News

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued the Extraordinary Gazette declaring a public emergency in Sri Lanka with effect from April 01, 2022.

The Gazette has been issued considering the prevailing situation in the country and in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community.

President Gotabaya has issued the Gazette under the powers vested in him by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40), as amended by Act. No. 8 of 1959. Law No. 6 of 1978 and Act, No.28 of 1988.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved power cuts of 12 hours for tomorrow (April 01), as requested by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).

The CEB had requested for 12 hours power cuts due to the limited supply of fuel for thermal power plants, the PUCSL said.

Accordingly, the power cuts will be imposed as follows:

Areas ABCDEF - 2 hours from 4am to 6am, 4 hours from 8am to 12pm and 6 hours from 4pm to 10pm.

Areas GHIJKL - 2 hours from 6am to 8am, 4 hours from 12pm to 4pm and 6 hours from 6pm to 12am.

Areas PQRS - 2 hours from 4am to 6am, 4 hours from 8am to 12pm and 6 hours from 4pm to 10pm.

Areas TUVW - 2 hours from 6am to 8am, 4 hours from 12pm to 4pm and 6 hours from 6pm to 12am.

Areas MNOXYZ - 3 hours and 30 minutes from 5.30am to 9am and 2 hours from 4pm to 6pm.

United National Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe urged the government to provide evidence to back its claims of extremist elements being behind the mass protest in Mirihana day before yesterday.

In a video statement, the former prime minister also called on political parties to stay away from peaceful public protests, and to instead engage in a process that finds solutions to the people’s problems through an apolitical process.

“Last night at Pengiriwatte in Mirihana, the public agitation reached boiling point due to the lack of solutions to their issues,” Wickremesinghe said further adding that this incident to be proof of a breakdown in the contemporary political system.

The government has failed to provide relief to the people’s problems, he added.

“The government is currently making allegations against various groups in connection with this incident, hence I urge it to provide proof and evidence to back these claims and expose these actors.”

The Court of Appeal has acquitted SLPP Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekara alias "Choka Malli" and two others who were sentenced to death by the Ratnapura High Court.

The three suspects were sentenced to death on 31 July 2020 on charges pertaining to the fatal shooting incident in Kahawatte during the Presidential Election in 2015.

After considering the appeals filed by the defendants, the Court of Appeal ordered the three defendants to be acquitted.

The CEB’s request for 8 hours and 30 minutes power cut was approved by the PUCSL due to limited supply of fuel for thermal power plants, for today(02)

Groups ABCDEF

4 hours from 8am to 12pm 3 hours from 4pm to 7pm 1 hour & 30 minutes from 9pm to 10:30pm.

Groups GHIJKL

4 hours from 12pm to 4pm 3 hours from 6pm to 9pm 1 hour & 30 minutes from 10:30pm to 12am.

Groups PQRS

4 hours from 8am to 12pm 3 hours from 4pm to 7pm 1hour & 30 minutes from 9pm to 10:30pm.

Groups TUVW

4 hours from 12pm to 4pm 3 hours from 6pm to 9pm 1 hour & 30 minutes from 10:30pm to 12am.

Groups MNOXYZ 3 hours and 30minutes from 5.30am to 9am.

The Deputy Director General of Forest Conservation Thilak Premakantha has been appointed as the new Director General of the Department of National Zoological Gardens.

The Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation stated that the appointment was made with the approval of the Cabinet.

The Ministry further stated that Shermila Rajapaksa, who was occupying the post, has been removed by the Cabinet with effect from the 28th of March.

The Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court granted bail to several protesters a short while ago.

Accordingly, several persons who were arrested over their involvement in the public protest that took place near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence in Mirihana last evening were granted bail.

Six persons, however, due to be produced before an identification parade, were remanded till Monday (04).

Over 300 lawyers, including President’s Counsel’s Ikram Mohamed,Srinath Perera, Anura Meddegoda,Kalinga Indatissa, Saliya Pieris, Anuja Premaratne, Maithre Gunaratne, Thisath Wijegunawardane and Jagath Wickramanayake voluntarily represented the protesters.

A 13-hour power cut will be imposed tomorrow (31) due to the unavailability of fuel for thermal power plants.

Accordingly, localities within areas A to F will experience power-cuts lasting three hours from 3am to 6am, four hours from 12pm to 4pm and six hours from 6pm to 12am.

