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Leading members of several trade unions alleged that the government is making arrangements to re-constitute the board of the PUCSL paving way for stripping of its consumer protection powers.

There was a possibility that over LKR 25 billion in consumer deposits with the CEB would not be refunded due to the PUCSL restructuring, Secretary of the Union of Electricity Consumers (UEC) Sanjeewa Dhammika said.

When a person obtained an electricity connection from the CEB, he or she had to place a deposit at the regional CEB Engineer’s office.

In accordance with Sri Lanka Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009, the CEB has to pay consumers an interest on those deposits, Dhammika said.

Section 28.3 of the Act says "(3): Where any sum of money is provided to a distribution licensee by way of security in pursuance of this section, the licensee (CEB) shall pay interest on such sum of money at such rate."

This interest may from time to time be fixed by the licensee with the approval of the Commission (PUCSL), for the period in which it remains in the hands of the licensee.’

Dhammika said: “None of the governments has paid this interest although the PUCSL annually declares the interest rate that has to be paid.

Now, there is about LKR 25 billion of electricity consumers’ money with the CEB.

"Since the PUCSL is to be dissolved, who is there to keep an eye on this money?" he asked.

Dhammika said that with LKR 25 billion, the government could construct a 100 megawatt power plant. The CEB should not be allowed to swindle the LKR 25 billion that belonged to the electricity consumers, he insisted.

PUCSL did not cause a delay in implementing the power generation plan: President of the Employees Union

The petitioners stated that authorities at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital had cremated the body of the infant against their wishes in an undue hurry. They said that the child was in good health after his birth on 18 November and had no contact with any outside persons as the area they lived in was under lockdown. They also said that although they had requested the hospital to perform a second PCR test after the death of the infant,  the authorities had denied their request.

The petitioners are seeking an order directing the health authorities to produce all medical records pertaining to the hospitalization, death and disposal of the dead body of the infant child of the Petitioners.

The petitioners (parents) Mohomed Farook Mohomed Fahim and Fathina Shafnaz have named the Director General of Health Services, the Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, the Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine, Ministry Secretary and several others as respondents.

In a statement, he stated that he is still the Chairman of ‘Lanka Sathosa’, the state-owned supermarket chain.

 

Reports surrounding the removal of Nushad Perera surfaced after allegations of malpractice were raised against him by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Parliament recently.

However, internal government sources had earlier stated that Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena had informed Nushad Perera to resign from his post according to the instructions of the President.

Members of EO SL and their families have been reaching out to the vulnerable and marginalized segments of society by donating food and distributing essential supplies, especially in areas which have been isolated.

EO SL Members have been dedicatedly documenting their interactions on social media to provide inspiration to more people to come forward and do the same.

The EO membership is led by a vision to have a positive impact on deserving sections of society which currently do not have the financial means to survive on their own, the organisation said in a media release.

At such an uncertain time, apart from this food drive, EO SL is also extending support and guidance of other successful entrepreneurs for its members to relook at their own strategies and goals despite challenges posed by the pandemic.

Since EO is a non-profit, all dues are channeled towards enhancing member experience. EO SL is now inviting more entrepreneurs to join the network, more so amidst a global pandemic when normal rules of business may not always apply.

Sri Lankan entrepreneurs who are not part of EO are missing out on valuable business-saving knowledge and advice from a trusted, confidential, vulnerable, open-sharing community of 14000+ members across 62 countries.

EO offers unique advantages to members such as gaining access to the world’s top experts and surmounting challenges through their encouragement and support.

The Government of Japan has provided a total sum of USD 636,262 (approx. LKR 115 million) to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) for humanitarian demining activities in Northern Sri Lanka, the Japanese Embassy in Colombo said.

The grant contract was signed on the 23rd December 2020 at the Ambassador’s Residence in Colombo, between Sugiyama Akira, Ambassador of Japan and Emilie Mbaye, Interim Country Director of MAG. The project will contribute to the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in ensuring that mine-contaminated areas are safe, enabling the resettlement of displaced people and enhancing directly or indirectly more than 8,000 people’s livelihoods in the Mannar and Vavuniya Districts.

MAG commenced operations in Sri Lanka in 2002 with approximately 20% of its clearance activities accomplished through Japanese assistance. Since 2009 when precise data was made available, MAG has released the total of 93km2 of suspected contaminated land in the country.

Japan has been a major donor in the area of mine clearance in Sri Lanka since 2002 and is the only donor in the country which assists all four demining NGOs currently operating in the island. More than USD 38.2 million worth of assistance was rendered towards this cause through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP).

The Government of Sri Lanka aims to achieve “a mine impact free Sri Lanka” within a few years and to become the next mine impact free country in the world. Through this project the Government of Japan endeavors to ensure that Sri Lanka is safe for all.

Commenting on the provision of this grant, Ms. Emilie Mbaye stated;

“MAG is honored to accept this grant from the Government of Japan, an esteemed donor for Humanitarian Mine Action projects both within Sri Lanka and around the world. In the last six years alone, the partnership between MAG Sri Lanka and the Government of Japan has enabled the removal and destruction of over 13,000 landmines. It has helped many people resettle and rebuild their lives and livelihoods in Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts through its clearance operations.

