SRI LANKA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE TODAY
- China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning accuses US of “jabbing fingers at China’s close cooperation with Sri Lanka”: urges US to “show some sincerity and actually do something to help Sri Lanka”: asserts China has been providing assistance for Sri Lanka’s economic and social development to the best of China’s capabilities.
- SJB MP Tissa Attanayake says Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and the SJB will boycott Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence anniversary celebrations: asserts the engagement in such activities is a wastage of money at a time when the country is facing one of its worst economic crises.
- Mahaweli Authority informs Power & Energy Ministry that there is not enough water in reservoirs to be released for hydro-power generation: asserts only 50% can be used as expected rainfall has not been experienced and the available water is needed for agricultural purposes.
- Supreme Court rejects HRC request for an interim order preventing the CEB from imposing any power cuts during the GCE (A/L) exams: CEB requests permission from PUC to re-impose power cuts of 2 hours & 20 minutes: 2 members of the PUC resign.
- Elections Commission announces that postal voting for the LG Election will be on 22, 23 & 24 February.
- IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige alleges the Police had a plan to kill him while he was in police custody.
- Former Presidential Advisor Ashu Marasinghe who resigned from his post last month after a controversial video was leaked to the media by SJB Member Hirunika Premachandra involving the abuse of a pet dog, re-appointed to the position.
- Executive Director of People’s Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Rohana
Hettiarachchi alleges that a sinister campaign is underway to undermine the Elections Commission: accuses the Govt of issuing media releases and carrying out activities that make people doubt whether the Commission is doing enough to hold the LG election in March. - Police fire tear gas and use water cannons to disperse protestors near the Elphinstone Theatre in Maradana.
- Senior CPC official says the price of petrol had been increased by Rs 30 recently to mainly cover the losses due to late payments for oil shipments: claims the CPC has to pay additional demurrage, late fees, port charges and shipping charges, as a result: explains that to meet these expenses, the CPC has been compelled to make the price increase.
