Former President and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the National People’s Power (NPP) is unlikely to secure a majority in most local government (LG) bodies at the upcoming election.
During a gathering held at the UNP headquarters in Sirikotha, he urged UNP candidates to consider forming alliances with other opposition parties to challenge the NPP’s hold.
Under current local government rules, the chairperson post is granted to the group with a majority, making coalition-building a critical strategy for the opposition, according to Wickremesinghe.
He also referenced the performance and track record of the incumbent NPP-led administration, indicating that voter sentiment may be shifting ahead of the 2025 LG elections.
The meeting was attended by UNP local government election candidates and senior party members.
CH17 Loyalty, a pioneer in loyalty and rewards management in Sri Lanka, has partnered with CHEC Port City Colombo to launch the co-branded Port City Colombo Privilege Card. This card aims to enhance the visitor experience for both locals and tourists at The Mall at Port City Colombo.
Leveraging over a decade of expertise in retail engagement, CH17 Loyalty has brought its technological platform, resources, and knowledge to create a new dimension in shopping, dining, entertainment, and duty-free privileges within this Special Economic Zone.
CHEC Port City Colombo Managing Director, Xiong Hongfeng, shared his enthusiasm, stating that the Port City Colombo Privilege Card ushers in a new era for Sri Lanka’s retail and lifestyle sectors.
With features like duty-free shopping and leisure options in a world-class environment, Port City Colombo is set to become a major hub for tourism, business, and investment. He acknowledged CH17 Loyalty’s technical expertise and innovative vision in shaping this program, noting that their contribution has been crucial in making the Privilege Card a unique value offering for tourists, investors, and offshore businesses.
CH17 Loyalty CEO, Jumar Preena, expressed pride in the partnership, emphasizing that the collaboration would provide cardholders with a truly exceptional experience.
He highlighted the exclusive benefits at The Mall at Port City Colombo, including world-class shopping, premium entertainment, and access to duty-free purchases. Preena also noted that CH17 Loyalty’s extensive experience in loyalty management positions them to elevate the Port City Colombo experience.
The Port City Colombo Privilege Card provides exclusive access to world-class facilities, merging luxury shopping with unique leisure experiences. This initiative not only improves the retail experience but also redefines entertainment for visitors.
As Port City Colombo develops into a vibrant commercial and leisure hub, CH17 Loyalty’s customer-centric solutions are expected to play a key role in building a thriving community with unparalleled benefits for all visitors and residents.
This partnership underscores CH17 Loyalty’s ongoing commitment to innovation, offering exceptional value to a high-potential customer base while supporting major national projects in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is steadily moving toward a green economy, but a shortage of sustainable finance is hampering progress, according to Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala. Speaking at the launch of the AgriFI Sri Lanka Country Window, hosted by the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Uduwawala emphasized the Government’s strong commitment to inclusive and environmentally friendly development.
He pointed to a range of national policies designed to promote renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy practices. However, he acknowledged that a lack of financial backing is slowing their implementation. “The Green Sri Lanka initiative is more than just ambition—it’s a strategic vision to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility,” he stated.
Uduwawala stressed that the green transition cannot succeed in isolation. It requires comprehensive financial mechanisms and collaboration across multiple sectors, including private and public institutions, agriculture, SMEs, and both local and international regulatory bodies. Although Sri Lanka has introduced several frameworks, including the National Environmental Action (NEA) Plan, the Net Zero 2050 strategy, and the Green Procurement Policy, many remain underfunded and thus are limited in impact.
The country’s ongoing debt crisis and broader financial instability were cited as key obstacles. These issues have significantly restricted investments in environmental initiatives and limited access to domestic funding. Additional challenges include institutional inefficiencies and policy uncertainty, though the Government is working to address these shortcomings.
Uduwawala commended the European Union for its continued support through the Green Policy Dialogue Facility (GPDF), established in 2022. The initiative aims to integrate inclusive green economy goals into the national governance and economic framework by fostering policy development, improving the investment climate for circular industries, and expanding access to green finance. However, he maintained that this support, while valuable, remains insufficient to fully meet Sri Lanka’s needs.
The Secretary also expressed optimism about Sri Lanka’s potential to serve as a model for resilient, low-carbon economic growth. He highlighted the need for investments in innovation, SMEs, and sustainable industries to realize this goal. Strengthening macroeconomic indicators is essential to attracting investment, and remains a top Government priority.
