Sri Lanka’s president effectively banned trade union action against a controversial energy deal with a US firm in an “essential services” order issued on 30 October.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) agreed in September to sell a 40 per cent stake in its thermal power plant outside Colombo to New Fortress Energy, a move trade unions say hands the US firm a monopoly over liquified natural gas sales to the country. The central bank said the deal would generate US$250 million for Sri Lanka’s cash-strapped state, but Rajapaksa’s coalition partners complained it was made behind closed doors, intensifying divisions within the government.
CEB trade union leader Ranjan Jayalal called for a mass protest rally by power station workers on 3 November if the government failed to remedy the situation.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s essential services order prohibited collective action across numerous public service sectors, including energy, banking, and food distribution, and was aimed at curtailing possible work-stoppages backed by his disgruntled junior coalition partners. Those who violated the order risked up to five years in prison.
