Rooftop solar power systems with a generation capacity exceeding 300 kilowatts will be temporarily switched off until August 30 due to lower electricity demand during the holiday period, the National System Operator (Pvt) Ltd. (NSOL) said.

According to a notice issued by the NSOL, rooftop solar systems with capacities above 300 kilowatts have been requested to suspend generation daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from August 27 to August 30.

The temporary measure has been introduced as electricity demand is expected to remain low during the holiday period, with the suspension intended to help maintain stability across the national power system.

Operators of affected rooftop solar installations have been requested to comply with the specified deactivation schedule.

by Norman Palihawadane

Three people, including a 10-day-old infant, were killed in a head-on collision between an SUV and a three-wheeler in the Gonamariyawa area on the Medawachchiya–Kebithigollewa main road yesterday morning (27), police said.

The deceased were identified as a 49-year-old woman from Padavi Sri Pura, her 26-year-old daughter and the grandchild.

Police said the victims were proceeding from Kebithigollewa in the three-wheeler to take the baby to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for medical treatment when the vehicle collided with the SUV travelling in the opposite direction.

The 31-year-old three-wheeler driver sustained serious injuries and was admitted to the Kebithigollewa Base Hospital.

Kebithigollewa Police have arrested the jeep driver in connection with the accident, and further investigations are underway.

Police Headquarters has launched a special investigation into allegations that three police officers, including two attached to the Panadura Walana Central Anti-Corruption Unit, have been involved in planting narcotics on innocent people and falsely implicating them in drug-related cases.

The investigation was initiated following a complaint received by Police Headquarters in connection with a raid conducted on Wednesday (26).

According to the complaint, the three officers are allegedly receiving money and providing protection to drug traffickers operating in Ratmalana, Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Moratuwa and Kohuwala, while allegedly filing false cases against rivals and innocent civilians at the direction of underworld figures operating from overseas.

The individuals named in the complaints include alleged associates of organised crime and drug trafficking figures known as “Kos Malli,” “Chuwa Samantha” and “Kudu Avishka,” who are reportedly involved in directing criminal activities in Sri Lanka from overseas.

The three officers are also accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of rupees from overseas-based drug traffickers and allegedly operating a scheme to falsely implicate individuals in drug offences. Complaints concerning their alleged conduct have reportedly also been lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

The allegations further claim that the officers have not taken legal action against associates of the underworld figures named in the complaints, despite allegedly providing protection to their drug operations. Their complaints have pointed out that the conduct of these officers has also seriously tarnished the reputation of the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit, which has earned the trust of the public.

The latest incident that prompted the complaint occurred on Wednesday, when the three officers allegedly arrested a young man after planting around 15 milligrams of narcotics on him, according to the complaint.

The youth had reportedly obtained Rs. 125,000 by pawning a bracelet. However, only around Rs. 75,000 was allegedly produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.

The suspect subsequently informed the Magistrate of the circumstances surrounding his arrest and produced the pawn receipt as evidence.

He also requested that the substance allegedly recovered from him be subjected to laboratory analysis to determine its quantity and composition.

Following the submission, the Magistrate ordered that the suspected narcotic be sent to the Government Analyst for examination and that a report be obtained.

Police Headquarters is now conducting further inquiries into the allegations, including the conduct of the officers involved in the incident and their alleged links with organised criminal networks.