CEB to go on strike from tonight

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Joint Trade Unions Alliance has announced a 24-hour strike from midnight today protesting the Government’s refusal to rectify salary anomalies and the alleged oppression of trade unions.

According to Ceylon Electricity Employees Union Secretary Ranjan Jayalal, employees from all sectors will take part in the strike. All CEB functions, including responding to breakdown incidents and maintenance, will be hindered on Thursday at all plants. 

The employees are demanding that authorities take steps to rectify the current salary anomaly within the CEB. 

According to Jayalal, while management level employees enjoyed a salary hike of over 70%, other employees’ salaries saw an increase of only 30%. He also claimed that discussions with former subject minister Champika Ranawaka and current Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya failed to produce a favourable outcome, which has led to the decision by the unions to launch an island-wide strike.