Those within areas G to L will have power outrages lasting three hours from 12am to 3am, four hours from 8am to 12pm and six hours from 4pm to 10pm.

Meanwhile, localities in areas P, Q, R and S will have power cuts of three hours from 3am to 6am, four hours from 12pm to 4pm and six hours from 6pm to 12am.

The power supply to areas T, U, V and W will be suspended for three hours from 12am to 3am, four hours from 8am to 12pm and six hours from 4pm to 10pm while areas M, N, O, X, Y and Z will experience power cuts lasting three hours and thirty minutes from 5.30am to 9am and two hours from 4pm to 6pm.

The price of a 50kg bag of cement has been increased by Rs. 500.

Accordingly, the revised price of a cement bag now stands at Rs. 2,350.

Sri Lanka’s Fuel Shortage has severely affected the public transport sector.

President of the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners Association, Gemunu Wijeratne said only 25% of the private bus services are in operation tas of Wednesday (30).

The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) says six depots have not received stocks of fuel despite orders being placed adding that measures are underway to resolve the issue.

Deputy General Manager of the SLTB, A. H. Pandula Swarnahansa said bus time tables are being revised prioritizing operations during peak hours.

Representatives of the 'The Radical Centre', an apolitical movement launched by the late Minister Mangala Samaraweera says that protests are more successful if they are conducted in a peaceful manner devoid of any violence.

Protests should always be seen as a legitimate avenue towards policy change and influence, and one that must therefore professionalise to make politics more reflective of societies’ wants, needs and demands.

The group urged for restraint after a peaceful protest near the home of Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa turned violent on Thursday evening.

Appealing to all those wish to join the nationwide protest on April 3, The Radical Centre stressed that our primal responsibility is to prevent the protests escalating into violence.

As Sri Lanka today is facing an unprecedented political, economic and social crisis, the country is gazing into the abyss at the edge of a precipice.

This is truly an existentialist moment for all Sri Lankans; each individual must make meaningful choices and the choices they make will define Sri Lanka's future for generations to come.

The statement released on behalf of the Radical Centre by Jayani Abeysekera - Harendran Krishnasamy - Keshal Jayasinghe - C.S. Kodithuwakku - Firo Farook further states:

"To the Attention of all those joining the nationwide protest on April 03.

It is our primal responsibility to prevent the protests escalating into violence.

If we leave space for that, then it will be for the fullest benefit of the oppressive government. So please consider the following points as you take to the streets.

1. As you arrive at the protest, talk to those around you and get to know them.

2. Appoint several leaders to lead the group.

3. Never be impulsive or aggressive. If someone near you is tempted to act aggressively, prevent him / her from doing so.

4. Do not damage anyone's property. Those who commit such acts in such a protest are traitors of the entire protest movement itself.

5. 5. Do not cause conflicts. Show by example that you are a civilized citizen in front of a government which behaves rudely.

   6. Always be attentive to your neighbour. If there’s anything that makes you suspicious, let the leadership know.

   7. This is not a struggle organised by any party or group. You as well as those around you are participating in this as independent citizens. Therefore, if someone around you attempts to do something you may not agree with:

   a. Try to prevent them from doing so b. If they continue to do so, stay away from them as much as possible c. If you feel that the protest space is no longer safe for you, leave.

   Remember that this is a struggle for the right of life, of yours and mine. Not a bloody struggle to lose lives.

   8. Cooperate cordially with police and security personnel whenever possible. Remember they are just as oppressed as we are."

   The Radical Centre

   01.04.2022

10 hour power cuts will be imposed tomorrow in several parts of the country (30).

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has requested to increase the power cut duration to 10 hours owing to the unavailability of fuel.

Accordingly, the power supply will be suspended to areas A, B, C, D, E and F from 2pm to 12am.

Areas G, H, I, J, K and L will have a power cut of 6 hours from 8am to 2pm and 4 hours from 6pm to 10pm.

Meanwhile, areas P, Q, R and S will have a power cut of 10 hours from 2pm to 12am , and the power supply to areas T, U, V and W will be interrupted for 6 hours from 8am to 2pm and 4 hours from 6pm to 10pm.

Areas M, N, O, X, Y and Z will have a power cut of 10 hours from 8am to 6pm.