News
SL will save Rs. 12 billion annually with commissioning of Kerawalapitiya LNG Power Plant
By Ifham Nizam
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assured that the whole country will have access to electricity before the end of this year.
“Ninety nine per cent of the population have electricity at present. There are only 84,000 families who still don’t have access to power”, the premier said at the inauguration of the construction of the Kerawalapitiya Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Power Plant with a capacity of 350 MW, on Friday.
The Prime Minister stressed that the objective of the government is to provide electricity at a competitive price using modern technology in the world.
Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alhaperuma said that the price of a unit of electricity generated through conventional diesel power plants is between Rs. 25-30.
The unit price of electricity further increases to between Rs. 30-45 when emergency purchases are required during periods of high demand.
The unit price of electricity produced at the Kerawalapitiya Natural Gas Power Plant, which has now commenced construction would cost only Rs. 15, he noted.
Alhaperuma said the new power plant has the potential to generate 13% of the country’s current electricity demand or 2,000 million electricity units annually, saving Rs. 12 billion annually to the country.
It will save the country Rs. 240 billion over a period of 20 years, he said.
He also said that the new power plant to be constructed at Kerawalapitiya-Wattala has been designed in accordance with international standards with a minimal impact on the environment.
The power plant will be equipped with a F- class gas turbine which has very high efficiency compared to other gas turbines installed in the country.
The Kerawalapitiya Power Plant is a combined cycle power plant and will be completed in two phases.
CEB Chiarman Eng. Vijitha Herath said that the first phase, or the installation of a gas turbine, will generate 220 MW, which will be completed within 21 months and synchronized to the national grid.
He said that the second phase will add a further 130 MW to the national grid via a steam turbine, which is expected to be completed within 12 months. The plant will augment Sri Lanka with a total capacity of 350 MW over the next three years.
Lakdhanavi is responsible for the investment, engineering design, construction, commissioning, maintenance and operation of the new power plant. Lakdhanavi, which is a subsidiary of LTL Holdings Group, a local company since 1996. It is an industry leader synonymous with the construction of qualitative and feasible power plants in Sri Lanka as well as in South Asia, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal and the Middle East and East Africa.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have agreed to provide financial assistance for the construction of the power plant.
Just as low-cost power generation is significant for the future development of Sri Lanka, the construction of low-cost power plants is equally essential, industry officials remarked.
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]
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.
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.
High Court convicts 14 over deadly Easter bombings
Mandhana, Shafali and Ghosh lead dominant India to Asian Games gold
Fatima Sana and Umm-e-Hani secure bronze for Pakistan in Asian Games
India bat first in Asian games womens cricket final
Showers about 100mm will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara Districts
Govt. confident of 2/3 majority despite NPP split speculation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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