Several spells of light showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Eastern and Uva provinces during the evening or night.

Mainly fair weather will prevail elsewhere over the Island.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

Colombo (LNW): In another dangerous strike against higher education in Sri Lanka, more than 5,200 university lecturers have left their positions, revealed the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) citing data from a survey undertaken recently.

The findings led to growing concerns on university education in the island nation and State Minister of Higher Education Suren Raghavan is prepared to discuss the matter next week, a report by News1st claimed.

The matter will be taken into discussion with the State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena and the FUTA, according to reports.

Colombo (LNW): The government has decided to curb the number of term tests held in schools per year.

In a statement, Education Minister Susil Premjayanth announced that a decision has been taken to conduct school term tests for grades 01 and above only once a year.

This will come into effect from 2024, he added.

Ruling Party MP Namal Rajapaksa urged President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet to announce the government’s programme to give relief to people affected by the dry spell and those in need of water for cultivation.

Addressing the meeting of his party’s electoral organisation, he said people had been hard- hit by the prolonged dry spell.

“We only appointed this president. Therefore, we should question him and his Cabinet about the programme to give relief to these people. Farmers in the eastern, southern, north-central and north-western provinces have been affected,” he said.

He said the president attended the global climate summit and developed ties with the respective countries.

“We should explore what kind of help can be obtained from such countries at this hour,” he said.

Also he asked Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake to stand up for joint efforts to address the issues rather than indulging in typical oppositional politics.

“We are politically divided. Yet, we have to face natural challenges together. As such we need to work out a plan for water management, power generation and development of agro-productivity,” he said.

Colombo (LNW): R.S. Kasmira Jayaweera, a Grade 07 student of Bandaranaike Central College, Veyangoda and the Sri Lankan representative for the 4th Children’s World Peace Summit, has won the first prize in the Summit.

Jayaweera today (06) paid homage to Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thero, Viharadhipathi of Japan’s first Temple Savara Lanka-ji Temple, Chief Sanghanayake of Japan and Honourable Chairperson of Sri Lanka Mahabodhi Association, and Resident Maha Sangha of the Temple and obtained their blessings.

Gamaathige Anil Priyantha also joined the occasion.

Colombo (LNW): A number of diseases are rapid spreading among children due to the prevailing dry weather conditions in the island, warned health officials.

With dehydration being common within children these days, they could be vulnerable to these diseases, and therefore, should be kept hydrated with more liquids, Specialist Doctor at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital Dr. Deepal Silva pointed out.

Diseases like diarrhea can also spread widely among children due to the weather conditions, he added.

Colombo (LNW): The non-holding of an election is a serious issue affecting the country’s democracy, emphasised Chairman of the Delimitation Commission of Sri Lanka Mahinda Deshapriya.

He made this observation in response to the non-holding of the Local Government Election, which at the moment is being dragged in indefinitely.

Deshapriya pointed out that the authorities will take measures to hold at least one election out of the provincial council and local government elections this year, and expressed confidence that at least one of the two currently postponed polls may be held before World Democracy Day, which falls on September 15.

He reminded that the Supreme Court has ruled that it is unlawful that the country being ruled by governors, secretaries and commissioners without any mandate by the people and their representatives.

Colombo (LNW): A special Committee consisting of senior Police officers has been appointed to report to the Police Headquarters and the Ministry of Public Security regarding the measures that can be taken to eradicate the drug menace and underworld operations.

The Committee chaired by Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) in charge of the Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon has been appointed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramarathne on the orders of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

The Committee membership:

SDIG (Western Province) T.M.W. Deshabandu Tennakoon: Chairman

Members:

SDIG (Northern Province) K.P.M. Gunaratne

SDIG (Southern Province) S.C. Medawatta

Commanding Officer (STF) W.S.E. Jayasundara

DIG (CID) S.P. Ranasinghe

DIG (Narcotics Bureau) Oshan Hewawitharana

DIG (Special Bureau) T.C.A. Dhanapala

Director (CCD) N. Silva

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which is being restructured to be more cost-effective, is to incur around Rs. 33 billion in losses this year even after the introduction of the two new tariff revisions.

Apart from this, the outstanding amount due to be paid for the generation of renewable energy currently stands at a total of Rs. 29.7 billion.

