The Police say that the situation has been controlled at the public protest that took place near the residence of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in Mirihana, Colombo.
Accordingly, the area is currently peaceful and the security forces are conducting further investigations.
When God gives rainfall and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation gives fuel, electricity will be supplied without any disruptions, the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), M.M.C. Ferdinando pledged.
Speaking at a press conference the CEB Chairman stated that when the country receives a diesel ship, the power plants can be soon activated, which will reduce the duration of power cuts.
The CEB Chairman M.M.C. Fedinando stated that Sri Lanka’s hydro electricity generation has dropped, and while Sri Lanka has power plants of a capacity of over 1100 megawatts that run on fuel, the CEB does not have fuel for them, and only get diesel and furnace oil intermittently.
“CEB cannot generate more than 300 megawatts from our hydro power plants. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has promised to provide us with diesel. CEB will be able to reduce the duration of the power cuts when we receive the fuel we need on the 2nd of April.
We will be able to reduce the power cuts per day to less than 4 hours, however only if we continue to get diesel and furnace oil without any interruption ” he stated.
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says that the Lanka IOC agreed to provide 6,000 MT of Diesel required for electricity generation.
Only the Kelanithissa Combined Cycle Power Station is currently active amidst the shortage of Diesel, according to the CEB.
All other Thermal Power Plants that run on Diesel and Furnace Oil are currently inactive, Additional General Manager Andrew Nawamani, the CEP Spokesperson said.
However, one generator of the Canyon Reservoir was reactivated, he noted.According to Andrew Nawamani, 810 MW of power is generated from the Norochcholai Power Plant.
When inquired whether the CEB is taking any future steps regarding the Cabinet of Ministers granting permission for direct fuel purchases, the Minister of Power said that they need a permit to bring down fuel from the Ministry of Energy, and that relevant permit has not been received yet.
Although the Minister of Energy Gamini Lokuge has said that they indeed will receive a permit, the CEB Chairman stated that they did not call for tenders.
“A supplier came forward and said that they will bring down crude oil to Sri Lanka and take payment in rupees.
When that was done the cabinet of ministers said that they cannot give us the permit. We said that we have no objections and we wrote to the chairman of the Ceylon petroleum corporation asking them to make the purchase and that we will make the payments for it,” The CEB Chairman explained.
Accordingly, a previous Cabinet paper mentioned that the CEB was granted permission to bring down Diesel from a company, which subsequently refused due to the Ukraine issue, the same day a letter is released with the mention of a Rajapaksa member regarding a South African Company, which agrees to provide the diesel.
This is followed by the Cabinet paper being resubmitted, which highlights the agreement to purchase diesel at Rs. 188, which results in CEYPETCO selling the aforementioned diesel at Rs. 177 while the LIOC sells the diesel at Rs. 203. The usual tax on a liter of diesel is about Rs. 21, which led to about Rs. 12 profit.Answering these allegations, the Minister of Power stated that the Cabinet paper was not submitted as it was received, however a technical evaluation was conducted and was presented to the Cabinet, that led to the Ministers of he Cabinet deciding that if the fuel is to be purchased, it should be done by the CPC as to not result in a loss
The costs and negative impacts of major power outages in Sri Lanka reach all industries creating social distress. Sectors such as tourism, export, healthcare, education, manufacturing, government and private services, retail and finance are vastly affected.
Moreover, the total workforce in Sri Lanka is being disrupted. Their productivity levels are reduced. For instance, the export sector workforce is facing many challenges when long power cuts are taking place. They are unable to conduct daily export-related operational activities efficiently, have no proper access to technology/internet, ineffective communication with their buyers in other countries. All these inefficiencies lead to decreased export revenue for Sri Lanka.
One of the solutions to end power cuts and fuel and LP gas queues in Sri Lanka is to increase the diesel and petrol prices.
Sri Lanka’s total imports spend per month on energy and fuel is USD515 million. Out of this, USD450 million is spent on fuel, USD35 million on gas and USD30 million on coal. From the USD450 million, USD150 million worth of fuel is required for electricity generation and for the remaining USD300 million worth of fuel imports, the government can increase prices for petrol and diesel to reduce consumption by 50 %. (Special fuel vouchers can be given to fishermen to purchase fuel for commercial fishing)
These power cuts are being carried out as a temporary solution to recover the losses incurred by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and by calculation the total amount of US$ 150 million spent on fuel for power generation per month consumes US$ 05 million per day, out of which only US$ 2.5 million is expected to be saved via the subscription to a 12-hour power cut.
The total electricity generated and consumed yesterday (30th March 2022) was 39GWh. The total electricity generated in Sri Lanka within any given 24 hours on average is 49GWh. Therefore, the total energy saved during a 12-hour power cut in Sri Lanka is only 22%. This indicates that imposing long power cuts would not limit the usage of electricity by a considerable amount.
