The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Mr. Deputy Speaker, today we discuss a very important Bill for the future of the country and people’s lives. As the Opposition noted, attempts were made many times to amend the 1969 No. 17 Electricity Act. They now say our trade unions opposed everything. In 1996 when there was an attempt to break up and sell the CEB to an Australian company, trade unions opposed it. “Operation Shock” was launched to suppress unions. Then in 2002, Karu Jayasuriya’s Bill proposed cutting into 12 companies to sell. Our union under Ranjan Jayalal, now Mayor of Kaduwela, opposed and defeated it. If the CEB was to be chopped up and sold, how could unions not oppose?

¶ 02 They also spoke loudly about Kanchana’s Bill. They said he took a bold decision before elections. Even stray dogs bark, Mr. Deputy Speaker. When Kanchana tried to cut this into 12 and sell, we opposed it. Despite opposition, that Bill was passed. If we did not amend the law now, by October under Kanchana’s Act the CEB would be split into 12 and sold.

¶ 03 Hon. Kabir Hashim sought to interrupt—please do not. The Opposition has made a habit of popping up on anything. Yesterday, during debate to abolish the 66 clause, the strongest opposition was from Pohottuwa’s Namal Rajapaksa—he did not even vote. Thirty from them did not vote; 30 from SJB were absent as well. In 2002 they backed selling in 12; in 2024 they backed Kanchana’s Bill. Under that Bill three companies would be 100 percent state-owned; one with 51 percent; for the rest, ownership was unclear. The CEB has 23,000 workers; 15,000 were to serve in the remaining companies with uncertain futures. That plan intended to reduce 23,000 workers to 12,000. Some union leaders who supported that Bill recently protested—unions have a right to protest—but when 15,000 workers’ futures were at risk, they were silent. Today they criticize our Bill. We have altered course: five 100-percent state-owned companies; all worker rights protected—pensions, EPF protected; voluntary retirement possible. Yet some spread various stories to oppose this Bill.

¶ 04 Most CEB staff are from Ratnapura, Kegalle, and Matara—everyone knows why. But our Government is not preparing to remove any worker. We intend to harness their productive contribution to take the new state companies forward. This is not a bill of any single person—this Government is of the NPP and allies; 160 including the President take collective policy decisions. This is our Government’s Bill. We have always opposed breaking the CEB into pieces to sell. We oppose privatization, while inviting private enterprise as needed. Private plants generate electricity even today; CEB purchases it now and will do so in future. This Bill does not abolish that.

¶ 05 We emphasize: the people will not be harmed by this Bill; the 23,000 workers’ rights will be protected; no worker will be removed; service will continue seamlessly; those who wish can retire voluntarily; by August 28 they will be notified to indicate preferences and within two months they will be assigned to companies.

¶ 06 This is not Kanchana’s, nor Karu’s, nor an Australian sale bill. This creates five state-owned companies to safeguard people’s interests and stability, and protect workers’ rights. Oppose where needed, and point out genuine gaps; do not mislead the public saying “the past ones were good and only this is wrong.” If there are shortcomings in this draft, identify them. Let us make this succeed, keep electricity affordable, and ensure supply through these companies. Thank you.