News

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved the request made by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for rotational load shedding tomorrow (Feb. 25).

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake stated that interruptions to the electricity supply of 04 hours and 40 minutes will be imposed in the areas mentioned under groups A, B, and C in the power interruptions schedule (see schedule attached below).

In the meantime, power cuts of 05 hours and 15 minutes will be imposed in the other areas.

As per the schedule, power cuts of 4 hours and 40 minutes are imposed between 8.30 a.m. and 10.30 p.m. in groups A, B and C. It is divided into two slots as 02 hours and 40 minutes in the morning and 02 hours in the night.

Meanwhile, for the other groups, the power cuts of 05 hours and 15 minutes are imposed between 8.30 a.m. and 11.45 p.m. This is split into two slots as 02 hours and 45 minutes in the morning, and 02 and 30 minutes in the night.

Sri Lanka’s coronavirus death toll topped 16,000 as the Director General of Health Services confirmed another 30 Covid-19 related deaths for February 20.

This brings the total number of Covid-19 deaths registered in the country since the start of the pandemic to 16,024 thus far.

The deaths reported today include 20 males and 10 females while 06 of the victims are between the ages 30-59 years. The remaining 24 are in the age group of 60 years and above.

Veteran journalist Bandula Padmakumara has passed away today.

The veteran journalist had passed away while receiving treatment at a private hospital.

Padmakumara who was the former chairman of Lake House was 71-years-old at the time of his demise.

He was renowned for introducing the discussion of newspapers on live television.

Meanwhile, Senior Newspaper Journalist Sunil Madhava Premathilaka passed away yesterday (23).

Premathilaka was a journalist as well as an author who revolutionized the traditional journalism of the country.

One of his most popular works was the Diary of a Truth-Seeker, while he was recently awarded the ‘Kalabhushana’ State Award.

Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has once again expressed his disappointment at the government’s failure to ensure justice for the Easter Sunday attack victims.

Addressing a book launch on Saturday (Feb. 19), the cardinal stressed that it is obvious the government is concealing the truth behind the attack, while protecting higher-ups in the police and the government.

He added that the Catholic community has now lost the trust placed in the government as well.

“Intelligence officials and top-ranking police officers knew that this attack would happen. We have evidence to that end, and it is there in the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI).”

The government and the Attorney General’s Department have hidden the evidence given before the PCoI, the Cardinal alleged.

“We have requested those volumes in writing and we have asked them to make us aware. But this government and the previous government have taken steps to conceal those volumes from us, without considering out requests. We are faced with a question on revealing the truth about these people, based on the basis of the PCoI report.”

When the PCoI report clearly says that certain persons knew of an impending attack and did not take action to prevent it, while recommending action against them, what is happening now is the Attorney General and his department’s questionable behaviour is preventing justice, the Cardinal said further, expressing deep disappointment in this regard.

He also said this government has not fulfilled any of the promises given to the people.

“Cases have been filed against those who have had indirect dealings with Zahran Hashim, however, we do not know whether those are done properly.”

The Cardinal went on to state that this government has made a mockery out of the judicial process by protecting and granting promotions to government leaders, senior intelligence and police officials who knew that this attack would happen.

“We need to believe that justice will prevail under a government that will come to power in the future when we are gone.”

Derana

Arrangements have been made to change the power cut schedule to minimize the inconvenience caused to those who are sitting for the GCE Advanced Level exam, Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardene informed Parliament today.

He said a discussion has been held with the Commissioner of Examinations in this regard on Tuesday night.

Gunawardene responding to a question raised by Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in the House. Mr. Wickremesinghe said one could file legal action against the power cuts. " It is better to make a change in the method of interrupting of power," he said.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) says that NO scheduled power cuts will take place on Saturday (19).

However, the Chairman of the PUCSL, Janaka Rathnayake stated that intermittent interruption can be expected between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to stabilize the national grid.

He added that the CEB is now receiving fuel stock for the day’s electricity generation.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka has announced a power cut schedule for Wednesday (23).

Groups A, B, and C will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 40 minutes.

All other groups will experience power cuts for 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Find out what time your local area will experience a power cut following the tables below:

Power Interruption Schedule (23-02-2022)

The newly-appointed Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung stated that she is excited to represent the US in Sri Lanka.

