February 03, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s power sector overhaul has entered its final stretch, with the Ceylon Electricity Board’s long-running restructuring programme now approaching completion.
Officials confirmed that the formal announcement on the liquidation of the CEB is expected before the end of February, marking a major milestone in the government’s energy reform agenda. The process has been rolled out in five stages, four of which have already been wrapped up.
Pubudu Niroshan Hedigalla, who heads the CEB Transformation Task Force, said key components — including the Basic Assignment Plan, the annual power purchasing framework, and the long-term strategies for electricity generation and transmission — have all been finalised.
Work is currently focused on drafting the National Electricity Policy and the National Electricity Tariff Policy, the last remaining phase, which is due for completion by the third week of this month.
Alongside structural reforms, arrangements are also in place to settle compensation for staff opting to leave under the voluntary retirement scheme introduced as part of the restructuring. Of the 2,173 employees who initially applied, 20 later withdrew, leaving 2,153 staff members cleared to exit the organisation and receive the agreed payments.
Authorities say the final steps will pave the way for a reconfigured electricity sector aimed at improved efficiency, financial sustainability and long-term planning.
