News
PB applies breaks on increasing CEB overdraft already at staggering Rs 28 billion
Power cuts extended to seven hours
By Ifham Nizam
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says that the People’s Bank has declined to provide it funds and that would lead to more stumbling blocks to clear while also extending power cuts.
However, a CEB top management official said following discussions with Power Minister Pavithra Wanniarchchi, the matter was supposed to have been cleared by the Bank Monday evening.
The overdraft of Rs, 12 billion had jumped to Rs. 28 billion and the Bank officials had instructed the CEB management that they had to withhold any further increases.
However, CEB spokesman Andrew Navamani told The Island that it would not have a direct impact with the 200MW Emergency Power Purchases which is in the pipeline after the Cabinet endorsed it.
Power sector regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) yesterday said that many areas countrywide would experience a seven-hour power outage today.
Meanwhile, another official said that despite going for emergency power from Independent Power Producers, power shedding would go on for long periods.
Some engineers say the power cuts will go on for more than a year while others say it will go on for more than seven months.
“The situation at Samanala Wewa will be disastrous if rains fail to come as expected by May, Then the Southern part of the country will experience a total blackout”, a senior engineer said.
“We are having a shortage of between 400MW and 500MW daily,” a top official said, adding bridging it is not easy though coal stocks are available for the moment, new shipments had to be brought down before the rough seas set in for the year”.
PUCSL said that it had approved the request made by the CEB to increase the power cut duration for today (29), due to the unavailability of fuel for the generation of 300MW of thermal capacity.
Accordingly, the areas listed under the Groups P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W will experience power cuts of 05 hours (daytime) between 8.30am and 6.30pm and 02 hours and 15 minutes (nighttime) between 6.30pm and 11.00pm.
Meanwhile the areas under the Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L will be imposed power cuts of 05 hours (daytime) between 8.00am and 6.00pm and 02 hours and 30 minutes (nighttime) between 6.00pm and 11.00pm.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975
By Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-01, policy approval was granted to amend the definition of the term “animal” in the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 by including, pigs, goats, and sheep, in addition to cattle and buffaloes, within the interpretation section of the act.
In accordance with the said approval, the Legal Draftsman has drafted an Amended Bill in all three languages, and the clearance of the Attorney General has also been obtained.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish the draft Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Government of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in Sri Lanka and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to the affairs of the said cultural centre, in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the operation of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre.
According to the provisions of the aforementioned MOU, upon completion of the construction of the project, the cultural centre should be transferred to the Jaffna Municipal Council through the Government of Sri Lanka.
Following such transfer, the relevant parties have reached an agreement to establish a ‘trust’ for carrying out the management activities of the centre. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft trust deed prepared for that purpose.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to establish the trust to continue the management activities of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975 to be amended
Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 amended
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
Prime Minister Keir Starmer under pressure as ministers quit, 80 MPs urge him to resign
Nahid Rana rips through Pakistan to seal a final-session win for Bangladesh
South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail reverses retirement for T20 World Cup
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News6 days agoMIT expert warns of catastrophic consequences of USD 2.5 mn Treasury heist
-
News3 days agoLanka Port City officials to meet investors in Dubai
-
Editorial6 days agoClean Sri Lanka and dirty politics
-
Editorial5 days agoThe Vijay factor
-
News4 days agoSLPP expresses concern over death of former SriLankan CEO
-
News7 days agoDevelopment Officer bids Rs. 48 mn for CPC’s V8 at auction
-
Opinion7 days agoPostmortem reports and the pursuit of justice
-
News4 days agoPolice inform Fort Magistrate’s Court of finding ex-CEO of SriLankan dead under suspicious circumstances