September 23, Colombo (LNW): All forms of leave granted to staff members of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have been suspended with immediate effect, following a directive issued by the utility’s General Manager.
This measure comes in the wake of a government decision to designate electricity-related services as essential to the functioning of the country.
The suspension follows a proclamation by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who on Sunday (21), issued an Extraordinary Gazette formally declaring all operations tied to the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity as essential public services.
This legal directive extends to services provided not only by the CEB, but also by any government agency, local authority, state-owned enterprise, or co-operative society involved in the electricity supply chain.
The President’s decision was reportedly driven by concerns that ongoing or potential disruptions in the electricity sector could seriously hinder public life and national stability. The Gazette notification specifically cited the likelihood of interruptions or obstacles to these services, necessitating urgent preventive action.
By declaring electricity provision an essential service, the government now holds the authority to impose stricter regulations on the sector, including constraints on industrial action and worker absences.
