The Hon. Ajith P. Perera

¶ 01 [5.05 p.m.]

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I second Hon. Kabir Hashim’s timely Motion. I won’t repeat his points. The power sector is at a critical juncture. CEB restructuring is essential and must be done swiftly and successfully. The current opaque and unaccountable process could double or triple bills in future and creates severe uncertainty for employees.

¶ 03 Any organizational transition is sensitive for staff. As CEB—one of the better-paying state entities—shifts, the change must be managed credibly and gently. You are unbundling CEB into six companies; four are already established. Who are the boards and chairpersons? Do employees consent in writing to their new placements? Those companies must be operational soon, with the existing CEB governance transitioning—by about November. We need the transition plan: where HQs will be, governance structures, and the migration roadmap from CEB to the new model. The opacity breeds distrust.

¶ 04 As someone who wants restructuring to succeed—to promote renewables, build a smart grid, ensure fair tariffs, and attract investment—my concern is that not using a competent, professional advisory team has created today’s confusion by relying on a single individual. Even now, build confidence, resolve labor issues, clear the confusion, protect this lifeline sector, and ensure fair tariffs for industry and households.