News

Ratnayake vows to keep fighting

Published

4 years ago

2023/02/17

Thilina Walpola

PUCSL Chairman’s office sealed

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake yesterday told the media that he would continue to be the head of the Commission.Addressing journalists from Australia, Ratnayake said he could remain in that position for 20 more months.

“Either a majority of MPs have to decide that I must resign. Or, they should find me guilty of a violation following an investigation,” he said.

Ratnayake said that some of the newly appointed members of the Commission had decided to approve the Cabinet approved CEB tariff proposal while he was not in the country.

“I came to Australia on 12 February and the GM went to the US on an official visit.

We appointed a director at the PUCSL to be Acting GM. At this point, some members of the commission decided to approve the CEB tariff plan. Then they called PUCSL officials to the Presidential Secretariat and asked them to place their signature on a letter addressed to the CEB, authorising the tariff hike. Politicians too were there. Officials had no option but to sign,” he said.

Ratnayake’s office at the PUCSL had been sealed yesterday by the police.

The PUCSL chairman also criticised the CEB’s decision to increase tariffs of people who consumed less than 90 units of electricity. Sri Lanka produced electricity from hydro power at around four rupees per unit and the profit made from these units must benefit the low income households, he said.

“In 2008, the CEB did something similar and the Supreme Court quashed it. The subsidies given to each segment should be decided by the PUCSL, not the CEB. About five million customers consume less than 90 units. How can they pay?” he asked.

Ratnayake added that in parallel to the increase in tariffs, the demand would drop, and the CEB would not be able to achieve its revenue targets, he said.

“We used to think that the demand for electricity was not elastic. However, after we increased tariffs in August 2022, there was a 12% drop in the demand. The CEB aims to make an additional Rs 267 billion from the tariff hike. In August 2022, the CEB made an additional Rs 180 billion rupees with the tariff hike. With these two hikes, the CEB is expected to around Rs 450 billion a year. This is about 1.2 billion US dollars. Now, the annual income of CEB will be about 700 billion. However, the question is whether the CEB has competent finance officers to mange its financial resources?” Ratnayake asked.

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MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions

Published

4 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.

The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.

A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.

The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.

Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.

[President’s Media Division]

Latest News

Grade 5 scholarship exam results released

Published

5 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk

News

Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan

Published

12 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.

During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”

The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.