News
Sobhadanavi LNG plant construction limps; CEB to lose billions from next year
By Ifham Nizam
The Ceylon Electricity Board would lose more than Rs. 100 billion from next year due to the delay in the construction of 350 MW Sobhadanavi Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant at Kerawalapitiya that was expected to add 200 MW to the national grid this year.
However, non-availability of funds would bring the construction work to a halt at a time where such plant was the much needed, an energy expert and well informed official yesterday said.
A senior Electrical Engineer told The Island yesterday that the slow pace of construction was due to funding delays despite generators and turbines had been already imported to the country from a German company at a cost of nearly USD 70 million.
He said that the CEB at this juncture was not in a position to lose 2,000 million Gwh, a unit at Rs. 55 as otherwise emergency purchase of electricity would cost it more than Rs. 100 per unit.
“This will force CEB to go for another annual price hike,” the engineer stressed.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, CEB Chairman Nalinda Illgakoon and CEB General Manager Eng. Rohan Seneviratne have assured that with the proposed new tariff hike they will put an end power cuts.
The construction of this power plant is a long overdue project and if the power plant had been built on time, the power crisis that the country is facing today would not have occurred.
Construction work of the power plant commenced under the present government. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by 2023 and 200 MW is planned to be added to the national grid. All designs and constructions of this power plant are carried out by Sri Lankan engineers.
INS Sindhukesari, a submarine serving in the Indian Navy, arrived at the port of Colombo on 03 May 26 to undertake Operational Turnarounds.
The visiting submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in precision with naval traditions.
Throughout its stay in the island, the submarine’s crew is scheduled to participate in a variety of programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, including visits to several tourist attractions in Sri Lanka.
Mikhail Murashko, Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, officially visited the Russian House in Colombo to attend the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum, where members of the Sri Lanka Russia Business Council and graduates from the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist countries (ASLGSC) attended.
This historic gathering was graced by rectors and representatives from several world-class Russian medical institutions, including Kursk State Medical University, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, and Tver State Medical University, among others.
The forum commenced with an address by Minister Murashko, during which Russian medical graduates in attendance raised pertinent questions regarding medical and pharmaceutical sector opportunities in Sri Lanka.
Levan Dzhagaryan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with Madam Maria L. Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka & the Maldives and Director of the Russian House in Colombo, graced the occasion. Both officials expressed strong support for continued collaboration and future initiatives between the two nations.
The official appointment letters for the members of the newly established “Cricket Transformation Committee” (CTC) were handed over on Monday (04) by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.
The following members received their letters of appointment at the Ministry premises:
Sidath Wettimuny
Thushira Radella
Prakash Schaffter
Ms. Avanthi Colombage
The Ministry also noted that veteran cricketers Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara, who are key members of the committee, are currently overseas. Their official appointments will be formalised immediately upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
The Cricket Transformation Committee has been mandated to oversee the administration and drive structural reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in accordance with the powers vested in the Minister under the Sports Act No. 25 of 1973.
INS Sindhukesari arrives in Colombo
Minister of Health of the Russian Federation attends the Sri Lanka–Russia Medical Forum
Members of Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee Officially Appointed
Three prison guards arrested following the death of an inmate
Showers or thundershowers will occur at most places of the island after 1.00 pm.
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