President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has promised the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) that immediate actions will be taken to solve the power crisis in the country.
Janaka Ratnayake, Chairman of the PUCSL, stated that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the General Treasury are set to take immediate steps to import fuel for power generation.
MIAP
Two more ships carrying diesel are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today and tomorrow. Secretary of the Ministry of Energy K.D.R. Olga said that one of the ships has 33,000 metric tons of auto diesel and 7,000 metric tons of super diesel.
The other ship will carry 28,000 metric tons of diesel and 9,000 metric tons of jet fuel, the secretary said. She said work is underway to open letters of credit for the ships in question.
The Ministry of Energy stated that the country currently has a sufficient reserve of petrol. Two more ships carrying fuel are scheduled to arrive on the 6th and 7th, Energy Ministry Secretary stated.
According to media reports, 17 health unions will go on a token strike today and tomorrow. Protesting against the failure to address several of the demands, including the elimination of pay anomalies.
Convener of the Health Trade Union Alliance Ravi Kumudesh stated that the strike will be active island wide from 8 this morning.
However, children’s hospitals, cancer hospitals, maternity hospitals, the Central Blood Bank and the Colombo National Institute of Infectious Diseases will not join the strike, he said.
Government MP Prof. Charitha Herath says that Sri Lanka is facing a serious economic crisis.
The professor, who is also the chairman of the parliamentary ‘COPE’ committee, said this in an interview with Advocata Plus’ Dhananath Fernando.
“Whatever we say from the outside about the economic crisis, policy makers must make the final decision. They are the ones who need to initiate economic reforms.
These conversations with political elites are not about their politics. Find out what decisions they hope to make to overcome this economic crisis.” He said.
Secretary-General of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Minister of State Dayasiri Jayasekara states that he is ready to leave the government at any time if the Central Committee of the party gives its approval.
He has stated this while expressing his views to the media in Colombo yesterday.
A special meeting of 11 government partners is being held today and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is also scheduled to participate in this meeting. Mr. Dayasiri Jayasekara says that these discussions are being held under the leadership of the Chairman of the SLFP Maithripala Sirisena.
A million farmers whose crops failed under a botched scheme to establish the world’s first 100-percent organic farming nation will be compensated.
Sri Lanka has announced compensation for more than a million rice farmers whose crops failed under a failed scheme to establish the world’s first 100-percent organic farming nation.
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has decided to award Rs. 50,000/- per hectare for all cultivation that were damaged during the 2021 Maha Season.
Minister of Agriculture, Mahindananda Aluthgamage elaborated on the decision, stating that the Government will pay 50,000 Rupees each for 1.1 Million farmers who cultivated in 800,000 hectares during the Maha cultivation season.
Moreover, he said that the Government also took steps to purchase a kilogram of rice for Rs. 90, 92 and 95, thereby giving it a good price.
The island nation is currently reeling from a severe economic crisis that has triggered food shortages and rolling blackouts as the COVID pandemic sent the tourism-dependent economy into a tailspin
Agricultural chemicals such as fertiliser were among the imports banned last year as authorities tried to save dwindling foreign currency reserves. The restrictions were lifted months later after farmer protests and crop failures.
The Cabinet of Ministers had previously granted approval to prepare an appropriate scheme of compensation in consultation with the General Treasury to pay a compensation of rupees 25/- per one kilogram of paddy in order to secure the income level of farmers who affect due to declining of paddy harvest during the Maha season 2021 / 2022.
Accordingly, a methodology has been prepared to pay the compensation that is calculated based on the relevant criteria as an evaluation incentive limited to an extent of the agricultural area of 05 acres to the maximum so that small – scale farmers, as well as small and medium level farmers, would be able to obtain the relevant incentive allowance.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture for implementing the said methodology and for remitting the required funds to the Department of Agrarian Development by the State Minister of Organic Fertilizer Production.
Sri Lanka is to embark on an ambitious project of producing Green Hydrogen which is considered as an environment friendly energy source in collaboration with a Norwegian Company Greenstat Hydrogen Ltd based in India.
Energy Minister Udya Gammanpila disclosed that Petroleum Development Authority of Sri Lanka (PDASL) signed an MOU with Greenstat Hydrogen on Monday 28 to launch a pilot project for generating green hydrogen in Sri Lanka.
He noted that Green Hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy such as solar and wind power and this will be a long term solution to the country’s energy crisis.
The Government has taken a policy decision towards the goal of decarbonisation by the year 2050.
To achuve this objective, Sri Lanka will have to convert from fossil fuel to green energy roduction supply slowly but surely, he added.
