CEB trade unions to withdraw from all services for 24 hours

Around 25 trade unions linked to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) plan to stop all services for 24 hours starting at 3:00 p.m. today (September 9). Prabath Priyantha, the General Secretary of the CEB’s Sri Lanka Nidahas Sewaka Samgamaya, announced that this strike is in response to the government's lack of a positive reply to the demands of electricity workers. He mentioned that workers will not come to work until there is a discussion regarding the collective agreement. Prabath Priyantha also noted that power plants and other essential services will continue to operate, but all repair and maintenance work will be suspended. He assured that during the 24-hour strike, there will be continuous electricity supply to major hospitals in Colombo, Kandy, and Karapitiya, as well as to the Army Headquarters. This decision was made collectively by the 25 trade unions. Additionally, Ajith Devapriya, Secretary of the National Employees’ Union of the Ceylon Electricity Board, explained that the strike is not meant to force the government to submit. While they support restructuring the CEB, they will not accept any actions that treat the board's employees unfairly. Thus, the trade unions will begin their strike at 3:00 p.m. today.