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Power cuts like kissing goes by favour
By Ifham Nizam
The CEB will not able to produce adequate amounts of electricity to end load shedding, despite assurances given by the President and Prime Minister that there won’t be power shedding after tomorrow (March 5).
“There is no way that the power plants can produce adequate amounts of electricity,” Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Joint Trade Union Alliance Convener Ranjan Jayalal said.
Responding to The Island on the countrywide power cuts, Jayalal said that the power cuts were are being implemented in an ad-hoc manner.
“The CEB has divided the country into A,B,C,D,E,F zones but nobody seems to know what they are. Some areas are experiencing power cuts every day while others do not. Its total chaos,” he said.
Jayalal also blamed the electricity sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). “PUCSL said it would not allow power cuts. Now, it does as the CEB says. I am afraid power cuts will continue after Saturday. The PUCSL, CEB and the government will just come up with some lame excuse.”
The crisis was exacerbated by two ministers who had no knowledge of the subject, the trade unionist said.
CEB Vice Chairman Nalinda Illangakoon yesterday said that despite challenges, the CEB would ensure continuous power supply. He said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said there would be ample stocks of fuel to generate power without interruptions.
“If we get fuel, we can guarantee that there will be no power cuts.
A seven and a half hour power cut will take place today as well. However, there were power cuts lasting more than 10 hours in several parts of the country, he said.
Pope Leo XIV appealed for “no more war” in a message to world powers during his first Sunday address at the Vatican.
Reflecting on current conflicts, the newly selected pontiff called for a “lasting peace” in the war in Ukraine, a ceasefire in Gaza, and welcomed Saturday’s agreement to end recent hostilities between India and Pakistan.
He said he was “deeply hurt” by events in Gaza, expressed hope for a “lasting accord” between India and Pakistan, and wished for a “authentic, true and lasting peace” in Ukraine.
The Pope also recited the Regina Caeli prayer, in honour of the Virgin Mary, to the crowd in St Peter’s Square.
Latest News
May this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings – PM
In her Vesak day message, Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya wished that this Vesak celebration be a blessed one filled with kindness and compassion towards all living beings
The full text of the prime ministers vesak day message:
“It is an honor to extend my Vesak day message to all citizens of the nation during this sacred period in which Buddhist community across Sri Lanka come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha, upholding both material and spiritual offerings and commemorating the threefold sacred events of the Lord Buddha’s life.
Since ancient times, the lives of the Sri Lankan people have been deeply rooted by the teaching of the Lord Buddha and this is a greater inheritance we have received through the Dhamma. In our country, where people of diverse ethnicities and religions coexist in harmony, the collective celebration of a major religious festival such as Vesak stands as a powerful testament to that unity.
This year Vesak day celebration marks the first to be celebrated under the current government, which was established with the vision of “A Prosperous Country, a Beautiful Life.” I believe that this Vesak season is a particularly a time to heal the hearts and minds of humanity, especially as our nation embarks on a path of meaningful transformation. Through this message, I take this opportunity to invite all of citizens to unite in mind and spirit, bound together by mutual respect and compassion.
I join all Sri Lankans in praying that the flames of war burning in various parts of the world at this moment may be extinguished, and that all people across the globe may be blessed with lives of happiness and peace.
May all of you have a blessed Vesak!”
News
Special waste management programme launched under “Clean Sri Lanka” during the State Vesak Festival
Parallel with the State Vesak Festival that commenced on Saturday (10) in the Nuwara Eliya District, a special waste management initiative has been launched under the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme to enhance facilities for devotees and ensure proper waste disposal in the city of Nuwara Eliya.
With hundreds of thousands of people expected to visit Nuwara Eliya during the Vesak Week, from May 10 to 16, this initiative is aimed at preserving the cleanliness and beauty of the area.
The programme will focus particularly on areas around the Gregory Lake, a key tourist attraction, and the Nuwara Eliya International Buddhist Centre, the venue for the State Vesak Festival.
In addition, the “Clean Sri Lanka” initiative urges visiting devotees to refrain from bringing non-biodegradable material such as polythene and calls on all citizens to act responsibly by properly disposing of waste only at designated locations, while maintaining the sanctity and cleanliness of the environment.
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