News
PUCSL Chairman predicts doom unless 33 more coal shiploads received before April
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka had to import 33 more coal shipments before the end of April 2023 to prevent extended power cuts, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) Janaka Ratnayake said yesterday.
Ratnayake said two ships carrying coal had arrived and another ship was expected on 07 Nov., and that partial payments had been for the two shipments.
“These five ships are carrying 300,000 tonnes of coal. We have 122,000 tonnes in our stores. If all coal power plants remain operational, we will need 7,500 metric tons of coal a day. By the middle of next month, one plant will be taken offline for routine maintenance,” Ratnayake said.
With the 122,000 tonnes in stores, Sri Lanka had coal to operate all power plants for 15 days. With the 300,000 tonnes in the five ships to be delivered, there would be enough coal until the end of December, he said.
“Each year we need about 38 ships carrying coal to operate our power plants. We are getting five. We need 33 more to come. The problem is due to rough seas; we can only unload coal at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant until the end of April. Then the seas become too rough for the barges. So, we have about 160 days to stock up on coal. That means a ship carrying coal must arrive once every five days. If we do not get the shipments on time, we might have extended power cuts next year,” he said.
Following the conclusion of bilateral discussions between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, official-level talks between the delegations of Sri Lanka and India commenced this morning (05) at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.
Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Anil Jayantha; Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake; Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe, along with other senior officials.
The Indian delegation included Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and His Excellency Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, along with several other senior officials of the Government of India.
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who arrived in Sri Lanka on the invitation of President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Friday [04] night, visited the Presidential Secretariat this morning (05).
The Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his arrival at the Presidential Secretariat.
Prime Minister Modi is currently on a state visit to Sri Lanka, reaffirming the theme “Friendship of Centuries — Commitment to a Prosperous Future” which symbolises the longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India. The Indian Premier is scheduled to remain in the country until tomorrow (06).
[PMD]
The official welcoming ceremony for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was held this morning (05) at the Independence Square in Colombo.
On arrival at the Independence Square the Indian Prime Minister was warmly welcomed by President Anura Kumara Disanayake.
Discussions between Sri Lankan and Indian delegations at the presidential secretariat
Sears takes five again as New Zealand complete ODI series sweep over Pakistan
Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrives at the presidential secretariat
-
Business1 day agoStrengthening SDG integration into provincial planning and development process
-
News5 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
Sports6 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
Sports2 days agoTo play or not to play is Richmond’s decision
-
Business11 hours agoNew SL Sovereign Bonds win foreign investor confidence
-
News6 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features6 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Features6 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know