62 CEB employees who were suspended for participating in protests against the privatization of the Ceylon Electricity Board during the previous government have been reinstated with compensation.
The employees were suspended following a protest campaign launched by CEB trade unions last January against alleged attempts to privatize the CEB.
While electricity is classified as an essential service, the then Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera, instructed officials to suspend employees who were protesting and avoiding work in a manner that caused disruption to consumers.
Under the new administration, Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody has revoked these suspensions.
Four of the reinstated employees received their letters from Minister Kumara Jayakody yesterday (24) at a ceremony attended by several CEB officials, including the General Secretary of the Lanka Electricity Workers’ Union, Ranjan Jayalal, as well as many trade union representatives.