News
Sobhadanavi LNG plant construction limps; CEB to lose billions from next year
By Ifham Nizam
The Ceylon Electricity Board would lose more than Rs. 100 billion from next year due to the delay in the construction of 350 MW Sobhadanavi Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant at Kerawalapitiya that was expected to add 200 MW to the national grid this year.
However, non-availability of funds would bring the construction work to a halt at a time where such plant was the much needed, an energy expert and well informed official yesterday said.
A senior Electrical Engineer told The Island yesterday that the slow pace of construction was due to funding delays despite generators and turbines had been already imported to the country from a German company at a cost of nearly USD 70 million.
He said that the CEB at this juncture was not in a position to lose 2,000 million Gwh, a unit at Rs. 55 as otherwise emergency purchase of electricity would cost it more than Rs. 100 per unit.
“This will force CEB to go for another annual price hike,” the engineer stressed.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, CEB Chairman Nalinda Illgakoon and CEB General Manager Eng. Rohan Seneviratne have assured that with the proposed new tariff hike they will put an end power cuts.
The construction of this power plant is a long overdue project and if the power plant had been built on time, the power crisis that the country is facing today would not have occurred.
Construction work of the power plant commenced under the present government. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by 2023 and 200 MW is planned to be added to the national grid. All designs and constructions of this power plant are carried out by Sri Lankan engineers.
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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