News

Electrical engineer Ranawaka paints a grim picture of outcome of proposed CEB reforms

Published

3 years ago

2022/12/9

Thilina Walpola

… likens it to what happened to Russia with Gorbachev reforms

By Saman Indrajith

Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Patali Champika Ranawaka told Parliament yesterday that the government’s plans to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board would certainly lead to disaster.

“These privatisation plans, if permitted, would have the same consequences as the economic reforms in Russia under Mikhail Gorbachev,” Ranawaka said.

Ranawaka, an electrical engineer, said that as per a recent Cabinet decision the CEB would be divided into 18 companies and some of its work would be given to four other companies. “This move will bring about disastrous consequences. And the privatisation of reservoirs will make it hard for the people to get water for drinking and agriculture because most water sources will be exploited by private companies in the name of power generation,” he said.

Ranawaka said that a committee report had been released on the plan to divide the CEB and its affiliated bodies into 18 companies and four institutions. The Cabinet had approved this report. The CEB would be broken down to 22 institutions. This will mean the dissolution of the CEB. Power generation would be given to six main companies. The first would take over the Kelani River hydropower generation including the Lakshapahana, Maussakelle, Canyon and Broadland. The second will take over the Mahaweli complex including Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala and Polgolla. Third company would be set up at the Samanalawewa complex and CEB owned plants there. Fourth would be the Coal Power Complex of the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Puttalam, CEB’s Thermal Power plants at Kelanitissa and Sapugaskanda would be taken over by the fifth and the sixth would be the Wind power plant in Mannar, Ranawaka said.

Ranawaka said that people should not allow the privatisation of the waters of Kelani or Mahaweli rivers because that would deprive many provinces of drinking water. The top priority of the private companies would be the generation of power. What would happen if they cannot supply water to Colombo or any of these places?

“The most dangerous thing about this is the privatisation of hydropower. The public should not let this happen because we have finished paying for the Kelani River-based Laxapana Power Plant, and we have finished paying for the Mahaweli Power Plants. The government has no right to sell them. These are the people’s assets. Privatising these resources will be a serious threat to national security,” Ranawaka said, adding that the disbanding of the CEB is similar to Gorbachev dissolving Soviet Russia.

Ranawaka said that the issue of restructuring of the CEB would be taken up by the Economic Stabilisation Committee of Parliament under his watch and international experts had been invited to be present in the Committee on 13 Dec. He invited all MPs to attend the session and see the danger of the government move.

Power Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that restructuring of the CEB had been accepted by all as a necessity. “This had to be done to increase efficiency. Without increasing efficiency it is impossible to control the electricity prices.”

Minister Wijesekera accused Ranawaka of misleading the House.

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President and Exco of Sri Lanka Cricket step down

Published

2 hours ago

2026/04/29

Priyan

Sri Lanka Cricket has announced today (29) that the President of Sri Lanka Cricket and members of the Executive Committee have tendered their resignations.

The decision has been formaly communicated to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Kegalle, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time

Published

9 hours ago

2026/04/29

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 28 April 2026, valid for 29 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 and North-western provinces and in Kegalle,
Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts during the day time.

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.

News

Treasury chief’s citizenship details sought from Australia

Published

11 hours ago

2026/04/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Nagananda / Harshana

New controversy erupts over missing USD 2.5 mn:

Public interest activist Nagananda Kodituwakku has sought citizenship details of Finance Ministry Secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma from the Department of Home Affairs, Australia.

According to a letter dated 28 April, addressed to the relevant department, Solicitor England and Wales Kodituwakku sought the required information in terms of Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act No 3 of 1982 of Australia. Suriyapperuma is also the Secretary to the Treasury.

The former Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Suriyapperuma (from November 2024 to June 2025) is embroiled in a deepening controversy over the theft of USD 2.5 mn from the Treasury.

The leader of the Vinivida Foundation said that he intended to move court against Suriyapperuma for entering Parliament through the NPP National List in violation of the country’s Constitution (Article 91(1)(d)(xiiii).

Kodituwakku said: “This is clearly an accountability and integrity issue and violation of the Constitution of Sri Lanka and also this act contravenes the law of a member in the Commonwealth.”

USD 2.5 mn paid to a third party was meant to be an instalment of a loan taken from Australia. Suriyapperuma neither responded to an SMS nor answered his hand phone.

Geetha Kumarasinghe (UPFA/Galle District) and Diana Gamage (SJB National List) lost their seats in 2017 and 2024, respectively, over citizenship issues.

Meanwhile, public interest group ‘Free Lawyers’ that exposed the theft of Treasury funds questioned the failure on the part of Dr. Harsha de Silva, Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (CoPF), to pressure President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to temporarily remove Suriyapperuma to facilitate unhindered investigations.

On behalf of ‘Free Lawyers’, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon yesterday expressed concern over the way the CoPF, under SJBer de Silva’s leadership, handled the issue at hand. Issuing an open letter, Tennakoon, urged the CoPF chief to explain his stand on a spate of vital issues which needed to be addressed without any further delay.

By Shamindra Ferdinando