Mar 28 (TM) Even if rains arrive as expected in the month of May, power cuts would continue if the ongoing fuel shortage carries on into the coming months, CEB Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) said. “This year, the water levels in the reservoirs are extremely low, compared to the previous years. SL generates electricity using hydropower, thermal power, coal power, and renewable energy sources. more..

Mar 28 (Island) Technologies and know-how for climate-friendly energy supply made in Germany are in demand worldwide. A growing number of private and public sector organizations are recognizing the importance of renewable energies, energy efficiency as well as intelligent system solutions that not only reduce dependence on fossil resources and contribute to climate protection but also help cut costs and strengthen competitiveness. In this capacity, German Energy Solutions Initiative more..

Mar 28 (FT) The United Rice Mill Owners Association (URMOA) yesterday warned that the rice kilogram may increase up to Rs. 300 during the festive season, while there is a risk of queues forming in future. “Around 95% of small and medium scale rice mill owners in the country have closed at present,” URMOA Chairman Muditha Perera said. He claimed the public may have to purchase rice in small packets after August, instead of the 5 kg and 10 kg sacks. more..

Mar 28 (Island) Top spokesperson for the Federation of National Organisations (FNO), Dr. Wasantha Bandara, has asked whether the govt raised during Under Secretary for Political Affairs, US Dept of State, Victoria Nuland’s high profile visit to Colombo, the categorisation by the US of Army Chief General Shavendra Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), as a war criminal The govt certainly owed an explanation, more..

Mar 28 (FT) Three-wheeler unions yesterday said further increase in prices of petrol by Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) at a time when there are shortages at Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC)-run fuel sheds is a major hit for their daily income. All Island Three Wheeler Drivers and Owners Association (AITWDOA) Media Secretary Kapila Galapitage pointed out that LIOC petrol prices have been increased by Rs. 49 overnight without any warning, making the situation worse for them. more..

Mar 28 (DN) Chathurya Nilaweera of Stafford International School and Anjalika Kurera of ICBT Campus emerged men's and women's singles champions respectively at the HNB -SLTA Clay Court Championship 2022 continued at the SLTA courts on Saturday. Chathurya beat Zaidh Zihar 6/0, 7/5 in the mens' singles final while Anjalika had the better of Neyara Weerawansa 6/1, 7/6(5) in the women's singles final. Meanwhile Usgodaarachchi brother and sister excelled at two age group more..

Mar 28 (DM) The rugby match between Trinity College in Kandy and St. Thomas' College in Mt. Lavinia ended in a tense situation where a match referee was assaulted after S. Thomas’ College beat Trinity College at Havelock Park in Colombo yesterday. When the match ended, several Trinity players surrounded the referee to question him over the dispute during the match. It was reported that a female supporter and several other Trinity supporters hit and manhandled the referee more..

Mar 28 (AD) External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar arrived in SL, on a two-day official visit. Indian foreign minister is undertaking a visit to Sri Lanka for bilateral meetings and BIMSTEC engagements from 28-30 March. He is visiting SL on the invitation of his counterpart Prof. G. L. Peiris. Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to SL follows the visits to India by Minister of Finance of SL, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa in Dec 2021 and earlier this month and that of Minister G.L. Peiris in February 2022. more..

Mar 28 (AD) Colombo Int'l Airport, Ratmalana (CIAR) marked a milestone event commencing Scheduled Int'l Regional Flight Operations after five decades. In parallel to the commencement of flight operations, the New Taxiway and Overlaid Apron was declared open at Colombo Int'l Airport, Ratmalana (CIAR) to facilitate smooth flight operations. Island Aviation Services Ltd, a wholly-owned by Govt of Maldives, more..

Mar 28 (DM) SL needs a new beginning and a national conversion, Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said today. "We need a national conversion or a new begining. It is 74 years since we have received independence and one has to answer the question whether the path chosen by the Sri Lankans towards propspeirty is a real one," the Cardinal said at a joint Anglican-Catholic service held at Christ the Living Saviour Cathedral in Colombo. more..

Mar 28 (SO) Minister S.M. Chandrasena said the decision taken by the eleven constituent parties of the Govt to boycott Wednesday’s All-Party Conference (APC) clearly reflects that they don’t have a genuine desire to sort out the burning issues in the country. Actually, the members of 11 Govt constituent parties should have attended the APC. However, they had only nominated SLPP MP Prof. Tissa Vitarana and AJP MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera to participate in the conference. more..

Mar 28 (AD) SL Police says that Red Notices have been obtained from Interpol against over 130 drug traffickers who have fled the country. SDIG Ajith Rohana said that information has been uncovered regarding a number of drug traffickers operating their drug rackets in the country from Dubai. He stated that special investigations are being carried out pertaining to networks of drug racketeers and int'l drug traffickers. more..

