Showdown looms in CEB over big guns targeting engineers opposed to backdoor deal with US firm

By Ifham Nizam

The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union yesterday warned CEB General Manager Eng. M.R. Ranatunga to refrain from transferring two Additional General Managers who had expressed concerns about a questionable deal with US energy company, New Fortress Energy.

A senior engineer told The Island that they had warned the General Manager against any action taken to transfer targeted Addl. General Managers from their posts.

“We have informed him of intention to intervene as a trade union in such an event and engage in trade union action to protect the rights of our members, the purpose for which trade unions are established. Further if any such transfer is effected,” he added.

CEBEU President Eng. Saumya Kumarawadu told The Island that when they asked CEB Chairman M.M.C Ferdinando not to force employees work against their conscience, the latter had said they were looking for people who were flexible with the rules.

In a letter to the General Manager the Union has said: “You have callously disregarded our request and executed transfers of two of our members by way of your letter DGM (P)/ HRM (RP&DM)/RPI/62 Vol.II dated 16th November 2021, thus confirming the pre warnings received by the CEBEU well in advance from various sections about the clandestine move afloat to remove from posts very senior engineers, who are giving their honest opinion against the disgraceful New Fortress Energy deal.

“We have also noted that you have completely disregarded the existing Transfer Rules of CEB as established since 1995, and merely communicated the transfers of two AGMs, “as decided by the Board” to them, whereas it is you as the GM who has the authority to carry out transfer orders as per the Transfer Rules of CEB. We wish to remind you that it is the General Manager of CEB who was given the administrative control of the employees of CEB by the CEB Act. It appears that you are merely acting under the dictation of the Board, probably to please the present Chairman, to secure any benefit beyond your scheduled retirement on 12thJanuary 2022, and thereby undermining the position you are holding and in violation of the Rules you need to uphold.”

Engineers also said that the motive behind this AGM shuffle is to get rid of Eng. G.J. Aluthge, the most experienced special class officer in CEB on matters pertaining to transmission business, system operations, and IPP power purchases, all valuable knowledge to take a proper decision pertaining to supplying LNG to the country, from the post of Addl. GM Transmission, and replace him with another senior engineer who has zero experience on transmission related matters.

“It is no secret that you support the illegal NFE deal, undermining the efforts of the own organization you are heading to procure LNG competitively. However, by taking further steps in violation of established Rules in CEB that also adversely effects our individual members, you have extended your conduct to a level that we cannot tolerate any further”, CEBEU told the General Manager.

They also informed that they were taking trade union action against transfer of the two AGMs and directly instructing them not to carry out instructions as contained “in your illegal transfer letter dated 16th November 2021, which is nothing but a mere communication of a decision of the Board ‘’.

“we have instructed two of our members not to carry out the instruction as contained in the General Manager’s letter and hold on to the status quo as at present until the matter is resolved.”

The union demanded the General Manager to immediately recall the transfer letter and cancel the same as it is unlawful, arbitrary, carried out with ulterior motives and in bad faith.