The state coffers will suffer additional losses as the government plans more emergency coal purchases, Sanjeewa Dhammika, Secretary of the Electricity Consumers’ Association, has warned.

Out of 25 coal shipments to be procured from a new supplier, only 20 had been delivered, prompting officials to call an emergency tender for the remaining five shipments, Dhammika said, adding that the move could result in losses amounting to billions of rupees if the purchases were made at higher prices. He attributed the situation to the government’s failure to select a properly qualified and experienced supplier.

The delays in coal imports and quality issues had already affected power generation at the Lakvijaya Power Plant, leading to daily shortfalls in megawatt output and cumulative losses exceeding Rs. 8 billion, he added.

by Anuradha Hiripitiyage

The Controller General of Immigration and Emigration yesterday warned that passengers affected by the cancellation of Middle East-bound flights from February 28, 2026 may face difficulties if they are unable to depart Sri Lanka within the validity period of their visas.

In response, the Department of Immigration and Emigration has decided to grant a complimentary seven-day visa extension to affected travellers, enabling them to remain in the country legally until alternative travel arrangements are finalised.

The extension would be valid for seven days from the date of expiry of the current visa, the Controller General said.

The European Union has allocated an additional Euro 1 million (over LKR 370 million) to address the continuing humanitarian impact of Tropical Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka.

With this additional funding, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting affected communities and strengthening ongoing relief operations across the country. Delivered through humanitarian partner organisations, this funding will support the provision of basic services.

This new funding comes in addition to the coordinated humanitarian aid and civil protection assistance that the European Union immediately mobilised when Tropical Cyclone Ditwah struck in late November 2025, triggering widespread flooding and landslides across all 25 districts, and causing extensive damage to homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. Previous assistance included €2.35 million in emergency humanitarian funding, delivered through EU partner organisations, as well as engineering expertise and in-kind assistance offered by France, Germany, Italy and Luxembourg, to support the national emergency response and on-the-ground coordination efforts.