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Govt. in fresh bid to improve education in North

Published

5 years ago

2021/02/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Japanese Ambassador joins GL in Kilinochchi

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (3) said that he was undertaking a three-day visit to the North this week to explore ways and means of developing the education sector.

Prof. Peiris said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was keen to develop the education sector as part of the overall efforts to improve the living standards of the people in the North.

Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama is scheduled to join Prof. Peiris in Kilinochchi, where the Agriculture Faculty of the Jaffna University is situated.

Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, said that Covid-19 caused a severe setback to the national economy, though the government was determined to implement planned projects. A boost for the Northern Province education was a necessity, Prof. Peiris said, adding that the government wanted to reach out to the people.

Responding to another query, Prof. Peiris said: “We are looking at education sector reforms. Decision makers cannot ignore the need for reforms required to prepare youth for jobs, particularly in the private sector.”

The Education Minister’s visit takes place in the wake of the recent removal of a war memorial within the Jaffna University. The issue is likely to figure in the Education Minister’s discussions with Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University S. Srisatkunarajah.

Prof. Peiris confirmed the scheduled meeting with the VC and Deans of faculties. Asked whether lawmakers representing the people of the Northern region would be participating in any of the events attended by him, Prof. Peiris welcomed the opportunity.

India sought Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s intervention over the sudden removal of the memorial by the University authorities.

There couldn’t be any issue in the government working closely with Opposition political parties for the benefit of the public though differences remained on other matters, such as constitutional reforms.

Sri Lanka brought the war to a successful conclusion in May 2009.

Prof. Peiris who served as the first post-war Minister in charge of External Affairs said that the country couldn’t achieve real reconciliation though progress was made. The education sector could be one field where all stakeholders could work together.

Prof. Peiris expressed concern over the participation of some primary school students in a demonstration in Kilinochchi on Monday (1). Prof. Peiris said that such actions couldn’t be condoned in any manner and he had quite forcefully condemned it.

A section of the media reported some civil society groups, demanding the immediate release of LTTE convicts and suspects in custody, brought out some students. Prof. Peiris said that the previous Rajapaksa government ended the heinous practice of using children as cannon fodder and also as tools in propaganda efforts.

Prof. Peiris said that he would definitely look into the matter. The international community, too, wouldn’t want various interested parties to exploit children in support of politically motivated agendas. The Minister appreciated the reportage of the children’s participation in the Kilinochchi protest.

Minister recalled how children were used during the conflict. Successive governments tried in vain to stop the exploitation of children for ‘military purposes.’ During President Kumaratunga’s tenure, Sri Lanka even secured the support of the UN to bring an end to forcible recruitment of children as child soldiers.

Prof. Peiris said that the government was contemplating far reaching education sector reforms meant to address challenges. The renowned law academic said that the government was confident of conducting the GCE Ordinary Level examination in March though some continued to express concern over the Covid-19 getting out of control. Acknowledging the need to follow health guidelines in spite of the recent launch of the vaccination programme, Prof. Peiris said that the situation in the Northern and Eastern Provinces continued to improve with schools recording much improved attendance.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

News

CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️

News

Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ondansetron controversy

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.

The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.

Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”

According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.

The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.

The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.