May 20, Colombo (LNW): The All-Ceylon Prison Officers’ Union has commenced a trade union strike, reporting ‘sick leave’ from today, 20 May, until 22 May, in protest for higher wages.
The union is advocating for a salary increase of Rs. 25,000.
The industrial action highlights the ongoing dissatisfaction amongst prison officers regarding their current pay.
Concurrently, the strike by non-academic university staff continues unabated.
T. A. D. Suranjeeva, General Secretary of the Peradeniya University Trade Union Federation, has reported significant disruptions across the entire university system due to the ongoing strike.
May 20, Colombo (LNW): Over 650 employees at the Sapugaskanda Refinery, Sri Lanka’s sole oil refinery, are at risk of losing their jobs due to its impending transformation into an independent public enterprise, local reports claim.
Only around 200 of the current workforce will be retained for the newly formed entity, according to government sources.
The remaining employees will be placed in a pool, from which the new enterprise will select the necessary personnel to sustain its operations.
In March, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to operate the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery as a standalone state-owned business entity, separate from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO).
The government has recognised the need for a significant investment to modernise the refinery and extend its operational life by another 25 years.
Consequently, the decision has been made to operate the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery as an independent public enterprise and to seek Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for a strategic investment partner.
This partner will be responsible for upgrading the refinery’s infrastructure to address its current operational challenges.
The Minister of Power and Energy has also mentioned the potential relocation of the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery to Trincomalee in the future, with enhanced modern facilities and the development of the Tank Farm.
Established in 1969, the Sapugaskanda Refinery is the sole facility of its kind in Sri Lanka, meeting approximately 25% of the nation’s demand for refined petroleum products.
May 20, World (LNW): In a tragic turn of events, Iranian media has reported the death of President Ebrahim Raisi following a helicopter crash in a mountainous region in northwestern Iran.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday (19), has not yet been officially confirmed by Iranian authorities.
“The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident while serving and performing his duty for the people of Iran and was martyred,” state media The Mehr News Agency announced.
This statement was echoed by several other media outlets within the country, adding to the gravity of the situation.
Details surrounding the crash remain sparse, with no official statement from the Iranian government or confirmation from President Raisi’s office.
The region where the crash occurred is known for its challenging terrain, which may have contributed to the tragic accident.
May 20, Colombo (LNW): Whispers around town reveal that several hush-hush discussions took place between Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) national organiser, Basil Rajapaksa, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe about the looming presidential election.
These meetings were so secretive that only a select few attended, leaving the media in the dark about the juicy details. However, sources hint that the talks ended in a deadlock.
The scoop comes to light that when President Wickremesinghe took office, he allegedly promised to woo a significant number of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) members over to the government.
But guess what? That grand plan has not materialised yet.
Basil Rajapaksa reportedly nudged the President to fulfil this pledge by bringing in 25 MPs from the SJB before June 15, as the clock ticks down to the presidential election.
Rumours have been swirling for the past two years about SJB members jumping ship to join the government, but those rumours fizzled out faster than they started.
With the Election Commission poised to call the presidential election by mid-July, the SLPP believes any further delay in election preparations is a strategic misstep.
So, if Wickremesinghe fails to deliver those 25 SJB members by June 15, the SLPP will have to make its move regarding the presidential election.
As Vesak week begins and May draws to a close, the political scene is heating up. How will things shift as we edge closer to the election? Stay tuned, because this political drama is far from over.
May 20, Colombo (LNW): Due to South-West monsoon conditions are gradually establishing across the island, prevailing showery and windy conditions will continue further, the Department of Meteorology said in its weather forecast today (20).
Cloudy skies can be expected over most parts of the island.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Mannar district.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere of the island.
Very heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-Eliyaand Mannar districts, the Department warned.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over the island.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas extending from Mannar to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle,heavy showersare likely at some places. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the other sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be westerly to south-westerly in the sea areas extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota and wind speed will be (40-50) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (60-70) kmph at times these sea areas. Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph and can be increased up to 50 kmph at times in the other sea areas around the island.
State of Sea:
The sea areas extending from Kalpitiya to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota will be very rough at times and other sea areas around the island will be fairly rough at times. Naval and fishing communities are also requested to be attentive in this regard.Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
May 20, Colombo (LNW): Dr. Sanath Hettige has won the WONCA South Asia Regional Five Star Doctor Award 2024.
This award honours in excellence of being a Team member, Care provider, Decision maker, Communicator, and a community leader, who is able to work harmoniously with individuals and organisations, within and outside of the health care system, to meet community’s needs.
Dr. Sanath Hettige is a well-known board-certified specialist in Family Medicine Sri Lanka. He has contributed to the field of Family Medicine both Locally & Internationally.
