Sri Lanka, May 10 -- Payments to private contractors by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) have more than doubled over the past decade, rising to Rs. 4,370 million in 2024 from Rs. 1,643 million in 2015, according to official data presented to Parliament.

The sharp increase in outsourcing comes despite the State utility maintaining a workforce of over 22,400 employees, raising fresh questions about efficiency and the use of in-house staff.

CEB data shows that Rs. 4,370 million was spent in 2024 on outsourced services, including laying electricity lines, digging trenches and carrying out power disconnections. This marks a steady rise over nine years, more than doubling from 2015 levels. The increase took place alongside a large internal ...