News
Norochcholai power plant shut down due to coal shortage to be restarted next weekend
By Chaminda Silva
The generator of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant shut down last month would be reconnected to the grid from 07 January, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) engineers said.
The generator was shut down in the guise of annual maintenance, but in reality it was due to coal shortages, engineers said.
With its restoration 270 Megawatts will be added to the national grid, they said.
“We have enough coal stocks for two generators till 08 January. We are getting a new coal shipment of 60,000 tonnes on 05 January. When we unload it, we will restart the generator that is now shutdown,” they said.
They said that the three generators at the plant needed 7,500 tonnes of coal per day to operate.
Thirty-three ships carrying coal would arrive in Sri Lanka by April 30 and stocks needed for Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) would be provided continuously, Chairman/MD- Lanka Coal Company Shehan Sumanasekara told The Island.
“Three more ships are coming on 10, 14 and 16 January. We need 33 ships before the seas get too rough to unload coal. We are sure that all 33 ships will arrive before 20 April,” he said.
Given that it takes five days to unload a ship, it will take 165 days to unload 33 ships.
Eksath Janaraja Peramuna (EJP) yesterday complained to the Election Commission (EC) regarding President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent threat that the government would release funds only to local government bodies to be won by a clean party at the May 06 LG polls.
The EJP, led by former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, complained that President Dissanayake has claimed during a public rally at Weligama that the NPP was the only clean party.
The EJP is contesting 37 LG bodies at the forthcoming election.
The new party said that the rights of the other contesting political parties and groups had been violated by the President.
The EJP asked the EC to ensure a level playing field
Having handed over their complaint, EJP spokesman Theekshana Gammanpila told the media outside the EC office that Anura Kumara Dissanayake had won last year’s presidential election and then the parliamentary election as the then government ensured a free and fair election. But now President Dissanayake was making a despicable attempt to influence the electorate in the run-up to the vital mini polls. Gammanpila alleged that the President’s intervention could have a far reaching impact on the electorate.
The EJP spokesman emphasised the responsibility on the part of the EC to intervene and take tangible measures to prevent President Dissanayake from manipulating the electorate to their advantage. (SF)
Former North Central Province Chief Minister S. M. Ranjith and his private secretary Shanthi, who is his brother, former Minister S.M. Chandrasena’s wife, were yesterday (02) sentenced to 16 years rigorous imprisonment after being found guilty of corruption charges. They were also ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 200,000 each.
The judgment was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi.
They were convicted on charges filed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption.
S.M. Ranjith was found guilty of enabling Shanti to secure an additional fuel allowance between Sept 2012 and Dec 2014 to the tune of Rs 2.68 mn.
The Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka hosted a concert of Japanese traditional music by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra featuring the performers of NYSC on 28th March in honour of the visit of Most. Ven. Ohtani Chohjun Nayaka Hamuduruwo, the 25th Head Priest of Higashi Hongan-ji Grand Temple.
The event featured a Japanese tea ceremony and breathtaking musical performances by the Honganji Temple & Foundation Japanese Orchestra, showcasing traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto and Shamisen. The evening was further enriched by violin and vibrant dance performances by students from the National Youth Council (NYSC) and Lanka Nippon Biztech Institute (LNBTI).
This cultural celebration further strengthened the deep ties between Japan and Sri Lanka, offering a unique experience of Japanese tradition and heritage.
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