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Power supply disconnections reflect deepening economic crisis – Udaya

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Udaya Gammanpila

SJB: CEB not interested in recovering unpaid electricity bills amounting to Rs 65 bn

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila, MP, yesterday (26) said that disconnection of electricity supply to nearly 600,000 families so far this year reflected the magnitude of the deepening economic crisis.

Former power and energy minister Gammanpila said so responding to his successor Kanchana Wijesekera declaration that 3,000-rupee re-connection fee levied by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would be reduced by Rs. 1,000 with effect from 01 Dec. The announcement was made at the regular media briefing held at the President’s Media Division (PMD) on Saturday (25).

The PHU leader lost power and energy portfolio in early March last year when the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed him following his criticism of government policy.At present power supply reconnections would depend on the payment of the outstanding amount in full and an additional 3,000-rupee penalty.

Gammanpila pointed out that the rapid increase in the number of disconnections should be examined against the backdrop of the vast majority of people reeling from the extremely high cost of living. Increase of VAT (Value Added Tax) from 15% to 18% with effect from January 01, 2024 would further worsen their situation, the ex-minister said.

Gammanpila said he had raised the issue during the committee stage debate on the vote on the Ministry of Power and Energy last week.Eng. Noel Priyantha, CEB spokesperson, who is also DGM (Business and Operational Strategy), said that by end of Oct there had been altogether 544,488 disconnections though electricity supply was resumed after the payment of the total outstanding amount plus Rs. 3,000.

Responding to The Island query, Priyantha said that the vast majority of them got electricity back within 48 hours after the disconnection. The top official stressed that power had been restored to all 544,488 households within days of disconnection.

MP Gammanpila said that the growing number of disconnections couldn’t be discussed without taking into consideration the increase in power tariffs twice this year, in Feb (61.65%) and Oct (18%). The former minister pointed out that tariffs had been increased twice and decreased once in June (14%) regardless of much touted assurance to restrict the revisions within a year to two.

The assurance on two power tariff revisions annually had been given by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in January this year.

Responding to the CEB decision to go all out against those who had failed to settle their bills on time, Samagi United Trade Union Force convener Ananda Palitha yesterday said that the government should explain why those who owed the CEB massive sums of money continued to receive uninterrupted services.

Claiming that he had obtained the latest official data, Palitha said the CEB had not recovered unpaid bills amounting to Rs 65 bn. He asked the CEB to release the names of those who hadn’t paid massive bills but continued to receive uninterrupted services. “Among the culprits are politicians, politically influential persons and major companies,” Palitha said, adding that those who settled their bills religiously with difficulty were being further burdened with increased bills.

According to CEB data, of the 544, 488 disconnections (January-October, 2023), 88,020 and 85,621 had been carried out in August and September respectively.JVP trade union leader in the power sector Ranjan Jayalal said that disconnections, too, had been outsourced. According to him, each disconnection and reconnection cost the consumer Rs 800 each. The CEB spokesman stressed that only part of the operation had been outsourced.



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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala

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The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has issued landslide  early warnings to the districts of Badulla, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Monaragala effective untill 2100hrs on 12th May 2026.

Accordingly,

Level II landslide early warnings have been issued to the divisional secretaries division and surrounding areas of  Passara in the Badulla district.

Level I landslide early warnings  have been issued to the divisional secretaries divisions and surrounding areas of Bandarawela in the Badulla district, Walallawita in the Kalutara district, Pasbage Korale,  Akurana,  Gangawata Korale,  Panvila,  Yatinuwara,  Ganga Ihala Korale,  Doluwa and  Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Mawanella,  Bulathkohupitiya,  Yatiyanthota,  Aranayaka,  Kegalle and  Rambukkana in the Kegalle district, Rideegama in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district and Badalkumbura and Wellawaya in the Monaragala district.

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Showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

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WEATHER FORECAST FOR 11 MAY 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 11 May 2026 by the Department of Meteorology

 

The low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka is likely to develop into a low-pressure area around the next 36 hours. Therefore, the prevailing showery conditions over the island are expected to continue during the next few days.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in most parts of the island and Cloudy skies are expected, under the influence of the aforementioned system. Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-central provinces and in Trincomalee district.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Treasury theft: Speaker’s conduct brought to IPU’s attention: SJB  

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Dayasiri

SJB MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has sought the intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to pressure the JVP-NPP government to respect the rights of the Opposition.

MP Jayasekera told The Island that they wouldn’t allow the NPP to suppress the truth regarding the theft of Treasury funds amounting to USD 2.5 million. He accused Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremaratne of depriving the Opposition of its legitimate rights, at the behest of the government.

Jayasekera said that the Speaker’s conduct regarding the action taken against Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, too, had been brought to the notice of IPU and other international associations.

The text of MP Jayasekera’s letter to the Secretary general of IPU: “I respectfully submit this petition seeking the attention and intervention of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning a matter affecting parliamentary accountability, the rights of elected representatives, and the proper functioning of constitutional oversight within the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

On 06 May 2026, I Dayasiri Jayasekara MP submitted a formal request to the Hon. Speaker of Parliament seeking permission, under the Parliament (Powers and Privileges) Act No. 21 of 1953 and Standing Order 29(1), to raise a question of privilege regarding alleged constitutional and parliamentary violations by Mr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Treasury of Sri Lanka.

The proposed privilege motion raised matters including:

1. Alleged violations of Articles 148, 149, and 150 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka concerning parliamentary control over public finance;

2. Alleged failure to report to Parliament concerning a controversial and unlawful transfer of approximately USD 2.5 million from the Treasury;

3. Alleged non-compliance with parliamentary committee procedures under the Standing Orders of Parliament;

4. Questions relating to constitutional eligibility under Article 91(1)(d)(xiii) of the Constitution concerning dual citizenship and qualification to sit and vote in Parliament;

5. A request that the matter be referred to the Parliamentary Ethics and Privileges Committee established under Standing Order 118.

 Despite the seriousness of the constitutional and parliamentary issues raised, the Hon. Speaker declined permission for the privilege issue to be raised in Parliament.

It is respectfully submitted that this refusal has the effect of:

•  Preventing an elected Member of Parliament from exercising his parliamentary oversight function;

• Restricting parliamentary scrutiny over matters involving public finance and constitutional accountability;

•  Undermining the privileges of Members of Parliament to raise matters of urgent public importance;

•  Limiting institutional transparency concerning allegations involving senior state officials.

The right of parliamentarians to raise questions of privilege and matters relating to constitutional governance is an essential component of parliamentary democracy and legislative independence. The refusal to permit even the presentation or preliminary consideration of such a matter raises serious concerns regarding parliamentary accountability mechanisms in Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, I respectfully request that the Inter-Parliamentary Union:

1.Take cognizance of this matter as one affecting the rights and functions of Members of Parliament;

2.Seek clarification from the relevant parliamentary authorities in Sri Lanka regarding the grounds upon which the privilege motion was disallowed;

3.Consider whether the refusal is compatible with internationally recognised principles of parliamentary democracy, accountability, and freedom of parliamentary speech;

4. Encourage the Parliament of Sri Lanka to ensure fair and transparent procedures governing parliamentary privilege motions and constitutional oversight.

I further request that this communication be placed before the appropriate committee or mechanism within the IPU dealing with the rights and duties of parliamentarians.”

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