also said that the CEB would confirm the National Vocational Qualifications training officers once the CEB completes its audit on human resources. He said that necessary steps are being taken by the CEB to grant required promotions for those who are eligible to hold such positions.

Speaking further, he noted that the EPF, ETF, and pensions of the officers who are currently serving and the officers who have retired from the service will be given on time and that a separate institution is to be established for this purpose, adding that those benefits will never be curtailed even after the conclusion of the restructuring process of the CEB.

The Cabinet of Ministers, in April, granted its approval for the proposed roadmap and timeline of the CEB restructuring process, and accordingly, the final draft of the new Electricity Act was to be presented to the Parliament for approval by the end of last month (May).

However, speaking to The Sunday Morning previously, CEB Chairman Nalinda Ilangakoon had said that the restructuring of the CEB is scheduled to commence by next month (July), following the completion of the legal and policy amendments that are currently underway. He had said that the CEB was awaiting approvals from higher authorities on several key changes to commence the restructuring process, including the necessary amendments to the CEB Act.