News
CEBEU threatens to continue with their agitation against appointment of retired person as GM
By Ifham Nizam
The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) says it will continue their trade union action until Acting General Manager Dr. Susantha Perera is removed from the post.
CEBEU President Saumya Kumarawadu told The Island that there were no personal issues with Dr. Perera but there was a policy issue over a retired person being appointed to the top post that was always reserved for a serving senior engineer.
He said there were nine serving senior engineers eligible to hold that post.
However, CEB Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando told The Island action would be taken on the instructions of the Attorney General’s Department.
CEBEU is on record saying that Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Additional General Manager (Corporate Strategy) Eng. (Dr.) D.C.R. Abeysekera will be appointed General Manager of the CEB with effect from 13 January 2022, as per a circular issued by the Ministry of Power.
In a letter addressed to the CEB management at the time, the CEBEU has said, “By taking further steps in violation of the established rules in the CEB, which also adversely affects our individual members, you (a reference to Eng. Ranatunga, the previous GM) have extended your conduct to a level that we cannot tolerate any further. It appears that you are merely acting under the dictation of the CEB Board, probably to please the present Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando, to secure any benefit beyond your scheduled retirement on 12 January 2022.”
Incidentally Ferdinando, a former public servant too has been brought back from retirement to be CEB Chairman.
News
PM returns to the island
Prime Munister Dr Harini Amarasuriya returned to the island this (23rd) morning after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
News
Navy divers restore sluice gate of Bomburuella Reservoir
The Sri Lanka Navy successfully conducted a diving operation on 19 Jan 26 to inspect and restore the sluice gate of the Bomburuella Reservoir.
Acting on a request from the Department of Irrigation, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed a specialized diving team from the Western Naval Command, for the urgent requirement.
Through concerted effort, the Navy divers successfully cleared accumulated debris, including a significant quantity of wooden fragments, which had impeded the sluice gate mechanism.
News
PM holds High-Level meetings with EU, UNDP, and corporate leadership at World Economic Forum
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya held a series of high-level bilateral meetings on Wednesday [January 21] on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, engaging with representatives of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and the global private sector.
The Prime Minister met with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management. During the meeting, she expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the support extended by the European Union and its member states following Cyclone Ditwa. The Prime Minister also briefed the Commissioner on the key findings of the World Bank’s GRADE report and requested continued EU support for Sri Lanka’s development and recovery efforts.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Alexander De Croo, representing the United Nations Development Programme. She expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United Nations and acknowledged the UN’s support in flood relief and livelihood assistance. The Prime Minister noted that, following the mandate received at the parliamentary election, the government is focused on meeting public expectations through national rebuilding grounded in public trust and good governance. She further reaffirmed the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding vulnerable communities.
In addition, the Prime Minister met with Robert M. Uggla, Chairman of A.P. Moller Holding. The discussion focused on engagement with the private sector and potential areas of collaboration.
These meetings reflected Sri Lanka’s continued engagement with international partners and global stakeholders to support recovery, development, and long-term economic stability.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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