News

Engineers: Power supply not sufficient to meet demand

Published

4 years ago

2022/02/3

By Ifham Nizam

Despite the addition of 300MW the third unit of the Norochcholai Power Plant Complex (altogether 900MW) has supplied to the national grid, the Ceylon Electricity Board Generation Division says the amount is not sufficient to meet the shortfall in the supply of electricity.

The CEB engineers say 300MW will have to be purchased from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

An official said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had stressed that the CEB must not go for long term emergency purchases from the private sector. However, he has not opposed purchasing from the IPPs.

CEB Additional General Manager cum Media Spokesman Andrew Navamani told The Island they were expecting 10,000MT or 10 million litres diesel for the Kelanistissa Power Plant Complex.

Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge earlier instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) outgoing Chairman M.M.C. Ferdinando to negotiate with private power plants to obtain 300MW.

He told The Island that consumers did not need to fear as they would do their utmost to supply power continuously.

From the Framefive machine at Kelanitissa Power Plant Complex CEB would utilise 18MW by today. This would be chiefly used to cover up partly the peak demand between 6.30 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.

Minister Lokuge also said that CEB was planning to directly purchase fuel through the Indian Oil Company (IOC) within this week.

He said a decision had already been taken regarding the fuel required by the CEB for next week.

Delays in securing the required diesel and furnace oil from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) forced the CEB to shut down several thermal power plants leading to power cuts.

According to Media Minister Dullas Alahapperuma CEB might be able to import the required fuel under the USD 500 million fuel credit line granted by India.

He also said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had directed the Central Bank and the Treasury to provide USD 50 million to release two oil shipments anchored off Port of Colombo.

President also had ordered the Treasury to intervene to settle the Rs.93 billion arrears owed by CEB to CPC.

These outstanding payments would be settled in stages with Treasury support.

The CEB has been incurring losses since last September with the end of the rainy season, as the utility provides electricity on a heavily subsidised rates to the consumer.

The Island learns that there are Rs.50 billion worth electricity bills in arrears at both CEB and LECO.

Unlike other institutions, CEB and LECO had given their customers time to settle the payments on an installment basis.

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News

Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

9 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

18 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.

News

Johnston, two sons and two others further remanded over alleged misuse of vehicle

Published

18 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and others being escorted out of the Wattala Magistrate Court premises yesterday

Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.

Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.

In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during

Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.

After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.