News
Power cuts till 2027 unless generation capacity is increased
Sri Lanka will experience periodical power cuts until 2027 if the government does not take steps to increase power generation. CEB engineers say that people are in a state of shock over the sharply increased power tariff because the government failed to introduce the increases in an affordable manner.
CEB Engineers Union (CEBEU) President, Saumya Kumarawadu said: “The government should have increased the tariff at regular intervals. We haven’t increased rates in a decade and suddenly we have increased by a large amount. That’s why it has come as a shock to people.”
He said that the electricity tariff was last increased in 2012. In 2014, the tariff was reduced. Without increasing electricity tariffs, the CEB will have to get increasing amounts of money from the treasury.
“The government should have increased the tariff at regular intervals. We haven’t increased rates in a decade and suddenly we have increased it sharply. That’s why it has come as a shock to people,” he said.
Due to electricity shortages, the Norochcholei Power Plant has been operational non-stop, sometimes even without scheduled maintenance, Kumarawadu said.
“Even now a generator is down. It will be back online within 14 days. We had started maintenance on another plant in June and it was due to be back online in September. But this has been delayed till November.”
Kumarawadu warned there will be 10-hour power cuts without Norochcholai. However, the power cuts could be reduced in two weeks, when the generator comes back online, he said.
“Power cuts might have to go on till 2026 or 2027 unless new plants come up. A proposal to build an LNG power plant is still stuck in the Cabinet,” he said.
He said that while they support restructuring of the CEB, they oppose un-bundling and selling the CEB to various private players.
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya yesterday sad that the Executive Presidency would be abolished, in line with the NPP’s election manifesto.
Speaking in Parliament, in response to a question raised under Standing Order 27/2 by Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Prime Minister said the abolition would take place through a proposed new Constitution.
She added that preliminary work on drafting the new Constitution had already begun, with previous committee reports and other proposals being studied to guide the process.
“A concept paper on the draft will be presented to the Cabinet,” Amarasuriya said, noting that a formal study has been initiated on abolishing the Executive Presidency.
She said that the move cannot be implemented without introducing a new Constitution.
Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the suspension of duties imposed on Dr. Rukshan Bellana, Deputy Director of the National Hospital, amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
Raising the issue during parliamentary proceedings, Premadasa, who is also the SJB Leader, questioned the decision to suspend the senior medical officer for issuing a statement to the media, particularly on matters relating to children’s medicines.
He said health was a fundamental right and noted that two children had reportedly died, stressing that the focus should be on accountability over the incident rather than penalising a medical professional for speaking out.
Premadasa criticised the authorities for suspending Dr. Bellana solely for communicating with the media, asking whether such action constituted justice for families who had lost their children.The Opposition Leader said silencing officials, who raise concerns, undermines fundamental rights and does not address the underlying issues related to patient safety and public health.
Acting Deputy Director of the Colombo National Hospital Dr. Rukshan Bellana has been suspended.
A letter, issued by the Ministry of Health, says preliminary investigations by the Ministry of Health has revealed that Dr. Bellana, as a government medical officer holding a responsible position, made statements to the media, without approval, in a manner that created a controversial situation in the country and unrest among the public.
The letter further stated that formal disciplinary action will be taken in due course regarding this matter.
PM says govt. will introduce a new Constitution to abolish executive presidency
Opposition Leader rises in defence of Dr. Bellana
Dr. Bellana suspended for speaking to media
257,000 households paid house cleaning grant of Rs 25,000 out of 493,000 eligible to receive it
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China pledges support as Lanka recovers from cyclone
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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