New management at CEB

By Shezna Shums

The Ceylon Electricity Board elected a new Chairman, Vice Chairman and Directorial Board on the directions of the Ministry of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka yesterday.

This decision was made yesterday and the appointments will be with immediate effect. The appointment of the General Manager will take place tomorrow (8 June).

The Ministry of Power and Energy stated that the new Chairman is Professor Wimaladarma Abeywickrema and the new General Manager, Nihal Wickramasuriya.

According to the Ministry of Power and Energy, the reason for these new appointments was because of the independent resignations of the previously team.

Previously the Ministry of Power and Energy had issued a statement before the weekend that the crisis between the Electrical Engineers Union and the Management of CEB would be resolved.

According to the Ministry, the previous Chairman of the CEB Vidya Amarapala and the Directors of the Board tendered their resignations.

Amarapala had stated that this decision was taken so that the Minister could appoint a board as desired and to spare the general public from inconvenience due to the trade union action.

He further stated that although some elements within the CEB were displeased with the fact that the CEB, which was a debt laden company was finally making profits, the majority of the workers were very pleased with the progress made thus far.

Amarapala further stated that after a lapse of 10 years the CEB held a sports day and a cultural day with the aim of enhancing the skills and talents of its workforce.

Addressing the union members at the Ministry of Power and Energy Auditorium, Amarapala thanked Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Deputy Minister, the Ministry Secretary and the General Manager for the assistance and cooperation extended to him and the Directors and said that they were happy with the progress achieved.

While Prof. Abeywickrema was appointed Chairman of the CEB, the Director Board will assume duties on 9 June.

Professor Abeywickrema is an Applied Science Graduate of the Sri Jayewardenepura University. Having obtained his BSc degree from the Mahidol University in Bangkok, he obtained his PHD from the Liverpool University in England.

Having served as the Head of the Ragama Medical Faculty (affiliated to the Kelaniya University) Parasite Research Unit and Molecular Medical Science Research, he also headed the Central Environmental Authority and the Atomic Energy Authority.

The Minister of Power and Energy has approved Nihal Wickremasuriya as the new General Manager of the CEB and he is scheduled to assume duties on 9 June. He graduated as an Electrical Engineer from the Moratuwa University in 1976 with a B.Sc Honours Degree in the field of Electrical Power Engineering.

He obtained his Post Graduate qualification of Master of Engineering in the field of new and renewable energy technology from the Asian Institute of technology in 1983. He has also obtained a post graduate diploma in business and finance administration conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Sri Lanka in 1999.

In 1977 he joined the CEB as an Electrical Engineer and has held several positions within the CEB as Chief Engineer, Deputy General Manager and Additional General Manager.