In an introductory video, she pointed out that both countries have a lot in common, from democratic values to the shared commitment to a safe and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

In December 2021, the US Senate approved the nomination of Chung to be the new US Ambassador of to Sri Lanka after the former Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz concluded her tenure.

All the volumes of reports by a presidential commission of inquiry into Easter Sunday terror attacks and related witness records have been submitted to Parliament.

The complete 88-volume report was handed over to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena by the director-general of legal affairs of the Presidential Secretariat, Harigupta Rohanadeera this morning (22).

The PCoI’s final report was handed over to Parliament on 08 April, 2021 but the witness records were not released due to legal reasons.

According to the President’s Media Division, the findings should be communicated to the public and for further perusal by the Members of Parliament.

Sri Lanka’s Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and Former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara were released and acquitted by a Colombo court on Friday (18) from all charges in the Easter Sunday Attacks case.

The cases were called up in the presence of Justices Namal Balalle, Aditya Patabendige, and Mohamed Irshadeen.

The Attorney General filed the cases against Fernando and Jayasundara on charges of criminal dereliction of duty for failing to take action to prevent the Easter attacks despite receiving specific intelligence.

A total of 855 charges of criminal negligence were leveled against Pujith Jayasundera and Hemasiri Fernando, individually.

The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar ordered to acquit and release Ex-Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara and Ex-Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando from the cases, without calling for evidence from the defense, as the prosecution had failed to prove the charges filed against them.

Justice Aditya Patabendige delivering the summary verdict in court noted that the evidence provided by Director of State Intelligence Nilantha Jayawardena made it clear that he had not carried out his duties in a proper manner, and acted to place that responsibility on someone else.

Justice Aditya Patabendige went on to note that many devotees died under tragic circumstances in the Easter Sunday Terror Attacks that also left many injured, adding that it is not possible to proceed with a case against a person in absence of evidence on such a tragic event.

Justice Aditya Patabendige also noted that one needs to be extra careful when leveling criminal charges against a person, and noted that the arrests of Jayasundara and Fernando on the said charges are also marred with issues.

He also said that it is unacceptable to file cases against Public Servants alone when a political authority exists.

The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar judge also noted that the defendants had not committed criminal dereliction of duty.

Justices, Namal Balalle, and Mohamed Irshadeen announced that the evidence produced by the prosecution against the defendants also failed to prove the charges brought forward by the prosecution.

The Court said that after the evidence of the prosecution’s first witness, State Intelligence Chief Nilantha Jayawardena, was led, the prosecution should have decided when to proceed with the case or not, however, despite having the opportunity, the prosecution did not reach such a decision.

The court also said the prosecution produced five to six, selective witnesses for their benefit, from the pool of over 1,000 witnesses, and yet, failed to prove the charges in the case.

The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar met on Friday (18) to announce the decision on whether Ex-Police Chief Pujith Jayasudara and Ex-Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando will be released from the Easter Attacks cases, without calling for evidence from the Defence.

The justices of the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar unanimously announced that the defendants will be acquitted and released from all charges without calling for evidence from the defense, as the prosecution failed to produce sufficient evidence in the case.

Chairman of the court Justice Namal Ballale in conclusion thanked the officers from the Attorney General’s Department and the staff of the Colombo High Court for assisting to conclude the case within four months.

News 1st

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka on Monday (21) announced that 2-hour power cuts will be imposed on Tuesday (22).

The power cuts will be between 4:30 PM & 10:30 PM from groups A, B, C, and 3 hours for other groups, said the Chairman of the PUCSL.

Power-Interruption-Schedule-22-02-2022

Head of the Colombo Archdiocese's Social Relations Unit Rev. Fr. Jude Chrishantha requested the CID to question former President Maithripala Sirisena and arrest him if necessary as it is clear that the latter is responsible for the Easter Sunday attacks.

Fr. Chrishantha told journalists that he made this request from the CID when he was testified over a statement which he had made recently. He was summoned after he remarked that the former President should be probed.

The Catholic priest made this remark following a remark made by Minister Prasanna Ratnatunga who had earlier said former President Sirisena is responsible for the Easter Sunday mayhem.

"I told the CID that Minister Ratnatunga should be summoned to CID and obtain a statement from him as well on the allegation that he had made against the former President and then conduct a probe on Mr. Sirisena and arrest him," Fr. Chrishantha said.

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