The resumption of operations at the Sapugaskanda refinery will be further delayed due to the delay in the arrival of the ship with crude oil, says Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Mrs. K. D. R. Volga.
Accordingly, the refinery is likely to resume operations on the 30th, she added.
The Sapugaskanda oil refinery, which was temporarily closed, was previously scheduled to resume operations tomorrow.
Two state ministers have been infected with Covid-19.
It was reported yesterday that, the Minister of State for Vehicle Regulation, Bus Transport Services and Railway Carriages and Automobile Industries, and the Minister of Community Police Services Dilum Amunugama was infected with the Covid.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Jayantha Samaraweera, the Minister of State for Warehousing, Container Yards, Port Supply and Boating and Shipping Development has also been infected.
All private buses plying from Horana have been stepped out from this morning.
The strike was launched opposing the actions of a private bus plying from Pelegoda to Colombo on the Matugama-Horana road for changing its route and starting from Bulathsinhala since a few days ago.
Children attending school as well as the people on duty have been severely affected by the strike.
It is reported that steps have been taken to increase the number of SLTB buses plying from Horana to avoid any inconvenience to the public.
The Government has taken steps to purchase one kilogram of paddy from farmers at Rs. 75.00 from today.
The government has taken steps to allocate Rs. 40,000 million as compensation for farmers whose crops were damaged during the Maha season in 2020.
Those relevant proposals have also been approved by the Cabinet.
Channa Jayasumana, Minister of State for Pharmaceuticals, Supply, and Regulation, has said that there is a risk of expiration of the stock of Pfizer vaccines imported to Sri Lanka for the third dose at a huge cost if the people are not interested in getting vaccinated before July this year.
A US-German product, Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine was imported for the booster dose.
Speaking to the media yesterday (24), he said that the current Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose in the country is due to expire in July 2022.
About 14 million Pfizer-BioNTech injection doses have been imported to Sri Lanka for the third dose.
He said that nearly five million of them have been given to the people so far and there are nearly 11 million more remaining Pfizer-BioNTech doses in the country.
The list of Vaccination Centers open/operating today is attached herewith.
Please recheck with PHI in the area before going to the centers as there could be slight changes (additions / Reductions).
The drama staged by the government and police regarding the discovery of a hand grenade in the Borella church is blatant, and the struggle will continue till the truth has finally emerged, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith said.
He vowed that the neither the government nor the police would be allowed to get away from this issue.
He said he along with other priests requested the police to CCTV footages of the entire day.
“If it happened, we could see who came first,” he said.
He added that he would not allow the police to pin the blame on any innocent person.
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Acting General Manager Dr. Susantha Perera stated that there will be no power cuts today (24) and tomorrow (25) despite there being plans to cut power across the country.
The Sapugaskanda power plant can resume electricity-generating operations as a stock of fuel from the Yugadanavi power plant is to be handed over to the Sapugaskanda power plant, he said.
Accordingly, there will be no power cuts today and tomorrow and if necessary, the date of the power cuts will be announced later, the CEB Acting Chairman said.
The Indian High Commission is making extensive arrangements to commemorate their country’s 73rd Republic Day on January 26, Wednesday in Sri Lanka.
The day would begin with the hoisting of the Indian flag by the high commissioner Gopal Baglay in the morning at 8.30 on Wednesday at the India House in Colombo
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the Indian mission has regretted its inability to invite guests for the event. However, live telecast of the program can be viewed on the following link https://www.facebook.com/swamivivekanandaculturalcentre.colombo
The same day, the high commissioner has invited special guests to a reception commencing from 6.30 pm at the India House. Due to Covid restrictions, a limited number of guests have been invited to the event.
The Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella says that from now on, the people who have been taken all 3 vaccines against the Covid-19 virus will be identified as those who have been fully vaccinated in the country.
Minister Rambukwella further stated that the relevant gazette notification will be issued soon.
The Minister of Health further urges the people to take the required doses of vaccine against COVID-19 to eradicate Covid from this country and to save the lives of all of you.
A multi-path religious observance was held for the late Consul-General Visharada Neela Wickramasinghe on 22 January 2022 in Milan, Italy at Casa Funeraria Funeral Home in Milan. The religious observations were organized by the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Milan with the participation of the beloved husband of the late Consul General, Kapila Herath, relatives, staff of the Consulate General and also members of the Sri Lankan community in Italy who gathered at the occasion to offer merits to the late Consul-General.
