News
13-hour power cut today
By Ifham Nizam
The Public Utilities Commission approved a CEB proposal for a 13-hour power cut for today (31).
This request follows a warning by the CEB Engineers Union (CEBEU) yesterday (30) that the present 10-hour power cuts, per day, would be further increased due to receding water levels in the hydro power generating reservoirs, coupled with a severe shortage of diesel and furnace oil needed to produce 750MW from thermal plants.
CEBEU President Anil Ranjith Induwara said the duration of interruptions to the power supply would have to be extended in the coming days while some engineers hinted it would be extended to 12 hours as the remaining stocks of fuel for power generation were fast running out.
The CEB top management also said that they had recovered nearly Rs. 40 billion from overdue bills of consumers, but at the same time electricity generation cost had increased by Rs. 20 per unit amounting Rs. 940 million a day.
He also said the fuel stocks at the Barge Mounted Power Plant at the Colombo port were sufficient only for three more days.
The CEBEU Chief said he believed that CEB was in a position to supply electricity if the required fuel was provided to them.
He urged the government and relevant stakeholders including the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation to expedite the measures to supply fuel.
Speaking on hydro power generation, he said that despite the water levels of reservoirs dropping drastically, the CEB was capable of supplying 300 MW during the daytime and 700 MW at night.
In response to a question raised by a media person, he said the people would be affected by power interruptions during the upcoming festive season if fuel stocks were not supplied and adequate rainfall was not received.
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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