The new Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) act gives a very bad precedent by creating an all-powerful minister, said the CEB's technical engineers and superintendents union.
At a media briefing yesterday (09), president of the union A.G.U. Nishantha charged that an executive minister would wield regulatory and other powers in the power sector.
Although the proposed act has allowed for new and positive trends, there are questions with regard to the competition thus created, he said.
It is more likely the power sector loses regulation and falls into the hands of money-minded businessmen, said Nishantha.
Before House in January
Gazetted by minister Kanchana Wijesekara, the draft will be tabled in the House next month.
It deals with reforms, regulation and consultancy in the power sector as well as generation, transmission, distribution, marketing, supply and procurement aspects.