The Chief Sanghanayaka of Italy and the Chief Incumbent of the Milano International Buddhist Centre Rajakeeya Panditha Rev. Mahagama Wipulasiri Thero performed the Panshukula for the late Consul-General followed by a dharma deshana. Nayaka Thero stated that the sudden demise of late Consul General Wickramasinghe is a loss to the Sri Lankan community in Milan and Northern Italy as she could not carry out the programmes which she planned even prior to her arrival in Milan. Chief Sanghanayake of Europe and the Chief Incumbent of Athens Buddhist Vihara Rev. Eluwapola Pagnarathana Thero delivered an Anushasana. Chief incumbent of the Milan Dharmanikethanaramaya Shasthapathi Rev. Pelgahathenne Seelawimala Thero and Chief incumbent of the Milano Lankarama Vihara Rev. Wewabedde Suneetha Thero were also present at the religious performances.
The first copy of the book titled “THE CONFLICT THAT ELUDED PEACE” written by former Army Commander Retired General Shantha Kottegoda was presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat today (24).
The book is based on former Army Commander Kottegoda’s 36 years of military experience.
Mr. Kottegoda said that this is a comparative analysis of the victories as well as setbacks on the battlefield during his service first as a Major in an Infantry Regiment and finally as an Army Commander.
The Navy has intercepted a multi-day trawler carrying 300 kilos of narcotics from Pakistan to Sri Lanka in the deep sea.
According to information received by the State Intelligence Service and the Police Narcotics Bureau, the raid was carried out as a joint operation.
It is said that there are 06 persons in the multi-day trawler and they have been arrested by the officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau who are currently patrolling in the naval trawler involved in the raid.
Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de Silva has requested a World Bank delegation to assist in the formulation of a Social Security and Pension Scheme for Private Sector Employees.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Labor, Minister made this request during a discussion with a World Bank delegation at the Ministry of Labor.
The Minister has said that due to the lack of strong social security and pension system in the private sector, the majority of people are only looking for government jobs.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board says that there is a risk of a drinking water supply crisis in the future due to the severe dry weather conditions prevailing these days.
Its Assistant General Manager Ekanayake Weerasinghe said that water should be used sparingly to minimize this situation.
He further urged the people to consume drinking water giving priority to essential activities.
A racket is being carried out across the country to sell cement at black market prices, creating a fake cement shortage.
The average price of a 50 kg bag of cement is around Rs. 1375, but the black market sells it for between Rs. 1800 and Rs. 2000.
Although there is a shortage of cement these days, it was confirmed during an investigation that buyers can still buy any cement stock at the black market price.
Some traders engage in this scam by not stockpiling cement in their warehouses but keeping them in lorries.
So they keep cement in the lorries and sell them so that the Consumer Affairs Authority or some other department can come and inspect their warehouses and say there is no cement.
We have seen smugglers evading the law by claiming that the lorries are ready to transport the ordered cement.
Vaccination of school children between the ages of 16-19 with the second dose has been started today.
Accordingly, the vaccination program was initiated at Ananda Samarakoon College, Wewala, Piliyandala.
The vaccination program was implemented by the Piliyandala Medical Officer of the Health’s Office.
Sri Lanka’s Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has submitted a cabinet memorandum to the Cabinet on Monday (24) allowing only the importation of electric vehicles.
“The President has expressed interest in the renewable energy sector. We have to go for this at a time when the whole world is talking only about it,” he said at a public meeting in Kandy.
Mr. Amaraweera said he was pleased when the President presented his policy statement in Parliament recently, saying that electric vehicles would be given priority during the discussion about vehicle imports.
Colombo High Court Judge Amal Ranaraja today ordered the Attorney General to hear the case March 23 onwards which was filed against former parliamentarian Hirunika Premachandra in connection with the abduction and assault of a youth by a Defendant in Dematagoda.
On December 21, 2015, a young man by the name of Amila Priyankara was abducted while working in a clothing store near Mahawila Park in Dematagoda.
Seven supporters of Hirunika Premachandra had pleaded guilty before the Colombo High Court and were sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor ordered a suspended sentence for 12 years.
IGP Mr. C. D. Wickramaratne has informed the Ministry of Public Defense that the Senior DIG Attorney-at-Law Ajith Rohana has been appointed to cover the duties of the Police Media Spokesman.
The letter sent by the IGP to the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security states that Ajith Rohana will be appointed to cover the duties of the Police Media Spokesman until a permanent Spokesman is appointed.
Ajith Rohana will be appointed as the Police Media Spokesman in the next few days as there is no objection from the Ministry of Public Security.
SSP Nihal Thalduwa, Attorney-at-Law, is currently the Police Media Spokesman. He is the Director of the Police Media Division.
The retail price of a kilo of raw turmeric, which had exceeded the Rs. 1000 limit, has now dropped to between Rs. 200 and 250.
The reason for this is that turmeric harvesting has already begun.
According to naval sources, with the banning of the import of turmeric and the encouragement of farmers to cultivate turmeric, a large quantity of turmeric was smuggled into the country from India by smuggling boats, but now no turmeric is being brought into the country in that manner.
The Department of Export Agriculture states that several agencies including the Spices Board have set up a systematic program to purchase turmeric from farmers.
The list of Vaccination Centers open/operating today is attached herewith.
