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JVP to conduct countrywide seminars to highlight govt.’s failure and threats to economy

Published

5 years ago

2020/12/22

By Saman Indrajith

The JVP was planning to conduct a countrywide seminar series to inform the public of what it calls the looming danger to the national economy and people’s lives due to the government’s failure, JVP politburo member and former MP Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told The Island yesterday.

“We are planning to conduct three series of seminars on three topics – environmental destruction, selling off of national assets to foreigners by the government and the collapse of the national economy. The first in the series concerning the destruction and damage being inflicted on the environment is scheduled to start on Dec 28 from Colombo. The second against the selling of national assets too will commence in the last week of this month and the series on collapse of the national economy is scheduled to commence in the first week of January,” Dr Jayatissa said.

Dr. Jayatissa said that the government had come to power, promising to protect the environment, but environmental degradation continues unabated. “This government has introduced a system of buffer zone encroachment by terming those areas as residual forests and placing them under the District and Divisional Secretariats to decide their future. It promised to take action against those responsible for the clearing of the Wilpattu forest, but now the government is working with the very same culprits for its political expediency. Instead of taking action against those who destroy the environment the government has started hunting down environmentalists. People should stand up now if they want to see their forests and environment preserved for the future.”

The former MP said that people should realise that the government had betrayed them and their mandate with its joint venture with India’s Adani Group on the running of the Colombo Port’s East Container Terminal. “This is a betrayal of the people’s mandate. People voted for this government because it promised to act against selling off national assets to foreign companies. Now, it is doing the exact opposite of what it promised. Our trade union front, the National Trade Union Centre, is organising a series of seminars countrywide against this deal and other plans to sell off national assets by the government.”

Dr. Jayatissa said that the national economy was in a shambles. “The damages caused by the incumbent government’s policies to the national economy are far more serious than the disasters due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this government’s handling of the economy are seen in the negative economic growth during the first four months of this year. The country is sliding down an economic precipice. Our third series of seminars will inform people of those issues.”

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Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters

Published

6 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 01 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 11 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan of Kareinagar, Jaffna.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. In response, naval craft of the Northern Naval Command were deployed to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters off Kovilan.

Meanwhile, compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of one Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 11 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat (01) and Indian fishermen (11) were handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.

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

Published

13 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.

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CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

15 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 ✍️