News
Power failure could disrupt water supply
Water supply would be disrupted if the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers did not restore power during breakdowns, Convener of the Water Supply Trade Union Collective Alliance, Engineer Upali Rathnayake told the media yesterday.
Rathnayake said that they fully supported CEB unions protesting the sale of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant shares to US firm New Fortress Energy. The US Company was also to be entrusted with supplying LNG to Sri Lanka without any tender procedure, he said.
Rathnayake said all pumping stations and water purification plants needed electricity. Most such installations did not have generators, he said. Therefore, if there was a power failure, there could be disruptions to the water supply.
“The privatisation of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) is also on the cards. All progressive unions are with the CEB workers,” Rathnayake said.
Minister of Water Supply, Vasudeva Nanayakkara said that they were attempting to ensure that there would be no disruptions to the water supply. However, it was impossible to provide generators to all pumping stations and water purification plants. “So, I can’t deny that the CEB union action will impact the water supply,” he said. (RK)
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
The Colombo High Court yesterday fixed for Aug. 31 the pre-trial conference in the money laundering case filed by the Attorney General against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, and his great-aunt Daisy Forrest.
The case was taken up before Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli.
State Counsel Oswald Perera requested court to fix a date for the pre-trial conference and informed the judge that the prosecution would announce its position regarding the second accused, Daisy Forrest, at the conference. He also said the prosecution intended to notify court of amendments to the indictment.
After considering the submissions, Judge Singappuli ordered that the pre-trial conference be held on Aug. 31.
The Attorney General has indicted Yoshitha Rajapaksa and Daisy Forrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that they deposited nearly Rs. 59 million in bank accounts knowing, or having reason to believe, that the funds had been unlawfully acquired.
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Harmer, Markram and Wolvaardt win top honours at CSA awards
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Money laundering case against Yoshitha, fixed for pre-trial conference
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