News
Large stock of Sevanagala sugar factory ethanol detected on its way to Dankotuwa

… suspect carrying fake documents claims consignment for perfume producer
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A chance detection of a lorry transporting ethanol, on the Southern Expressway, over the weekend, revealed that an illicit distillery, situated in the Dankotuwa police area, was obtaining supplies from the Lanka Sugar Company Private Limited, Sevanagala.
The demand for ethanol is extremely high since the government banned its import in January 2020.
Ethanol is made by state sugar companies as well as private ones. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of molasses which is a byproduct of sugar manufacturing process.
DIG (Legal) and attorney-at-law Ajith Rohana said that the police were inquiring into all aspects with an open mind.
The 35-year-old driver of the lorry had initially claimed 5,000 litres of ethanol in 25 large cans were being taken to a perfume manufacturer.
DIG Rohana said that initial investigations revealed that the suspect was carrying fake documents and the consignment was on its way to Dankotuwa.
The police spokesperson identified the suspect as a resident of Thorana junction, Kelaniya. According to DIG Rohana, the lorry having entered the southern expressway at the Anguruwathota exchange was proceeding when the traffic police followed it.
DIG Rohana said that the traffic police later handed over the suspect along with the lorry to the Weeraketiya police. The suspect was to be produced before the Walasmulla Magistrate.
DIG Rohana acknowledged that in spite of restrictions in place to regulate the movement of ethanol various ruses could be adopted by racketeers to secure required supplies.
Sevanagala Sugar Company couldn’t be contacted at the time of going to press yesterday.
News
SF claims thousands of police and military personnel leaving

By Saman Indrajith
Thousands of police and military personnel had left the services recently as they did not want to carry out illegal orders, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament yesterday. According to the war-winning army commander 200 policemen have resigned during the past two months and 25,000 soldiers have left the army during the last two years.
“We urged the law enforcement and military officials not to follow illegal orders. We will reinstate them with back pay,” he said.
Fonseka also urged the President and the government MPs not to take people for fools.
“Sri Lanka owes 55 billion dollars to the world. Ranil’s plan is to borrow another seven billion during the next four years. So, in four years we will owe 62 billion to the world.
Ranil and his ministers ask us what the alternative to borrowing is. These are the people who destroyed the economy and society. They must leave. Then, we will find an alternative and develop the country,” he said, adding that the IMF loans had made crises in other nations worse.
“Ranil says that by 2025, we will have a budget surplus as in Japan, Germany and South Korea. These countries are economic power houses, and this comparison is ludicrous.”
News
CEB hit by exodus of technical staff

By Shiran Ranasinghe
At least five technical personnel of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) resigned daily for overseas employment, a senior CEB official said.They included electrical engineers, electricians and foremen, he added.
“Most of them are quitting due to the economic crisis while others are simply disillusioned. Trained and experienced technical staff are in high demand in many countries,” he said.
CEB United Trade Union Alliance President Ranjan Jayalal said that the CEB had lost about 2,000 employees in recent times due to the above reasons.
“We had about 24,000 such personnel a few months ago. Now the number has come down to 22,000. A number of people had to retire on 31 December, 2022.
News
Sajith questions sudden decision to charge Rs. 225,000 from students following NDES

By Saman Indrajith
The government had decided to charge Rs 225,000 from those enrolling at the Institute of Engineering Technology, Katunayake under the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said yesterday in Parliament.
Premadasa said that the institute awards the National Diploma in Engineering Sciences (NDES) and no fee was charged from students until 2023.The IET awards the National Diploma in Engineering Sciences under the three major fields of civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, and eight sub-fields.
“This is an institute that has created over ten thousand tier two engineers. NDES is a four year programme,” he said.
The opposition leader said that the sudden decision to charge 225,000 rupees from students at a time when the average Sri Lankan family is facing significant economic challenges is unfair.
“This institute offered free tuition. We should continue this tradition. A large number of engineers are leaving the country and we need to ensure that we have a continuous supply of engineers to ensure we can maintain our essential technical services,” he said.
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