• The CEB Engineers will refrain from working from midnight . They will start a safe shut down setting off an islandwide power disruption

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama   

The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU) yesterday confirmed that they had decided to launch their country wide trade union action from midnight yesterday and it may result in another countrywide blackout.   

They said the decision was taken after discussions failed with the Power and Energy Minister regarding the amendment of the Electricity Act, which would clear the path for the Adani’s Group’s proposal for the 500MW Wind Power Project in Mannar and Pooneryn to materialise without following the due process.   

“The discussion we had with the Minister was not successful as the Minister decided to go ahead with the proposed amendment and to pass it in Parliament,” he said.   
The Minister did not listen to what we had to say regarding the handing over of the project according to the Adani’s Group’s proposal. Later the minister left the discussion and we are left with no choice.   

So the Union has decided to launch our trade union action from last night.   

The CEB Engineers will refrain from working with all power plants and grid substations from midnight while shutting power plants down for safety.  A safe shut down takes time. If no one arrives we will start a safe shut downsetting off an islandwide power disruption.   

Consequently island-wide blackouts are expected to materialize from morning today.   

The CEBEU claimed that the main purpose behind the amendment was to allow India’s Adani Group’s unsolicited proposal for a 500 MW Wind Power Project in Mannar and Pooneryn, which would mark the end of the country’s competitive bidding process in power generation. Meanwhile a gazette notification was issued last night declaring electricity as an essential service.

• The decision was taken after discussions with the Power and Energy Minister regarding the amendment of the Electricity Act failed  
• The Minister decided to go ahead with the proposed amendment and to pass it in the Parliament -CEBEU claims that the main purpose behind the amendment was to allow India’s Adani Group’s unsolicited proposal for a 500 MW Wind Power Project in Mannar and Pooneryn,