Greenstat Hydrogen India Ltd., which is an affiliated body of Greenstat AS of Norway, will conduct a feasibility study on a pilot project for generating green hydrogen using a combination of floating solar and wind, he revealed.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal submitted by the Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila to enter into an agreement between PDASL and Greenstat Hydrogen India Ltd. to conduct the feasibility study. There will be no cost for the Government in the implementation of this pilot project
The Government has taken a policy decision towards the goal of decarbonisation by the year 2050. To realise this goal, the country needs to gradually convert from fossil fuel to green energy production and consumption by changing energy supply
networks. Accordingly, steps should be taken to minimise gas emissions in the industries where there is electricity, transport, and thermal power utilisation. In these circumstances Greenstat Hydrogen India Ltd., which is an affiliated body of Greenstat AS of Norway, has agreed to conduct a feasibility study on a pilot project for generating green hydrogen utilising a combination of floating solar and wind.
Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Trine Jøranli Eskedal said: “I am pleased to see Norwegian companies showing an interest in key sectors in Sri Lanka, and I hope this study will contribute to highlighting Sri Lanka’s potential for transitioning towards renewable energy and renewable fuel sources.”
“We are thrilled to become a close partner with the authorities of Sri Lanka, and we believe the country has a great potential to not only to serve its own needs of green hydrogen (emission free energy carrier), but also become a net exporter in the future.
“It is with great pleasure and excitement Greenstat Hydrogen India today signed the agreement with the Sri Lanka Petroleum Development Authority, on this ground-breaking collaboration,” Greenstat Hydrogen India Chairman Sturle H. Pedersen said on the collaboration.
He said Greenstat has great expectations of the project becoming a crucial instrument for Sri Lanka to establish a green hydrogen roadmap as well as gaining experience with green hydrogen technologies.
On 1 February, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the proposal submitted by the Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila to enter into an agreement between PDASL and Greenstat Hydrogen India Ltd. to conduct the feasibility study. The project would not involve funding from the Government of Sri Lanka.
Government will be taking stern action against persons who are harassing tourists visiting the island.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has written to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne calling for the law to be strictly enforced on those found to be harassing tourists in Sri Lanka.
A number of incidents where tourists were harassed were reported on social media.The Minister noted that such incidents could affect the tourism industry which is gradually recovering following the Covid pandemic.
He also said that such incidents could harm the image of Sri Lanka and so legal action must be taken against the perpetrators.
The Tourism Minister requested the IGP to pay close attention to the situation and take appropriate action.
Earlier this month,the police launched investigations into similar incidents where two German women were sexually abused by locals in two separate incidents in Kollupitiya, Tangalle.
Minister Ranatunga requested the IGP to pay special attention to this matter as the damage caused to the country’s image and the tourism industry due to such incidents could be rectified only by enforcing the law against those involved in these incidents.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Development Authority said that a total of 175,909 tourists have arrived in the country from January 1 to February 27 this year.
Among them, 28,392 tourists have arrived in the country from Russia while 24,141 tourists from India, 17,749 from the UK, 13,039 from Ukraine and 12,779 from Germany.
According to Tourism Ministry statistics, a 14% growth in tourist arrivals was reported from Januarydue easing of travel restrictions along with tourism promotion campaigns , continued service from more airlines, successful vaccination program and growing traveller confidence.
February arrivals also recorded new high surpassing the previous high of 89,506 posted in December 2021 since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020. In February, an average of 3,466 tourists arrived in the country on a daily basis.
Despite a surge in its COVID cases and declaring war, Russia continues to dominate as the top tourist source market for Sri Lanka with 28,392 tourists so far, followed by India with 24,141, UK 17,749, Ukraine 13,039 and Germany 12,779.
In addition, tourists also visited the island from countries such as France, Poland, Australia, Kazakhstan and Maldives in February.
The first week of February recorded 22,411 tourist arrivals and it was increased in the second and third weeks to 24,871 and 25,766 respectively.
However, the fourth week showed a sharp drop with 20,534 just yesterday’s data pending, which could be attributed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In February, a total of 14,914 Russian travellers and 5,267 Ukrainian tourists were received.
Sri Lanka revised down the tourist arrivals forecast for 2022 to 1.1 million from an earlier ambitious goal of luring 2.3 million, a move influenced by the surge in ‘Omicron’ variant in major source markets.
However, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga expressed the belief of attracting 150,000 travellers monthly in the next six months.
The Foreign Ministry is continuing to closely monitor developments in Ukraine and is engaged in the evacuation of approximately forty (40) Sri Lankan nationals, including two (02) students in Ukraine via the Ukraine – Polish border.
The process is facilitated by the Sri Lanka Embassies in Warsaw and Ankara, the latter being concurrently accredited to Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday March 01.
The Ministry has strengthened the provision of resources to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Warsaw in order to ensure the effective facilitation of the evacuation process.