He also has won several national awards & some international awards for his inventions, including the Presidential Award for Best Medical Invention for the year 2013 in Sri Lanka at the 2016 Presidential Award Ceremony and won the silver award (Second place) for the recognition of the creative innovation of Papaya Leaf Capsule for Dengue Fever at the Indian international innovation fair (IIIF) 2016.
He has delivered two college orations as the College Orator in 2016 & 2018 Dr. M.P.M Cooray Memorial Award ceremony held by CGPSL.
He was invited as the Guest of Honour for the Pre-symposium of the Tradmed international conference and spoke about his knowledge and usage of cannabis in complicated medical conditions.
Dr. Sanath Hettige
He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer and an examiner, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, College of General practitioners of Sri Lanka (CGPSL), Independent medical practitioners association (IMPA) and University of Kothalawala Defense Academy (KDU). He is also the chief consultant of the Dermae research Medical Centre which is a recognised training centre by the PGIM for Undergraduate and Postgraduates’ trainees.
Dr. Hettige is a Researcher and a Scientist whose researches have being published in many international journals. He has many patented inventions Ex. Papaya leaf for Dengue Fever, Corona Hat to prevent the spread of corona viral infections and Oil of Dermae moisturising cream which is effective for keratinisation disorder. He holds the Platinum card from SLIC which is the highest-ranking position for inventors.
He has held the continuous medical education programme Communicable Disease Subcommittee & had been in many hearing committees including hearing committees of WONCA international conferences which was held in Sri Lanka 2016. He has also presented two papers in the WONCA conference held in Sri Lanka on 2016 & had been the senior lecturer uplifting the MCGP programme in CGPSL.
His professional achievements are not limited to medical profession only, but spread across many fields such as medical research, medical education and medical inventions as well as been a business entrepreneur in the manufacturing of medicine, cosmetics and into tourism and estates planation’s.
Dr. Hettige is also a business entrepreneur, & He is the managing Director of Earthians (Pvt) Ltd, Oil of Dermae Laboratories, Eco Jungle hideout (Pvt) Ltd and Kohilahgahadeniya Estate Plantations.
Considering these facts, Dr. Hettige truly has earned this award and we congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition.
May 19, Colombo (LNW): Commercial Bank has announced a strategic partnership with Q&E to enhance the capabilities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the Commercial Bank LEAP Global Linker platform.
The Commercial Bank LEAP GlobalLinker is a pioneering initiative in Sri Lanka, spearheaded by the bank itself. It’s a cutting-edge ecosystem designed to foster networking opportunities both domestically and internationally.
Developed with the backing of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), this platform is tailored to digitise enterprises and enhance business operations.
Aligned with global standards and leveraging the GlobalLinker platform, Commercial Bank LEAP GlobalLinker empowers SMEs and corporate clients to establish online stores at no cost, facilitating the sale of products and services.
Through this platform, businesses can broaden their customer base, connect with potential investors and suppliers worldwide, bolster networking efforts, explore foreign markets, and unlock exclusive perks from partners.
Additionally, it serves as a secure space for communication, fostering idea-sharing, collaborations, and knowledge exchange.
Under this collaboration, Q&E will play a crucial role in developing go-to-market strategies for SMEs, creating LEAP profiles and e-Stores, and enriching the LEAP Global Linker platform with specialised content and digital assets.
Commercial Bank Personal Banking/SMEs Assistant General Manager Ganeshan Sivasubramaniam emphasised the bank’s ongoing efforts to support SME growth: ”At Commercial Bank, we continuously strive to provide cutting-edge solutions to our customers. We invite SMEs to use the LEAP Global Linker platform to fuel their business success.”
“Q&E has over a period of three decades served several of the largest Sri Lankan corporate brands. Today, we are excited to expand our role by extending our service to the SME sector,” said Q&E CEO Dharshana Kumarawatte.
Empowering the SME sector is vital to Sri Lanka’s economy. Commercial Bank’s commitment to innovation and growth in the SME sector sets a new benchmark for development and support.
Interested SMEs should contact the Manager at their nearest Commercial Bank branch for more information and assistance, or visit the website directly at commercialbankleap.globallinker.com.
May 19, Colombo (LNW): State run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) under the hammer of restructuring into six separate entities and registering them under the Companies Act in accordance with the provisions of Sri Lanka Electricity Bill has recorded profits for the first quarter 2024.
The CEB has achieved this profitable status amidst the drop in demand due to high electricity bills and the disconnection of power of around 1,063,566 customers, the overwhelming majority of these poor households.
Amidst widespread protests by CEB trade unions and social activists against the controversial Sri Lanka Electricity Bill, the government plans to bring down the electricity tariff in July for the benefit of consumers.
