<ul><li>NWSDB warns supply may be restricted for hours daily&nbsp;</li><li>Ambatale Water Treatment Plant not affected by salinity&nbsp;</li><li>High-elevation areas already face low pressure; bowsers deployed</li><li>CEA moves to curb sand mining as salinity concerns grow</li></ul> Chairperson of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Chandana Bandara, yesterday (30) said that due to the prevailing dry weather and drought-like conditions in the country, water supply may need to be restricted for several hours per day over the next two to three weeks.Speaking to the media, he noted that although such water cuts have not yet been implemented, current weather conditions may make it difficult to maintain a continuous 24-hour water supply in the near future.He added the production capacity of water treatment plants, including the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant, has not yet been affected. Bandara assured that the increase in salinity levels in the Kelani River will not impact operations at the Ambatale Plant.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Bandara said the Board has now established a salinity barrier using temporary sandbags. He explained that with the prevailing dry weather, the river’s flow speed has decreased, leading to a rise in salinity levels. However, he noted the salinity barrier would ensure that the plant’s operations remain unaffected.Meanwhile, environmentalists have pointed out that sand mining near estuary areas also contributes to increasing salinity levels in rivers.When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday regarding steps taken by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to prevent such activities, CEA Director General Kapila Mahesh Rajapaksha said that, in collaboration with the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, the CEA is working to address the issue. He added that awareness programmes are also being conducted.The NWSDB had previously urged the public to use water sparingly amid the prevailing dry weather conditions, citing issues such as saltwater intrusion into rivers. It had also been noted that rising salinity levels in the Kelani River pose a significant threat to the operation of the Ambatale Plant.However, water supply to high-elevation areas has already been reduced to low-pressure levels. Bandara also said that water bowsers are currently being deployed to supply water to areas experiencing low pressure.He further informed the public that rainfall is expected in the coming period and urged citizens to use existing water reserves sparingly.

Over next 2-3 weeks: Water cuts loom

<ul><li>GoSL-China talks for next season’s fertiliser</li></ul> The Agrarian Development Department has decided to restrict the issuance of urea fertiliser exclusively to paddy cultivation, citing limited national stocks due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.According to the Department, unmixed urea fertiliser for the 2026 Yala season will be distributed solely for rice cultivation through Agrarian Service Centres. The Department has informed all Agrarian Development Officers island-wide of this decision and instructed them to issue fertiliser strictly based on the extent of land cultivated by each farmer.Fertiliser will be released to farmers based on determinations made at seasonal cultivation meetings or upon the verification of paddy cultivation. This process will utilise farmer data already recorded in the system to ensure the quantity issued corresponds directly to the verified cultivated area.Furthermore, the Department has directed all Agrarian Development Officers to manage existing fertiliser stocks efficiently to ensure that paddy cultivation during the 2026 Yala season proceeds without interruption.Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has announced that discussions are underway between the Sri Lankan Government and China to procure fertiliser for State fertiliser companies for the upcoming cultivation seasons. The Department also assured that adequate fertiliser stocks are currently available within the country to meet the requirements for the imminent season.These remarks were made at a special press briefing held yesterday (30) at the Government Information Department, convened to outline steps taken by various State institutions to address challenges arising from tensions in the Middle East.Addressing the media, Commissioner General of Agrarian Development Dhammika Ranatunga said that the Government has moved to issue fertiliser to farmers based strictly on their land extent, exclusively through Agrarian Service Centres across the country, as a measure to prevent stockpiling. He added that the Government is holding discussions with China to purchase stocks for the next season.“For the areas that have commenced work for the next season, including Ampara and Hambantota, fertiliser stocks have already been distributed. Agrarian Service Centres in other areas will also receive them soon,” he said. “For further requirements, we are having discussions with China,” he added.He further explained that three types of fertiliser are used in paddy cultivation, Triple Super Phosphate, Urea, and Muriate of Potash. According to him, the Fertiliser Secretariat has calculated all fertiliser stocks held by State fertiliser companies and based on that report, a decision has been made on the quantity of fertiliser to be allocated to each area, and these are expected to be issued in line with the recommendations of the Agriculture Ministry.A 50 kilogram bag of fertiliser can be purchased within a price range of Rs. 9,900 to Rs. 10,200, with the Rs. 300 variance attributed to transport charges.He also outlined an alternative system to provide fuel to farmers without the use of quick response (QR) codes. According to the system, based on the recommendation of the District Secretariat, 15 litres of fuel will be provided for harvesting and 30 litres for ploughing. For water pumps and agrarian machinery, fuel will be issued according to the requirements of each machine.He also said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has requested the introduction of a separate QR system to facilitate those who require fuel on a regular basis. “While that system will be implemented soon, fuel is currently being distributed based on the recommendations of regional officers,” he said.However, the National Agrarian Unity organisation accused the Government of providing false assurances for the season, claiming that there are not enough stocks within the country and that even within those stocks, only one third will be issued for paddy cultivation. The President of the association, Anuradha Tennakoon, urged the Government to reveal accurate data to the public.The agricultural sector in the country has been among the hardest hit by the issues surrounding fuel rationing and QR code systems, with various agrarian unions persistently calling for practical solutions to ensure uninterrupted farming operations.

