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Senior CEB engineers resort to unscrupulous practices to fund their trips abroad

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/22

By Ifham Nizam

Sources in the Ministry of Power have revealed to The Sunday Island that the recent two-week trip by a very senior engineer of CEB has not been approved by the Minister of Power, although CEB has allowed this officer and another engineer to travel to Turkey.

Under existing Government regulations, all state-sector employees traveling overseas for duty or personal reasons are required to obtain the prior permission of the Minister in charge with the recommendation of the Secretary to the Ministry concerned.

It is understood that the Power Secretary has not forwarded the documents received from the CEB for the approval of the Minister. It is understood that the Ministry has requested a personal guarantee from the CEB Chairman certifying that the above foreign travel by the two CEB engineers was absolutely necessary in view of the severe foreign exchange shortage in the country.

The Sunday island learns that CEB Chairman M M C Ferdinando has not forwarded this certification to the Ministry to date.

A senior engineer said that this is considered a serious breach of government rules for state officials to leave the country without required permission.

The applicable circular instructions state clearly that officials shall not travel without such permission, even if all paperwork has been submitted to the line ministry for approval in the expectation of receiving such approval.

CEB does not issue foreign exchange for official foreign travel without this approval of the Minister of Power. Several trade unions in the CEB questioned whether an exception was made by the CEB management in this case because of the powerful connection of the senior engineer in question.

CEB announced last week that it had suspended all new connections because of the serious material shortage it was facing because of lack of foreign currency to pay for essential items.

Against that backdrop, it is highly questionable why these engineers were issued foreign exchange for a non-essential factory test of transformers which could have been conducted online easily.

A large number of factory testing of transformers and other critical equipment have already been performed successfully by CEB engineers during the last two years because of travel restrictions in European countries.

Several present and retired CEB engineers The Island spoke to were skeptical as to why the CEB management considered testing of small 10MVA transformers at the factory to be so important and sent a very senior CEB engineer to Turkey when much larger transformers of significantly higher value used in the transmission system have been successfully factory-tested by CEB engineers online.

It is reliably learnt that the CEB has issued the senior engineer concerned a round trip business class air ticket for his travel.

This trip gets even more baffling because it is learnt that the Indian contractor involved in the ADB-funded project under which these transformers were purchased by the CEB has paid for accommodation and meals of these two officers during their two-week stay in Turkey.

As a rule, CEB always pays the full cost of participation, including travel, accommodation, meals and other incidental expenses of engineers participating in factory testing of equipment because the CEB inspectors should not be under any obligations to the suppliers or contractors.

Therefore, payment of hotel charges, meals and other expenses by the contractor constitutes a serious conflict of interest.

Banks have issued only USD 1,000 exchange for each of the two engineers. There could not have been any doubt that the CEB management, as well as the Ministry officials, were well aware that the officials concerned could not have paid for their accommodation and other expenses out of their own funds even if they wanted to do so, as credit card payments abroad have been severely restricted.

CEB trade unions question whether CEB allowed these engineers to travel to Turkey knowing that their expenses would be paid for by the contractor who supplied the very transformers that were to be tested.

Further, CEB does not generally allow weekends in factory testing as most factories in Europe and other countries like USA and Japan do not operate their testing facilities on weekends.

These two officers are reported to have spent two weekends elsewhere in Europe during their trip to Turkey.

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PM participated in ’Swarnabhivandana 2026,’ Sacred Relic Veneration Ceremony

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

In line with the 2026 Vesak Poya Day, the ‘Swarnabhivandana 2026’ Sacred Relic Veneration ceremony, organized by the Sri Sudarshanarama Temple, Kiribathgoda under the guidance of the Chief incumbent of the temple, and the Head of the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies at the University of Ruhuna and a Senior Lecturer Ven. Makola Mangala Nayaka was held on 3rd of May with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Prime Minister stated that it was a rare privilege to take part in such a noble religious event. She noted that devotees have been presented with a rare opportunity to venerate sacred relics, including those of the Supreme Buddha and Maha Arahants of Seewali, Angulimala, Anuruddha, and Mihindu Theros.

