February 18, Colombo (LNW): The Department of Examinations has officially declared that all tuition classes, including lectures, seminars, and workshops, for the 2024 Advanced Level Engineering Technology subject will be prohibited from midnight tonight.
This ban will also extend to the printing and distribution of model question papers, which is aimed at ensuring fairness and maintaining the integrity of the upcoming examinations.
Amith Jayasundara, the Commissioner General of Examinations, confirmed that the suspension of all related educational activities will remain in effect until March 01.
This decision has been made to prevent any undue advantages and to ensure a level playing field for all students across the country.
In the meantime, practical examinations for the 2024 Advanced Level Engineering Technology subject will commence tomorrow and run until March 01, taking place at 41 examination centres nationwide.
The Department of Examinations has emphasised that candidates should be aware of the specific details regarding their examination locations and times, which are clearly stated on their admission papers.
No alterations to these details will be entertained under any circumstances.
It is also crucial for candidates to arrive at their designated examination centre at least one hour prior to the start of their scheduled practical exam, as specified on the admission paper.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): The skilled engineering team at SriLankan Airlines has successfully completed a comprehensive base heavy maintenance check on an A321neo aircraft for Salam Air, a valued long-term customer.
Not only was the maintenance finished well before the planned deadline, but the team also ensured that all operations were carried out with precision and efficiency.
A significant part of the work involved the replacement of the aircraft’s right-hand main landing gear seal, an essential component for the safe and optimal operation of the aircraft.
This task was executed to the highest standards, with the engineers demonstrating their expertise in maintaining the sophisticated systems of modern airliners.
SriLankan Airlines Engineering has continued to solidify its reputation as a trusted provider of base maintenance services across the region.
The department has seen an impressive influx of both returning clients and new contracts, reflecting the growing demand for its top-tier services.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): BDO Partners, a leading professional services firm, has provided its response to the 2025 budget presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The firm acknowledges the government’s efforts to balance economic growth with social welfare whilst advancing debt restructuring efforts supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
BDO Partners recognises the government’s projected total expenditure of Rs. 4,218 billion (excluding debt servicing) and appreciates the focus on public services, infrastructure, and social welfare.
The firm supports the administration’s commitment to fostering a market-driven economy, ensuring a competitive market structure, and regulating excessive market power concentration.
Regarding tax reforms, BDO Partners notes the significant modifications to the Value Added Tax (VAT) system, including the shift from the Simplified Value Added Tax (SVAT) to a risk-based refund scheme.
The firm highlights the inclusion of digital services under VAT regulations and the mandatory adoption of Point of Sale (POS) machines for VAT-registered entities as key steps towards strengthening compliance.
BDO Partners welcomes the increase in the personal income tax threshold from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000 per month and the expansion of the first tax band taxed at 6 per cent.
However, the firm acknowledges concerns over the capital gains tax increase from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, which could pose additional burdens on individuals and partnerships.
The firm also appreciates the government’s targeted social welfare initiatives, particularly the extended exemptions under the Social Security Contribution Levy for petroleum products and international trade-related transportation.
Additionally, the firm’s analysis indicates that tax increases on the betting and gaming industry, including a rise in the Gross Collection Levy from 15 per cent to 18 per cent, will have financial implications for the sector.
In terms of economic modernisation, BDO Partners supports the government’s initiatives to digitise Sri Lanka’s economy, particularly the introduction of a unique digital identification system and the transition towards a cashless economy.
The firm views the projected digital economy growth of US$ 15 billion over five years as an ambitious yet achievable target.
BDO Partners commends the investment in tourism infrastructure, including the Rs. 500 million allocation for a city branding campaign and improvements at Bandaranaike International Airport.
The firm also appreciates the proposed development bank for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the strengthening of research and development funding, and the rationalisation of state agencies to improve efficiency.
On education, BDO Partners acknowledges the Rs. 135 billion investment in university education and school infrastructure, as well as the planned expansion of scholarships.
The firm supports the government’s commitment to healthcare, particularly the Rs. 604 billion allocation, digitalisation of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, and enhanced primary healthcare services.
BDO Partners also highlights the importance of food security and agriculture, welcoming the Rs. 35 billion fertiliser subsidy and investment in crop production.
The firm supports regulatory reforms aimed at stabilising the paddy and rice market and encourages private investment in underutilised land to boost agricultural output.
Overall, BDO Partners views the 2025 budget as a comprehensive effort to address Sri Lanka’s economic challenges whilst laying a foundation for long-term stability.
The firm emphasises that the success of these initiatives will depend on effective implementation, strong governance, and the ability to navigate global and domestic economic uncertainties.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has outlined a series of immediate and long-term actions to address grid stability concerns following the nationwide power failure that occurred on 9 February 2025.
