News
CEB chairman going, going but not gone
By Ifham Nizam
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) top management yesterday said that their Chairman M. M. C. Ferdinando would stay on as Chairman, because President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had refused to accept his letter of resignation tendered following the appointment of Dr. Rohantha Abeysekara as General Manager of CEB, under pressure from the CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU).
Ferdinando previously appointed a retired senior engineer to the post in an acting capacity.
Sources said Ferdinando had been asked to stay on and carry out the President’s renewable energy agenda and the reforms in the CEB.
At a recent meeting the President had with several CEB trade unions including the CEBEU, the CEBEU agreed to carry forward the President’s renewable energy agenda towards achieving the target of 70% electricity generation using renewable sources by 2030.
Observers see this change of position by the CEBEU as unprecedented, a 180-degree turn from its fierce opposition to renewable electricity and its vigorous campaign for more coal power.
Further, the CEBEU has also agreed to the proposed amendments to the Sri Lanka Electricity Act designed to facilitate the procurement of renewable energy-based electricity without competitive tenders.
This too has been a subject of a long-running battle between the CEBEU and many governments in the past.
It was the controversial Yugadanavi deal and the GM issue that gave rise to CEBEU’s initial opposition to Ferdinando; it even went the extent of declaring a non-cooperation campaign against him a few months ago.
(Ms.) Nina P. Cainglet, Ambassador of the Philippines to Sri Lanka based in Dhaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya at the Prime Minister’s Office on May 16, 2025.
The Prime Minister welcomed Ambassador Cainglet and extended her congratulations on the new appointment. The discussion focused on expanding cooperation in trade and tourism, with both sides expressing their commitment to exploring new opportunities in these key sectors. The meeting also addressed consular matters relating to the Filipino community in Sri Lanka. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured continued dialogue and necessary support on relevant issues.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Judienne Capiz, Vice Consul of the Embassy of the Philippines in Dhaka, Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. Sagarika Bogahawatta, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister; Ms. S.S. Premawardhane, Additional Secretary, Bilateral Political Affairs (East); and M.R. Keegel, Deputy Director, Southeast Asia & Central Asia Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division].
The Bribery Commission on Friday filed a corruption case against former Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena and ex-BOI Director General Jayantha Edirisinghe, accusing them of misusing public cash for a lavish newspaper ad campaign back in 2014.
They stand accused of siphoning Rs. 1.7 million in state funds to publish 11 newspaper supplements marking the second inauguration anniversary of then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 19, 2014.
According to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), the move amounted to a clear breach of anti-graft laws, with five formal charges now filed before the Colombo High Court.
The case, centred around alleged misuse of Board of Investment (BOI) funds, is backed by 21 pieces of documentary evidence and testimony from 15 witnesses.
The Bribery Commission maintains that the ad blitz had no official sanction and led to a direct loss of Rs. 1,748,877.76 to the state.
Inspector General of Police T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon is set to face formal questioning tomorrow (May 19) over serious allegations of misconduct and abuse of power, parliamentary sources said on Friday.
A special committee appointed to investigate the claims will commence formal proceedings next week, following several rounds of preliminary discussions held within the parliamentary complex in recent weeks.
The IGP has been officially notified to appear before the committee and is expected to face the inquiry for the first time at 2:00 PM in Committee Room No. 8.
The committee, which met again on Thursday (15) to finalise arrangements, is investigating allegations that Tennakoon misused his official powers in a manner deemed severe and improper.
Relay team dropped from Asian Athletics Championship
IPL2025 : Nehal Wadhera and Harpreet Brar take Punjab Kings closer to playoffs
Massimo Stano smashes world 35km race walk record in Podebrady
-
Features24 hours agoSearching for George Keyt
-
Features7 days agoChampioning Geckos, Conservation, and Cross-Disciplinary Research in Sri Lanka
-
Midweek Review5 days agoBronze statue for P’karan, NPP defeat in the North and 16th anniversary of triumph over terrorism
-
News3 days agoChikungunya spreading rapidly in Colombo and suburbs
-
Features23 hours agoThe Strategic Imperative:Why Sri Lanka Could Transform Indo-Pacific Security Through Space
-
News6 days agoExpert: Mismanagement of CEB hydro resources increases costly oil-powered electricity generation
-
News5 days agoFrench Navy Ship ‘BEAUTEMPS BEAUPRE’ sets sail from Colombo
-
Business2 days agoHameedia launches ‘We Create’ – Sri Lanka’s first-ever online tailoring platform