News

Power cuts: UNP leader draws govt.’s attention to plight of A/L candidates

Published

5 years ago

2022/02/24

By Saman Indrajith

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on the government to heed the impact of ongoing power cuts on children sitting the GCE A/L examination.

Making a special statement in Parliament, the UNP leader said that the ongoing power cuts might have serious negative repercussions on the future of children facing the advanced level examination which was considered to be a major turning point of their lives.

Wickremesinghe said that the power cuts had a serious impact on students and it would reflect on their Z-scores on which their university entrance was determined. There was a possibility that some affected parties would petition the Supreme Court since their fundamental rights were violated. “These students have been inconvenienced due to power cuts and it is not fair for them. They can even file Fundamental Rights petitions. Therefore, it would be better if the power cuts could be prevented until the examination is concluded in March,” Wickremesinghe said.

Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said his ministry was conducting discussions with the Commissioner General of Examinations, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) and the Ceylon Electricity Board to prevent power cuts until the Advanced Level Examination was concluded. A discussion regarding the matter was held on Tuesday (22) night.

Minister Gunawardena thanked Wickeremsinghe for raising the matter in the House.

“The Education Ministry has commenced discussions with the Commissioner General of Examinations, the PUCSL and the CEB regarding this. One such discussion was held on Tuesday (22) night. We hope to find a favourable solution to this,” he said.

Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said allocating funds to purchase fuel had become a problem to the country at the moment.

He said that the Government had invited foreign ambassadors in Colombo representing countries that produce fuel for a meeting to be held on March 15 to discuss the possibility of purchasing fuel on long-term credit.

Minister Gammanpila said that during an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday (22) evening, it was thoroughly discussed on increasing the fuel prices and decided not to increase the prices right now. He said that there were no shortages of fuel, medicine and other necessities in the country, but a shortage of US dollars.

“However, the Cabinet decided to release funds to obtain fuel shipments. Following that, payments have been made to three shipments that were berthed at the Colombo Port and fuel stocks from two petrol and diesel shipments are being carried to the land since Monday (21). There is another shipment berthed and we hope the Treasury will release the funds as soon as possible, as agreed at the emergency Cabinet meeting,” he said.

Gammanpila accepted that there was a diesel shortage in the country at the moment. “That is because we had to limit diesel stocks released to the filling stations until finding funds to release the said diesel shipment”, he said.

The Minister pointed out that some filling stations hid petrol and diesel following the statements made by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman that fuel prices would have to be increased by a large margin and price increase of Lanka IOC.

“Sri Lanka has the lowest fuel prices in South Asia. We are ranked 22nd among the countries that supply fuel for lower prices. The other 21 countries produce fuel by themselves on a large-scale.”

Owing to the Russia – Ukraine tensions, fuel prices are expected to increase in the global market in coming days. When we increased fuel price last time on 22 December 2021, a crude oil barrel was priced at USD 72. But now, it has increased to USD 99. It is expected that a crude oil barrel will be priced at USD 115 by March. Therefore, we have invited Ambassadors of the countries that produce fuel for discussions on 15 March, to determine whether it is possible to obtain fuel from their countries on long-term credit, the minister elaborated.

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Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

22 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

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Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

30 mins ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

News

Development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common goal – PM

Published

3 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that development projects can deliver results to the people more quickly when the political authority and the public service work together towards a common, people-oriented objective.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a discussion held on Friday [September 18] at the Western Province Council Auditorium to review the progress of the development project to rehabilitate Rathmalana Kandawala Road and the drainage system on either side of the road, within the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council limits in the Colombo District.

The project, which commenced on September 10, 2026, is scheduled to be completed before June 30, 2027. Implemented by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA), the project includes the construction of a bridge at a cost of Rs. 64 million, the rehabilitation of the drainage system at a cost of Rs. 930 million, and the rehabilitation of the road at a cost of Rs. 115 million.

The Prime Minister also paid special attention to the progress of the responsibilities assigned to the Western Province Council, the Irrigation Department and the Ratmalana Divisional Secretariat in accordance with decisions taken at the previous committee meeting. Attention was also given to the current status of the plans being carried out by the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLRDC), as well as the construction and maintenance activities being undertaken by the Provincial Road Development Authority (PRDA).

Commending the expedite and commendable progress of the project, the Prime Minister particularly appreciated the commitment demonstrated by officials of the relevant government institutions to work in close coordination with one another and in collaboration with the political authority.

The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of taking measures well in advance to control flooding and minimise its impact on Colombo and several other districts in view of the rainy weather that may affect the Western Province during the latter part of this year.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, Chairperson of the Ratmalana Divisional Coordinating Committee and Member of Parliament Samanmalee Gunasinghe, Chairman of the Roads Sub-Committee of the Colombo District Coordinating Committee Dewananda Suraweera, Mayor of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Parakum Shantha, Chief Secretary of the Western Province K.G. Pradeep Pushpakumara, along with a number of government officials.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]