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The former Minister of Energy, Udaya Gammanpila states that he was prevented from addressing the Parliament during the debate on the energy crisis.

Although he made a written request seeking a time slot to speak, the former Minister was informed by the Office of the Government Whip has informed him that he cannot be permitted to speak.

However, the Parliamentarian has subsequently spoken to the Chief Government Whip, Minister Johnston Fernando, who stated that he will consider, however was followed by him stating that the former Minister will not be permitted to speak as the speaker’s list was full, despite him holding the portfolio of the Minister of Energy until 03rd March.

“I have been elected to parliament on SLPP ticket by people casting 136,331 votes. Denying my right to speak in Parliament by SLPP means denying my voters to express their hearts and minds. I respectfully expect the speaker to protect my right to speak in Parliament,” the former Minister said in a tweet.

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday (9) issued notice to four respondents, including Litro & Luagfs connection with the distribution of unsafe domestic has cylinders to the market.

Notice was issued to the Director-general of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute, Litro Gas, Laufs Gas, and the Consumer Affairs Authority after a writ application was taken up.

The bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Dr. Ruwan Fernando and Sampath Wijeratne decided after considering the submissions made in support, and against the petition.

The petition was filed by a civil activist, Nagahananda Kodituwakku, and the application was called up to decide whether or not the court would permit the application to be taken up for examination.

Moreover, the petition seeks an order requesting Litro & Laugfs Gas to pay compensation to the victims of the incidents surrounding unsafe gas cylinders that were distributed to the market.

The petition further seeks an order requesting the Attorney General and the IGP to take legal action against the two gas companies in connection with the distribution of unsafe gas cylinders to the local market.

The prices of rice packets as well as bread and other bakery products will increase following a hike in wheat flour and fuel prices and the depreciation of the Sri Lanka rupee.

A loaf of bread, from midnight today (11) will be upped by Rs. 30, to between Rs. 110 and Rs. 130, said the bakery owners association.

This follows the two wheat flour suppliers raising the price by Rs. 38 per kg.

Also, the price of a bun will also increase by Rs. 10, a rice packet by between Rs. 20 and Rs. 30, a Kottu by Rs. 10 and short-eats by Rs. 5 each.

A permit-based importation will be allowed for 367 non-essential goods, says the Department of Import and Export Control.

The department has issued a gazette extraordinary to make this requirement effect from midnight today (09).

Licenses to import the specified items will be issued by the controller-general of imports and exports control subject to the recommendation of the finance ministry secretary.

Lanka IOC announced that it will increase the price of diesel and petrol with effect from midnight today (10), due to the significant depreciation of the rupee.

LIOC said that the retail selling price of diesel will be increased by Rs. 75 per litre and petrol by Rs. 50 per litre.

Issuing a statement, it said that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had announced flexibility in foreign exchange rate and the Sri Lankan Rupee has depreciated twice in last 7 days against the dollar, initially to Rs. 230 per USD and then again to an exorbitant level of Rs. 260 from Rs. 203 previously.

“Even after this upward revision in exchange rates by over 28%, the inflow of US dollar has not improved much in the banking channels during past two days. The banks are, however, offering USD at the rate of Rs 260 and even much beyond. On the other side, Oil has also been rising sharply on the prospects for a full embargo on Russian oil and products and reaching near to the highest levels seen earlier in 2008.”

With fear of the supply scarcity amidst the Ukraine-Russia war, crude oil continues to be on the boil, threatening to reach unforeseen levels. It is gathered that the international market is rising to account for the supply disruption to at least part of the nearly 4 million barrels per day of oil that is sold by Russia into the U.S. and EU, the statement said.

In the wake of the severity of these external shocks, LIOC said it was forced to increase its Retail Selling Prices for Diesel by Rs 75/Ltr and Petrol by Rs 50/Ltr w.e.f. today.

