By Nishel Fernando

The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) expressed optimism that recent changes in the leadership and management of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will lay a much-needed foundation to avert a looming power crisis in 2026-2027.

Over the past two and a half years, under the former Minister of Power and Energy, the CEBEU highlighted that politicisation of the CEB reached new levels. Key management positions, including that of the General Manager (GM), which were typically filled based on seniority, were instead politically appointed, causing a major setback to the board’s operations.

Addressing a press briefing in Colombo on Saturday, former CEBEU Chairman and executive committee member Dhanushka Parakramasinghe pointed out that these political appointments were primarily aimed at advancing business interests. 

He cited examples such as promoting unsolicited energy projects, including the controversial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tender and large-scale renewable energy projects like Adani’s ventures in the North, which have faced opposition from environmentalists and local residents.

Parakramasinghe also highlighted that the government failed to commission any large-scale power plants in the past two and a half years, as proposed in the draft Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (LTGEP) 2023-2042. Instead, only a few costly, unsolicited renewable energy projects were put forward, none of which have come to fruition due to various complications. He warned that the country could face a power crisis during the 2026-2027 period if these trends continue.

In light of this, the CEBEU welcomed the government’s recent decision to appoint top energy expert Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya as CEB Chairman and Engineer K.G.R.F. Comester as the new General Manager.

Parakramasinghe expressed confidence that these appointments, made based on intellect and expertise, will help rectify the leadership errors of the past few years, particularly in avoiding the looming power crisis.

In response to statements made by the former Minister of Power and Energy regarding the new GM appointment, the CEBEU emphasised that the requisite competence and experience for the role of General Manager are specific to the electricity sector, particularly in areas such as generation, transmission, and distribution.

The Union further noted that the appointment of Eng. Comester as General Manager adhered to the CEB Act No.17 of 1969, and CEBEU Joint Secretary Buddhika Vijayawardhana denied any undue influence by the Union in these appointments.

Meanwhile, the CEBEU accused the former Minister and his aides of attempting to undermine the new CEB leadership with a smear campaign targeting the newly appointed Chairman and top officials under the new government.