News
Restructuring of CEB not a matter that can be addressed solely through SC determination – Prof. Peiris
Alleging that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa combine was in an indecent hurry to privatise the Ceylon Electricity Board on the pretext of restructuring, dissident SLPP MP Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (29) said that the issues arising out of the move couldn’t be addressed by seeking the Supreme Court determination in that regard.
Addressing the media at his Kirula Road residence, the former law professor pointed out that the SC would determine whether the relevant Bill would be compatible with the Constitution.
Acknowledging the pivotal importance of the SC determination in respect of the relevant Bill, the former External Affairs Minister found fault with the government for not discussing the vital issue with stakeholders in and out of Parliament.
A section of the SLPP dissidents, led by Prof. Peiris, has aligned with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Prof. Peiris questioned the rationale in pushing ahead with the privatization of the CEB in the run-up to the presidential election scheduled for Sept/Oct this year.
On behalf of the Opposition, Prof. Peiris urged the Wickremesinghe-led government to put on hold the proposed CEB restructuring plan meant to break-up the state enterprise into eight sections.
The ex-top law academic emphasized that it would be a grave mistake on the part of the government to deal with this particular issue on the basis of the SC determination alone.
Prof. Peiris said that the ruling SLPP couldn’t throw its weight behind President Wickremesinghe move to sell state enterprises in violation of mandates received at presidential and parliamentary polls in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
The former Minister reminded the SLPP that it secured 145 seats, including 17 National List slots, at the last general election, whereas UNP leader Wickremesinghe couldn’t even retain his Colombo District seat. The UNP was reduced to just one NL slot, Prof. Peiris said, reiterating the Opposition call for the suspension of privatization until the conclusion of the presidential poll.
The ex-Minister questioned whether the government pursued a hidden agenda in seeking to privatize key institutions ahead of the presidential poll. (SF)
The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) sources said that plans were afoot to file charges in connection with 15 major fraud and corruption cases in the near future.
The Commission sources said that these cases stem from thorough investigations into complaints that had previously gone unexamined, with recent file reviews prompting the decision to proceed with legal action. The forthcoming charges are based on detailed inquiries that uncovered substantial evidence pointing to serious misconduct.
To date, CIABOC has initiated inquiries into over 300 complaints received during the recent period, reflecting an expanded commitment to tackling corruption at multiple levels of governance.
Commission sources said that several former ministers and political affiliates from past administrations are among those implicated in the ongoing investigations, though specific names have yet to be disclosed.
Despite global shifts toward digital transactions, Cash on Delivery (COD) remains the dominant payment method for online shopping in Sri Lanka, according to the Digital Outlook Sri Lanka 2025 Report by the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM) and the University of Kelaniya.
The report reveals that 52 percent of Sri Lankan online shoppers prefer COD, up from 48 percent in the previous year, underscoring persistent consumer caution toward digital payments.
While debit/credit card usage has dipped slightly to 35 percent (from 39.5 percent last year), newer digital payment methods such as e-wallets/e-money apps lag at 1 percent or less. Installment-based “Buy Now, Pay Later” options account for 3 percent, reflecting modest traction. Online bank transfers, meanwhile, accounted for 8 percent (down from 9 percent last year).(aayubo.com)
The Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education has launched a recruitment initiative aimed at addressing critical shortages in university academic staff across the country.
Deputy Minister Dr. Madura Seneviratne said that the recruitment process is being implemented at the university level to ensure that pressing needs are addressed efficiently and in alignment with institutional priorities.
The move comes in response to growing concerns raised by the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA), which has pointed out that nearly 2,000 essential faculty positions remain unfilled across the country’s public universities, potentially impacting the quality of higher education and research output.Deputy Minister Seneviratne said that the recruitment process will be prioritized based on the urgency and significance of vacancies within individual universities and departments.
By Chaminda Silva
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