By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara has instructed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) regarding the obtaining of the Ministry’s approval for the promotions of senior management at the Board.

The above instruction comes in following reports that the CEB had promoted a woman official at the Board one day prior to her retirement.

“A meeting was held with the Chairman, General Manager and Directors of CEB this morning. Instructions were given regarding promotions for senior management at CEB to obtain the Ministry approval and to implement immediately the board decision taken in 2020 that was to be implemented from 2025 regarding the minimum service period remaining required for the promotions to the positions of DGMs (3 years) & AGMs (2 years),” Wijesekara wrote on X (previously known as Twitter).

He added: “Since the current GM is retiring next month, instructions were also given to nominate persons & get the approval of the Ministry for the post of GM for individuals that has prior administrative experience and a minimum of 3 year service period remaining for retirement. Reform process of CEB, power generation plans, assets management, reducing administrative and operating costs & related issues to CEB was also discussed.”

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has recently settled the first instalment of US $50 million of a US $200 million debt obtained from Bangladesh two years ago, a report by Bangladeshi website New Age disclosed.

The financial assistance was extended by the Bangladesh Bank (BB) to Sri Lanka to address a pressing foreign exchange reserve crisis experienced by the South Asian country then.

The first payment from Sri Lanka was received on August 17, according to Md Mezbaul Haque, executive director and spokesperson of the BB.

He also said that Sri Lanka was expected to pay back another instalment by August 30.

The BB foresees the repayment of the entire US $200 million loan by September, he added.

Under the terms of a currency swap agreement, Bangladesh provided this monetary support to Sri Lanka in three distinct tranches.

The first tranche of US $50 million was sent on August 19, the second instalment of US $100 million on August 30 and the rest $50 million in September of 2021.

On August 19 in 2021, the BB released US $50 million as the first tranche and another US $100 million as the second instalment on August 30 in 2021 and the third tranche worth US $50 million on September 21 in the same year.

The initial tenure of the currency swap agreement was set at three months while the agreement contained a rollover condition, allowing Sri Lanka to extend the period of repayment of the financing facility.

Colombo (LNW): The Disaster Management Centre has taken proactive measures to intensify the distribution of water amidst the growing water scarcity triggered by the ongoing arid weather conditions in the island.

The Disaster Management Centre, accordingly, has deployed nearly 100 bowsers to distribute water across the country, with a primary focus on hospitals and social service institutions in need, said Centre Director Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe.

Around 202,500 people across 15 districts affected by dry weather have already benefited from this water distribution initiative so far, he added.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The heat index is expected to increase up to ‘caution’ level at some places in Northern, North-Central, Eastern and Uva provinces and Hambantota District amidst the prevailing hot climate, warned the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology in a statement issued today (21).

The Dept urged the public to stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade as often as possible, check up on the elderly, the sick and children, limit strenuous outdoor activities, and wear lightweight and white or light-coloured clothing.

Colombo (LNW): The measures taken to control the drug menace in Sri Lanka were recently discussed at the Select Committee of Parliament appointed to look into and identify the mechanisms to be implemented in order to immediately control and eradicate the rapidly spreading drug menace in the country and to submit observations and recommendations to Parliament in that regard.

The matter was addressed at the Committee meeting held on August 10 under the Committee Chief, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

The Sri Lanka Police, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board and the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol were summoned before this Committee and the measures taken by these departments to control the drug menace in the country were discussed.

A special committee has been appointed headed by Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Deshbandu Tennakoon, to control the drug menace in this country, Alles noted.

Moreover, the officials representing the Police emphasised that many of measures have been taken to stop bringing in drugs into the country in a large-scale. The intelligence agencies of the neighbour countries will also support for this purpose, they added.

Furthermore, the officials representing the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol presented to the Committee some suggestions that could be taken to reduce the use of tobacco and alcohol. Moreover, the officials further stated that the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board is working towards taking necessary measures for the treatment of people who are addicted to drugs.

The MPs who attended the meeting also tendered proposals and ideas regarding drug control and the Committee Chief responded that the proposals of Members should be taken into consideration and a report containing the proposals of these present sectors should be given to the Committee.

State Minister Sisira Jayakody, and MPs Buddhika Pathirana, Jayantha Samaraweera, Dr. Upul Galappaththi, Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Rajika Wickramasinghe and Manjula Dissanayake were present at the occasion.