News
CEB unions to launch strike today, warn of escalation over dissolution move
Trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will launch a six-hour token strike today (26 February) from 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m., marking a dramatic escalation in their confrontation with the government over what they describe as an attempt to dissolve and unlawfully restructure the country’s power utility.
Union leaders said the strike was inevitable after authorities failed to respond to their eight core demands and amid mounting reports that a Gazette notification to liquidate the CEB is imminent.
The dispute has been simmering for weeks. Earlier, the unions cautioned the government that they would resort to trade union action immediately after the conclusion of the GCE Ordinary Level examinations if satisfactory solutions were not forthcoming.
They insisted that they deliberately delayed action in consideration of students sitting the national examination, but warned that their patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
At the heart of the crisis is the proposed restructuring of the CEB, which unions allege is being pushed through without transparency, stakeholder consultation, or a clear national energy policy framework. They argue that the move amounts to a backdoor dissolution of the Board under the guise of reform.
“If a wrong and unlawful decision is taken to restructure or dissolve the CEB without listening to our demands, we will be compelled to act within 48 hours — even unwillingly,” union representatives warned earlier this week.
The unions further charged that employee rights, job security, and national energy sovereignty are being jeopardized. They contend that restructuring without first establishing a coherent and publicly debated energy policy could destabilize the country’s electricity supply and open the door to arbitrary decision-making.
Tensions escalated further after employees, who applied for the CEB’s Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), claimed that the CEB Chairman had indicated a Gazette notification announcing the dissolution of the Board would be issued on February 28. Union leaders described this as a “serious and irreversible step” that could fundamentally alter the structure of Sri Lanka’s power sector.
While today’s action is limited to six hours, trade union leaders made it clear that this is only the beginning. They warned that if the government proceeds with gazetting the dissolution or continues to ignore their demands, stronger and more prolonged industrial action would follow without further notice.
With the strike now underway, the standoff has entered a decisive phase, raising serious concerns over the stability of the national grid and the future direction of Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
By Ifham Nizam
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
Court vacancy row throws Parliament into turmoil; sittings disrupted
Climate, pollution, forest loss now hitting economy: BASL chief
GSP+ in jeopardy: GL
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News5 days agoCreditor receives USD 2.5 mn as Lankan public bears loss from theft of Treasury funds
-
News4 days agoCreditor not yet paid
-
News4 days agoConsumers bearing 22% tax burden despite 18% VAT claim: Dr. Harsha de Silva
-
Opinion6 days agoBeyond diagnosis: A strategic design for 7% growth by 2029 (Part I)
-
Opinion5 days agoSriLankan Airbus struck by lightning
-
Features3 days agoNanda Pethiyagoda Wanasundara as three generations of family saw her
-
Latest News3 days agoSooryavanshi thumps fastest List A fifty as India A win tri-series
-
Editorial3 days agoFuel crisis: Beyond price debate