The Ceylon Electricity Board has not submitted the relevant proposals to the Public Utilities Commission to approve new tariffs
In the wake of these issues, state run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for the first quarter ended 31 March (1Q24) has recorded a profit of Rs. 88.3 billion, which is a 349.8 percent change when compared with the Rs. 35.3 billion loss recorded in the corresponding period in 2023.
The entity generated revenue of Rs. 179 billion in 1Q14. Having provided no concessions to domestic customers, and witnessing a reduction of 28 percent in cost of sales, and a gross profit of Rs. 69 billion was recorded. In 1Q23, the CEB posted a gross loss of Rs. 17 billion.
With contractions in distribution cost (56 percent YoY), other expenses (32.7 percent YoY), and administrative expenses (14 percent YoY), CEB recorded an operating profit of Rs. 97 billion. This is a 608 percent change when compared to the Rs. 19.2 billion operating loss recorded in 1Q23.
While proceeds of interest bearing loans and borrowings recorded Rs. 4.8 billion, repayments of interest bearing loans and borrowings were Rs. 7.8 billion for the 1Q24 period.
In March, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved an overall tariff reduction of 21.9 percent based on a proposal and cost data submitted by the CEB.
However, the reduction came after having electrocuted consumers by massively increasing the electricity tariff from August 2022, a move to boost revenue of the entity. The charges were raised to be in line with International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions.
A 75 percent hike was seen in August 2022, 66 percent hike in February 2023, and 18 percent in October 2023.
May 19, Colombo (LNW): In a momentous move aimed at protecting the unique ecosystem of Mannar Island, the environmental protection organisation, Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), has filed a fundamental rights application in the Supreme Court.
This legal action challenges the recent cabinet decision to award a wind power project in Mannar Island to Adani Green Energy Ltd., of India.
The petitioner WNPS is represented by President’s Counsel Sanjeeva Jayawardana with Prashanthi Mahindarathe, Revan Weerasinghe and Rukshan Senadheera, instructed by S.W.A. Amila Kumara.
Indian giant and the world’s biggest renewable energy producer Adani is to invest $ 442 million for two wind projects 250 MW in Mannar and 234 MW in Pooneryn.
WNPS, known for its staunch advocacy for environmental conservation, argues that the project poses a severe threat to the island’s unique biodiversity and pristine landscapes especially in the Mannar Island.
The island itself is home to several protected areas such as the Adam’s Bridge National Park, the Viduthalaithivu National Park and the Vankalai Sanctuary.
The former two were declared RAMSAR wetlands only a few months ago by Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.
In addition, Mannar is the southernmost point of the Central Asian Flyway used by innumerable migratory species, while also being home to several indigenous water bird and bat species.
WNPS contends that the decision to approve the project was made without any appreciation of Mannar’s singular positioning as a biodiversity hub, violating both national environmental protection laws as well as international conventions.
The island’s diverse ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, and wetlands, play a crucial role in maintaining the region’s environmental balance.
The organisation states that a severe threat exists that the construction and operation of the wind power project could lead to irreversible damage to these ecosystems.
The Petitioner contends that the manner and form of these actions by various authorities grossly abuse the doctrine of public trust reposed in authorities like the Forest Department and Department of Wildlife that have blithely ignored the irreparable ramifications of this project in a protected area replete with vulnerable species and war affected population struggling to survive.
The proposed Adani project will potentially raise the number of turbines on Mannar island to 82, supplementing the 30 turbines already existing as part of the Thambapawani project which has already caused staggering numbers of bird deaths, more than anticipated by the ornithologists consulted on the project.
If allowed to continue unabated the extension to the Adani project – titled Phase III – will pockmark Mannar island with 103 turbines across nearly 66% of Mannar’s land mass which has been declared Energy Development Areas.
A helicopter in a convoy carrying the Iranian president has been involved in an accident, state media is reporting.
State media says President Ebrahim Raisi was on board a helicopter that experienced a hard landing on Sunday (19).
The Interior Minister said rescuers were still trying to reach the site due to the difficult weather conditions.
According to local media, President Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz, in the north west of Iran, after returning the border with Azerbaijan, where he opened the Qiz Qalasi and Khodaafarin dams.
Heavy fog is making the search difficult at the site where it is thought that the helicopter may have landed, according to a reporter with Fars news agency.
He said the visibility in the mountainous and wooded area was down to only about five meters.
The area is about 50km to the north of Tabriz.
Ahmad Alirezabeigi, Iranian MP for the city of Tabriz, has told reporters in Tehran that rescue workers have yet to find the location of the helicopter carrying the president.
The MP said the helicopter was also carrying Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
He added that the other two helicopters in the convoy landed safely.
