CEB accused of fraud following Ace Power plant extension

• PUCSL approval not given for extension agreement of Ace Power
• Trade Union leaders backed by CEB DGM suspended
• Provides documentary evidence of agreement extension

By Ruwandi Gamage

Trade Unions on Thursday claimed irregularities in Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) procurement procedures followed in purchasing power from Ace Power Embilipitiya Ltd. 

CEB Deputy General Manager (power purchases) Sujeewa Abeywickrama, speaking to the media, claimed that the CEB had not followed the criteria extending the power purchases agreement by Ace Power Embilipitiya Ltd.

Abeywickrama claimed that the CEB was responsible for overlooking legalities with regards to the extension agreement of the Ace Power Embilipitiya power plant and that this was not the first time this had happened.

“Embilipitiya Ace power power plant has not obtained approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). This issue made me and my team question the legality of the agreement extension and as a result of wanting to seek answers I was suspended from work without any inquiry on the basis of false accusations,” he said.

Abeywickrama was suspended due to allegations that he was not fit to work because he had refused the direct orders of his superiors, that he had not obtained any approval from the CEB to carry out his private businesses and for violating the regulations of a statutory commission in Sri Lanka while engaging in private businesses, therefore having more than six criminal court cases.

Abeywickrama said that none of the court cases he had were criminal cases but were all civil cases filed under Sri Lanka’s Motor Vehicle Transport Act. He added that he had been wrongfully accused of not being in possession of a permit and that it was due to the personal agenda of the provincial council officials involved.

CEB trade union convener Ranjith Jayalal claimed that a subsidiary GM had contacted Abeywickrama and had asked him to sign the cheque and transfer to a different branch to secure his position as the DGM and that they would settle the payment.

The trade union leaders are hoping to take legal action against the CEB regarding their suspension period and for them not being reinstated to their positions according to CEB disciplinary procedures. 

The suspension letter of the DGM and the Ace Power plant extension agreement documents were presented at the news conference as evidence against these allegations. 

CEB Secretary Customer Service Coordinator Manoj Priyantha, CEB Secretary Civil Mechanic Commissioner A. Pathma Sri, CEB Sri Lanka Independent Workers’ Association Chief Secretary Priyantha Prabhath, DGM Abeywickrama, CEB Trade Union Convener Chief Secretary Ranjith Jayalal, CEB National Workers’ Union Secretary Ajith Dewapriya and CEB Cable Workers’ Association Chief Secretary M.D. Jayasinghe were present at the news conference.