News

COPE examines highway robberies at SLTB in 2018

Published

4 years ago

2021/10/8

Corruption: Spotlight on state-run bus service

It has been revealed at the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) that the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) spent Rs. 89 million in excess of the amount of funds allocated for the purchase of computers in 2018.

The SLTB had planned to purchase 139 computers and 74 laptops for the year 2018 at an estimated cost of Rs. 15,290,000, but acquired 800 computers and 47 laptops at a cost of Rs. 113,303,750. As a result, a staggering Rs. 89,977,500 was spent on the purchase of computers in 2018, in excess of the amount allocated through the General Accounts of the Transport Board, the COPE revealed.

This disclosure was made at the COPE meeting chaired by Prof. Charitha Herath, Member of Parliament. The Committee met on Wednesday (06) to examine the Auditor General’s Reports for the years 2017 and 2018 and its current performance in Parliament.

The COPE chairman expressed his displeasure at spending so much of money without following due process. Condemning the practice, he said that an institution which was supposed to serve the ordinary people, spending money in that manner could not be justified on any grounds. It was also disclosed that an agreement had been entered into with a private company to purchase equipment required to main tain the system required for cameras and GPS for 125 luxury buses at a cost of Rs. 33,628,840 . However, all except for a few of the devices were not working properly. Officials present at the Committee said that the employees of those buses had deliberately damaged the equipment and that an investigation was being carried out. The officials also promised to submit a report as soon as the investigation was completed. They said that if the warranty period had not expired, measures would be taken to get all equipment not in working condition repaired by the relevant company.

Attention was also drawn to the fact that the bank loan of Rs. 150,000,000 obtained on 24 December 2018 without the Minister of Finance approval. The COPE chairman pointed out that such a loan amount could not be obtained by a few officials. Therefore, COPE recommended that immediate action be taken in that regard.

The COPE also questioned the officials present regarding the SLTB’s failure to present the annual reports for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 in Parliament. Officials pointed out that there were some concerns regarding printing during that period. However, the annual reports for 2017 and 2018 had already been submitted to the Ministry, officials said. Accordingly, the COPE ordered that all those reports be tabled in Parliament before 31 December.

According to the procurement plan for the year 2018, 1000 electronic bus ticket machines were to be purchased at a cost of Rs. 35 million with the approval of the Board of Directors. However, in the same year, Rs. 75,900,000 was spent on 2000 electronic bus ticket machines. Accordingly, 1000 electronic bus ticket machines were purchased without approval, and the COPE noted that those machines had not met the intended objectives. Therefore, it was recommended that a report be submitted to the COPE within a month in that regard.

Also discussed were the issues of several posts in the Board of Directors, the 5,921 buses in operation, the number of buses currently out of service and 2,742 buses which are 10 years old.

Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Minister D. V. Chanaka, Members of Parliament Rauff Hakeem, Jagath Pushpakumara, Madhura Withanage, and Premnath C. Dolawatte were present at the meeting. Member of Parliament (Dr.) Harsha de Silva and other officials joined the meeting via zoom technology. The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and other officials of the Sri Lanka Transport Board were also in attendance at the meeting.

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CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

30 mins ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️

News

Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages

Published

31 mins ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ondansetron controversy

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.

The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.

Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”

According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.

The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.

The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.

News

One killed, two injured in shooting at Kaduwela

Published

32 mins ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

A 20-year-old man was shot dead and two others injured in a shooting incident reported from the Menikgara area of Korathota, Nawagamuwa, in Kaduwela, on Thursday night (01 January).

The injured victims were initially admitted to the Oruwala Hospital in Athurugiriya and were later transferred to the Homagama Base Hospital for further treatment.

Police said the shooting targeted a group allegedly linked to an underworld figure known as Borelle Kudu Duminda, and investigations indicate the attack may have been carried out by a rival faction led by Borelle Kudu Chathu.

Preliminary investigations by the Nawagamuwa Police revealed that the victims were inside a rented house at the time of the attack. The suspects are believed to have arrived on a motorcycle and a three-wheeler, opened fire, and fled the scene immediately afterwards.

According to police, two gunmen had gained entry to the premises after cutting through a fence and used a pistol in the attack.

The deceased was identified as Sankalpa, a 20-year-old resident of Borella.

Police further said the victim and another individual were allegedly involved in an incident on November 14, 2025, in which a woman’s hand was severed with a sharp weapon in the Sarana Road area of Borella. Investigations have revealed that the woman is a close associate of Kudu Chathu.

Police said the woman’s residence was allegedly used by suspects involved in a separate shooting in Borella on 24 June, 2025, which had targeted an individual who escaped unharmed. It is alleged that the survivor of that shooting and the youth killed on Thursday later carried out the attack on the woman.

Both individuals are believed to be close associates of Kudu Duminda, a rival of Kudu Chathu, police said, adding that efforts to arrest suspects connected to the earlier incidents had been unsuccessful.

Investigators believe the latest killing was carried out based on information that a member affiliated with Kudu Chathu’s faction was present at the location. One of the injured persons is reportedly the brother-in-law of the individual who survived the June shooting.

A senior police officer said special security had earlier been deployed in the Borella area following intelligence reports that Kudu Duminda was planning a retaliatory attack.

Police noted that this is the first shooting incident reported in Sri Lanka for 2026.

By Norman Palihawadane ✍️