Long queues are infront of petrol stations due to the rumors circulating these days that fuel prices will go up
There are rumors circulating these days that fuel prices will go up. Due to this, long queues of vehicles were created in almost every city including Colombo yesterday (14th) to buy fuel. The queues were also near petrol stations of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Cipetco) and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). The government is preparing to draft a fuel price formula and bring in legislation to increase or decrease it by a fixed number per month without increasing fuel prices from time to time. It is to be presented to the Cabinet. At present the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (Ceypetco) is losing Rs. 50 per liter of diesel and Rs. 16 per liter of petrol, therefore, fuel prices have to be increased, Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said.
Patients still inconvenienced by health strike
Patients who come to hospitals for treatment are still severely affected by the strike by health professionals. Health workers are on strike for the 9th time today over a number of demands, including the elimination of pay inequality. Meanwhile, the executive council of the Federation of Health Professionals is meeting today. To determine whether or not the strike continue The Government Nurses Association has not joined the strike as per the order issued by the Colombo District Court.
STF arrested ‘Parippuwa’ in Konkadawala
Manawaduge Asanka Maduranga, an organized criminal and drug trafficker by the nickname ‘Parippuwa’ has been arrested in the Konkadawala area. The suspect was arrested during a raid carried out by the Police Special Task Force. The suspect was arrested on a warrant issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court and a live grenade was found in his possession at the time of his arrest.
Wanindu Hasaranga has been infected with the corona virus
Sri Lanka’s super spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been infected with the corona virus. As a result, he will not get a chance to play in the third 20-20 match of the Sri Lanka-Australia series today. His participation in 20-20 match against Australia is also uncertain. Wanidu Hasaranga is the number one bowler in the world in the 20-20 format.
Chamuditha had informed the police that he had getting death threats before this incident
Here is a statement issued by the United National Freedom Front regarding the attack on the house of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickenrama. Condemn the cowardly and despicable attack on journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema The United National Freedom Front (UNF) strongly condemns the cowardly and despicable attack on the house of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema on the morning of 14/02/2022. This attack proves that history is repeating itself over and over again. Sri Lanka has not had a very good experience with media freedom in the last two decades or so, and history has been tainted by the heinous acts of assassination, abduction, amputation, home invasion, and so on. Although this indecent attack was aimed at Mr. Chamuditha Samarawickrema or his house, our party sees this as a serious warning to the entire media and to the media which publishes free news. If this is the fate of a Sri Lankan celebrity under a government that has rulers who spend time boasting morning and evening about national security, then we are questioning what security is in place for the security of the average citizen. Despite the government claiming that the security of the country has been beefed up, the assailants have managed to flee after attacking Chamuditha Samarawickrema’s house with dirt and stones. We also question the action taken by the police in this regard, even though Mr. Chamuditha Samarawickrema had earlier complained that he had received death threats. It is yet to be ascertained as to who carried out the attack. However, it is the responsibility of the government to conduct a fair and formal investigation and reveal the truth to the country. It should be noted here that the very attempt of a group claiming to be the backbenchers of the government to issue this message in a different direction has raised some suspicions among us. However, it should be noted that we, as a party, continue to intervene to raise a just and democratic voice on behalf of any free media institution or journalist operating in Sri Lanka, and we emphasize that we will stand firm for their right to life. Kirithi Dunuwila Secretary of Media and Publicity United National Freedom Front
Power cuts are likely to occur on a daily basis from today- The Public Utilities Commission
The Public Utilities Commission states that power cuts are likely to occur on a daily basis from today Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayake stated that the public will be informed of the procedure for this this afternoon. He also said that a power management system will be introduced for the next three months so as not to inconvenience the people. He said that this time the power cuts will not be carried out in the traditional manner and the supply and demand will be done according to a new methodology. He said the situation was due to falling water levels in hydropower plants and fuel restrictions at thermal power plants. Meanwhile, it is reported that the Ceylon Electricity Board has officially informed the Public Utilities Commission that there will be daily power cuts until the end of April.
Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit India in the next few days to sign agreements to obtain financial assistance from India
External Affairs Minister GL Peiris said that Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is scheduled to visit India in the next few days to sign agreements to obtain financial assistance from India. Accordingly, an agreement to obtain a loan facility of one billion dollars will be signed there, he said. The Minister said that the money will be given to the people of this country to get the food, food and essential items they need. He said that the recent visit of the Minister of Finance to India was a great success and he was able to obtain a loan facility of US $ 2.4 billion and this billion is the first phase of it.
The third match of the T-20 series between Sri Lanka and Australia is tomorrow
The third match of the Twenty20 Cricket Tournament between the touring Sri Lanka Cricket team and the host Australian team will be played in Canberra tomorrow. Australia won the match between the two teams yesterday. Both teams drew level and a super over was put into action to decide the victory. Australia scored 9 off 3 balls in reply to Sri Lanka’s 5. Australia, who have won the first two matches of the five-match Twenty20 series, are two points ahead.
An employee of a hotel in the Lindula area in Nuwara Eliya was killed in a fire that broke out this morning
An employee of a hotel in the Lindula area in Nuwara Eliya was killed in a fire that broke out this morning. Police said that while cooking in the kitchen of the hotel, his clothes caught fire and he died on the spot. The cause of the fire has not been revealed yet. The deceased has been identified as a 72 year old resident of Nuwara Eliya
Journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema’s house attacked by thugs
An unidentified group has attacked the house of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema this morning. Four persons who had arrived at the Cambridge Court housing complex in Piliyandala where he was staying in a white van had first forcibly opened the main entrance gate of the housing scheme. It is said that the security forces who were there later aimed a pistol at the employee’s head and threatened him and came to the journalist’s house. The unidentified persons who had entered the housing complex had hurled stones at the house of Chamuditha Samarawickrema and caused severe damage to his house. Meanwhile, the Journalists’ Association of Sri Lanka has condemned the attack on journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema. The union says that if any group tries to silence journalists by carrying out thug attacks, the relevant authorities should take immediate action against it as well as prevent such heinous media repression. Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa stated that three police teams have launched investigations into the incident.