By Sheain Fernandopulle  

In a bid to address pressing financial challenges and streamline operational costs, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera has informed the Ceylon Energy Board (CEB) that its employees will not receive any bonuses for the year 2023. 

The decision, communicated through a letter, outlined the discontinuation of the 25% salary increment, a tradition upheld every three years since 2015.  

The letter, addressed to all CEB top officials, emphasized the need to reduce the overall cost of operations and administration.   

This includes refraining from the disbursement of any outstanding bonuses or allowances from previous years and the cessation of incentives that were previously granted.  
Moreover, the Minister requested detailed reports from each department. Specifically, the reports are expected to provide insights into the 21 various allowances and incentives paid to CEB officials in 2023.  This will encompass information on the nature of these allowances, how they are disbursed, and any relevant amounts.  

The directive also seeks to gain visibility into the allocation and expenditure associated with vehicles rented for CEB officials. The report is expected to include the number of vehicles allocated to each official, along with the amounts paid as rental fees.