News
Trade unionist blows whistle on substandard diesel
Ananda Palitha, Convener and spokesperson of the Samagi United Trade Union Force (SUTUF), affiliated to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), alleged on Thursday that permission had been granted for unloading a stock of substandard diesel at the Kolonnawa refinery although both initial and subsequent tests conducted by the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) laboratory had proved that the fuel was of inferior quality.
Speaking to journalists in Colombo, Palitha revealed that fuel samples sent for testing at the CPSTL laboratory had been found to be substandard. However, the ship had been allowed to initiate the unloading process.
According to reports, a chemical was used to settle dust particles at the bottom of the tank, and a new fuel sample was sent to the CPSTL laboratory to obtain an approved report. Despite pending approval, the plan is to pump out the dust particles from the ship into the Kolonnawa fuel tanks, where high-quality diesel is stored. The CPSTL laboratory tests confirmed that the diesel fuel did not meet their specifications, according to Ananda.
Palitha said the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC) had imported 20,000 tonnes of diesel to China Bay and an additional 11,000 metric tons to the Kolonnawa refinery from the ship ‘MT-FOS POWER,’ which arrived on 05 Nov. Earlier, 6,500 tonnes of petrol had been unloaded because it passed the CPSTL laboratory tests, he said.
During the ship visit by the CPSTL laboratory assistant manager and a representative from the LIOC, it was found that the diesel stock was of subpar quality. However, permission was granted for unloading at the behest of the CPC management.
Palitha noted that the deputy laboratory technician had raised concerns, stating that if the diesel stock did not meet CPSTL specifications, it should not be unloaded. He also expressed concern over the government’s failure to decide on compensation for those whose vehicles suffered extensive damage due to substandard fuel.
Ananda said the manager who had accepted the substandard fuel stock was currently serving as the deputy general manager, responsible for overseeing laboratory testing and making crucial decisions in this regard.
Palitha warned that if the substandard diesel stock was unloaded entirely, distribution would commence and vehicle owners would suffer losses.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa recently revealed in Parliament that a stock of 40,000 tonnes of substandard diesel had been released to the market despite quality failures. He cited two LIOC laboratory test reports that had detected the inferior quality of the diesel stock.
News
Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis
There are 17 nursing schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media including the postgraduate primary nursing school.
There are 142 vacancies in the posts of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) as on 31.03.2026 in those schools while 24 officers are to be promoted to the special grade on 31.12.2025 owing to the vacancies existing in the post of Special
Grade Nursing Officer (Education). Therefore, the number of vacancies is to be 166.
In addition, there are 24 vacancies in the post of Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Although at present action has been taken to upgrade the nursing schools to nursing colleges and upgrade the nursing diploma course to nursing degree course, no action has been taken so far to carry out recruitment for the training relevant to the appointment for the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to recruit retired nursing instructors and nursing instructors who served in the nursing schools belonging to the three armed forces and are retired or have resigned legitimately from service to the post of Grade I / Special Grade Nursing Officer (Education) on contract basis.
Latest News
Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka
It has been decided to establish a BIMSTEC technology transfer facility in Sri Lanka by entering into a Host Country Agreement at the second leaders’ summit of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal
Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) held in New Delhi, India, in 2008, with the objective of enhancing regional cooperation.
The relevant cooperation agreement was signed by the member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC summit on 30-03-2022 in Colombo.
The prime objective of this technology transfer facility is to provide technology, capacity building, and management of intellectual property for the micro, small, and medium-scale
enterprises of the BIMSTEC member countries.
According to the cooperation agreement, an agreement should be entered into between Sri Lanka, as the host country, and BIMSTEC Secretariat for formalizing the legal status, privileges, and immunities of the technology transfer facility.
The drafted agreement has received the relevant institutional approval and legal clearance.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Science and Technology to sign the proposed agreement.
News
The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea
Approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 11-12-2023 to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka regarding mutual cooperation
in criminal matters.
However, according to the aforementioned approval, the relevant agreement could not be signed between both parties.
Through this agreement, opportunities will be provided
for mutual assistance to other countries in handing over judicial documents and collecting evidence for the use of criminal case matters.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution provided by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to sign an agreement between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate in criminal matters.
Cabinet aporives recruitment of Nursing Instructors for Nursing Schools under the Ministry of Health and Mass Media on Contract Basis
Signing agreement for the establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Sri Lanka
The cabinet approves agreement on mutual legal cooperation in criminal matters between the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Korea
Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after Test squad upheaval
Amendment of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 3 of 1897
Cabinet approves donation of USD One Million to the Government of Nepal
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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