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Poverty level will increase sharply in coming months – Ranawaka

Published

3 years ago

2022/10/8

By Saman Indrajith

The poverty level in the country would increase sharply in the coming months and then no one will be able to stop a people’s uprising, MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said in Parliament on Thursday.

“We need to establish a local mechanism to address human rights concerns. We have been saying this for some time. The lack of such a mechanism allows other countries to intervene in Sri Lanka,” Ranawaka said.

Ranawaka added that the levels of unemployment and poverty were alarming. The construction sector had collapsed, and a large number of engineers had no option but to leave Sri Lanka.

SLPP MP Prof. G.L Peiris said that Sri Lanka needed to address widespread corruption before it receives meaningful aid from foreign nations.

“The World Bank has recently said that when it gives aid and loans to Sri Lanka in the future, it will do the auditing itself. We really need to put an end to large-scale corruption. Recently, the government appointed a large number of state ministers. The government should not have done this when we are going through a severe crisis,” he said.

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Sarath Fonseka said that the government was trying to push through a constitutional amendment. This is not the need of the hour, he said.

“First, we should do something about the corruption that prevails in the country. Politicians are stealing and sucking the country dry. This has led to an explosion in poverty,” he said. There is no point in abolishing the executive presidency unless corrupt politicians are chased away from Parliament, Fonseka said.

“Let’s say we abolish the executive presidency this week. Who will be in charge then? A bunch of corrupt fat cats will take charge. There was a massive upheaval in the country months ago. Most government MPs don’t care. We convene Parliament at a great cost to listen to Ministers whine about their personal suffering. People must chase these people away,” he said.Fonseka said that a government MP had said that protesting university students must be rehabilitated.

“This is a man who is behind fuel and coal deals. We must rehabilitate these crooks in Parliament. First, get rid of the crooks. If the President does this, we will support him,” Fonseka said.

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Navy seize an Indian fishing boat poaching in northern waters

Published

4 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

10 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

13 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 ✍️