The funding from the People of Japan will not only contribute to saving lives but also building safer futures for the mine-affected and poorest communities in the country. With this continued Japanese support, MAG is looking forward to continuing clearance activities during the final stage of landmine release in the country in support of the Government of Sri Lanka’s commitment to being mine impact free.”

In a surprising revelation, hardline nationalist monk Ven. Madille Pannaloka Thero has said that during the formation of the 'Sinhale' national organisation, it was Gotabaya Rajapaksa who had visited them at the temple and provided counsel. Ven. Pannaloka Thero made this statement in an interview with 'Hard Focus' on the A5 News channel.

Stating that this is the first time he has ever mentioned this, the Ven. Thero said that Gotabaya had taken part in lengthy discussions leading up to the formation of the 'Sinhale' organisation and had given them certain guidelines.

"This is the first time i'm saying this in public. For one and a half hours, he taught us tricks," the Ven. Thero said.

"It is clear that the President is not on good terms with us," he said, adding that "if he can visit the temple and engage in very lengthy discussions, if he can give guidelines during the formation of the 'Sinhale' organisation before becoming the president, it is baffling to see why he is vexed now."

Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardena has taken action to remove the chairman of Lanka Sathosa, Nushad Perera, with immediate effect under instructions from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Chairman was alleged to have caused substantial losses to the government through a sugar racket by joining forces with a notorious company.

It is reported that Bhadrani Jayawardena, the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, has been appointed as the acting Chairman of Lanka Sathosa.

Sources say that Nushad Perera has been informed to resign immediately from the post by the Ministry of Trade.

The notorious company as well as Nushad Perera have been engaging in this racket without any hindrances by abusing the President's name to intimidate top officials at the Ministry of Trade.

Minister Bandula Gunawardena had recently met with the President and expressed his grave concerns regarding this matter.

Despite certain people trying to portray president Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a 'failure' a year into his presidency, what has truly failed is the political ideology that brought him to power, former minister Mangala Samaraweera said. “The majority of the people in the country wanted to form a solely Sinhala-Buddhist government. They ensured that by giving a massive mandate. However, the failure of that ideological vision has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt within a year," Samaraweera said while participating in the 'Matara Hamuwa' event held in Matara on Sunday (20).

The meeting was organised by the UNP organiser for Matara and former mayor Upul Nishantha on behalf of the 'Matara Samajaya'.

Attending the event as it chief guest representing the 'True Patriot' organisation, the former Matara district MP further stated that;

"Four months have passed since the general election. Entire country is in utter chaos. We are facing an unprecedented economic crisis that didn't even exist in the 1970s. Corruption and fraud have soared, the rule of law has crumbled, investors have ventured out to other countries, and we are being isolated from the international community.

Everywhere you go, people say 'sir fail'. People who voted for the 'Pohottuwa' are also saying 'sir fail'. The voice cut faction of monks too are saying 'sir fail' with some of them stating this covertly.

Some in the opposition are already getting ready to form a solely Sinhala government by trying to eclipse 'sir'.

But I say that 'sir hasn't failed'. It is the ideology that represents 'sir' which has failed yet again." (The Leader)

Following discussions with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, former Presidential candidate Dr. Rohan Pallewatta has decided to extend his support to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Pallewatte contested the last presidential election under the Socialist Democratic Party of Sri Lanka.

He is presently the Executive Chairman of Lanka Harness (Pvt) Ltd., which manufactures impact sensors for automobile airbags and seat belts.

Pallewatte will serve as a member of the party's foreign policy and trade committees and is likely to be given a position in the SJB Working Committee.

The government will be adopting tough measures including policing in public and private buses to maintain strict Covid prevention guidelines issued by the health ministry and a better service for commuters, official sources said. In a bid to manage passenger transport safely amidst the fearful second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the present administration has taken exit strategies from the curfew and lock down status with the assistance of law enforcement authorities.

The camouflage protection teams of the police are to be deployed as decoys in public and private passenger transport buses to ensure that commuters adhere to health guidelines, a senior official revealed.  

Furthermore, police officers in civilian clothing will be deployed to monitor public transport services, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said, adding that the purpose of the exercise is to prevent reckless driving and violation of health guidelines.

He also requested the public to restrict celebrations during the upcoming festive season to their families due to the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The spokesman insisted that travel should be restricted as much as possible.

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has suggested the government to commence transportation with specific attention to be paid on overcrowding and the practice of health guidelines with the coordination of the relevant health officials.

A mechanism to ensure there is demand reductions in the peak period should be introduced. This can set the guidelines on the number of people working in an establishment, the opening and closing time of office hours (including public services) and the introduction of flexible hours / work from home, the CCC said.

"It has proposed to encourage buses and trains to operate at marginal cost recovery. Given that less passengers per bus or train will result in less revenue for public transport operators at least initially, we propose a special mechanism to enable minimal reimbursement considering the prevailing low global oil prices." it added.