President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the government has only protected the rights of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers through its restructuring plan.
Addressing a public event, President Dissanayake said that a new law had been passed previously, under which CEB employees were to be let go by the end of October this year.
He said, however, the current government intervened and suspended the law, bringing in an alternative Act.
“We were bound by the law to implement it. But we stopped it. We then introduced a new law protecting the power industry and enabling it to operate independently. I ask the CEB workers, is it a crime to amend the old system? Is it an issue to launch a strike? Is amending the old system a violation of your rights? No. By doing so, we have protected your rights”, the President said.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake further challenged those who want to strike to go ahead, adding, “They cannot work like this.”
“We have divided the CEB into four entities. Employees have been given two months to decide which department they would like to move to. Those who do not wish to do so have been given the option of leaving with compensation,” he added. (Newswire)
