News

Gammanpila: How could I import fuel without govt. help?

Published

4 years ago

2022/03/2

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Economic hardships posed a graver threat to the country than LTTE terrorism, Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila yesterday told the media, adding that there were diesel stocks for four days in the country and a ship carrying diesel would arrive today.

Sri Lanka had 22,000 metric tonnes of diesel (by 01 March).

“We have decided to limit the amount of diesel issued to the market.

He added that the government had not provided his ministry with a subsidy to import fuel.

“If there is no support from the government how could I import fuel?”

Minister Gammanpila said that he had presented several strategies to the leaders of the government on how to overcome the challenges. However, they had not addressed the issue, he said.

“People ask me when the fuel crisis will end. I tell them that this crisis will be over when the dollar shortage ends. There is no such thing as a fuel shortage, or a gas shortage or a medicine shortage. There is only a shortage of dollars,” he said.

The Minister said that Sri Lanka had imported goods amounting to USD 21 billion in 2021. Out of that USD 2.8 billion was spent on fuel imports. USD 66 billion was spent on importing non-essential items including bottled water. USD 400 million was spent on dhal imports

“We import a lot of foreign fruits. We are told foreign tourists want them. However, I am certain that they will eat our tropical fruits. I am also certain that no one wants to come here, suffer through power cuts or fuel shortages that would prevent him and her from travelling around the country. We have to understand the crisis,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chaminda Hettiarachchi, Additional Secretary to the Ministry said that they couldn’t predict when the fuel shortages would end.

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News

Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted

Published

20 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.

Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.

Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.

News

Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed

Published

20 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.

It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.

Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.

Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions

• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981

News

Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts

Published

21 hours ago

2026/06/24

Priyan

WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.