News
Corruption in coal procurement: Prof Peiris wants heads to roll
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Rebel SLPP MP Prof. G.L. Peiris says that the recent resignation of Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, PC, and Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC, from a ministerial subcommittee inquiring into procurement of coal for Lakvijaya coal-fired power plant complex at Norochcholai revealed the failure on their part to take tangible action against corruption.
The former External Affairs Minister said that the two President’s Counsel couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for what was going on in utterly corrupt coal procurement process by quitting the ministerial subcommittee.
Prof. Peiris also took up this issue at Wednesday’s special media briefing at Nawala, where he dealt with the government’s efforts to put off Local Government polls scheduled for March 09.Prof. Peiris asked his former Cabinet colleagues whether they really believed their resignations were sufficient at a time organised racketeers were bleeding the country.
The subcommittee was appointed to inquire into procurement of 720,000 tonnes of coal.Referring to their letters of resignations addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Peiris said that both Rajapakse and Sabry owed a lucid explanation.
The former minister asked whether it was fair by the hapless public that ministers tasked with cleaning up coal procurement process conveniently gave up their responsibility claiming the absence of cooperation from those involved in the process.
Following their resignations, a new ministerial subcommittee has been constituted with Industries and Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Environment Minister Ahamed Nazeer Zainulabdeen, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, and State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe.
Prof. Peiris said that the resignations proved corruption was continuing though the cash-strapped government repeatedly urged the public to bear up hardships.
The SLPP National List lawmaker alleged that procurement of coal seemed to be beyond proper scrutiny at any level whereas the public were repeatedly told the government lacked wherewithal to pay for new coal shipments.Prof. Peiris called for careful examination of those directly responsible for procurement process as bankrupt Sri Lanka couldn’t afford to have the current fraudulent system continuing.
Prof. Peiris called the media briefing in the wake of the government deciding to procure 720,000 metric tonnes of Russian coal from two companies–China’s Combasst Industries Development Ltd and Dubai’s Coral Energy DMCC. The original plan was to buy the said amount of coal from Indonesia’s PT Arista Mitra Jaya. That plan has fallen through.
Three Sri Lankan leopard cubs that were born at the Singapore Zoo on Jan 1 have now made their public debut at the facility.
The two males and one female, born to mother Yala and father Asanka, are the first of their species yo be born at the Singapore Zoo. The last successful birth in Singapore was recorded at the Night Safari three decades ago.
The triplets, which are the pair’s first litter, are among around 80 Sri Lankan leopards in zoos worldwide.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with fewer than 800 individuals estimated to remain in the wild.
Visitors can now see the triplets at the Wild Africa exhibit, said the Mandai Wildlife Group in a statement on April 16.
The cubs can be found in the exhibit with their mother daily until mid-May and, subsequently, every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yala with her cubs in their nest box, a month after their birth on Jan 1. (Straits Times)
A leopard cub investigating a piece of meat suspended from a tree – one of the several enrichment items in the Wild Africa exhibit designed to keep the cats mentally and physically stimulated. (Straits Times)
Mandai Wildlife Group curator Anand Kumar said it took nearly three years and close collaboration across continents to bring together a compatible pair of Sri Lankan leopards.
(Straits Times)
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-zoos-first-sri-lankan-leopard-cubs-make-their-public-debut?ref=top-stories
The Sri Lanka Navy has seized a local multi- day fishing trawler, it’s four man crew together with a consignment suspected to be narcotics off the Southern Coast of the island.
The vessel is presently being escorted to the Dikowita fisheries harbour for further investigations and legal proceedings.
Latest News
Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 15 April 2026, valid for 16 April 2026.
The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern
and Southern provinces and in Monaragala district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491
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