Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that it is the government's responsibility to ensure a continuous supply of electricity, following the declaration of electricity services as essential under a presidential circular.
Speaking to journalists, the Minister explained the decision to cancel the leave of electricity sector employees, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted operations.
"The government is not prepared to allow a power outage. This has been made an essential service. Therefore, we are saying: please come and work. If you are unable to work, you can take compensation. This must be done. We cannot move forward without this reform," he said.
In response to questions about lowering electricity bills through restructuring the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), the Minister said the aim is to benefit both investors and consumers.
"It would be good if we could provide relief not only to investors but also to you, the consumers. We will examine each component of the board's operations to assess profits and losses. By treating each segment individually and improving efficiency, we believe we can address the issues contributing to rising electricity costs."
He added that restructuring the CEB into coordinated but separately managed units could help reduce inefficiencies and improve pricing for end users.
