Energy Crisis in Sri Lanka:Update
We admit that there is a crisis, says Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila. Responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in Parliament today (24), the MP stated that for more than a year, the Government itself cautioned of a foreign exchange crisis, and it has become the country problem, and not only the Government’s problem. If the Government is wrong, the Energy Minister continued, tell us what we should do. We will accept our mistakes and will try to rectify them as it will not be only the Government that is affected, but the entire country, he added. Speaking further, the MP clarified the remaining stocks of fuel in the country. According to Minister Gammanpila, Sri Lanka possesses octane 92 petrol for 10 days, octane 95 for 40 days, and super diesel for 8 days. Furthermore, he said that Sri Lanka is due to receive more stocks, while out of the fuel stocks that have been received so far, 6,000 metric tons are to be given to the Ceylon Electricity Board, and 4,200 metric tons to the Sojitz Power Plant. Moreover, he said that according to the tender awarded to purchase furnace oil, Sri Lanka will receive 30,000 metric tons of furnace oil by the 3rd of March, and if letters of credit are opened on the correct date, the government will be able to ensure a continuous supply of fuel for thermal power plants. The Minister said that they hope to import fuel for 500 million US dollars under the Indian credit line scheme. The Sapugaskanda oil refinery produces 900 metric tons of furnace oil daily, however, the country will need 1.2 billion US dollars to import fuel in the next three months, which is expected to be sufficient to last for six months, he added.
Update about ETF/EPF
The Department of Labor states that steps have been taken to file around 15,000 cases against employers who have not paid EPF/ETF allowances, including the Employees Provident Fund. Commissioner, General of Labor, Prabhath Chandrakirthi said that a new bill was being drafted to give the Labor Courts jurisdiction to avoid delays in court proceedings. Speaking to News 1s, he said that once the draft bill is passed, the case proceedings will be expedited.
Journalist Bandula Padmakumara has passed away.
Veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara has passed away on 24th February. He was 71 at the time of his death. Padmakumara served as the founding and chief editor of Lakbima newspaper, in addition to holding several positions in news agencies.
An Elderly woman was killed by a hired labourer after hitting with a flower pot
The body of an elderly woman was found murdered in a house in the Rasawin area in the Kopay police division in Jaffna, police said. A group of students of the Jaffna University are staying at the woman’s house on a rent basis When the students went to the university and returned home, they found the housewife murdered on a chair and the students informed the Kopay police. Police later arrived at the house and found that the woman had been hit in the head and that a flower pot had fallen on the ground nearby, leading to suspicion that the woman had died from a blow to the head from a flower pot. The deceased has been 72-year-old Marainayagam Jayaseeli. Investigations are underway to arrest the man on suspicion that he had assaulted the woman and fled after the woman had come to the hired labourer in the deceased woman’s garden that day and that the man who had come to work was missing as jewellery gold jewelery worn by the deceased woman was missing.
Foreigners are waiting in fuel queues
Fuel shortage is an ongoing huge economical crisis in Sri Lanka. Due to this Long queues for petrol were seen at many petrol stations. Long queues for petrol were seen at many petrol stations in the Kalutara District as well as in the Southern Province, including the town of Aluthgama on the afternoon of the 23rd. Here is a foreigner waiting in line at the IOC petrol station in Aluthgama to refuel his motorbike while on a holiday at a resort in Bentota.
Rice exports to Sri Lanka is very advantageous They Pay extra $ 100 per ton,Does not even look at quality .- Myanmar
Myanmar says Sri Lanka imports rice at a higher price than other countries in the world and there are no restrictions on rice imports. The secretary of the country’s rice warehouse told a leading news website that Myanmar exports rice to other countries at US $ 340-350 per tonne, but exports to Sri Lanka at a higher price of US $ 440-450 per tonne. He also said that Sri Lanka’s rice exports restrictions were relatively low compared to other countries and the quality was not restricted.
Russian President Announces Military Operation in the Donbass Region of Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a “military operation” in Ukraine’s Donbass region, foreign media reported. The Russian president announced in a televised address that the operation was a response to the West Bank and Ukraine’s response. The Russian president also warned that the West and Ukraine would continue to suffer repercussions if such reactions continued.
The T 20 match between Sri Lanka and India starts today
The 20 overs cricket tournament between Sri Lanka and India starts today (24). Its first match is scheduled to start today at 7.00 pm local time in Lucknow. Sri Lanka and India have played 22 T20I matches so far and India have won 14 of them. Sri Lanka has won only 7 matches.
Senior journalist Sunil Madhava Premathilaka passed away
Senior journalist Sunil Madhava Premathilaka passed away last night. He was 78 years old at the time of his death. Sunil Madhava Premathilaka, a journalist as well as a book author, is one of the pioneers of journalism in the country. By writing a diary of a truth-teller’s , he left an indelible mark on the minds of Sri Lankan readers. He has translated several books, including Crying Freedom, America America, Carolina’s Diary, and Mohamed Ali. Mr. Sunil Madhava Premathilaka was also recently awarded the State Art Award. He is the son of Meemana Premathilaka, a great poet of the Colombo era.
Enjoining order against “Jaya Sri” band members lifted
The Colombo Commercial High Court lifted the enjoining order imposed on two members of the ‘Jaya Sri’ band for singing, promoting and selling 20 popular songs on the album ‘Mod Goviya’ and ‘Sundariye’. Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Apriyantha Fernando lifted the enjoining order and set May 27 as the date for the hearing. The censorship was issued to musicians Rohan Jayalath and Rohitha Jayalath after considering a complaint filed under the Intellectual Property Act by Jaya Sri, the band’s music director, composer and singer. The two respondents in the complaint have requested the court to remove the enjoining order as it is against the law. The two respondents, who have already left the band, had filed the complaint alleging that they were singing songs on the albums ‘Mod Goviya’ and ‘Sundariye’ composed by the band without their consent and that it was against the Intellectual Property Act.