Uduwawala urged financial institutions, private sector players, and development partners to embrace an integrated investment approach. He emphasized that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles should be embedded in all financial decisions to foster long-term, responsible economic development. Aligning with global ESG standards would also attract more investment in clean energy and eco-friendly industries.
Finally, he pointed out a significant skills gap in technical expertise among local stakeholders. He stressed the importance of knowledge sharing and stronger public-private partnerships in driving the country’s green economy vision forward. Uduwawala concluded by calling for collective action and innovative ideas to translate environmental goals into tangible, sustainable progress.
Sri Lanka is steadily moving toward a green economy, but a shortage of sustainable finance is hampering progress, according to Environment Ministry Secretary K.R. Uduwawala. Speaking at the launch of the AgriFI Sri Lanka Country Window, hosted by the European Union delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Uduwawala emphasized the Government’s strong commitment to inclusive and environmentally friendly development.
He pointed to a range of national policies designed to promote renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy practices. However, he acknowledged that a lack of financial backing is slowing their implementation. “The Green Sri Lanka initiative is more than just ambition—it’s a strategic vision to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility,” he stated.
Uduwawala stressed that the green transition cannot succeed in isolation. It requires comprehensive financial mechanisms and collaboration across multiple sectors, including private and public institutions, agriculture, SMEs, and both local and international regulatory bodies. Although Sri Lanka has introduced several frameworks, including the National Environmental Action (NEA) Plan, the Net Zero 2050 strategy, and the Green Procurement Policy, many remain underfunded and thus are limited in impact.
The country’s ongoing debt crisis and broader financial instability were cited as key obstacles. These issues have significantly restricted investments in environmental initiatives and limited access to domestic funding. Additional challenges include institutional inefficiencies and policy uncertainty, though the Government is working to address these shortcomings.
Uduwawala commended the European Union for its continued support through the Green Policy Dialogue Facility (GPDF), established in 2022. The initiative aims to integrate inclusive green economy goals into the national governance and economic framework by fostering policy development, improving the investment climate for circular industries, and expanding access to green finance. However, he maintained that this support, while valuable, remains insufficient to fully meet Sri Lanka’s needs.
The Secretary also expressed optimism about Sri Lanka’s potential to serve as a model for resilient, low-carbon economic growth. He highlighted the need for investments in innovation, SMEs, and sustainable industries to realize this goal. Strengthening macroeconomic indicators is essential to attracting investment, and remains a top Government priority.
Uduwawala urged financial institutions, private sector players, and development partners to embrace an integrated investment approach. He emphasized that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles should be embedded in all financial decisions to foster long-term, responsible economic development. Aligning with global ESG standards would also attract more investment in clean energy and eco-friendly industries.
Finally, he pointed out a significant skills gap in technical expertise among local stakeholders. He stressed the importance of knowledge sharing and stronger public-private partnerships in driving the country’s green economy vision forward. Uduwawala concluded by calling for collective action and innovative ideas to translate environmental goals into tangible, sustainable progress.
As of April 21, 2025, Sri Lanka’s Norochcholai Power Plant is back to full capacity, with all three generator units operational. This follows a temporary shutdown of one unit during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays due to lower electricity demand.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) confirmed the reactivation of the final unit at 11:00 a.m., in response to a noticeable increase in nationwide power usage after the festive season.
During the holidays, the CEB prioritized hydro and renewable energy sources, leading to the temporary suspension of thermal plants, including the Norochcholai and Kelanitissa Naphtha power plants.
As part of this strategy, a renewable energy curtailment program began on April 10 to maintain grid stability. Initially scheduled to end at 3:00 p.m. on April 21, the program was lifted early—on April 20—due to the unexpected surge in electricity demand.
CEB spokesman, Engineer Dhammika Wimalaratne, acknowledged the valuable cooperation of nearly 100,000 solar power providers, including domestic rooftop users and commercial producers.
Their compliance in adjusting power output during the holidays played a critical role in maintaining the grid’s stability. On April 13, the CEB even advised rooftop solar unit owners to pause generation during daylight hours, with systems over 100 kilowatts temporarily disconnected through SMS notification.
Despite the smooth resumption of full operations, the Norochcholai plant faces safety concerns. Reports indicate that the plant’s fire department ceased operations on April 1, after contract expirations were not renewed.
