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Govt. must not grant CEB workers bonuses: Ex-Minister Wijesekera

Published

1 year ago

2024/11/28

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kanchana / Ranjan

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Former Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera yesterday (27) said that the government trade union at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) couldn’t under any circumstances demand a Christmas bonus.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also the Finance Minister, should respond to the ultimatum issued by the General Secretary of the CEB Workers Union, National Trade Union Centre, Ranjan Jayalal Perera.

Wijesekera, a front runner for one of the two National List slots secured by the New Democratic Front (NDF), said that the government must not give in to such an unfair demand.

The CEB trade union leader has demanded that they be paid bonus by or before Dec. 10.

Perera, who is also a member of the NPP’s National Committee and had been on the NL, though overlooked, declared that they expected to resolve the issue at hand without any problem as their party was in power.

Responding to another query, Wijesekera said that the CEB workers hadn’t been paid bonus in 2022 and 2023 as the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government decided to introduce a performance-based system to pay bonus. Wijesekera received appointment as Power and Energy Minister in April 2022, at the height of the political turmoil that forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa out of office, three months later.

Regardless of the CEB union’s current status, the trade union leader couldn’t dictate terms to the management and the government, Wijesekera said, warning if the government succumbed to such tactics, trouble could erupt at other state enterprises.

Payment of bonus must be decided by the government, taking into consideration a range of other relevant factors, Wijesekera said.

A top Central Bank official said that though there was no responsibility on the part of the government to consult them on state-owned enterprises (SoEs) the CEB had been placed under the supervision of the Public Enterprises Department of the Finance Ministry. The official said that unilateral decisions couldn’t be taken.

The Public Enterprises Department and National Budget Department supervise SoEs.

Following the general election, President Dissanayake appointed Kumara Jayakody as the Energy Minister.

Ex-Minister Wijesekera said that those demanding a bonus should have first pushed the CEB to send its proposed tariff reduction proposal to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) soon after the presidential election. According to him, the proposal that had been prepared in the run up to the presidential election was held up on a directive issued by the Secretary to the Energy Ministry, Professor K.T.M. Udayanga Hemapala. Alleging that the NPP played politics with the issue, Wijesekera said as a result of the unnecessary delay caused by the Ministry, electricity consumers were deprived of the benefit of a drop in electricity tariffs in the last quarter of this year, Wijesekera said.

Referring to the ongoing exchange between the CEB and PUC over the delay in the implementation of the tariff revision, Wijesekera said that the General Secretary of the CEB Workers Union owed an explanation as to why the union didn’t take up this matter.

Wijesekera pointed out that the proposal that had been prepared by the CEB, after the presidential election, was rejected by the PUC and the latter granted two weeks extension for the submission of a fresh proposal.

The regulator has warned that failure on the part of the CEB to submit the revised tariff proposal by Dec. 06 would compel them to enforce the tariff revision clause under Bulk Supply Transaction Operational Guidelines.

Wijesekera alleged that the government trade union at the CEB was seeking to reverse the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government decision on bonus that should be largely based on a performance-based system.

The former Minister said that though the previous government managed to stabilize the economy, the country wasn’t out of the woods yet. Having accepted the Economic Transformation Bill, endorsed by the previous Parliament without a vote, the NPP couldn’t deviate from the IMF’s path, Wijesekera said.

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Interpol crackdown: Sri Lankan man among seven arrested in UK for human smuggling

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Suspect also wanted for child abuse: Extradition process underway

Among seven persons arrested in the United Kingdom for people smuggling is a Sri Lankan wanted by French authorities for the rape of a child.

UK’s National Crime Agency said that it collaborated with police and international partners in INTERPOL’s largest-ever operation targeting people smuggling and human trafficking.

Operation Liberterra III was led by the NCA’s Joint International Crime Centre (JICC) and targeted offenders wanted for a range of crimes who had entered the UK illegally.

Officers from the National Extradition Unit at the JICC made five arrests across London, Bedfordshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

Those arrested included:

A 30-year-old Sri Lankan man arrested in Liverpool and wanted in France for the rape of a child

A 38-year-old Iraqi man wanted for rape in Germany arrested in Greater Manchester

A 29-year-old Egyptian man wanted for murder in France arrested in Bedfordshire

A 41-year-old Syrian man arrested in Greater Manchester and wanted in Germany for organising illegal small boat crossings

A 30-year-old Bulgarian man arrested in London for human trafficking and wanted in France

Greater Manchester Police teams also made two arrests across the county during the operation which was held between 10 and 21 November last year.

