News

Power cuts till the first week of March, PUCL okays CEB request

Published

5 years ago

2022/02/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

One hour daytime cuts, 45 minute peak hour blackouts

by Ifham Nizam

The CEB Friday branded the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s demand to clear a debt of Rs. 64 billion remaining in its books to continue fuel supplies as “unreasonable” with senior engineers saying that load shedding and power cuts are inevitable till the first week of March.

They said the Kelanitissa Power Plant had to shut off 365 MW from the national grid due to non-availability of fuel.

Electricity regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL)Thursday endorsed CEB requests for routine power cut that it had long resisted. The Sunday Island learns that that a one-hour power cut will be imposed between 2:30 p m and 6:30 p m under four separate groups.

According to senior officials the length of the power cut may be extended due to the tricky fuel situation. In addition to the daytime cuts, a 45-minute power cut will be imposed during the peak hours between 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM as well. Meanwhile, PUCSL has pointed out that CEB and Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) have lost around Rs 50 billion due to bill payment delays of consumers.

CEB Finance Manager T K Liyanage said unpaid electricity bills are running at Rs. 43 billion with the bulk of the dues owed by private consumers. The amount owed by state institutions were not significant, he added. He also said that with the recent payment of Rs. 22 billion, CEB’s debt to CPC was down to Rs. 64 billion. Apart from that, Rs. 55 billion was owing to Independent Power Producers and Rs. 141 billion to State Banks.

PUCSL has ordered both CEB and LECO to urge consumers to settle their bills including the February bill within a three-month period. PUCSL Chief Janaka Ratnayake said that they have instructed the CEB to surcharge delayed bill payments. Meanwhile, National Employees Union of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) says that distribution of fuel has been restricted until the prices are increased.

The union’s Chairman Ananda Palitha says thatfilling station owners have complained that petrol stocks are inaccessible when diesel stocks are available or vice versa. Both petrol and diesel are unavailable at times. Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila assured that there is no shortage of fuel in the country at present.

The CPC is in possession of adequate stocks, he added. He says the country is currently facing a serious challenge in finding foreign exchange required for purchasing fuel with nearly two-thirds of Sri Lanka’s export earnings spent on fuel purchases.

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High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings

Published

6 hours ago

2026/09/22

Priyan

Security personnel stand guard outside Colombo High Court after escorting the accused involved in Sri Lanka's Easter Sunday attacks of 2019, during the verdict in the trial in Colombo on September 22, 2026 [Aljazeera]

The High Court has convicted 14 of the 24 men accused of being directly involved in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, which killed 279 people.

The three-judge bench read out its decision on Tuesday after a five-year trial and said sentencing would take place later, the AFP news agency reported.

The charges included murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism.

Nine others were acquitted, while another defendant was found guilty of only some of the charges, the court said.

[Aljazeera]

News

Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation

Published

19 hours ago

2026/09/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Anura / Harini

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The ruling NPP yesterday (21) dismissed claims of a widening rift, within the government, over the proposed 22nd Amendment. Asked whether the NPP was concerned over a section of the Opposition alleging Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and two dozen MPs taking a view contrary to that of the party in this regard, authoritative party sources said some persons were propagating speculation for their own interest.

Declaring that there was absolutely no issue regarding the controversial Amendment, sources emphasised once it was tabled in Parliament, it would be passed with 2/3 majority.

Sources dismissed claims that out of its 159-member parliamentary group a section of NPPers was opposed to the government move. According to an influential Opposition activist, there are 57 JVPers and 66 NPPers in the government group and the rest contested the last parliamentary polls, having aligned with the JVP.

Ministerial sources told The Island that the government was confident of going ahead with the 22nd Amendment and Judicature (Amendment) Bills. Sources said that the NPP was not bothered about the Opposition protests in and outside Parliament.

Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne is expected to disclose the confidential ruling that he received from the Supreme Court in respect of more than 65 petitions for and against the 22nd Amendment and Judicial Amendment Bills. The enactment of the 22nd Amendment would pave the way for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, from 65 to 67 years, and Court of Appeal judges, from 63 to 65 years.

News

Justice Corea appointed Acting President of the Court of Appeal

Published

19 hours ago

2026/09/22

Sahan Weerasooriya

Court of Appeal Judge M. Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea receives his letter of appointment

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Court of Appeal Judge Mayadunna Sri Mevan Anthony Edirimannasuriya Corea as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal.

The appointment has been made as President’s Counsel Nalin Rohantha Abeysuriya, who currently serves as President of the Court of Appeal, will be overseas until the 24th.

Accordingly Justice Mayadunna Corea was sworn in as Acting President of the Court of Appeal before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential secretariat last morning (21).

Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was also present at the occasion.