Employees of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would stage a countrywide walkout today (22) to protest against the government’s decision to deduct Rs 5,000 from their Christmas bonuses, unions said yesterday.

If the government did not change its mind shortly, workers would have to resort to sterner trade union action, Ranjan Jayalal, Operation Committee member of the United Trade Union Front of the CEB, told The Island.

The UTUFCEB had taken part in several rounds of discussions with the CEB authorities on the issue but in vain, he said.

"Bonuses have been paid for ten consecutive years and employees had reason to expect the Board to pay the Christmas bonus this year as well," he said.

He said some employees had been deprived of their bonuses.

Attempts to contact Power and Energy Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne, Power Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Ministry’s Secretary M. M. C. Ferdinando and their private secretaries failed last night.