News

Funds not released despite SC order Govt. intensifies campaign against LG polls

Published

3 years ago

2023/03/14

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government has stepped up attacks on the Election Commission (EC) in the wake of the Supreme Court directive meant to clear the way for much delayed Local Government polls.

Urban Development and Housing Ministry yesterday (13) quoted Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga, apparently oblivious to what is happening, as having told the local media at Udugampola earlier in the day the EC should examine whether the allocation made through budget 2023 for the independent commission was sufficient.

Minister Ranatunga has declared that the economy should be stabilised before elections could be held.

The Supreme Court on March 03 issued an interim order to Finance Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana and Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam, PC, not to withhold funds allocated to the Elections Commission by the 2023 budget.

The AG was named respondent on behalf of the President.

The Gampaha District SLPP heavyweight declared that the country was experiencing such a difficult situation the government was not in a position to release funds in support of the electoral process.

SLPP MPs, Premanath Dolawatte and State Minister Shehan Semasinghe on March 7 and 10, respectively in parliament explained why LG polls shouldn’t be conducted as scheduled.

Asked whether the EC received fresh funding since the Supreme Court directive issued on March 03, EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa said that the court intervention didn’t make any difference.

Punchihewa said that before the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) moved Supreme Court, the Treasury had released Rs 175 mn in support of the scheduled election. “Of that amount, we received Rs 100 mn while the Government Printer and Police Department received Rs 40 mn and Rs 35 mn, respectively,” the embattled EC Chief said.

The order was given by the three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Janak de Silva and Priyantha Fernando in respect of a fundamental rights petition filed by SJB General Secretary MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara, MP.

Responding to another query, Punchihewa said that though the budget allocated Rs. 10 bn for the EC, they could manage with Rs 1.1 bn.

Punchihewa said that the EC expected the government to abide by the SC directive though LG polls obviously undermined its political strategy. The outspoken lawyer and former member of the Human Rights Commission said that unless funds were made available immediately it wouldn’t be possible even to conduct LG polls on April 25. The poll was to be originally conducted on March 09.

The EC Chairman said that petitioner MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara would have to move the Supreme Court again. The EC could make representations before the Supreme Court again but that entirely depended on the SJB’s response to the latest situation.

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Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.

Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

News

CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

10 hours 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 ✍️