News
Cabinet okays proposal for providing solar power to 25,000 low-income families
The Cabinet had approved a proposal to provide solar power to 25,000 low-income households, Minister of Urban Development and Housing and Chief Government Whip, Prasanna Ranatunga, told journalists in Colombo yesterday (15).
The Minister said the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) had selected 11,000 partially completed houses, among 15 housing projects implemented by the NHDA, to provide free solar power under a joint project of the Urban Development and Housing Ministry and the Power and Energy Ministry.
The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing would select the other 14,000 houses, Ranatunga said.
The Minister added that Sri Lanka had plans to produce 648 Gigawatts of electricity per year through renewable energy sources, and the country could save 116.64 million US dollars, currently spent on importing oil annually to generate electricity.
Promoting renewable energy to have a more sustainable energy mix has been declared an important policy goal by the past few governments.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
Venezuela earthquake: Number of known dead rises to nearly 5,000 victims
A few showers may occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
Harmer, Markram and Wolvaardt win top honours at CSA awards
War of words erupts between Minister Chandrasekar and Archchuna in North
Cardinal seeks dismissal of Sallay’s petition
Money laundering case against Yoshitha, fixed for pre-trial conference
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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