She further emphasized that such religious programmes contribute to the spiritual development of society and help invoke blessings upon the country.

The Prime Minister also expressed her sincere gratitude to the Chief Incumbent Thero for his guidance in successfully organizing this meritorious event, as well as to the Dayaka Sabha of the temple and all those who contributed with dedication.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

Latest News

Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Colombo, Gampaha, Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time

Published

12 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 03 May 2026, valid for 04 May 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Colombo, Gampaha, Hambantota and Monaragala districts during the day time.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on the human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

News

USD 3.7 bn H’tota refinery: China won’t launch project without bigger local market share

Published

13 hours ago

2026/05/4

Thilina Walpola

China has declared that China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC) will not proceed with the USD 3.7 bn Hambantota oil refinery project unless a consensus could be reached on the percentage of the output that could be sold in the local market.

China has informed the NPP government that SINOPECwill not be able to sustain the project in terms of the original agreement that stipulated that 80% of the output be exported and 20 % sold in the Sri Lankan market, according to sources familiar with the issue.

Once fully operational, the strategic facility will be able to process 200,000 barrels of crude oil a day. The proposed facility, together with the Hambantota International port, which was taken over by China in 2017 on a 99-year lease, emphasise significant Chinese presence in the country.

SINOPEC with about 12% market share is among the foreign companies engaged in fuel distribution in Sri Lanka at the moment. Other foreign players are Lanka India Oil Company (LIOC) and joint venture by Shell Brands International AG (Shell) and RM Parks (Private) Limited, the latter being the latest entrant.

LIOC entered the market way back in 2003 during Ranil Wickremesinghe’s tenure as the Prime Minister. LIOC holds the second biggest market share with 211 fuel stations with SINOPEC being third and joint Shell Brands International AG (Shell) and RM Parks (Private) Limited in fourth place. CPC remains the market leader with some 800 odd fuel stations countrywide.

Sources said that whatever the Chinese and Sri Lankan government representatives said in public the launch of the project primarily would depend on a new formula. The Island learns that the Chinese expect to sell 30% of the output here. “The Chinese are of the view that 20% share is not sufficient to sustain the project,” sources said.

Sri Lanka and China in January 2025 announced plans for the SINOPEC project dubbed the largest single Chinese direct investment here following President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s three-day state visit to Beijing. Dissanayake’s delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs, Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, and Sri Lankan Ambassador to China, Majintha Jayesinghe. Outspoken Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong was also present at all key meetings with representatives of China Petrochemical Corporation (SINOPEC Group), China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), China Merchants Group (CMG), Huawei, and BYD Auto, a leading company in the automobile manufacturing sector.

Pointing out that Sri Lanka and China hadn’t been able to resolve the knotty problem for about 15 months, sources said that Sri Lanka was also under pressure from India to expedite the Trincomalee oil tank farm development project. Sri Lanka finalized an agreement with India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) in early April 2025 to develop Trincomalee as an energy hub.

Sources said that in line with the overall plans involving China as well as India-UAE, Sri Lanka was required to enhance the fuel storage facilities as soon as possible. The ongoing West Asia conflict underscored the responsibility on the part of the incumbent dispensation to take tangible measures to enhance storage facilities.

The Trincomalee and Hambantota projects could be on a collision course, sources said. The likelihood of Indo-Lanka agreements in respect of WW two era oil tank farms in Trincomalee, particularly the one negotiated during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency having animpact on the Hambantota oil refinery couldn’t be ruled out, sources said.

President Dissanayake during his May Day address disclosed the crisis faced by his government in ensuring uninterrupted oil supplies. Dissanayake said that the government had no option but to increase fuel quotas given to various categories in view of the arrival of fuel ships in Colombo as Sri Lanka lacked storage facilities.

Sources said that energy insecurity was at stake due to the continuing instability in the global markets caused by US actions in Hormuz Strait.

Newly-appointed Energy Minister Anura Karunathilake is believed to be engaged in consultations with relevant parties. Earlier Punyakumara Dissanayake who resigned recently over the coal scam handled the Hambantota refinery matter.

by Shamindra Ferdinando