News
Electricity consumers oppose going to WB to cover CEB losses from Ditwah, instead of using funds in its kitty
Electricity consumers have opposed a government plan to obtain loans from the World Bank to meet the cost of repairs to the national grid affected by Cyclone Ditwah. They have urged the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to utilise the funds it has raised from fixed charges.
Electricity Consumers’ Association Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said yesterday that the annual revenue generated from fixed charges paid by the country’s 7.8 million electricity consumers amounts to approximately Rs. 47,000 million, and that these funds were meant for system maintenance.
He said the money could be used to repair the damage to the power infrastructure caused by the cyclone, for which the government has estimated losses of around Rs. 20,000 million, without resorting to foreign borrowing.
Dhammika warned that obtaining international loans could eventually place an additional financial burden on electricity consumers through higher tariffs.
He also questioned the accuracy of the government’s loss estimates and said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka should intervene to independently verify claims that the CEB suffered losses amounting Rs. 20,000 million due to the disaster.
The Electricity Consumers’ Association further noted that the CEB generated an annual revenue of about Rs. 467 billion from electricity tariffs.
By Anuradha Hiripitiyage ✍️
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
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