CEB workers begin work-to-rule protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 May 2005, 15:30 GMT]
About 14000 workers of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Thursday afternoon around 3 p.m.began work-to rule in protest to the cabinet decision of restructuring the CEB to make it a profitable body. Ministers representing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a major constituent of the UPFA government walked of the cabinet meeting when the proposal was tabled citing short notice was given to them.

Workers of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have also informed the authorities concerned that they would hold a one-day work-to-rule campaign in protest to the restructuring of the CEB and CPC.

CEB has warned the consumers that there would be interruption of electricity supply in the country due to the work-to-rule campaign.

Meanwhile, Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse, Prime Minister is reported to have said that any restructuring of the CEB should be done step by step in consultation with the trade unions, sources said.

In the meantime, government sources said UPFA leaders had agreed that the planned coal power plant must be built expeditiously and long-term solutions should be found to settle the CEB's debt crisis, the sources said.