Presentation on Power Struggle in Sri Lanka
Posted on December 12 2003 |
ASIA PACIFIC CONFERENCE
11 December 2003
Bangkok, Thailand
Chairperson, dear comrades... First of all, I must thank you for inviting me to this workshop. You will be able to understand by getting the documents about the globalization, privatization of the production of the electricity which is main reasons regarding the power productivity of Sri Lanka. As I have all the facts about it, I am not going to talk much, but I like to present some of the experiences about the Electricity Board which is the main power supply to our country.
In the CEB there are about thirty unions in it. Out of that, 24 unions gathered in one union called us Joint Front of the Trade Unions in the CEB. It has 15,000 members. In that Federation, I have been serving as the co-secretary for the last 8 years. And I have been released from my duty – full-time trade union activities.
Up to 1995, the CEB was a profitable institute in our country. At that time, the previous government(called People’s Alliance) was trying to privatize the Board and we arranged a token strike. As a result of that, it was stopped.
In 1996, the PA Government was trying to do the same to CEB. Then we started the general strike. For all three days Sri Lankans had to be in darkness. As the result of our strike, transport, banking, hospitals, and all the industrial section were paralyzed. Millionaires of the City of Colombo were unable to do their sanitary purpose.
The union leaders were threatened by the Security Forces. They threatened to take the members of the families including the children to their custody and forced employees by pointing the arms towards them. It was known as “operation shock.” About 500 police personnels came to arrest, but it was unsuccessful because I climbed on to the water tank and hide there by the help of pipeline. Due to this circumstance, we were able to fight against the privatization. Actually, we were happy to say that the foreign investors gave up the ideas and left the country.
At this time, CEB is running at a little loss and planned to sell the state power company in the name of reform. We have to do a great task to face this situation and to possess proper organization.
Next we will consider the presented reform plan.
PRIYANTHA WICKRAMASINGHE
Co-Secretary
Joint Front of the Trade Unions in the Ceylon Electricity Board
Sri Lanka
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