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Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Harin Fernando states that he is ready for any inquiry into the incident that took place in Parliament. He was addressing Parliament today.

Harin Fernando was accused in Parliament yesterday of bringing a suspicious parcel into Parliament and obstructing the duties of the protesting police officers.

At the commencement of parliamentary sittings today, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya stated that the IGP has been instructed to conduct a speedy investigation into the incident.

Making a special statement with the permission of the Speaker, Fernando stated that he had brought only his bag and a torch to Parliament. He added that his bag was checked by a searching machine and it was confirmed that there was nothing dangerous in it.

Fernando points out that he did not interfere in the affairs of the police in any way and says that he is ready to face any investigation in this regard.

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)

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is scheduled to leave for India today (25) on an official visit.

According to the agreements reached during his previous visit to India, further concessions on the US $ 1 billion loan to be provided by India to Sri Lanka will be taken up during his visit.

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.

Former President Maithripala Sirisena has extended an invitation to the constituent parties of the ruling coalition, it is learnt.

Accordingly, the former President will host the leaders of the constituent parties including Minister Wimal Weerawansa for tea at his official residence this evening (23).

SLFP sources meanwhile said that today's discussion may focus on the special proposal prepared by the constituent parties outlining measures that need to be taken to build the country.

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

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.