The government is expected to commence compensation payments within the next few days to electricity sector employees who took voluntary retirement under the ongoing restructuring programme, Power and Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka has confirmed.
A high-level meeting at the Ministry on Monday (11) chaired by Karunathilaka focused on finalising arrangements for the payment process and resolving outstanding issues that had arisen in connection with the compensation scheme. The Deputy Minister, the Ministry Secretary, senior officials and the chairpersons of major electricity sector institutions attended.
The minister had earlier told Parliament that the first 50 per cent of the compensation would be paid by May 15 through Treasury allocations, with the remainder to follow shortly afterwards. The Treasury subsequently confirmed it would fund Rs. 8.5 billion in compensation to 1,896 former CEB employees who accepted the voluntary retirement package when the utility was unbundled into six state-owned successor companies.
The voluntary retirement scheme is part of the broader electricity sector reform programme that placed the National System Operator (NSO) at the centre of grid management and accompanied this year’s tariff revisions. The Ministry said the compensation process is expected to provide relief to retirees while facilitating the smooth implementation of the wider sector reforms.
Sources: The Island — Compensation payments to voluntary retirees in power sector to begin soon.