Urea restricted to paddy cultivation

<ul><li>Alleges Govt negotiating USD 1 b compensation with ship’s insurer&nbsp;</li></ul> Environmental activist Dr. Ajantha Perera alleged yesterday (30) that despite the Supreme Court (SC) ordering the payment of US Dollars 1 billion in compensation over the MV X-Press Pearl disaster, the Government is attempting to have negotiations with the ship’s insurer and local agent over the compensation, a move she claims goes beyond what the Court had clearly ordered.The SC, last year, ordered the insurer and local agent to pay USD 1 billion in compensation to the Government to cover environmental damage and economic losses suffered by coastal communities, following a series of Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions filed by several individuals, including Dr. Perera. She is also a member of the Marine Protection and Restoration Committee established by the SC following the judgement. Speaking to The Daily Morning, she said the judgment had clearly directed that USD 1 billion must be paid by both the ship’s insurer and the local agent, who were found equally responsible. "The ruling clearly stated that even if the insurer failed to make the payment, the local agent should do it, as both parties had been found at fault. Only a small amount has so far been paid to the Treasury, even though the time given for payment was one year from the date of the judgement. It was delivered in July 2025, meaning that the country should have received almost the full amount by now." Dr. Perera further said that the SC had delivered its judgement after nearly four years of legal proceedings and that the ruling had not made any provision for negotiations. "We learnt that the Government is now wanting to have negotiations with the insurer and the local agent. How can discussions be initiated after a final judgment has been delivered? Legal action was initiated by us and not by the Government. They should not interfere with or go beyond the SC's directions. Doing so will undermine what we secured through the Court."When queried regarding reports to the effect that the relevant parties have refused to pay compensation, Dr. Perera said: "What they say is that there is a delimitation case taking place in Britain. But, it is not valid for environmental issues. There is a principle that we go by. The principle is 'polluter pays'. For example, if someone comes and piles up garbage behind my house and I go and complain, they have to pay because they have caused me harm and distress. That is what the ship did to us. They polluted our Ocean and they have to pay. They cannot say no. They have a case in the United Kingdom, but, it is about luggage and damages to the ship, etc., whereas this is about the environment." Fisheries, Aquatic, and Ocean Resource Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar and Deputy subject Minister Rathna Gamage were unavailable for comment. The MV X-Press Pearl caught fire off the coast of Colombo on 20 May 2021 and was engulfed in flames by 27 May before being declared a total loss. After burning for 12 days, the vessel sank on 2 June 2021 while being towed to deeper waters. The incident led to the release of hazardous chemicals and plastic pellets into the sea and was described as the worst marine ecological disaster in Sri Lanka’s history. The relevant SC ruling was delivered by a five-Judge bench comprising the then-Chief Justice, President’s Counsel (PC) Murdu Fernando and Justices Yasantha Kodagoda PC, Shiran Gooneratne, Achala Wengappuli, and Priyantha Fernando, who held several parties accountable for failing to prevent the disaster and found that the incident amounted to a violation of FR.&nbsp;

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Petitioner-activist claims Govt violating SC order

There is no immediate requirement to declare a national state of energy emergency in Sri Lanka despite the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing Iran–US and Israel war, although the situation remains uncertain, informed sources at the Energy Ministry said.Responding to queries when contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (30), sources said there is no immediate need to take such a stance at present.A spokesperson for the Presidential Secretariat, when contacted, said the Government is currently focusing on energy conservation rather than contemplating potential future developments. In line with the official statement by the Cabinet Spokesperson, the Government remains committed to measures introduced two weeks ago to address the crisis stemming from tensions in the Middle East.These include declaring Wednesday a Government holiday and launching the ‘Let Us Protect Sri Lanka’ programme aimed at strengthening energy conservation. He noted that under the programme, the public has been urged to use electricity sparingly during peak hours, while Government institutions have been instructed to reduce fuel consumption by 25 per cent, among other measures.However, beyond these steps, the Government has not adopted a position to implement a national energy emergency to date.Meanwhile, intellectuals and academics from State-run universities, including Sri Jayewardenepura and Peradeniya, have warned of potential risks to Sri Lanka, highlighting vulnerabilities such as rising food prices, disruptions to fertiliser supplies, and increasing transport costs if the impact of the partial closure of the Strait is prolonged.Attempts to contact officials of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation for comment proved unsuccessful.

