Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday said the expert committee report recommendations to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board will be presented to the next Cabinet of Ministers meeting.

He made these remarks in response to Opposition MP Chaminda Wijesiri in Parliament yesterday.

In August, the Minister appointed an eight-member Committee comprising veterans from both the public and private sectors proposing recommendations to restructure the debt-ridden CEB within a month.

The committee comprises; former Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga, former Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando, former CEB Assistant General Manager Dr. Susantha Perera, former Board of Investment Chairman Thilan Wijesinghe, former Attorney General Department Senior State Counsel Attorney-at-Law Harsha Fernando, Petroleum Development Authority Chairman and Port City Economic Commission Director-General Saliya Wickramasuriya, former Public Enterprise Reforms Commission Legal Consultant Nihal Jayawardena PC and Power and Energy Ministry Director Chandana Wijesinghe.

MP Wijesiri labelled Minister Wijesekera as the one who is leading the country towards bankruptcy, noting that his Ministries are the most bankrupt institutions in the country.

In response, the Power and Energy Minister said he took over the challenge and responsibility of institutions that were already bankrupt, to turn around those State-run enterprises.

“The President called on all MPs to share insights to restructure the CEB, but you did not even propose any suggestions. It is a pity you did not make use of the opportunity and challenge the expert committee,” Wijesekera said in response to MP Wijesiri. 

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