News
Apparel producers decry 400% off-peak electricity price hike
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The off peak electricity tariff has increased by about 400 percent and this is an obstacle to garment factories to operate 24-hours a day, Deputy Chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), Felix Fernando, says.
Fernando said that raw materials are the main expenses of a garment factory, followed by salaries, and electricity. The increase in electricity tariff, since August 2022, have had a significant impact on the bottom-line of garment factories, he added.
“We don’t know if energy prices will drop by June but things are looking bad now. There is a 20 to 25 percent reduction in the orders received by factories in general. Most factories now operate around 16-18 hours a day. We need to run a factory 24 hours to make a profit. But there is a problem in running a factory for 24 hours now. Off peak charges have increased by about 400 percent. We spent about six rupees per unit of electricity, during off peak, in June 2022. Now we spend over 30 rupees,” he said, adding that Sri Lanka’s main competitors in the region are Bangladesh, Vietnam and India. In these countries the cost of electricity is about 09 to 10 cents U.S dollars, per kilowatt hour.
“It was the same case in Sri Lanka but now we spend about 12 cents U.S dollars, per kilowatt hour. This is not good. The JAAF has added 200 MWs through solar energy to the national grid but we haven’t been paid for seven months by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB),” he said.
The JAAF Deputy Chairman added that its members are not parking their dollar earnings outside the country, however, the state has to take action if anyone does that.
“We need to take steps to extend the GSP + facility. However, the EU is not too happy with Sri Lanka because of the restrictions on imports. We need to diversify. We need trade agreements with India and China. These are big markets. For example, we export only about eight million units of clothing to India, per annum, but Bangladesh sends so much more clothes to India,” he said.
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura
The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide early warnings to the districts of Kalutara, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura effective from 0400hrs on 12th June 2026 to 0400hrs on 13th June 2026
Accordingly,
LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Palindanuwara in the Kalutara district, Doluwa in the Kandy district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ayagama, Ratnapura, Godakawela, Kalawana and Nivitigala in the Ratnapura district
News
Wife, counsel seek regular access to ex-Spy Chief Sallay held under President’s detention order
Wife of former State Intelligence Chief Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay has asked CID Director retired SSP Shani Abeysekera to allow her, her family members and lawyers to visit her husband in the National Hospital, Colombo. Sallay’s counsel has also written to Abeysekera, asking for permission to visit the former spy held on a detention order signed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The text of Manori’s letter: “I respectfully request your assistance in granting me, and my daughter or alternatively my son, permission to visit my husband, Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is currently at the National Hospital, Colombo.
“As you are aware, my husband is presently engaged in a fast-unto-death campaign. His physical condition and emotional well-being are of deep concern to our family. During this difficult period, the presence and support of his immediate family are extremely important to him.
“I firmly believe that regular visits from me with our daughter or our son would help uplift his spirits, provide him with much-needed emotional strength, and may encourage him to reconsider continuing this course of action. Family support can play a vital role in preserving his mental and emotional health while he remains hospitalised.
“In view of these exceptional circumstances, I kindly request that permission be granted for either me and my daughter or my son to visit him daily during the period of his hospitalisation.
“I would be most grateful for your compassionate consideration of this request.”
“The text of the counsel’s letter: “I write in my capacity as Counsel for Rtd. Major General Suresh Sallay, who is presently under detention and admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.
As you are aware, Major General Sallay has embarked on a fast-unto-death campaign, giving rise to serious concerns regarding his physical and mental well-being. In these circumstances, it is imperative that I be granted reasonable and regular access to my client during his hospitalisation.
As his legal representative, I have a professional obligation to monitor his condition and obtain instructions from him so that I may accurately apprise the relevant courts of his health status and any developments affecting his rights and welfare. Effective legal representation requires continuous communication with my client, particularly in light of the grave circumstances presently confronting him.
I also wish to respectfully highlight that Major General Sallay has placed explicit trust and confidence in me as his counsel. Indeed, I was the first person he contacted following his arrest.
Given the trust he reposes in me, I believe I am uniquely positioned to engage with him constructively and persuade him to discontinue this campaign and instead place his confidence in the legal remedies and judicial processes available to him.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that I be granted permission to visit my client on a daily basis during the period of his hospitalization.
Such access would not only facilitate the discharge of my professional responsibilities but may also contribute meaningfully towards safeguarding his health and encouraging a resolution through lawful and institutional means.
News
CIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who served as a Lieutenant in the Sri Lanka Navy, has now been summoned to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption next Tuesday (16) for questioning over his participation in a Royal Navy training programme in the United Kingdom outside established procedures.
The Commission is expected to record statements in relation to several complaints received regarding his recruitment and subsequent service in the Navy after he enlisted on December 14, 2006.
According to sources, the investigation focuses on allegations concerning the educational qualifications considered at the time of his enlistment, as well as foreign training opportunities he is said to have received while in service, which are suspected to have been granted in violation of due process.
The Bribery Commission has launched the inquiry under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, officials said.
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