Sri Lanka will use an extended loan of 100 million US dollar Indian credit line to fix roof top solar panels in government institutes and religious places, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchan Wijesekera said after electricity tariff hikes triggered protests.
Some Buddhist monks threatened not to honour payment for electricity usage and blackout at their temples after the government raised electricity tariff to a record high to reduce heavy losses suffered by the state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
The Ministry of Power & Energy later agreed to install rooftop solar panels at select places of worship with the Indian credit line but later be paid for by the connection holder, as a solution to the electricity tariff hike.
“USD 100 Million Credit Line extended by Gov of India for roof top solar will be used to equip schools, universities, education institutes, hospitals, district & divisional secretariat’s, government buildings and religious institutes,” Minister Wijesekera said in his twitter platform.
USD 100 Million Credit Line extended by Gov of India for RoofTop Solar will be used to equip Schools, Universities, Edu institutes, Hospitals, District & Divisional Secretariat’s, Govt buildings & Religious institutes. Progress was reviewed with officials of Indian HC, SEA & CEB. pic.twitter.com/Zq8bT322ym
Sri Lanka’s electricity consumers could set up a rooftop solar unit and recover the cost in four to five years, which is not so expensive compared to the money spent on bathroom tiles, industry officials said.
In Sri Lanka however the Ceylon Electricity Board’s grid is not built to absorb power from consumers but only to distribute. As a result only a few houses get permission to set up grid connected solar systems.
CEB officials say there are plans to upgrade the system to be able to absorb more renewables over the next few years, which may cost up to 4.0 billion US dollars.
When grid connected solar units are set up at the end of a power line stretching from a transformer, customers are not able to export or ‘push out’ power at a safe voltage. Ramping up voltage tends to damage electrical appliances including at neighboring houses.
This technical barrier is generally interpreted as the utility resisting rooftop solar according to CEB officials.
However residents can install an off grid system and save the power in batteries.
An off grid system with batteries could be built for 2.2 to 2.6 million rupees, Fernando said compared to the 1.1 to 1.3 million for a grid connected system.
Sri Lanka’ raise power tariffs from August. High domestic users are charged as much as 75 rupees a unit.
If 20 percent of Sri Lanka’s 6.5 million plus domestic customers moved to rooftop solar, installing 3kW solar systems, about 3000 MegaWatts of capacity could be installed.
Theme : ‘Early warning and early action for all; and leave no one behind’
Defence Secretary pledges to strengthen coordination and cooperation between various institutions responsible for early warning
State Minister of Defence Hon Premitha Bandara Tennakoon (Oct 13) disclosing the enormous outlay in response to disaster relief and resettlement stressed that we must look forward and plan for risk reduction.
Delivering a speech as the Chief Guest at the national event organized to commemorate the ‘International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction’ he revealed “the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) had spent over Rs 65 billion between 2016 to 2022 for disaster relief and resettlement for Colombo region alone”, he said, “As a developing country we have achieved a great deal”. “Early warning must trigger an early action that is well prepared and tested”, he added.
The national event organized to commemorate the ‘International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction’ organized by the DMC was held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, in Colombo today.
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne also graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. The Director General (DG) of DMC Maj. Gen. Sudantha Ranasinghe warmly received both the State Minister and the Defence Secretary on their arrival, at the venue.
“Among all other disaster risk management, one productive way to minimize the impact of disasters is enhancing early warnings by establishing a common language for responsible officials and public” he said while adding that “Mainstreaming all local authorities responsible for public administration and public wellbeing into the subject of disaster management with special reference to “Leave no one behind” should be another strategy to be adopted”.
“Therefore, it is essentially required to make “Early warning and early action” an integral part of Disaster Risk Management and Development”, he added.
The Guest of Honour, Gen. Gunaratne also addressing the gathering mentioned that “Amidst today’s fragile economic and social situation of the country, there is no doubt that reducing human, economic and environmental damages and losses from natural disasters remains one of our key collective challenges”.
Gen. Gunaratne also stressed that, early warning is ineffective if it does not lead to early and appropriate intervention.
