Sri Lanka’s electricity workers are set to hold crucial talks on Monday with officials from the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Ministry of Power over the proposed restructuring of the Board, trade unions said, warning of strike action if the discussions fail.

The Joint Electrical Workers’ Union said the 16 February meeting would focus on the measures that must be addressed prior to the restructuring of the CEB. The Chairman of the CEB and the Ministry Secretary, Professor Udayanga Hemapala, are expected to attend alongside union representatives.

A union spokesperson said that if the talks do not yield a satisfactory outcome, trade union action scheduled to commence on 27 February will proceed as planned. Workers are demanding that all benefits currently enjoyed by CEB employees be safeguarded through a collective agreement.

The spokesperson further stated that any formal announcement of a restructuring date in the Government Gazette must first receive the approval of trade unions representing all employees.