Sri Lankan President Declares Electricity Services Essential Amid Escalating Union Strikes

 
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared all services connected to the supply of electricity as essential. The decision was announced through a Gazette Extraordinary issued on Sunday. The move follows weeks of escalating tension between the government and unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which recently intensified strike action against plans to restructure the debt-ridden utility. Trade unions have strongly opposed proposals to divide the CEB into four separate entities, warning of job losses and privatisation.
 
 
The government argues that reforms are necessary to curb heavy financial losses and modernise the power sector, which has struggled with inefficiency and mounting debt since Sri Lanka’s economic crisis of 2022. By designating electricity services as essential, the administration seeks to prevent disruptions that could affect daily life and economic activity.
The decision effectively restricts strike action within the sector, setting the stage for renewed confrontation between the government and union leaders.