In a letter to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), the CEB has requested approval for a price revision for the third time saying failure to do so will force the CEB to face serious losses.

The letter, which was made public by the PUCSL, also notes that the CEB will not be able to settle its arrears for renewable power generation and to its debtors.

The total tariff reduction cost as proposed by the CEB for the next six months was around Rs. 10 billion, but the new tariff reduction will have to minimize losses. 

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has rejected a recent request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), seeking another revision of electricity tariffs, in a bid to cover their losses.

The new tariff set by the PUCSL deviates from the cost reflective nature of the End User Tariff. Electricity demand fell by 22 percent to 4,516 Gwh during the first four months of the year 2023 from 4,935 Gwh in the corresponding period of the year 2022.

Nonetheless, the revenue generated from electricity sales for the respective period was more than doubled primarily due to the second upward price revision that took place with effect from February 15, 2023, with an average increase of 66 percent reflecting cost recovery adjustments, Finance Ministry report revealed.

Accordingly, the revenue generated from electricity sales was recorded as Rs.180,117 million for the first four months period of the year 2023.

In the future, CEB will implement a regular, bi-annual end-user tariff modification based on a forward-looking cost recovery basis in order to make CEB financially viable and minimize the budgetary burden on the government.

However, as a result of higher fuel and coal prices in the rupee terms, the direct generation cost was increased by 55 percent to Rs. 177,468 million in the first four months of 2023 compared to Rs. 114,460million in the same period in 2022.

Further,due to the increase in interest rates on thebank borrowings for the working capital requirements, the finance cost has increasedto Rs. 23,264 million in the first four monthsof 2023 compared to Rs. 5,876 million in the same period of 2022.

Even though the electricity tariff was increased, CEB incurred an operating loss of Rs. 29,797 million in the first four months of 2023 due to the delayed tariff increase being inadequate to fully compensate for the significant increase in generation cost.

Further, the cost per unit at the selling point also has considerably increased to Rs. 47.44 per KWh during the first four months of 2023 against Rs. 26.95 per KWh in 2022.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka government unveiled plans to reconstruct Talaimannar pier to facilitate passengers from Rameswaram, India in a bid to further improve people-to-people ties of both countries, Ports, and shipping ministry sources said.

The pier is set to be reconstructed after 37 years, with the project having an estimated cost of Rs. 1.8 billion.

This was a significant strategic move designed to strengthen ties between Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

The intention is to streamline and foster people-to-people connections between the two nations, thereby nurturing bilateral relations.

The renovation of the pier coincides with a broader scope of plans, which includes the acquisition of approximately 10 acres of state-owned land adjacent to the port.

This acquisition will pave the way for the development of pertinent infrastructural projects, underscoring the country’s commitment to bolstering cross-border ties.

The Ministry statement disclosed that in parallel to the pier’s revamp, the development of a modern passenger terminal and warehouse facility would be a part of the scheme.

To facilitate these projects, requests for proposals will be solicited under a public-private partnership framework.

It’s notable that India has already finished enhancements to the Rameswaram Port and has been given the green light to inaugurate a passenger ferry service between Mannar and Rameswaram.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, the subject minister, paid an inspection visit to the Talaimannar Pier on Friday, August 4th.

During this visit, he stressed the importance of the pier’s development as a critical component in the strengthening of interpersonal connections between the neighboring nations.

In his statement, de Silva emphasized, “For this purpose, we need to repair the pier. This is a benefit we aim to provide to the people of the North and East, funded by the earnings from the Port of Colombo.

He noted that he firmly believes that the implementation of this project will yield numerous advantages”.

 He added that this initiative is a testament from President Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure equitable treatment across the North and South regions.

 Issuing a statement in this regard, the Ministry revealed that parallel to the reconstruction of the pier, nearly 10 acres of state-owned land bordering the port will be acquired for the development of relevant infrastructure.

It was also highlighted that a modern passenger terminal and a warehouse facility will also be constructed.

Accordingly, requests for proposals to carry out these developments will be called for under a private-public partnership, the Ministry noted, adding that India has completed developments at the Rameswaram Port, and clearance has been declared to commence a passenger ferry service between Mannar and Rameswaram.

This is a benefit we are going to give from the money we earned from the port of Colombo to the people of the North and East.