News

CEB employees launch ‘sick note’ campaign, pay rise to cost govt. an additional Rs. 9bn

Published

4 years ago

2021/04/11

By Ifham Nizam

Notwithstanding the economic crisis triggered largely by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government is expected to grant a 25 per cent salary increase to the 28,000 workforce of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which will cost the Treasury an additional Rs. 9 billion annually, official sources said.

As a protest against the delay in granting the salary increment due in January 2021, around 90 per cent of CEB workers launched a ‘sick note’ campaign on Thursday.

“Despite the cash crunch, the workers’ demand for a pay rise will have to be granted though the additional financial burden is unbearable”, the sources said.

The Sunday Island learns that Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma will submit a cabinet paper on Monday to secure the Rs. 9 billion required annually to meet the additional financial commitment.

Petroleum and Water Board employees were earlier given a 25 per cent salary increase. However, CEB employees had demanded a 36 per cent rise, which works out to more than Rs. 12 billion annually,” a top official said.

CEB Employees’ Union General Secretary Ranjan Jayalal said that Thursday’s ‘sick note’ campaign was launched to draw the attention of the management to the delay in granting the pay hike due in January this year.

He said that CEB employees receive salary increments every three years. The last was in 2018, but what was due in January 2021 did not happen.

“We were patient because of the prevailing Covid-19 situation. Though we submitted our proposals before the due date, there was no response. There are no politics involved here. We are protesting against the injustice done to the employees,” he said.

CEB Chairman Eng. Vijitha Herath said a Collective Agreement has been signed to raise the salaries of employees by 25 percent.

The proposal for a pay rise will be submitted to the cabinet for approval, he added.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

12 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

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 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.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

13 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

14 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.