Mr. Manoj Gupta, Managing Director LIOC, informed that “Rupee depreciation twice in a span of 7 days by Rs 57 against USD has directly impacted the landed cost of Gasoil & Gasoline making them dearer by an equivalent amount per litre. Oil and gas prices are also surging as western countries respond to Moscow’s invasion with numerous sanctions to isolate Russia and cut it off from global oil markets. Our current losses are exorbitantly high considering current international prices leaving no other option but to increase the prices of Gasoil & Gasoline. However, it is a painful reality that even after this price increase, there would still be heavy losses at the prevailing international prices.”

Mr Gupta further said that “Though the current global political and economic environment is extremely challenging compelling us to resort to desperate measures, I am confident that the situation will improve and we shall be able to pass on the benefits of reduced prices to our valuable customers.”

LIOC says it does not receive any subsidy from the Government of Sri Lanka and its losses are calculated based on actual landed cost of the product after considering payment of applicable duties, taxes & other statutory levies including handling charges.

“Lanka IOC is the only public limited energy company and accountable to its more than 10,500 local shareholders. Despite the unprecedented challenging situations, Lanka IOC has always remained committed towards the social upliftment through its several initiatives and strong environment conscience.”

A power cut of 03 hours and 45 minutes will occur to many areas of the country tomorrow, said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL).

Accordingly, zones A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K and L will be subject to a power cut of 03 hours and 45 minutes, having a two and a half hour power cut from 08 am to 06 pm and a power cut of 01 hour and 45 minutes from 06 pm to 11 pm, the Commission revealed.

Meanwhile zones P,Q,R,S,T and W will be subject to a three hour power cut, having a two hour power cut from 09 am to 05 pm and a one hour power cut from 05 pm to 09 pm.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today approved the power shedding schedule for several areas in the country for tomorrow.

Accordingly, areas under groups P, Q, R, S, T, U, V & W in the schedule will be imposed one-hour power cut between 5.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. while areas under groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K & L will experience two and a half hour-power cut between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. and for one hour and 15 minutes between 6.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m

Deputy Leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) aka Jathika Nidahas Peramuna Jayantha Samaraweera has reportedly resigned from his position as the State Minister of Warehouse Facilities, Container Yards, Port Supply Facilities and Boats and Shipping Industry Development

His resignation comes in in objection to the dismissal of Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila from their ministerial positions.

Supreme Court judge Yasantha Kodagoda today (10) cited a personal reason and recused himself from hearing a fundamental rights petition filed by former CID director Shani Abeysekara.

The ex-director is seeking an order preventing his arrest by the CID over a case being heard at the Kuliyapitiya magistrate's court relating to Easter Sunday attacks.

The other two judges in the SC case are S. Thurairaja and Mahinda Samayawardena.

The court fixed the petition for support on 07 April.

The state-of-the-art cement manufacturing facility of Lanwa Sanstha Cement Corporation (Pvt) Ltd., was inaugurated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday (7).

A BOI venture, the Lanwa Sanstha facility spread across 63 acres is located in Hambantota’s Mirijjawila Export Processing Zone, and saw an investment of US $ 100 Mn.

The total capacity of the plant would be 4mn MT per annum and is one of the largest such facilities in the whole of South Asia.

The President and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa also placed the foundation stone for the proposed steel factory at the premises which will cover 250 acres, with an investment of US $ 400 Mn.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) today approved power shedding schedule for several areas in the country.

#lkAccordingly, a one-hour powercut from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm for P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W while areas that come under A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L group for two-and-a-half hours from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm and one hour and 15 minutes from 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm.

Minister of Finance Basil Rajapaksa has requested all SLPP heads of local government bodies to switch off the street lights of their respective areas until March 31, as a measure to conserve electricity.

General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Sagara Kariyawasam said that the Finance Minister has informed all the SLPP heads of LG institutions, group leaders and opposition leaders of this matter via a letter.

The letter states that due to the prevailing challenging situation with regard to the existing power crisis due to the drop in hydro power generation, rising fuel prices and the dollar shortage, one of the main alternatives to manage this situation is to use electricity sparingly on a priority basis.

In order to help bring that example to the society, they are requested to switch off the street lights in their respective areas from today until March 31 to conserve electricity.

In addition to this, they are also requested to implement any other alternatives to conserve electricity, if available, with minimum impact on day to day life of the general public.