“To do so, partnerships are essential to the successful implementation of effective early warning and disaster risk reduction” he said adding that “Partnerships should cut across different sectors including practitioners, policy makers, and community members at all levels”.
In the same vein, the Defence Secretary also pledged his fullest commitment, along with the DMC officials, to support the practical steps put-forward to strengthen coordination and cooperation of various institutions responsible for early warning.
Maj. Gen. Ranasinghe delivered the welcome address at the outset of the day’s programme. The DMC led programme saw dialogs and sharing of knowledge by international and local guest speakers on different aspects relevant to the theme “Early warning and early action for all: leave no one behind”. He also thanked the international agencies for their support in organizing this event today.
Prior to end of the event a brief interactive summing up was also conducted by the invited panellists.
A special message by the Special Representative of the Secretary- General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR Ms. Mami Mizutori was also made over the virtual platform during the session.
Senior state officials, representatives of inter-governmental organisations, United Nations agencies and sponsors, international organisations and stakeholders, professionals and scholars those participating on virtual platforms, senior military and police officers, distinguished invitees, guests and DMC staffers were also present at the event.
Sri Lanka’s government officials from the finance ministry and the central bank held its first in-person meeting with the country’s largest sovereign overseas bondholders in Washington foreign news agency reports revealed.
The gathering on the sideline of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings convened amid debt restructuring talks for $13 billion. Some private creditors also joined the meeting virtually, the sources said.
Amundi Asset Management, BlackRock, HBK Capital Management, and T. Rowe Price Associates Inc are among members of the creditor group’s steering committee.
The move comes after the island nation of 22 million fell into default after a 30-day grace period on a $78 million coupon payment expired earlier this year.
The government did not provide any proposal on how a debt restructuring would look, said two of the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private.
“It was a good exchange, but we are still at an early stage,” one source said, adding that creditors urged the government to provide information in real time on the country’s debt-sustainability analysis.
Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena led the meeting from the government side, along with representatives of financial and legal advisers Lazard and Clifford Chance, the sources said.
Sri Lanka, which is struggling with its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades, reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF for a $2.9 billion loan in September, contingent on it receiving financing assurances from official creditors.
Economic mismanagement and the hit from the COVID-19 pandemic have left the country battling its worst financial problems since its independence in 1948, and a lack of foreign exchange reserves has stalled imports of essentials including fuel, food and medicines.
The country also needs to renegotiate debt with bilateral creditors such as China, Japan and India. The Paris Club creditor nations last month reached out to China and India seeking to coordinate closely on Sri Lanka’s debt talks, but is still awaiting a reply.
Sports Minister and Ruling Party MP Roshan Ranasinghe has been removed from the Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) district leadership, paving the way for State Minister of Highways Siripala Gamlath to fill the post.
The appointment letter was handed over to Gamlath by MP Namal Rajapaksa and Party Secretary MP Sagara Sagara Kariyawasam at a rally held in Girithale, Polonnaruwa yesterday (15).
The resuming of operations at the Oil Refinery in Sapugaskanda may take more time, said Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara speaking to a briefing yesterday (15).
“Even after receiving the crude oil ship outside, it may take a little for us to resume operations at the Refinery. Because there is no point of resuming the operations with one ship without a second. Therefore, we have called in the tenders required for that second ship,” Wijesekara said.
The Minister went on: “Several have come forward for tenders during the last period. Although they did not come forward before, we have given the opportunity to those who came forward. Also, the tenders may be given based on their capacity of paying. When I held a progress review meeting last week, those from the Refinery said that they have a maintenance job at the premises in which crude oil is unloaded, and that it may take about one month for that. This was proposed to be carried out from December to January, but I told them to do it now because the Refinery is closed these days, and finish it within a month. So, this period is being used for that purpose.”
Deputy Director IMF for Asia Pacific, Anne-Marie Guide-Wolf says the IMF is working with other multilateral lenders on financing programs for Sri Lanka: indicates the country will have to diligently follow their policies.
IMF says Sri Lanka is a “middle income” country and remains so even with the decline in GDP: stresses that therefore the proposed EF Facility is not “concessional”, but a regular IMF facility.
