News
JVP alleges govt. move to sell Kerawalapitya power plant to US company
‘Cabinet approval granted for ‘fraudulent’ deal’
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP yesterday called on the public to rise against what it called the government’s plans to sell the ownership rights of the Kerawalapitiya power plant to a US company.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters, JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that the government leaders were bent on divesting state ventures..
“The most recent attempt came to light at the last Cabinet meeting when Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa presented a paper to sell the ownership rights of the Kerawalapitiya plant to a US company. The meeting was held via Zoom. The paper seeking the approval of the Cabinet has not been given to other ministers of the Cabinet prior to the meeting. Even at the meeting the paper in question has not been given to other members of the Cabinet. It was orally presented by the Finance Minister. As per his presentation, 40 percent of shares of the Treasury-owned 300MW Kerawalapitiya plant, construction of offshore Floating Storage Regasification Unit and the pipeline system for supplying Liquid Natural Gas to diesel power plants are to be sold to a US company. The powers to decide the conditions of the sale, prices, and the content of the agreement have been vested with the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. The government has decided to sell off the Kerawalapitiya plant while people are expecting solutions for the economic crisis and COVID-19 pandemic. We learn that Cabinet approval was obtained for the paper”, the JVP leader said, adding that the minister had not been allowed to express their views on it.
“We have a government led by those who are all out to sell national assets. We must defeat these moves. It is difficult to meet the people and explain them the need to stand against this latest move due to the prevailing crisis situation in the country owing to the pandemic. Yet, they must understand that the government is on the fast track of their plans to sell off national assets. People should line up against this. Now the decisions are made to sell off public assets even without presenting a Cabinet paper. This is an unprecedented situation. Not only does the government hide facts from people, it keeps the Cabinet ministers in the dark. If the government cannot present its move to the people and it cannot be discussed openly in the Cabinet, then there has to be something wrong in this deal. This is a fraudulent deal. That is why the government is playing its cards close to its chest. We call on people to line up with us to defeat this move,.”
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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