Mar 28 (AD) The govt has decided to hold a debate on the IMF report when Parliament meets in the first week of April, says Minister Johnston Fernando. Leader of the UNP, Ranil Wickremesinghe, had called for an immediate debate in Parliament on the IMF report on SL. “As the Govt has agreed to engage the IMF for financial assistance, Parliament must be briefed on their plan of action,” he had said. Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella had also written to Speaker Mahinda Yapa more..

Mar 28 (TM) Local gold prices have surged to all-time high in the face of the rapid depreciation of the SL rupee against the US dollar over the past three weeks and due to high global prices in the face of the uncertainty created by the Russia-Ukraine war. Several sources divulged that as of yesterday, the market rate for 24 carat 8 grammes (g) (one pawn) was around Rs. 176,000-183,000, while the market rate for 22 carat 8 g (one pawn) was around Rs. 163,000. more..

Mar 28 (CT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL), after months of rejecting calls to seek IMF support in the face of the country’s burgeoning economic crisis, said in a statement issued following the release of the IMF’s Article IV Staff Report on SL, “With the Govt indicating that it is seeking a closer engagement with the IMF, the CBSL stands ready to cooperate in such an engagement.” The report recommended SL authorities to restore more..

Mar 28 (FT) In a previous article in this series, I have advised the National Economic Council to engage a full-time advisor to guide it through the needed policy reforms which are urgently required. I suggested that it should engage an independent think tank like the Institute of Policy Studies or IPS which is staffed with a dozen of macroeconomists and economists specialised in sector-based issues. Since then, an advisory board has been appointed by Prez’s Secretariat to advise the Council. more..

Mar 28 (FT) The current predicament of SL is not drastically different from the other popularism embraced representative democracies in the world. This author has highlighted how the elections are manoeuvred by managing misinformation through digital media in the current popularism-driven culture. Electorates are deceived to the greatest extent, resulting in widening distrust between the citizens and the politicians. It is sad to observe many of the political parties lacks original thinking more..

Mar 28 (EN) The death of an 84-year-old resident from Athurugiriya on Sunday (27) brought the death toll at SL’s fuel lines to five, police media confirmed. The man was waiting in line at a filling station in Athurugiriya on Sunday, and reportedly did not move forward to get fuel after the vehicle in front of him had passed. Police media stated that he was found dead in his car, still clutching 3,000 rupees in cash to pay for fuel. The official cause of death was ruled as a heart attack. more..

Mar 28 (AD) Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena says there is no truth to the statements made by certain trade unions that the activities of hospital have been severely hampered due to the shortage of gas. He said that it was revealed during the discussions with the relevant authorities including hospital directors that the supply of gas is continuing with priority given to the hospital system. Director General of Health Services said they spoke to the heads of institutions more..

Mar 28 (EN) Noting that two shipments of diesel are set to arrive in SL this week, Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge blamed the ongoing scheduled power outages in the cash-strapped nation on an alleged reluctance to purchase crude oil in the past, Lokuge told reporters that the prevailing 5-to-7-hour power cuts are due to the ongoing forex shortages as well as decisions made in the past with regard to crude oil. more..

Mar 28 (DM) The operations between SL and Moscow, Russia have been suspended with effect from today due to operational restrictions that are outside of the airline’s control, SriLankan Airlines announced today. “The restrictions are in the form of int'l financial and aircraft insurance limits which have been imposed on Russia due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and directly impact SriLankan Airlines’ flight operations to Russia. Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines will cease operations more..

Mar 28 (DM) US Ambassador Julie Chung said that the USAID will provide credit facilities for Renewable Energy Projects. Ambassador made these remarks when she called on Prez Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat, today. Ambassador commended the assistance given by the Govt during the visit of the US State Dept's Under Secretary for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland to SL. Explaining the reasons for the recent decline of the SL economy, Prez said that he was looking forward to more..

Mar 28 (DM) UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardene today hinted that there will be a national consensus soon where all the parties will get together to resolve the crisis which SL has been plunged into and Ranil Wickremesinghe will play a major role in it. Abeywardedne said that the need of the hour was to establish a national consensus forgetting party politics. "It is also essential to hand over the nation to the best person who could pull more..

Mar 28 (EN) Sri Lanka rupee was quoted at 295/315 to the US dollar in the spot market Monday, but only bids are firm, while bond markets were mostly inactive dealers said. Commercial Banks were offering dollar for telegraphic transfers at 295 rupees and buying at 280 rupees. The central bank indicative spot rate was 294.98 rupees. In the kerb market the US dollar had moved to around 350/360 rupees over the weekend and stabilized a little on Monday, market participants said. more..