The incident, which took place at 11.13 a.m., left much of Sri Lanka without electricity and caused significant disruption to daily life.
In response, the CEB has assured the public that corrective steps are already underway to ensure a more stable and resilient national grid.
The power failure was traced to a disturbance at the 33kV Panadura Grid Substation, which led to a rapid voltage drop throughout the electricity network.
At the time of the incident, over half of the nation’s electricity demand was being met by solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, with additional power supplied from the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai and various hydropower stations.
However, the high share of non-synchronous solar PV generation left the grid vulnerable to instability.
The CEB explained that the lack of synchronous power generation contributed to low system inertia, making the grid prone to faults.
As the disturbance triggered an imbalance between supply and demand, this led to cascading disconnections and, ultimately, the complete loss of power.
Several key factors contributed to the magnitude of the outage. Firstly, the high penetration of solar PV, combined with low grid inertia, left the system exposed to voltage and frequency disturbances.
Secondly, the sharp voltage drop caused many solar PV systems to automatically disconnect, exacerbating the instability.
Additionally, the automatic response by the Norochcholai Power Plant to the disturbance—while preventing potential internal damage—resulted in further strain on the grid.
The power failure was also influenced by the “Sunny Sunday” effect, where a low weekend demand combined with high solar generation created an unstable situation.
With industries and commercial customers offline, the grid was operating with reduced demand and reduced inertia, heightening its susceptibility to such disturbances.
In the wake of this event, the CEB has implemented a number of urgent measures aimed at stabilising the national grid and preventing future outages.
These include ensuring that more synchronous generators are maintained at a minimum generation level and operating selected gas turbines in synchronous condenser mode at critical locations to support voltage stability.
The CEB has also curtailed the generation of ground-mounted solar PV systems during low-demand periods, when necessary, to reduce the risk of grid instability.
Looking ahead, the CEB is pursuing medium-term strategies to further improve grid reliability.
This includes adjusting rooftop solar PV inverter settings to prevent unnecessary disconnections during minor disturbances and introducing special industrial tariffs to encourage industries to operate during off-peak hours.
In addition, the CEB is promoting solar installations paired with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to improve grid resilience and stability.
The CEB also outlined several long-term solutions to modernise the grid and better integrate renewable energy sources. Key initiatives include deploying grid-forming inverters with BESS to provide synthetic inertia and stabilise frequency fluctuations.
Furthermore, the CEB is working to install emergency backup generators at the Norochcholai Power Plant to ensure rapid reconnection in the event of future disconnections.
The Maha Oya Pumped Hydro Project, a 600 MW storage facility, is also set to play a crucial role in enhancing grid flexibility and energy security.
Additionally, the CEB is advancing investments in Smart Grid technology to improve real-time monitoring and control of renewable energy inputs.
The CEB concluded by acknowledging the significant inconvenience caused to the public by the power outage and reaffirming its commitment to providing a resilient, reliable, and future-proof electricity supply.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): The highly anticipated debate on the second reading of the 2025 national budget will begin in Parliament today (18), marking the start of critical discussions on the country’s financial future.
The debate is set to run until February 25, culminating in a vote on the second reading of the budget later that evening.
This period is expected to be a significant opportunity for parliamentarians to deliberate on the budgetary proposals, including allocations for key sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
Following the second reading debate, the Committee Stage Debate on the Appropriation Bill will take place over a span of 19 days, including four Saturdays, from February 27 to 21.
This phase of the discussion will allow for a more detailed examination of specific budgetary allocations and the proposed distribution of public funds across various government departments and projects.
The final vote on the third reading of the Appropriation Bill is scheduled for 21 March at 6:00 PM. This will mark the conclusion of the budgetary process, with Parliament giving its final approval to the government’s financial plan for the year.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo District Court has today dismissed a petition seeking an injunction to delay the upcoming election for the President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which is due to take place on February 19, 2025.
The application, filed by Attorney-at-Law Lilanthi de Silva (case number DSP/63/2025), requested a court order to temporarily halt the election proceedings.
However, Colombo District Court Judge Sandun Vithana ruled against granting the enjoining order, allowing the election to proceed as planned.
With the court’s decision, the election for the position of BASL President will go ahead without disruption on Wednesday (19).
The contest for the prestigious role will see former BASL Secretaries Rajeev Amarasuriya and Dr. Sunil Abeyaratne vying for the presidency for the 2025–2026 term.
In a related development, Anura Meddegoda PC, who had initially submitted his nomination for the post of President, recently decided to withdraw his candidacy, leaving the two remaining contenders to compete for the role.
The legal representatives involved in the case included Upul Jayasuriya PC, who appeared for the plaintiff, and Ali Sabry PC, who represented Rajeev Amarasuriya.