In the absence of trained fire personnel, firefighting responsibilities have been passed on to general plant staff. Experts view this as a potentially hazardous move, especially considering the plant’s scale and technical complexity.
Nevertheless, with hydropower generation still limited due to inadequate rainfall, Norochcholai remains a cornerstone in Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure. The timely reactivation of all three units marks a crucial step in ensuring a stable power supply during the post-holiday demand spike.
The CEB concluded its statement by reiterating gratitude to solar energy contributors and the general public for their role in preserving national energy stability during a period of strategic power management and operational challenges.
Renewables have been growing quickly, but are slightly off track to meet that promise, the International Energy Agency said in October.
Earth Day sees various local events take place in addition to the official theme, such as clean-ups of beaches, rivers and other spaces
What has Earth Day achieved?
Within a few years of the first Earth Day in 1970, the US Environmental Protection Agency had been set up, and several environmental laws – such as the Clean Air Act – had been established or significantly strengthened.
More recent events have included planting hundreds of millions of trees, supporting farmers with sustainable agriculture practices, and starting climate literacy projects around the world.
Some observers also cite the importance of Earth Day in pushing environmental issues back up national and international agendas.
“With a host of issues driving our environmental challenges down society’s priority list, events like Earth Day remind us of the long-term cost of short-termism,” said Yvo de Boer, former UN climate chief.
In 2016, Earth Day was symbolically chosen for the official signing of the landmark Paris climate accord, which had been agreed in late 2015.
It was the first time that countries of the world had collectively agreed targets to try to limit global warming.
Some critics warn that these achievements give a false sense of progress.
Many environmental indicators – from global temperatures to species extinctions – are changing rapidly due to human activities. Efforts to date have fallen far short of halting or reversing these trends.
Some individuals and companies have also been accused of using Earth Day as an opportunity to misleadingly promote their environmental credentials, without making the real changes that are needed.
This is known as “greenwashing”.
For example, campaigner Greta Thunberg posted in 2022 that Earth Day “has turned into an opportunity for people in power to post their ‘love’ for the planet, while at the same time destroying it at maximum speed”.
“We all know greenwashing is happening and it is infuriating,” Earth Day organiser Ms Rogers told BBC News.
“It’s not an issue we’ve caused, but we know Earth Day is used cynically by some businesses to [mis]use the ethos of sustainability for their own gain.”
“Governments need to take robust action and crack down on any business or industry lying to consumers.”
Medical authorities have reported an increase in diarrhea cases among children during the recent hot weather, with a rise in dehydration linked to both diarrhea and high temperatures.
Health specialists attribute the situation partly to an increase in flies during this period, which is contributing to the spread of infections.
Parents and caregivers are advised to ensure children remain hydrated. Natural fluids such as lemon juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, tangerine juice, and clean water are recommended.
Medical professionals warn that untreated dehydration in children may lead to serious health risks.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has announced that Sri Lanka’s Treasury is expected to record its highest-ever revenue in 2025. The government plans to allocate these funds entirely to national development projects aimed at enhancing the country’s resilience to global challenges.
The announcement was made during a public rally held in Dambulla on April 20.
According to the President’s Office, the 2025 National Budget includes a development allocation of Rs. 1,400 billion, marking the largest investment in development in Sri Lanka’s history.
The government has also outlined public sector reforms, including an increase in minimum salaries for public servants and measures to eliminate political interference in state-sector appointments.
The statement also referenced global economic pressures, noting the potential impact of U.S. tariffs, while affirming the government’s commitment to economic stability and growth.
The Sri Lanka Public Health Inspectors’ Association has raised concerns over a rise in chikungunya cases, with Secretary Chamil Muthukuda warning that the current rainy conditions have increased the risk of both chikungunya and dengue outbreaks.
Muthukuda emphasized that both diseases are transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, and that the current situation has been worsened by poor household sanitation and the increased movement of people during the long weekend and school holidays, including visits to friends’ and relatives’ homes.
“People must take responsibility to maintain mosquito-free environments around their homes,” he stressed.
He urged the public to seek immediate medical attention if fever lasts more than two days, as relying on home remedies could delay proper treatment and potentially lead to fatal outcomes, especially in dengue cases.
Fairly heavy falls about 75 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central Uva, Eastern, Northern and North-central provinces.
Showers or thundershowers may occur in Western province and in Galle, Matara and Puttalam districts in the morning too.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa and Uva provinces and in Ampara district during the morning.
