News
Russia honours Sri Lankan front-line graduates who fought against Covid-19
A ceremony titled ‘Evening of Friendship’ was held at the Russian Center in Colombo in recognition of the efforts of Russian/USSR graduate front-liners who fought against Covid-19.
The event was organized jointly with the Association of Sri Lankan Graduates from Socialist Countries and the Sri Lanka-Russia Friendship Society.
The chief guest was Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and former Director-General of Health Services, Vice Chairman of the 146th Executive Board of the WHO, who led the campaign to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection in Sri Lanka.
Dr. Sunil de Alvis, Additional Secretary (Medical Services), Ministry of Health, who made a significant contribution towards overcoming the threat of the pandemic in Sri Lanka, was the guest of honor.
The event was attended by Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Education Reforms, Promotion of Open Universities and Distance Learning, President of Sri Lanka- Russia Friendship Society, Yury Materiy, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives and Dr. Saman Weerasinghe, former Sri Lankan Ambassador in Russia and General Secretary of Sri Lanka – Russia Friendship Society.
The official part of the event comprised honoring the contribution of the outstanding Soviet/Russian Alumni towards fighting Covid-19 in Sri Lanka, a photo exhibition, and a ceremony to present souvenirs to the graduates to acknowledge their selfless efforts.
Addressing the audience, Anastasia Khokhlova, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy and Director of the Russian Centre in Colombo, noted that Russia acknowledges its graduates as one of the main assets of bilateral cooperation.
“I’m honored to acknowledge that the utmost contribution in this battle against the pandemic threat was carried out by the Russian/Soviet alumni, Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Dr. Sunil De Alwis with many other graduates of various spheres of education, who did a great lot to successfully prevent the spread of the dangerous disease in Sri Lanka”, she noted.
“It is the best compliment for us that the fundamental base for your utmost professionalism was laid at Russian universities and cradled by our country”, she added.
Tokens of appreciation were presented by Ambassador Yuri Materi to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Anil Jasinghe, Dr. Sunil De Alwis, Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni, CMC’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, SSP Dr. Ravi Basnayake, Police Hospital, Dr. Geethika Guruge, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health, Public Health Department, CMC, Dr. Dinu Guruge, Regional Epidemiologist, Colombo CMC, Dr. Dhammike Adhikarawatta, Public Health Officer, CMC, Dr. Kapila Sooriyaarachchi, Head of Health Promotion Division, Public Health Department, Dr. Sudanthika Wijesooriya in charge of Corona Unit, North Colombo Teaching Hospital and Dr. Theja Huruggamuwa, Covid Unit, General Hospital, Kalutara.
A cultural program by the students of the School of Music and the School of Ballet and Dance of the Russian Centre in Colombo added color to the event.
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.
The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.
Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.
The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.
The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.
According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.
Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.
The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.
In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.
The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.
The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.
Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️
Two people killed in magnitude 6.5 earthquake in Mexico
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Venezuela’s capital hit by explosions, Caracas blames the US
Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund
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