News

Opposition unions accuse Prez of being two-faced

Published

3 years ago

2023/03/18

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Most of the industrial unrest in the country could have been averted if the government had allowed independent commissions to function properly, Convenor of the Samagi Joint Trade Union Alliance, Ananda Palitha said.

“Look at what the Wickremesinghe government did with regard to the current issues in the electricity sector. It undermined the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and prevented the PUC from performing its regulatory responsibilities. The President influenced some commissioners and now there is chaos at the Commission,” he said.

Palitha mentioned that a few months ago the Human Rights Commission (HRC) attempted to provide electricity, without interruption, during the duration of the Advanced Level examination.

“The CEB and the CPC initially agreed and then went back on their word. There is some political influence here,” he said.

Palitha said the government is taking a number of anti-democratic and anti-people initiatives while claiming that these are IMF recommendations.

“It takes about three rupees to generate a unit of electricity through hydro power. Some plants like Wimalasurendra produce a unit at around 25 cents. Traditionally, we believe that the benefit of this low-cost electricity should go to the poor. The PUCSL is in charge of determining what the rate should be. Before becoming the President, Ranil was the biggest proponent of empowering independent commissions. I think most people believed that he would at least strengthen the rule of law. However, during his presidency, these commissions have been undermined like never before,” he said.

The union leader said that a number of government affiliated individuals are shedding crocodile tears about schoolchildren losing one school day due to the trade union action on March 15. However, they were silent when the CEB and CPC undermined efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply during the GCE A/L examination period.

“The CPC has more than enough naphtha but it didn’t deliver it to the CEB. Naphtha is much cheaper than generating electricity using other fossil fuels,” he said.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

Cabinet approves recruitment of 2,284 to government service

Published

1 hour ago

2025/12/11

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Prime Minister to recruit 2,284 to the government service as per the recommendations of the ‘Committee appointed to review the recruitment process of the Government Service at its meeting held on 14.11.2025.

1. Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education 196

2. Ministry of Health and Mass Media 480

3. Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and
Local Governments 04

4. Ministry of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic
Development 19

5. Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development 778

6. Ministry of Justice and National Integration 222

7. Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development 107

8. Ministry of Defense 73

9. Ministry of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources 20

10. Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs 21

11. Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development 36

12. Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs
04
13. Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure
Facilities 02

14. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation 74

15. Western Provincial Council 230

16. Uva Provincial Council 08

17. North Western Provincial Council 08

18. Finance Commission 02

Latest News

Cabinet green light to obtain a grant from the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund for post – disaster relief and rehabilitation activities

Published

2 hours ago

2025/12/11

Priyan

On a request made by the government of Sri Lanka, the Asian Development Bank has given its concurrence to provide a grant of United States dollars 3 million under Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund.

It is expected to supply materials required for providing essential life security services for the communities affected, from the said grant.

Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the President as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to enter into the relevant agreements with the Asian Development Bank to obtain the said grant.

Business

Cabinet approves establishment of two 50 MW wind power stations in Mullikulum, Mannar region

Published

2 hours ago

2025/12/11

Priyan

Adhering to the broad plan of the Government to reach the objective of accomplishing 70% of the country’s electricity supply from renewable energy sources by the year 2030, the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted on 10.02.2025 to invite requests for resolutions from interested developers of the private sector in order to implement the Mullikulum Wind Power – 100 Mega Watts (two (02) wind power stations of
50 Mega Watts each) on the basis of construction, ownership and execution with a monitoring period of 20 years.

Accordingly, requests for proposals have been called to implement the relevant project by adhering to the international competitive bidding methodology, and seven (7) prospective project proposals were submitted.

Evaluating the said proposals, based on the recommendations submitted by the negotiation committee appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Power to award the contracts of establishing the two (02) 50 Mega Watts Wind
Power Stations to Consortium of Vidullanka PLC & David Pieris Motor Company (Lanka) Limited and WindForce PLC.