Mar 28 (Island) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that representatives of dairy companies operating in Sri Lanka had confirmed that neither the Ministry of Environment nor the Central Environmental Authority had asked any of them for Rs. 30 million to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA). Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage last week alleged that the Ministry of Environment and the CEA had asked for Rs. 30 million to submit an EIA report more..

Mar 28 (Island) Women must be united to win their political rights, Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Chairperson of Women MPs Caucus in Parliament and State Minister said yesterday. She said that women accounted for 52% of SL’s population and 56% of the voters. Minister said this at the launch of the Report on the Representation of Women in Political Parties by One Text Initiative and Political Parties for Democracy in Finland at Monarch Imperial to map policies and practices for more..

Mar 28 (DM) Dropped from the SL team over fitness concerns, Bhanuka Rajapaksa delivered a statement of intent on his IPL 2022 debut on Sunday. Coming into bat at No. 3 for Punjab Kings, the left-hander blasted a quick fire 43 to put his side in the driver’s seat, the Indian media Insidesports reported. Bhanuka Rajapaksa silenced his critics in fine style on Sunday after he chipped in with a game changing knock at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Sri Lankan, who filled in for more..

Mar 28 (Reuters) SL has sought an additional credit line of $1.5 billion from India to import essentials, the island nation's central bank governor said on Monday, amid its worst economic crisis in decades. The country of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports after a 70% drop in foreign exchange reserves in two years led to a currency devaluation and efforts to seek help from global lenders. more..

Mar 28 (SLN) A bilateral naval exercise between SL Navy and Indian Navy commenced in seas off Colombo on 26th March and it will be held until 29th March. The exercise is being conducted by SL Naval Ship Sayurala and the shipborne Advance Light Helicopter - IN 715 of Indian Naval Ship Sharda, which arrived in Colombo on 23rd March. Chief among the exercises demonstrated were deck landing and communication exercises between the ship and helicopter. more..

Mar 28 (CT) Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said nearly half of the construction work, on the Kohuwala flyover, has been completed. The Minister said so while speaking to the media after a meeting held at his ministry to review the progress of the construction. Minister Fernando and Hungarian Minister of Trade and Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó inaugurated the project on 12 January. The project is envisaged to be completed in July 2023. During the progress review meeting, more..

Mar 28 (DM) Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa who has not attended Parliament for the past three months will finally have to attend sittings and face questions from legislators when the IMF debate is taken up for discussion in the first week of April following a nod given by PM Rajapaksa. Basil had no intention of debating the IMF report and had even in the All Party Conference mentioned that it was only a draft that more..

Mar 28 (CT) Japanese Ambassador to SL Hideaki Mizukoshi said that he would be in SL during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, and he would invite everyone in his Embassy to participate in the Nakathata Palayak programme on 18 April. He also said that the Japanese Govt is prepared to extend its support for the success of the programmes implemented in SL to increase the country’s forest cover. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, and Japanese Ambassador met at the Minister’s official more..

Mar 28 (CT) Two German nationals were apprehended for smuggling endemic fauna and flora from the Sinharaja Reserve and other coastal areas in SL, including oysters and crabs. The specimens were to be transported to Germany. Officers from Wildlife Dept and Deniyaya Police conducted the raid in the Sinharaja Forest. Police arrested the suspects in the Viharahena and Kurulugala areas of Deniyaya, with the assistance of wildlife officers. Equipment that was used was seized by more..

Mar 28 (DM) Two Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging former President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant pardon to BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera were today fixed for support by the Supreme Court. These petitions had been filed by Centre for Policy Alternative (CPA) and Sandhya Ekneligoda, wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle appearing for AG said that it would be better to postpone the case, more..

Mar 28 (EN) CEB has imposed up to 7.5 hour power cut in the country in two blocks for Tuesday. Accordingly, areas PQRSTUVW will have 7 hour and 15 minute power cuts in two phases – 5 hour power cut from 8.30am to 6.30pm and 2 hours and 15 minutes from 6.30pm to 11.00pm. Areas ABCDEFGHIJKL will have 7.5 hour power cuts in two phases – 5 hours from 8am to 6pm and 2 hours and 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm. Though the govt has said the duration of the power cuts more..

Mar 28 (CT) Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa said, the Govt is laying the groundwork to resurrect the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement, which was defeated by the effort of many MPs earlier. He also said, the people’s mandate was given to the Govt not to become beggars to other countries while in crisis, but it could be seen that other countries are attempting to reach various agreements with the Govt because more..