News

More tourist flights from Ukraine despite lockdown

Published

5 years ago

2021/01/15

Sahan Weerasooriya

SLPP Chairman: ‘Economic recovery efforts underway…’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Tourism Ministry yesterday (14) said that a pilot project to bring in over 2,000 Ukrainian tourists was on track in spite of the partial lockdown of Ukraine, ministry sources told The Island.

The government in consultation with relevant authorities here and in Ukraine would continue with the high profile project, sources said, adding that in spite of some delays the flights were coming in.

When The Island pointed out that international media reported a two-week long countrywide lockdown in Ukraine commencing January 8 — a day after the widely celebrated Eastern Orthodox Christmas holiday, sources said that both Ukrainian International Airline and Sky Up operated flights to Mattala.

Sources said that the Ukrainian International Airline flight that had been scheduled to arrive in Mattala yesterday (14) would fly in today (15) along with a previous scheduled Sky Up flight.

In terms of an arrangement worked out by one-time Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Moscow Udayanga Weeratunga, Sky Up operated its first flight from Kiev on Dec 28, 2020. Of the 12 scheduled flights, Sky up would do eight and the rest by Ukrainian International Airline.

Of those dozen flights, two would be operated on January 22 and 24 after the re-opening of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on January 21.

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told a meeting in Moneragala on Wednesday (13) so far approximately 1,200 Ukrainian tourists arrived in the country. In spite of the Opposition warning of a catastrophe, only two visitors had been tested Covid-19 positive, Minister Ranatunga said, in spite of initial hiccups, they were able to manage the project in line with health guidelines.

The SLPP Gampaha District Leader said that the pilot project had enabled them to identify shortcomings and take remedial measures in preparation for the BIA opening.

Minister Ranatunga emphasized that tourist trade couldn’t be allowed to collapse as over 3 million people depended on it. Questioning the Opposition political strategy, Minister Ranatunga said that perhaps some of those opposed to government efforts weren’t really aware of the ground situation.

SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L. Peiris said that tourism revival plan was a part the overall measures adopted by the government to restore national economy. Comparing strategies implemented during the first Covid-19 wave in early part of 2020 and the second that erupted in Oct, Prof. Peiris said that tourism, garment trade and foreign remittances suffered gravely due to restrictions that had to be imposed for the safety and security of the people.

Pointing out that the restoration of tourism had to be gradual and in line with health guidelines in place, the Minister said, that the country should really appreciate the Ukrainians coming here. The SLPP Chairman said that it was a message to the world struggling to cope up with the rampaging pandemic.

Prof. Peiris pointed out that the Opposition expected the government to do nothing. What would have happened if the government indefinitely put off Year 5 Scholarship and the GCE Advanced Level examination late last year? Similarly, various interested parties tried to sabotage efforts to re-open schools, the Minister said, the government couldn’t just allow Covid-19 to derail ambitious projects undertaken by the SLPP in Nov, 2019.

The electorate overwhelmingly voted for Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the presidential and the SLPP at the parliamentary polls as they believed in the new administration. Covid-19 had affected government plans but every effort would be made to overcome challenges, the SLPP Chairman said.

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

Published

3 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

5 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

5 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.