Analysts express grave concern over IMF MD’s comment of the need “to bring equality of treatment for all creditors, public and private”: interpret statement to mean that any “haircut” being imposed on forex creditors will need to be imposed on local debt as well.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella says Sri Lanka will implement a “foster parent” concept to feed extreme malnourished kids: over 20,000 children said to be starving due to economic hardships: an estimated 6.3 mn people said to be facing moderate to severe acute food insecurity.
More than 6 months after announcing the “debt default”, Sri Lankan authorities meet its largest sovereign overseas bondholders for the first time, in Washington: financial and legal advisers “Lazard” and “Clifford Chance”, and CB Governor Weerasinghe and Treasury Secretary Siriwardena represent Sri Lanka.
Highly active Tourism Minister Harin Fernando lauds Sri Lanka being acclaimed among the 13 “safest” counties to travel in the world: Sri Lanka is 12th, while Iceland is 1st as per WorldPackers.com.
Amendments to National Transport Act pertaining to three wheeler regulations languish in government departments for months: three wheeler fares fluctuate, without regulations.
Uttara Lanka Sabagaya led by former Minister Wimal Weerawansa to start countrywide series of meetings: objective to strengthen the state and guide the country out of the current economic crisis.
Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says the Ministry of Energy has been informed that the Central Bank can only provide USD 200 mn per month for energy imports: prior to April 2022 before debt default, USD 500 mn was provided by the Central Bank for energy even while paying forex debt and providing forex liquidity to the state banks.
India Women’s Cricket team win their 7th Asia Cup title: beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets: SL – 65/9 (20 overs): India – 71/2 (8.3 overs).
A cyclist who collided with a jeep reportedly belonging to State Minister Sanath Nishantha in Puttalam yesterday (15) was severely injured and hospitalised.
Due to his severe condition, the injured cyclist was transferred to Kurunegala Teaching Hospital.
The injured is a 45-year old father of four children living in Thiladiya, Puttalam.
The current heavy rains are expected to continue, due to the influence of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ – The region where the Northern Hemispheric wind and the Southern Hemispheric wind converge) located in the vicinity of the island, the Department of Meteorology said in a statement today (16).
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Heavy showers above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Centralprovinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere over the Island during the afternoon or night. Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm can be expected at some places.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo. Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in the other sea areas around the island during the afternoon or night.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (45-55) kmph at timesin the sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Matara and Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Galle to Pottuvil via Matara and Hambantota will be rough at times. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
Sri Lanka Navy as of now has kept 36 relief teams ready to extend relief measures to people, in the backdrop of inclement weather conditions reported in several areas of the island.
Following the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the Western Naval Command has sent 02 relief and rescue teams to Rathnapura and 04 teams to Kalutara, on standby.
In addition, 21 more relief and rescue teams in the Western Naval Command and 09 similar teams in the Southern Naval Command have been kept on their toes for swift deployment, if need be.
Cast aside party politics and commit to addressing the country’s food crisis- President advises officials in Ampara.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that all should join together to solve the people’s food issues, casting traditional party politics aside.
The President made this observation addressing the public officers at an awareness program on the multi-sector mechanism to empower rural economic revitalization centers to ensure food security and nutrition at Hardy Advanced Technological Institute Auditorium in Ampara this morning (15).
The President further noted that no one would be allowed to starve despite the fact that the country is going through a very difficult time and pointed out the importance of successfully implementing the national food production program to prepare for a possible global food crisis in 2023.
The president also said that the agriculture modernization program would be implemented from next year concurrent to the food security program.
The implementation of the multi-sector mechanism to empower rural economic revitalization centers to ensure food security and nutrition in transforming the Ampara District also into a prosperous one with a blooming community was also discussed at length.
The Ampara district contributes 22 percent to the national paddy harvest and discussions were also focused on making the paddy cultivation in the Yala and Maha seasons a success.
It was also special feature that the President paid special attention to the issues faced by the government officials during the field work. The president was made aware of issues related to the agriculture and fisheries industry in the Ampara district and he directed the officials to address those issues. He also instructed to appoint a special committee to study those issues and report to him.