The Ambassadors of Sri Lanka in Ankara and Warsaw continue to maintain close contact with the Sri Lankan nationals leaving Ukraine, in order to enable their safe passage and return to Sri Lanka.
The Foreign Ministry is also engaged in monitoring the status of Sri Lankan nationals in countries which share land borders with Ukraine. Sri Lanka’s accredited missions are in contact with the relevant Honorary Consuls and Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries.
The Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow which is concurrently accredited to Belarus continues to be in close communication with the approximately 1,600 Sri Lankan nationals, including 1,556 students studying in over eight (08) universities / higher education institutes in Belarus.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Moscow is in direct contact with the relevant university authorities, student and parent groups, as well as other concerned institutions in Belarus, with regard to the safety and welfare of the Sri Lankan students. Regular status updates are being provided to the parents, as deemed necessary.
The Ministry requests Sri Lankan nationals in the region to be in close contact with the relevant Sri Lanka Missions.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Ankara says that 20 Sri Lankans stranded in Ukraine are expected to leave Ukraine near the Ukraine – Poland border.
Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Turkey, Georgia and Ukraine, M.R. Hassan stated that they will be traveling through Poland to visit Sri Lanka.
The border authorities have also been informed about the Sri Lankans, according to the Embassy.
Ambassador M.R. Hassan added that talks are underway to repatriate Sri Lankan students stranded in Ukraine via Poland as well.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has asked citizens in Ukraine to be vigilant and be in touch with the embassy in Turkey and other citizens to avoid travel to the country amid fears of a Russian invasion.
“The Foreign Ministry requests all Sri Lankan nationals in Ukraine to exercise vigilance and to be in contact with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Ankara,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.
“The Ministry also advises all Sri Lankan nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Ukraine at present.”
Six out of 14 Sri Lanka students in Ukraine had left the country and the embassy in Ankara was in touch with the balance eight.
In the wake of rising paper prices in the world market and current scarcity of paper due to dollar crisis, the Sri Lankan government is – at last – set to revive a defunct state paper mill at Embilipitiya after all the previous attempts made during the previous regime failed due to change of government.
Embilipitiya Paper Mill, belonging to National Paper Company Limited has been closed up to date since the year 2012.
Although the land in which the factory was situated and the buildings of the factory had been approved to be given to a local investment company named Korean Spa Packaging (Pvt.) Limited for 30 years followed by a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers in 2018,
The same decision could not be implemented since no actions had been taken to.release the said land to National Paper Company Limited properly, Information department revealed.
Actions are being in process now to hand over the said land in extent of 111 acres 02 roods and 33 perches to National Paper Company Limited on a long time lease basis.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade for re – initiate the production work of Embilipitiya Paper Mill under Public – Private Partnership (PPP) methodology subsequent totering into an agreement comprised of conditions agreed in between National PaperCompany Limited and Korean Spa Packaging (Pvt.) Limited.
In 2018 The Ministry of Industries and Commerce has taken measures tol lease the mill to Korean SPA Packaging (Pvt) Ltd (KSPA) with Rs. 1.2 billion investment to produce paper and packaging material by upgrading machinery and infrastructure on a cabinet approval received during the previous regime a senior Ministry official disclosed.
KSPA is a multibillion rupee turnover company engaged in the corrugated and flexible packaging industry catering to the packaging needs of various industries including tea and garment industries in the country since 1993.
KSPA is a multibillion rupee turnover company engaged in the corrugated and flexible packaging industry catering to the packaging needs of various industries including tea and garment industries in the country since 1993.
Embilipitiya Paper which was first set up in 1978, closed in 2003 and resumed in 2011 under an Australian firm in a deal tainted with corruption allegations in 2011.
Auslanka Paper Company (Pvt) Ltd was the local entity incorporated with Perth Engineering and Maintenance (WA) (Pvt) Ltd, an Australia based firm, to revive the paper mill at Embilipitiya on a 30 year lease period at a price of Rs.600 million.
The company however abandoned the business in 2012 without repaying a bank loan facility of over Rs.400 million.
At that time the Finance Ministry received a complaint of a Rs.100 million commission paid by Auslanka to a top official of the State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry. A probe into this corrupt deal had been terminated inconclusively in 2013.
The Embilipitiya paper mill was first set up in 1978. The mill was closed in 2003 and factory assets worth millions of rupees were sold to settle the workers’ dues.
The Paper Mill resumed operations in 2008 with a capital investment of Rs.35 million as envisioned in the Mahinda Chintana to make state resources productive.
However, due to the poor quality of the machinery and the high cost of re-investing in machinery the plant was compelled to close again in 2010.
Despite its closure, the Government continued to pay staff salaries amounting to Rs.4.3 million monthly until November 2013.
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Over Rs.350 million was paid as compensation to 171 former employees at a ceremony at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute at that time. .