Please recheck with PHI in the area before going to the centers as there could be slight changes (additions / Reductions).
The Elections Commission states that a gazette notification will be issued today (24) to submit applications for the registration of new political parties.
At present, there are 79 registered political parties in the country.
Among them, about six registered political parties with legal issues are considered inactive political parties, said the Chairman of the Election Commission, Attorney-at-Law Nimal Punchihewa.
The National Fertilizer Secretariat says that about 1,500 metric tons of urea have been imported in the past few days after the ban on the import of chemical fertilizers was lifted.
The office also announced that between 12,000 and 15,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizers including urea will be imported in the next few weeks.
Orders made to import the remaining stocks of chemical fertilizers have been approved so far.
Accordingly, other stocks of chemical fertilizers will be imported in bulk in the next few weeks.
The National Fertilizer Secretariat said that the stocks of chemical fertilizers will be imported from European countries including Ukraine as well as Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia.
Lekakadhikari of the Matara District Sasanarakshaka Balamandala, Ven Paraduwa Jinarathana Thera pointed out with examples that there are some discrepancies in the implementation of the law according to race, religion, and status and stressed the need for a law that treats everyone equally.
The Presidential Task Force for “One Country, One Law” commenced public consultations in the Southern Province at the Dickwella Divisional Secretariat Auditorium yesterday (22).
Religious representatives and plantation workers also expressed their views and opinions before the Task Force Committee, while some submitted written proposals.
In the past, Sri Lanka was a country where one law was enforced. It changed with different foreign invasions. Ven. Jinaratana Thera appreciated the President’s efforts to change this situation and establish one law in one country.
It is the responsibility of the Presidential Task Force, Chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, to study the views and opinions of various factions on the implementation of the concept of ‘One Country, One Law’ in Sri Lanka and make proposals. The Task Force commenced its first public consultations from the Northern Province.
Subsequently, the general public representing various parts of the country expressed their views and opinions before the Task Force Committee at the office located in the Bandaranaike Conference Hall in Colombo as well as in the Eastern and Uva Provinces.
People in the Southern Province can submit their views at the Tangalle District Secretariat today as well.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, Rajakiyapanditha Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, members of the Task Force Prof. Shanthi Nandana Wijesinghe, Attorney at Law Sanjaya Marambe, Mr. Eranda Navaratne, Mr. Pani Wewalage and Secretary Ms. Jeevanthie Senanayake were also present.
Commissioner General of Examinations Mr. L. M. D. Dharmasena requests to avoid holding farewell parties for students who are about to sit for the GCE Advanced Level Examination.
He says that there is a tendency to hold farewell parties by students who come to obtain Advanced Level tickets.
However, he points out that holding parties is dangerous in the face of the rising epidemic.
The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Association says that there is a possibility of a power cut for an hour tomorrow (24).
They also point out that there will be a two-hour power cut in four categories from the day after tomorrow. (25).
Earlier, the authorities had said that there would be a power cut for an hour and a half from tomorrow.
The power outage was caused by a number of factors, including the dollar crisis, the suspension of hydropower generation due to dry weather, and the repair of several power plants.
The Inland Revenue Service Association states that it strongly opposes the government’s decision to remove the administration of the Special Goods and Services Tax from the Inland Revenue Department.
Joint Secretary of the Inland Revenue Services Association Mr. H. A. L. Udayasiri said that the government is preparing to impose a new tax called GST on a number of areas administered by the Inland Revenue Department and hand over its administration to a specialized unit of the Treasury.
He also said that due to this move by the government, the tax system administered by the Inland Revenue Department, which is functioning under the supervision of the Auditor General, will be phased out.
He also said that it was questionable whether the taxes received by the special unit of the Treasury would be credited to the Consolidated Fund.
Two persons were killed in an accident that took place this morning (23) in the Matikumbura area in Polgahawela on the Colombo-Kurunegala main road.
Ten others were injured and hospitalized.
Two passengers of an SLTB bus were killed when it collided with the back of a tipper truck.
Police investigations into the accident are ongoing.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has decided to cancel her wedding.
The Prime Minister has decided to stop the marriage ceremony due to the risk of the Omicron variant spreading across New Zealand.
The New Zealand government has instructed residents to wear masks and minimize public gatherings.
According to the new Corona Suppression Health Guidelines, only 100 people can attend restaurants, banquet halls, and weddings at a time. However, the New Zealand government has taken steps to limit that number to 25 if there are any non-vaccinated people.
New Zealand has been forced to impose new health guidelines after nine members of the same family who attended a wedding earlier this month became infected with the omicron variant.
“My marriage ceremony is not going as planned,” the New Zealand prime minister told the media. That is. There she apologized to herself as well as to those who had been inconvenienced.
When asked by reporters how she felt about the cancellation of her wedding ceremony, she said, “Life is like that.”
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