Following the discussion, the President made a scene visit to the Hardy ATI farm and planted a sapling to mark the occasion.
The statement made by President Wickremesinghe at the discussion at the Hardy ATI is as follows;
I am here to review the implementation of the Food Security Program in the Ampara District. We also identified the shortcomings in the implementation of the program at rural level. The problem of organic fertilizers was raised. The distribution of organic fertilizer was made by the
Ministry last year but this year we have left it to the companies. So those companies would provide the fertilizer.
One problem with regard to the fertilizer is that there are bills of Rs 8 billion from last year,due to companies which we have commenced settling. We have paid about Rs 4 billion out of it.
Secondly, discussions would be held with the Civil Security Department and the necessary officials for this endeavor. We did not mention one group in this program. That’s the armed forces that make a considerable contribution to the production. Therefore, we should also involve the armed forces in this program.
This is the first time such a program is implemented in Sri Lanka and as such a situation had not occurred in the country prior to this. Although food could not be brought in during the Second World War, the economy did not collapse. Now the economy has collapsed. This year the economy has recovered somewhat, in comparison to last year. But still there are issues. If we print money, the inflation rate would rise. There are limitations when dealing with the available money. Somehow, we should all come together to find solutions to these problems.
What the people need to do now is to commence the cultivation activities in their own areas and report it. Thereafter, our food security bureau will inform us about the types of food that we require more. There is no issue with paddy cultivation. If this season is successful, we will have an excess stock. Crops such as maize should be increased. I request you to obtain additional space for such crops and carry out the cultivation activities.
All the officers that are involved in this project at ground level have been included in this program. First, we need to ensure food security. Secondly, we need to commence a food program to eliminate malnutrition. We too would support them. Food banks and community kitchens have been created to support this program.
We are experiencing a difficult period and we must not allow anyone to starve for lack of food. As soon as the next Maha Season would be successful, we can move forward and we need to continue this program until the end of 2023. Even if our problem is solved, a global food crisis may arise, so we have to continue this program to ensure food security in our country Further, this food security mechanism does not stop there. While implementing the food security program, we will initiate the agriculture sector modernization program from next year. Accordingly, we have undertaken a new task and all are required to work together.
We don’t have party politics in this matter; traditional politics are useless in this endeavor. Put party politics aside. We need politics to solve the food crisis of the people. Let’s join this program. The production program should be commenced now and continue until April to get a successful harvest in the Maha season.
The first irrigation project that constructed after independence-the Gal Oya project by late D.S. Senanayake is in the Ampara district. Neither loans were obtained from anyone nor sought for assistance from anyone to construct it but with the rest of the money we had after granting a loan to England following the World War II we carried out the Gal-Oya project.
I expect the bulk of the country’s food requirement to be met from the Ampara District. I call on all MPs and organizers to unite, casting aside all political differences, in order to make this project a success. The Prime Minister and the Agriculture Minister will be visiting this area in the near future to inspect the progress of this project.
I am hopeful that you will all contribute to this project. We have never had to face the sort of challenges we face today. Neither have our parents or our grandparents had faced such a unique situation. If we identify the challenges before us and work accordingly, we can overcome them and forge ahead stronger than ever before. Hence, I request the assistance of everyone to make this endeavor a success.
President’s Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security Sagala Ratnayaka, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath, Batticaloa District Development Committee Chairman W D Weerasinghe, Parliamentarians A L M Athaulla, H M M Haris, Faizal Cassim, Dr Thilak Rajapaksa, S M M Muszhaaraff, T Kalai Arasan, Sarath Weerasekara, United National Party Vice Chariman and former Minister Daya Gamage, former Minister Mrs Anoma Gamage, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Food Security Dr. Suren Batagoda, Eastern Province Chief Minister, Batticaloa District Secretary, Secretary to the Eastern Province Ministry of Agriculture, Chairman of the Eastern Provincial Council and the public officials representing the fields of agriculture, irrigation and Samurdhi fields in the Eastern Province too participated in this event.