A 23-year-old Ukrainian man wanted in Germany for sexual exploitation

A 31-year-old Romanian man wanted in Romania for sexual exploitation

Extradition proceedings are underway for all seven suspects.

The NCA website quoted its Deputy Director of International Rick Jones as having said: “This global operation is a prime example of our commitment to working closely and effectively with international partners to tackle people smuggling and human trafficking.

“We were proud to host the European Co-ordination Unit and used a range of our specialist capabilities to gather and disseminate intelligence to law enforcement agencies across the world, and to enable our officers to identify, locate and detain offenders wanted overseas.

“As a result, seven suspects wanted in connection to serious offences have been removed from our communities and extradition proceedings are ongoing to ensure they face justice.”

Globally, 3,744 suspects were arrested including 1,800 for human trafficking and migrant smuggling offences.

News

Sri Lanka calls on global consular corps to protect nationals amid fishermen incident

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath accepts a token of appreciation

Addressing a gathering of the world’s consular community, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath issued a pointed, diplomatic request yesterday for the enhanced protection of Sri Lankan citizens abroad, a message delivered against the backdrop of a recent alleged assault on Sri Lankan fishermen by the Indian Coast Guard.

The occasion was the inauguration of the FICAC 2026 South Asia Regional Conference, hosted by The Association of Consuls in Sri Lanka together with the World Federation of Consuls (FICAC) at Cinnamon Life.

Minister Herath, while outlining Sri Lanka’s foreign policy of “non-alignment, strategic autonomy, and constructive engagement,” directly tasked the honorary consul community with a critical role. “I request the honorary consul community to maintain a continued and enhanced focus on safeguarding the rights and welfare of Sri Lankan nationals in respective jurisdictions,” he stated.

The appeal carries significant weight following recent media reports which detailed claims by a group of fishermen from Wennappuwa that they were assaulted by uniformed Indian Coastal Guards. The incident, alleged to have occurred partly in Sri Lankan territorial waters, resulted in hospitalisations and has been referred to the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Navy for investigation. Minister Herath’s carefully calibrated statement before the international audience underscored the government’s proactive but diplomatic approach to citizen welfare overseas.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who also addressed the inaugural session, framed Sri Lanka as a nation on a resurgent path. She thanked FICAC for selecting Sri Lanka, noting the choice reinforces the country’s returning credibility under President AKD’s administration.

“Fiscal management is in good control with contained inflation and increased reserve levels and global confidence is returning as the country is moving towards stability, expanded economic activity and inclusive growth,” the Prime Minister stated. She also acknowledged the severe challenge posed by climate change, citing Cyclone Ditwah, and thanked the international community for its support during the disaster, which helped quickly revive the tourism sector.

Both leaders positioned the consular network as indispensable partners in Sri Lanka’s recovery and global re-engagement. Minister Herath emphasised their role in bridging “governments, businesses and communities,” while the Prime Minister stated such forums help reconsolidate the support of global actors.”

The three-day FICAC conference brings together consular officials from across South Asia, focusing on their unique role in facilitating diplomacy, trade, and legal cooperation outside traditional embassy channels.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

News

Korean boost for Thriposha programme: Partnership worth USD 10 mn

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has reached agreement with Sri Lanka to strengthen the country’s Thriposha nutrition programme through climate-resilient, locally sourced food systems.

According to the Korean Embassy here the agreement formalised a USD 10 million partnership that would enhance domestic production of high-quality maize, reduce reliance on imports, and reinforce the sustainability of Sri Lanka’s flagship nutrition intervention for children and mothers. The agreement in this regard reflected the shared commitment of the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka to advancing inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development outcomes, the Embassy stated.

The agreement was signed in the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka Ms. Miyon Lee, the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Dr. Upali Pannilage, Country Representative, World Food Programme (WFP) Philip Ward, and senior representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade, Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited, demonstrating the commitment by all relevant stakeholders of this unique project.