CEB's Rush to Hire Engineers Sparks Allegations of Favoritism and Waste
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In a move that has raised eyebrows across Sri Lanka, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is accelerating the recruitment of 60 engineers, even as the state-owned utility prepares for a major government-mandated restructuring. The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) is now publicly questioning the "unholy haste" of this process, alleging potential nepotism and a serious waste of public funds.
Why Recruit Now? The Core of the Controversy
The controversy stems from the recent passing of the Electricity (Amendment) Act. This legislation mandates that the CEB be restructured into separate entities handling generation, transmission, and distribution, a process set to begin this month.
A key component of this reform is a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for existing employees. Sanjeewa Dhammika, General Secretary of the ECA, finds the timing of new recruitment inexplicable.
“This is highly questionable,” Dhammika stated. “Why the urgency to recruit new engineers when the institution is on the verge of a major reform and offering people a chance to leave?”
Allegations of a Rushed and Irregular Process
The ECA has leveled serious allegations against the CEB's hiring timeline, suggesting it is designed to avoid scrutiny:
Unusually Short Timeline: The ECA claims that a competitive exam was held on August 2, candidates were called for interviews on August 11, and interviews were scheduled for August 14-15—all without publishing legally valid results.
Bypassing Standard Procedure: Dhammika contrasted this with past recruitments that took nearly two years from application to finalization, questioning the break from established, transparent norms.
Exploiting a Legal Loophole: The ECA alleges that appointment letters are slated for issuance before August 25, while courts are in recess, effectively blocking any immediate legal challenges to the process.
The Shocking VRS Loophole for New Hires
Perhaps the most startling allegation is the financial implication for new recruits. Under the new restructuring act, even newly hired engineers would be immediately eligible for the VRS.
"This means new engineers could resign within days of their appointment and still receive compensation of at least Rs. 900,000 for executive grades," Dhammika explained. This potential for a massive, instant payout to new hires has been labeled a gross misuse of public money.
Overlooking Internal Talent: An "Injustice" to Existing Staff
The ECA also highlights a grave injustice to the CEB's current experienced workforce. They report that 167 existing staff members are already registered with the Institute of Engineers of Sri Lanka (IESL) and possess the required professional credentials.
"Many of them, serving as Superintendents, have over a decade of experience," Dhammika noted. "Despite this, the administration has overlooked them in favour of external applicants. This is a serious injustice."
The ECA and affiliated trade unions, including the Samagi United Trade Union Force, argue that the CEB already has a sufficient cadre of engineers and that this move is purely aimed at "recruiting the government’s acquaintances."
Calls for Transparency and a Halt to Recruitment
The ECA is urgently calling on the authorities to suspend the ongoing recruitment process until the restructuring reforms and new cadre provisions are fully implemented. They demand transparency and fairness, insisting that internal, qualified candidates be given priority.
Attempts to contact the CEB and Energy Ministry Secretary for comment on these allegations were unsuccessful.
What are your thoughts on this developing story? Is this a necessary hiring move or a mismanagement of public funds? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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