In other news, Attorney-at-Law Chathura Galhena was elected unopposed as BASL Secretary for the 2025–2026 term, securing his position without any contest.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): The re-scrutinised results of the 2023 (2024) G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination were made available late last night (17).
Students and the public can now access the updated results through the official websites of the Department of Examinations at www.doenets.lk and www.results.exams.gov.lk.
The release of these re-scrutinised results follows an extensive review process, allowing those who requested a re-check to view their final marks.
The Department of Examinations has also reminded individuals that should they have any questions or concerns regarding the outcomes of their examinations, they are welcome to contact the department through several communication channels.
For further assistance, individuals can reach out via the following methods:
February 18, Colombo (LNW): The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives, Abdulla Khaleel, is set to make an official visit to Sri Lanka from February 18 to 21, 2025.
This visit is expected to enhance bilateral relations between the two nations, with a series of key meetings on the agenda.
During his time in Sri Lanka, Foreign Minister Khaleel will engage in courtesy meetings with President Anura Kumara Disanayaka and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, marking a significant opportunity for diplomatic exchanges between the leaders.
These discussions are anticipated to cover a broad range of topics, including strengthening regional cooperation, trade, and mutual interests.
The Maldivian delegation will also hold in-depth talks with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism.
These official discussions will focus on advancing cooperation on matters of mutual concern, with particular emphasis on regional security and economic collaboration.
Accompanying Foreign Minister Khaleel on this important trip will be Fathimath Inaya, the Foreign Secretary of the Maldives, ensuring that the diplomatic team is well-equipped for the high-level discussions that will take place during their stay.
February 18, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Galle, Matara, Kaluthara and Rathnapura districts in the evening or night, and a few showers may occur in Uva province and in Ampara and Hambantota districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (18).
Mainly dry weather will prevail over other areas of the island.
A cold weather can be expected in the Northern, North-central provinces and Trincomalee district during the early morning.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle, Matara and Badulla districts during the morning.
The 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 may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Pottuvil to Kaluthara via Hambantota and Galle. Mainly fair weather will prevail over other sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed can increase up to 40 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending fromColombo to Mannar via Puttalam and from Matara to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be fairly rough at times.
February 17, Colombo (LNW): The latest Colombo Tea Auction witnessed a dip in buying intensity, influenced by an increase in supply and qualitative factors, according to a report by Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers.
This week’s total auction offerings amounted to 5.9 million kilograms (M/Kgs), reflecting a decrease from the 6.4 M/Kgs recorded over the past two to three weeks. The Ex-Estate category remained steady at approximately 0.9 M/Kgs. However, the overall quality of teas did not show any notable improvement, with only a few seasonal varieties available.
In the Best Western segment, a handful of select BOP invoices experienced a significant price appreciation due to superior quality and specific inquiries, whereas others fluctuated based on quality variations.
The corresponding BOPFs saw a broader range of offerings, with prices rising by Rs.100 per kilogram and above for the higher-quality teas, while others remained inconsistent.
In the Below Best and Plainer categories, BOPs dropped by Rs.20-40 per kilogram, and the Below Best BOPFs showed irregular trends. Clean leaf BOPFs at the lower end held firm, but others declined by Rs.20 per kilogram.
The Nuwara Eliya BOP/BOPFs were sold at steady to higher prices due to superior quality. Meanwhile, Uva/Uda Pussellawa BOPs remained barely stable, and their BOPF counterparts showed irregular patterns. A selection of Uva teas managed to fetch firm to slightly higher prices.
High and Mid Grown CTC teas had limited availability in the BP1 category. Among the PF1 High Growns, premium teas showed stable prices, while others tended to ease. The Low Grown BP1s were mostly unsold, and PF1s declined by Rs.20-40 per kilogram.
Market activity from major shipping destinations varied. Shippers to the UK, South Africa, and the continent showed reduced interest, whereas fair demand was observed from Japanese buyers. The CIS region saw consistent activity, though primarily at lower price levels compared to previous weeks.
Low Grown teas accounted for 2.6 M/Kgs and saw moderate demand. Within the Leafy and Semi-Leafy categories, Select Best and Best BOP1s experienced a decline, and bolder varieties remained irregular. The OP1s also trended downward, while OPs and Below Best categories showed a slight drop. The high-priced PEK/PEK1s weakened, and the Best and Below Best varieties followed suit, while lower-end teas remained steady.
In the Tippy category, some Select Best FBOPs held their previous price levels, while others declined. The Best and Below Best varieties, along with bolder types, also weakened, but lower-end teas remained stable. Select Best and Best FF1s saw price declines, whereas the bottom-tier teas were steady.
For premium teas, Very Tippy varieties held firm, while the Best and Below Best segments remained stable to slightly dearer. Lower-tier teas exhibited irregular trends based on quality. Leafier varieties maintained their previous price levels, contributing to a mixed market performance overall.
