Minister of Power and Energy Mr. Kanchana Wijesekera says that the Ceylon Electricity Board has informed him that the Ceylon Electricity Board’s media spokesman, Deputy General Manager Engineer Noel Priyantha has resigned from his position.
The minister also said that he will apologize publicly for the statement he made in an interview on a private television channel.
He said in a recent interview with a private television channel, “Why do school children in this country need electricity to learn? We studied by lamplight. People living in plantations are living a jollyful life. They are drunk at 2 o’clock.”
Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said this while replying to the statement made by the Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development, Mr. Jeevan Thondaman, that the ‘complete’ statement of the CEB spokesperson is insensitive and unacceptable and he believes that the minister in charge will take appropriate measures in this regard.
“I agree with the opinion of the Minister of State Jeevan Thondaman. And many other things had raised the lack of empathy and professionalism in the statement of the CEB spokesperson. That statement is not the opinion of the government or the Commission. I would like to apologize on behalf of the Ministry of Power and Energy and CEB. CEB management has also informed me that the spokesperson has resigned from that position and has publicly apologized for his statement. Its management will also take appropriate action regarding his statement.” Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said.
The following video shows the controversial statement made by Ceylon Electricity Board’s Media Spokesperson, Engineer Noel Priyantha, in response to the journalist’s question.
