Kanchana continues to crackdown on CEB workers

Tuesday, 23 January 2024 00:31 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Instructs CEB to accept resignations promptly and recover outstanding dues
Directive follows previous order to implement mechanism to recover Rs. 12 b loan, interest amounts from employees
Orders disciplinary and legal actions against personnel involved in disrupting CEB services
Asserts need for expedited work on CEB reforms, cost reduction methods, implementing identified power projects in generation plan
Calls for expansion of digital payment platform, outsourcing of payment collections to streamline financial processes

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday ordered another rigorous crackdown on employees’ misconduct within the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

“I have issued instructions to the CEB management, to accept resignations from any individual without hesitation and recover all outstanding dues to the CEB,” he stated via ‘X’.

The move follows the Minister’s earlier direction on Saturday, where he urged the implementation of a mechanism to recover loan and interest amounts from CEB employees who have availed themselves of financial facilities.

He also directed to take disciplinary and legal steps against personnel who disrupted the services of the CEB.

“I have also instructed the relevant officials to expedite work related to CEB reforms, cost reduction mechanisms, implementing identified power projects in the generation plan, expanding the digital payment platform and outsourcing payment collections,” Wijesekera added.

On Saturday, the Minister highlighted data from the CEB finance division, revealing that financial facilities extended to CEB employees amount to around Rs. 12 billion.

According to him, two-thirds of the employee’s loan interest component is covered by the CEB, with interest paid on behalf of its employees eventually being recovered from consumer tariffs.

“I have directed the CEB management to implement a mechanism to recover the loan and interest amounts from the beneficiary of the loans and not to pass it to the electricity users,” he added.

In addition to these financial measures, the Minister instructed the CEB management to explore services that could be outsourced in the future, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.