Kanchana says no sale of CEB but only restructuring

• Says Mahinda Rajapaksa only asked for postponement of selling State enterprises 

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in Parliament yesterday reassured that the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will proceed as planned, as former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not requested otherwise.

Responding to a query from Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella regarding the potential postponement of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) restructuring, Minister Wijesekera clarified that while Rajapaksa had urged the halt of State enterprise sales, he did not seek a delay in the CEB’s restructuring process.

“Mahinda Rajapaksa has not requested for the postponement of the restructuring of SOEs. He has only asked for the postponement of selling State enterprises. We have no intention of selling the CEB. The restructuring of the CEB will continue,” the Minister affirmed.

Kiriella’s inquiry stemmed from a letter sent by Rajapaksa to President Wickremesinghe, urging him to cease the privatisation of SOEs. 

Seeking clarity on Wijesekera’s stance, Kiriella questioned whether the Minister aligned with President Wickremesinghe or former President Rajapaksa on the matter.