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JRJ, Gamini, MR saved country from massive power crisis – Dullus

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By Ifham Nizam

Minister of Power Dullas Alahapperuma said yesterday that Sri Lanka would have faced a minimum 16-hour power cut on a daily basis if not for the visionary initiatives by the late President J. R. Jayewardene and the late Minister Gamini Dissanayake to commence the Mahaweli Development Project, and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s bold decision to commence the first coal fired power plant complex at Norochcholai.

“Irrespective of political differences, correct decisions taken with regard to the power sector should be praised,” Minister Alahapperuma told a group of journalists invited to the new Power Ministry headquarters in Kollupitiya.

Alahapperuma said that minimising the use of fossil fuel remained the top priority as instructed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

April 6 had recorded highest peak use (2,768 MW) at 6.55 p.m, the Minister said, adding that diesel and furnace oil plants released over 13 million kilos of carbon on a daily basis here to generate 15.3 gigawatt hours, which he termed was worse than cutting down 1,000 trees.

Minister Alahapperuma said that the country spent a lot of money on fossil fuels and it was important to increase the output from renewable energy.

“We are determined to reduce electricity generation from diesel and furnace oil to five percent by 2025 and to one per cent by 2030.”

Alahapperuma said that it had been planned to add 600MW of solar power to the national grid from 7,000 power plants to be constructed within a few years. He said since 2013, after Norochcholai Power Plants One and Two, no major or stable power plant had been added to the grid though 550MW from various sources had been blocked since 2014. “I don’t want to dwell on the past, and for my part I will go all to achieve the projected targets, and if there are any mistakes or problems I should be held responsible.”

Minister Alahapperuma  said that wind and solar power generation was being expanded countrywide with wind plants being equipped with battery storage units to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply

“We are planning to equip selected Samurdhi families with 5kW solar panels they can install on their rooftops as another source of power,” he said.



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Cabinet nod for MOU between Sri Lanka and Romania on the cooperation in the Labour Field

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Romania, a country that has maintained diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka for several decades in various fields, has become an increasingly popular destination among Sri Lankan skilled and semi-skilled Labour categories, especially in the fields of construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and services sectors.

At present, the recruitment of Sri Lankan workers to Romania is carried out by licensed private employment agencies under the
supervision of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau. However, since both parties have recognized the need of establishing a more organized and sustainable recruitment method due to increasing  demand, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of Romania regarding cooperation in the field of the labour sector with the following objectives.

• Establishment of proper mechanism for recruitment and management of workers.
• Promotion of ethical and transparent recruitment practices.
• Protection of rights and welfare of the migrant workers.
• Facilitation of regular discussions between the formal and relevant authorities ofboth countries.
• Improvement of technical cooperation, skills recognition, and capacity building in the labour sector.

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New circular to replace Management Services Circular No. 01/2019

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by  the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance,
Planning, and Economic Development to repeal Management Services Circular No. 01/2019 , dated 15-03-2019, issued regarding the implementation of development projects, and to issue a new management services circular including updated provisions instead.

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Four Chief Prelates urge President to appoint NAO official as Auditor General

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Anura Kumara

Chief Prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas, in a joint letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has expressed concern over the protracted delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General.

The Chief Prelates have said that the appointment of an outsider as the Head of the National Audit Office (NAO) responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability in public finances will be inappropriate.

The Chief Prelates have said that they are of the view that Dharmapala Gammanpila, a senior officer with extensive experience within the Auditor General’s Department, is the ideal candidate for the top post. They have also emphasised that his appointment will strengthen the government’s efforts to promote economic prosperity.

Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.

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