Instead of cutting power, the government should increase the prices of fuel (petrol/diesel) to reduce the consumption of fuel.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka has pointed out that all rulers are under the obligation to serve all the citizens in the country by putting them first not by political expediency but by principle.
In a statement, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka encouraged every stakeholder to help those who are severely affected by the financial difficulties.
What the country needs is an immediate solution to remedy the critical situation, it went on, adding that a system which ensures a secure, free country for the future generations to live in dignity and a sense of belonging to the motherland should be adapted.
It is incumbent on all citizens without exception to respect and uphold the rule of law that stem from the Constitution of the country and not seek immunity and act with impunity to ensure freedom of expression and movement, it added.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka emphasised that it expects the rulers and all responsible citizens to uphold values of their own religions and urged the people to pray without ceasing and invoke upon the motherland God’s abundant blessings.
MIAP
Following reports on a possible disruption in internet connections triggered by the power and fuel crises, it was revealed that telephone signal towers have not been able to operate properly.
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka yesterday declared that a 13-hour power cut will occur today, and the daily power cuts are seemingly occurring for more than 10 hours.
The Ministry of Technology stated that a special initiative has been launched to provide diesel without any shortage to every telephone tower as a solution to the problem.
These towers continued to operate using generators during power outages, but the operations were seized due to the shortage of diesel.
Therefore, the Ministry emphasised that the signal towers will be provided uninterrupted fuel for their operations.
MIAP
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has announced that the operations at the Samanala Wewa and Castlereagh power plants have been suspended, due to insufficient water levels in the reservoirs.
MIAP
The Sri Lanka Retailers’ Association (SLRA), the apex body for organised retail in Sri Lanka, has issued a communique requesting landlords, lessors, and business partners to reduce leases and rentals for the Association’s membership.
President of SLRA, Mr. Murali Prakash appealed to landlords and lessors to provide a 50% concession on rentals and leases on all forms of physical infrastructure on properties leased and rented by SLRA members for the next one year.
Furthermore, the association appeals to all business partners to share other costs where possible, to ensure that the sector, as a whole, is sustainable through these difficult times to safeguard the entire ecosystem.
The unfavourable forex situation has plunged many retail businesses into a new low after battling the COVID-19 pandemic for over two years with reduced operability.
This has significantly eroded the business sustainability, given that most retailers heavily rely on imported products and raw material.
The ongoing dollar crisis could continue to significantly reduce the revenues, impede growth and impact all operational levels to a point where maintaining physical infrastructure would be challenging. Increasing the cost base has further dampened the condition.
Due to this situation, there is a sense of urgency for the retailers to forge partnerships and implement cost sharing in all areas to wade through the challenges. SLRA believes that retailers and their business partners could overcome such adverse conditions only through a shared vision. If they stand together, all costs can be shared and the businesses could continue to operate. The alternative would force retailers to consider reduced business locations, which could hurt many landlords and business partners and result in zero income.
A similar impact will befall other business partners, should retail customer points are reduced. Therefore, it is in the interest of everyone, that a shared cost strategy is established.
SLRA is optimistic that landlords, lessors, and other business partners would share part of the costs through reduced rentals and other cost-sharing options; thus, striving to create a better tomorrow.
It also understands the impact this would have on the lessors and landlords and other business partners and suppliers. However, the industry needs to stay afloat for all parties to benefit in the future, and therefore a collective action is indeed the way forward.
Retailers have endlessly supported the local economy during good and bad times, and this is an exception where they need support from all business partners.
Retail accounts for over one-third of the GDP and over 15% of the employment in Sri Lanka. Vibrant retail is an essential part of a healthy and robust economy. Hence, it is imperative that all parties come together to support the retailers at this juncture for the nation’s greater good.
The SLRA currently represents nine sectors in the retail industry, namely FMCG; Clothing, Fashion & Jewellery; Shelter & Housing; Household & Consumer Durables; Footwear & Accessories; E-Commerce; Mobility; Entertainment, Restaurant, and QSR; Healthcare and Wellness.
The Court of Appeal today acquitted and sentenced SLPP MP Premalal Jayasekara alias ‘Choka Malli’, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
The MP had filed a petition in the Court of Appeal challenging the death sentence passed by the Ratnapura High Court and the death sentence was upheld.
The Court of Appeal has acquitted the other two persons who were sentenced to death in connection with the murder.
The stock market authorities have decided to limit the daily activities of the Colombo Stock Exchange to 2 hours.
Today and tomorrow (31-01) the stock market will start at 10.30 am and daily trading will be limited to 12.30 pm only.
There is interference in 3G and 4G transmission due to long hours of power cuts and the shortage of fuel for power generators, several mobile service providers said.
Sri Lanka is currently hit by a shortage of forex and essential items including fuel required for power generation. Rolling power interruptions have been gravely affecting the day-to-day life of the general public over the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, it is reported that several foreign television channels have also decided to suspend their broadcasts in Sri Lanka due to power outages and the dollar crisis.
