The power cuts planned for today (04) will be limited to a maximum period of five hours, said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).
Accordingly;
A – L and P – W zones – 3 and a half hour power cut from 10 am to 5 pm and 1 and a half hour power cut from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Areas of Colombo city limits – 4 hour power cut from 6 am to 10 am.
MIAP
State Minister of Batik, Handloom, Textiles and Local Apparel Productions Dayasiri Jayasekara has confirmed his resignation in a lengthy letter addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last (03) night.
MIAP
The Sri Lanka Institute of Biotechnology (SLIBTEC) will collaborate with the US Government’s development arm — the US Agency for International Development (USAID), to boost innovation in the biotechnology sector by establishing Sri Lanka’s first Biotechnology Innovation Park.
By unleashing change through bio-innovation, SLIBTEC expects to increase Sri Lanka’s hi-tech exports by at least 1%.
Following the signing of a Letter of Cooperation with USAID’s PARTNER project, Treasury Secretary and Chairman of SLIBTEC S.R. Attygalle said: “SLIBTEC Park and SLIBTEC Research Facility will open doors in Sri Lanka and internationally for multidisciplinary research and hi-end biotech development.
This will facilitate and promote innovation in all spheres of biotechnology, including medical, agricultural, and industrial sectors. This will also usher in a new era for sustainability, as well as facilitate the creation of a more technologically advanced nation.”
To support the development of the park, the Finance Ministry worked closely with USAID to secure technical expertise through USAID’s PARTNER project for the next two years. SLIBTEC will use this support to develop the operational framework that will help it to develop a modern business model based on international best practices.
PARTNER will also provide support in areas such as the park design, research management policy and training opportunities.
“As one of Sri Lanka’s longstanding development partners, USAID has provided development and humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka for over six decades, making substantial investments in almost every sector.
Today, we are proud to extend our support to ensure the country’s potential in biotechnology is pursued, promoted and developed,” USAID Mission Director for Sri Lanka and Maldives Reed Aeschliman said.
“The socio-economic impact of this investment to Sri Lanka will be significant as it creates jobs, increases innovation, and promotes entrepreneurship,” he added. The SLIBTEC Biotechnology Innovation Park will be a 13.2-acre facility in Pitipana, Homogama that will house high-end biotechnology innovation and manufacturing firms.
An on-site research facility will provide a centralised multidisciplinary research and service facility, with initial areas of research in Biopharma, Biofuel, Agro Biotech, and other emerging fields.
The park will become a centre point of innovation in biotechnology in Sri Lanka and will attract investments and partnerships from local and international firms
Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Digital Technology and Enterprise Development and Project Supervision Namal Rajapaksa has resigned from all of his posts.
In a tweet, he confirmed his resignation stating that his resignation has been informed to the President’s Secretary.
I have informed the sec. to the President of my resignation from all portfolios with immediate effect, in hope that it may assist HE & PMs decision to establish stability for the people & the govt of #LKA. I remain committed to my voters, my party & the people of #Hambanthota.
— Namal Rajapaksa (@RajapaksaNamal) April 3, 2022
Media reports claimed that Rajapaksa’s wife and in-laws had left the country yesterday (03) morning.
MIAP
Instigating a sigh of relief for hudgreads of thousands of people waiting in queues at petrol stations countrywide and those hit by 13-hour-long power cuts,the Ceylon Electricity Board announced a reduction of power cut duration commencing this week
As 40,000 MT of diesel under the Indian Line of Credit of $500 million arrived at the Colombo harbour on Saturday the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said that 13-hour power cuts would now be reduced to nearly 2 hours from Sunday 02.
CEB Chairman M.C. Ferdinando told journalists at a special media briefing that the CEB expects power cuts to be reduced to less than four hours, he said, adding that Indian Oil Company (IOC) has pledged support to provide 6,000 tons of diesel for power generation purposes.
“If the CEB receives a continuous supply of furnace oil and diesel, power cuts can be brought to an end,” Ferdinando expressed optimism.The CEB Chairman admitted that they were unable to meet the power demand at present.
He said majority of power generation at present is being met through coal power generation.
“CEB has called for eight tenders via a term contract for four tenders and others are via spot tenders. Of that four shipments are due this month, for which CEB needs to pay US$ 6 billion. However, we will ensure that we make those payments within the day,” Ferdinando explained.
He also said only 300 MW can be generated through hydro power plants, whilst 800 MW is required in the night time peak hours between 6:30 p.m. and to 10.00 p.m., which he claimed cannot be met.
Ferdinando also stressed that the thermal power plants generates 1,100 MW to the national grid at present, noting that this too is affected due to the shortage of fuel.
Sri Lanka’s power generation mainly depends on fuel and all except two plants have been shut down due to lack of diesel. For days, the country’s economy has been suffering due to lack of transportation of goods, while mechanised farming and fishing have come to a standstill with no diesel in the petrol stations.
