News
Cycle race to celebrate the opening of Central Expressway
Text and Pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja
The Highways Ministry with the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation and Sports Ministry has organized a cycle race to celebrate the opening of the second phase of the Central Expressway from Mirigama to Kurunegala.
“This is a great opportunity for cyclists to gain international level experience when they ride the new stretch of the expressway. The race is scheduled to start at 8.30 am from Mirigama Interchange and continue up to Yaggahapitiya Interchange to return to the starting point,” Johnston Fernando, the Highways Minister said at a press briefing held at the Ministry auditorium on Monday to announce the race.
Over 125 licensed cyclists of the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation are to compete in the race under the open Super category. There will be two more categories as the Under 19 Junior and Female. The winners of the Female category will get cash awards Rs 50,000 (First Place), Rs 30,000 (First Runner-up), Rs 25,000 (Second Runner up), and Rs 20,000 each to the third and fourth runners up. Winners of the Junior and Open Super categories get cash awards of Rs 100,000 (First Place), Rs 75,000 (First runner-up), Rs 50,000 (Second runner up) and cash awards up to the tenth best cyclist.
“When the Southern Expressway was opened the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa allocated several days for people to go and see it themselves before the expressway was commissioned for the public use. Keeping that in mind we acceded to the request to allow a cycling race on the newly constructed stretch from Kurunegala to Mirigama. The second phase of the Central Expressway is scheduled to be opened at 4 pm on Saturday (15) by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa,” the minister said.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL)’s Director of Communications Jayanath Herath announced that the PUCL has decided to reduce electricity tariffs by an average amount of 20% overall for a six month period with effect from midnight today (17)
Accordingly, tariffs have been reduced by 29% for consumers who consume less than 30 units of electricity in the domestic sector.
The consumers who consume between 31 – 60 units of electricity in the domestic sector will receive a 28% reduction of the tariff.
The consumers who consume between 61 – 90 units of electricity in the domestic sector will receive a 19% reduction of the tariff
The consumers who consume between 91 – 180 units of electricity in the domestic sector will receive a 18% reduction of the tariff
The tariff reduction for Government Institution is 11%, Religious Institutions is 21% , factories is 30% and for hotels is 31%
News
Chief observer of the Election Observation Mission of the European Union (EU) Meets Prime Minister
José Ignacio Sánchez Amor, Chief Observer of the Election Observation Mission of the European Union (EU) and Member of the European Parliament, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday [16th January].
Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union to Sri Lanka, and the Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Sri Lanka, accompanied Mr. Sánchez Amor. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office also participated in the meeting.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
One person has died and 19 others were injured when a bus carrying a group of foreign tourists has collided with a truck transporting cement, near the 138-kilometre post between Beliatte and Aparekka on the Southern Expressway, this morning (17).
The injured have been admitted to the Tangalle Base Hospital for treatment.
Kithma takes all ten wickets in T. B. Jayah trophy encounter
Imran Khan jailed for 14 years in corruption case
Gardner’s century and King’s five-for give Australia ODI series sweep
-
News4 days agoSri Lanka’s passport third strongest in South Asia
-
Features4 days agoBackstreet Boys’ Nick Carter to perform in Colombo!
-
Opinion5 days agoTribute to late Commander (MCD) Shanthi Kumar Bahar, RWP Sri Lanka Navy
-
Sports6 days agoDialog celebrates Chamari Athapaththu’s ICC nominations and outstanding achievements
-
News3 days agoFSP warns of Indian designs to swamp Sri Lanka
-
News6 days agoBritish conductor at Khemadasa anniversary concert on Jan. 25
-
News4 days agoElectricity regulator contradicts Minister; tariff reduction certain
-
Editorial5 days agoJekylls and Hydes