News

CEBEU protest against underhand move to go ahead with unsolicited proposal from US Energy Firm

Published

4 years ago

2021/09/18

By Ifham Nizam

The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers yesterday strongly opposed what they called a government decision to contract US Energy Firm New Fortress Energy to supply LNG and put in place infrastructure.

CEBEU President Saumya Kumarawadu told The Island yesterday they would not support the move, claiming it would lead to financial frauds.

“This deal will lead to losses running to billions of rupees to the country and finally the US firm will acquire rights to supply LNG to all the existing and future power plants, and this is of concern to us,” he said.

The CEBEU President said the CEB had already initiated a transparent competitive bidding process, which was ongoing following the completion of a comprehensive feasibility study, to procure LNG infrastructure to supply LNG for all the existing and future power plants in the country and it was in the final stage.

“I think that to sign an agreement in the middle of a tender process is extremely upsetting,” Kumarawadu added.

Engineers said an ad hoc ‘Technical Committee’ had been appointed by the Ministry of Finance to negotiate terms of the existing Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between CEB &West Coast Power (Pvt.) Ltd (WCPL) and an unsolicited proposal to supply LNG to West Coast Power Plant (WCPP)by New Fotress Energy(NFE).

“We were shocked to know this unwarranted move and would like to highlight the following vital concerns in this regard,” they pointed out.

The Ministry of Power and the CEB have already initiated a competitive bidding process to procure LNG for all the existing and future power plants around Colombo including the WCPP and it’s in the final stage. “Hence, as we have already communicated to Hon. Minister of Power by our letter dated 26 April 2021, that any unsolicited procurement which might badly affect the ongoing bidding process should not be encouraged.”

One of the main objectives of this committee is said to be negotiating terms of the existing PPA between the CEB & WCPL. The CEBEU has said “The PPA contains very sensitive parameters which finally account for payments running into billions of rupees. Hence, any amendments to this PPA (if required) should be made very carefully, as per the procurement rules and regulations of the country. The Chief Financial Officer of the ministry is responsible for ensuring such sound procedures are duly practiced in this process.”

The composition of the so-called ‘Technical Committee’ is also very strange; they pointed out adding, “We have doubts that this committee has been appointed with a predetermined outcome in mind,” CEBEU said.

The Union also said the Secretary, Ministry of Power should seriously consider all the implications of the move and take remedial action.

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Salary Commission this year to address public sector pay gaps

Published

1 min ago

2026/03/8

Thilina Walpola

Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya said a salary commission will be established this year to address pay disparities within the principal service and several other segments of the public sector.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday (6), the Prime Minister said the proposed commission was expected to provide a sustainable solution to existing salary imbalances across public sector institutions.

She said extensive discussions had already been held with principals and principals’ associations regarding salary disparities affecting the principal service, and that the government was continuing consultations in search of a long-term solution.

Amarasuriya said the government policy was to appoint a salary commission this year to develop sustainable recommendations to address the issue.

She noted that recent salary increases had created disparities not only in the education sector but also in other public service sectors, adding that a comprehensive solution was needed.

“We are trying to resolve this through a salary commission. We expect to submit proposals specifically relating to the concerns of principals to the commission,” she said.

News

JP posts to be free of political influence: Minister

Published

3 mins ago

2026/03/8

Thilina Walpola

The post of Justice of the Peace will no longer be granted on political grounds, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara said in Parliament on Friday (6).The Minister told the House that a mechanism had been introduced to receive complaints regarding Justices of the Peace (JP) and that an islandwide database of JPs was being developed to enable verification when certifying documents.

He said future appointments to the post would be limited to persons below the age of 75.

Nanayakkara said a system had also been introduced requiring bio-data updates every two years, along with certification through the Grama Niladhari Division – Sri Lanka and the Divisional Secretariat – Sri Lanka.

He added that contact channels, including a WhatsApp number, email address and telephone line, had been established to facilitate the reporting of any JP who commits an offence.

The Minister said authorities had not yet considered cancelling the appointments of existing Justices of the Peace en masse, noting that some had served in the role for five to ten years and had gained experience.

He said a committee had recommended the age ceiling, citing the need for appointees to possess adequate physical and mental capacity to comprehend and certify legal documents.

“I have not received any fair or justifiable reason to reconsider the age limit of 75 years,” he said.