The fourth consignment under the fuel Line of Credit from India followed three previous deliveries on March 16, 20 and 23. Over the last 50 days, India has supplied Sri Lanka nearly 200,000 MT including a consignment of 40,000 MT by Indian Oil Corporation outside the line of credit facility in February 2022.
“In view of the urgent nature of Sri Lanka’s requirement, India worked overtime to expeditiously finalise and implement both the lines of credit within weeks,” the Indian High Commission said.
Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay, who visited the Colombo harbour, observed that the fuel deliveries is a concrete manifestation of India’s commitment to the people of Sri Lanka in the current circumstances in line with its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
Sri Lanka’s Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge, who visited the harbour to welcome the shipment, thanked India for helping at a critical moment.
Earlier, the Export Import Bank of India and the Government of Sri Lanka signed a $500 million Line of Credit Agreement for the purchase of petroleum products on February 2.
“In response to a separate and urgent request from the Government of Sri Lanka, extension of a credit facility of $1 billion for supply of essential items, including food and medicines, has been finalised and the first shipments of rice under this facility is expected to reach Sri Lanka soon,” the Indian High Commission in Colombo stated.
Earlier in January this year, India had provided financial assistance to Sri Lanka that included a credit swap of $400 million and deferment of an Asian Clearing Union payment of over $515 million.
In cumulative terms, Indian support to the people of Sri Lanka in the first quarter of 2022 is in excess of $2.5 billion, the High Commission added.
The High Commission also noted that the Government of India continues to encourage the efforts towards medium to long-term capacity creation through enhanced Indian investment in Sri Lanka in key sectors that include ports, renewable energy, manufacturing etc.
Every member of the Cabinet of Ministers of the present government has tendered their letters of resignation to Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, following days’ continuity of anti-government protests triggered by the economic meltdown befallen the Sri Lanka.
The Cabinet has held a discussion with the Prime Minister at Temple Trees a while ago and it was concluded that the letters of resignation be handed over to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, a special discussion is due to be held with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tomorrow (04) as well.
In the wake of the economic meltdown, a strong opposition is raising from every direction, only to be intensified due to the government’s move of imposing an islandwide curfew.
In the backdrop, Premier Rajapaksa has agreed to form an interim caretaker government with the membership of all parties representing Parliament to quell the protests. Early reports claimed that Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila, Vasudewa Nanayakkara and Tiran Alles had met with the Prime Minister to discuss the matter.
MIAP
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP) held a protest against the government in Maharagama city yesterday (03).
The event was attended by JVP Political Bureau member and former MP K.D. Lal Kantha, MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, former MPs Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Sunil Handunnetti and Wasantha Samarasinghe, Lakshman Nipunaarachchi and many other political activists, in the slogan of ‘dismissing the tyrannical government’ to end the ’74 year curse’.
MIAP
MPs and Ministers have decided not to attend any ceremony, function or rally amid the growing anti-government protests across the country.
None of the Ministers and MPs have reportedly attended the Aluth Sahal Festival held in Anuradhapura. The event was scheduled to be held under the patronage of the Secretary to the State Ministry of Agriculture, the Commission of Agriculture Development and other government officials together with MPs and Ministers, but no politician has attended the event, correspondents revealed.
Meanwhile, an event distributing land deeds was organised in Suriyawewa yesterday (02) under the patronage of Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, but the Minister did not appear for the event. Rajapaksa, who had stated that he would attend the event covering the whole event, due to which security was also tightened in the area, did not attend.
The land deed distribution event organised on April 01 under the patronage of State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa was held without his attendance and Badulla District Ruling Party MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake attended the event in replacement. However, MP Dassanayake too had to leave the event under heavy Police security due to the strong protests raised by the public.
MIAP
The power of the country which was borne by the government, political parties and civil movements up to now has now been taken over by unorganised groups who are staging protests, said Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking exclusively to WION.
A situation of this nature is extremely dangerous and it is impossible to predict what will happen in the future, the UNP Leader pointed out, stressing that the people are now rejecting all politicians threatening the entire political fabric of the country.
The current regime should be held accountable for the occurrence of this situation in the first place, Wickremesinghe went on, adding that the financial crisis orchestrated by the government has now been grown to the point where an economic crisis has spawned, later a political crisis.
The former Prime Minister also reminded that two years ago he had suggested that the government should be seeking the assistance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) but the government leaders had rejected those propositions and continued to slash taxes dropping government revenue, thereby oppressing the public in the birth of the economic meltdown. The outcome of it was the public explosion which took place last Thursday (31), he emphasised.
MIAP
The International Community has expressed its grave concern over the state of emergency imposed in Sri Lanka and the alleged suppression committed behind it.
The European Union said in a tweet that it is concerned by the situation, strongly urging Sri Lankan authorities to safeguard democratic rights of all citizens, including right to free assembly and dissent, which has to be peaceful.
Several other countries, including the United States have also expressed their concern over the situation in Sri Lanka.
MIAP
