Another power cut of four and a half hours or more will occur tomorrow. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) stated that the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in this regard has been approved.
Accordingly, a power cut of four hours and forty minutes will occur to zones A,B and C, and a power cut of four and a half hours to other zones.
MIAP
The Parliament sitting today (23) has closed as the quorum was not filled.
Accordingly, the Parliament sitting was over at about 5.30 pm, during which only four MPs were present in the Chambers.
MIAP
Health professionals have decided to launch another strike action from March 02, in objection to the government’s failure to provide solutions to the problems suffered by the health workers as promised during the discussions between the trade unions and the government.
The decision has been taken by the Federation of Health Professionals.
The previous strike action launched by the health professionals for 09 consecutive days was ceased for a period of 14 days in response to the government’s promise that it would provide solutions to the problems suffered by the health sector.
Accordingly, the 14-day hiatus stands in effect till March 01, after which the next strike action is set to be launched.
MIAP
The Police have uncovered more details on the investigations carried out into the person who was arrested as the chief suspect in connection with the online sex trafficking ring, which was busted last year.
The suspect, 36, had eight separate bank accounts and suspicious monetary transactions amounting to over Rs. 45.6 million, Police revealed.
The sex trafficking ring had been operating from Mount Lavinia victimising a minor of age 15. The Police noted that the suspect did not hold a permanent job or residency in Sri Lanka.
He had allegedly operated a sex-work service in various areas of the country in the last 18 years, they added.
The volumes of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Report on the Easter Sunday Massacre tabled in Parliament today (23) should be issued to the MPs in soft copy format, said the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harin Fernando, in what he described as convenience for reading.
Accordingly, the SJB MP pointed out that the PCoI report has been produced to the Parliament library in 87 books consisting of 69,800 pages, due to which it would be impossible for MPs take them home.
The SJB MP, therefore, requested the Speaker to issue the PCoI report in a soft copy for everyone’s convenience.
MIAP
Bus operations can continue only for two days amid the absence of diesel, revealed Anjana Priyanjith, Chief Secretary of the All Ceylon Private Bus Companies’ Federation, speaking to media today (23).
Accordingly, the Union urges the government to prioritise private buses in the issuance of diesel at gas stations.
Indrajith emphasised that the government should take steps to encourage the people to board private buses instead of private vehicles to reduce fuel consumption at the moment.
MIAP
Concluding whether the hearing of petitions lodged before the Supreme Court challenging the government’s decision on selling shares of the Yugadanavi Power Plant in Kerawalapitiya to a US Company thereby seeking nullification has been adjourned, as the petitions were taken up before a Five-member Bench chaired by the Chief Justice today (23).
MIAP
Former Minister and Actor Jeewan Kumaratunga has decided to leave the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in what he described as intolerance of the ‘Kumaratunga Phobia’ from which the party suffers for a long time.
Pointing out that the ‘Kumaratunga Phobia’ grows within the party everyday, the former Minister revealed that he will also be resigning from all posts he is assigned to.
Kumaratunga also stated that he has tendered his letter of resignation, which describes the ‘Kumaratunga Phobia’ from which the SLFP suffers.
He added that although he had been working with utmost patience over this resistance against the Kumaratungas, it has come to a point where the ‘Kumaratunga Phobia’ is no longer tolerable.
Meanwhile, sources claim that Kumaratunga is set to join ‘Nava Lanka Nidahas Pakshaya’ the political party recently formed and led by MP Kumara Welgama.
MIAP
Despite the opposition political groups’ claim that the country’s fuel price has soared, Sri Lanka still has the lowest fuel prices in the South Asian region, said Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila, revealing that the diesel price in neighbouring India is twice as high in Sri Lanka. The Minister made this observation in Parliament today (23).
Sri Lanka is ranked 22nd among the countries that sell fuel at the lowest prices, Gammanpila went on, adding that all countries that sell fuel for a price less than Sri Lanka are states that produce fuel.
Contrary to the notion that Sri Lanka suffers from a shortage of fuel, an energy crisis or a shortage of essential commodities, the Energy Minister suggested that the only problem from which the island suffers would be the dollar deficit. He added that all problems direct themselves to the dollar crisis and that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa has already instructed the issuance of dollars required for the release of fuel stocks.
Accordingly, the ongoing diesel and petrol shortage would be over very soon, he said.
MIAP
The Samagi Jana Balawega has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the surcharge tax bill presented to Parliament. The petition was filed by UNP General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.
In his petition, the UNP Secretary General has requested that the surcharge tax bill be passed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament and a referendum as it is unconstitutional.
The Attorney General has been named as the respondent in this petition.
