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More diesel, petrol shipments being unloaded

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By Rathindra Kuruwita

Minister of Energy, Gamini Lokuge, yesterday said that they had dispatched 2,000 metric tonnes of diesel to outstations over the weekend.

Addressing the media in Colombo he said that diesel was still being unloaded from a ship carrying 38 000 metric tonnes of the fuel.

“We have paid them on Friday but due to a technical issue, there was a delay in unloading,” he said.

Minister Lokuge said that a ship carrying 37 500 metric tonnes of petrol would arrive today (15) and that money had already been paid for the shipment.

Another ship with 20,000 metric tonnes of diesel and 20,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel had already arrived in the country, but the Ministry had still not paid for the fuel, he said.

“There are also reports of queues for kerosene. We have started dispatching fuel to gas stations but there is a shortage of bowsers, too,” he said.

Minister Lokuge on Sunday (13) told journalists that at least seven months would be needed to permanently end the current fuel and gas queues in Sri Lanka. Most of Sri Lanka’s problems had been caused by external circumstances, he said.

The crisis in Ukraine was set to plunge the entire world into an economic crisis, he said. Sri Lanka needed to increase trade with foreign nations and bring in hard currencies into the country, the Minister said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is attempting to strengthen the Sri Lankan economy by strengthening the tourism sector and exports.

The President also had ambitious plans to expand renewable sources of power that would reduce Sri Lanka’s dependency on fossil fuels, he said. That would greatly assist the foreign exchange situation of the country, he added.



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 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, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

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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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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