COLOMBO, Sept 22 – Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday reaffirmed that the government will not privatise the power sector, stressing that all reforms underway aim to eliminate inefficiencies while ensuring energy sovereignty, economic growth, and national security.
Speaking at a progress review meeting on power sector reforms at the Presidential Secretariat, Dissanayake said the objective is to modernise and streamline operations, not to transfer ownership to private entities.
“This is not a sale or a transfer of state ownership. It is a transformation of a long-standing institutional structure into a modern, efficient system,” the President said, according to the Presidential Media Division (PMD).
The meeting was attended by members of the reform committee and directors of newly established state-owned companies, including Electricity Distribution Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, National Transmission Network Service Provider (Pvt) Ltd, Electricity Generation Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, and National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd.
Dissanayake assured employees that no positions or salaries would be cut during the transition and that all entitlements under the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would be preserved. Outstanding issues specific to the CEB would be resolved before the integration, he added.
The President emphasised that reforms would protect energy independence while ensuring reliable, affordable electricity for the public.
“Institutions exist not only for employees but for the country and its people. If the new framework enables electricity needs to be met more efficiently and at fair prices, it will be a victory for everyone,” he said.
The government has recently launched a series of power sector reforms as Sri Lanka grapples with rising energy demand and a push toward renewable energy integration.