Energy Ministry says: No immediate need for energy emergency 

The Government is to continue with the existing fuel cost subsidy, under which the State currently bears Rs. 100 per litre of diesel and Rs. 20 per litre of petrol, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) not opposing it so far, the Energy Ministry stated.Responding to queries by The Daily Morning yesterday (30) on whether the IMF had approved the continuation of the subsidy, Ministry Secretary Prof. Udayanga Hemapala said that the Fund had not objected to the arrangement at present. "We can continue the current arrangement. The IMF has not opposed it."Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said recently that the Government is currently absorbing about Rs. 20 billion per month to cushion the impact of fuel costs on consumers. He warned that if the Government is to bear the full cost of fuel imports, it would result in an additional annual expenditure of about United States Dollars 1.5 billion, placing significant pressure on the fuel sector and the national economy.Speaking to The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion, Prof. Hemapala said that the Government planned to continue covering a portion of the fuel cost until 1 May, noting that any decision to extend the arrangement beyond that date would depend on developments in the Middle East and the IMF’s position on the matter. If the IMF approval is not granted, he said that the portion currently borne by the Government would have to be added to the fuel prices.

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost subsidy to continue 

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) granted approval yesterday (30) to increase electricity tariffs with effect from tomorrow (1 April).The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) earlier requested a 13.56 per cent electricity tariff revision from the PUCSL for the second quarter of this year (April–June).Under the electricity tariff revision announced by the PUCSL for domestic consumers, tariffs for the zero–30 units category will rise by 4.3 per cent, resulting in a monthly increase of Rs. 15. For the 31–60 units category, tariffs will increase by 6.9 per cent, with a monthly rise of Rs. 45. For the 61–90 units category, tariffs will also increase by 6.9 per cent, translating to a monthly increase of Rs. 120. For the 91–120 units category, tariffs will rise by 7.1 per cent, leading to a monthly increase of Rs. 420.For consumption above 180 units, electricity tariffs will increase by 25 per cent, marking the highest rise under this revision, according to the PUCSL.It has been decided to increase electricity tariffs by eight per cent for the general and household consumer categories, while limiting the tariff increase for the industrial sector to 8.7 per cent, according to the Commission.For Government institutions, the PUCSL has decided to raise electricity tariffs by 14.4 per cent.Meanwhile, the PUCSL has decided not to increase electricity tariffs for religious and charitable institutions that consume below 180 units per month. The Commission has approved a 9.6 per cent increase only for consumption above 180 units in those sectors.The PUCSL has also decided to introduce a new tariff category for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to promote EV use and demand-side management, including peak shifting.The PUCSL conducted a series of public consultations to obtain stakeholder feedback on the proposed second electricity tariff revision for 2026. The consultations were held across five provinces to ensure broad public participation and regional representation.The sessions took place in Ampara, Vavuniya, Matale, Hambantota, and Colombo from 9 to 18 March. Written comments and suggestions regarding the proposed tariff revision were accepted from the public until 18 March.More than 250 stakeholders participated in the sessions, including representatives from industry, commerce, small and medium enterprises, the public sector, consumer associations, religious organisations, and individual consumers, the PUCSL noted. The consultation process provided an open and inclusive platform for participants to express their views, concerns, and recommendations on the proposed tariff structure and its anticipated implications for various consumer categories and the national economy.In terms of Section 30 of the Electricity Act, No. 20 of 2009, General Policy Guidelines for the electricity industry, and the Commission-approved “Tariff Methodology – 2021”, the CEB was directed to submit the tariff proposal for the second quarter of 2026.Accordingly, the end-user and bulk supply tariff proposals by the CEB, considering the quarter starting from April 2026, were received by the Commission on 13 February for the second quarter tariff review of 2026. The CEB proposal requested a tariff increase of 13.56 per cent, to be effective from 1 April.

Power tariffs up from 1 April 

The Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Environment, Agriculture and Resource Sustainability has instructed officials to immediately prepare a plan for the environmentally friendly disposal of ash emitted from the Lakvijaya Power Plant in Norochcholai.These instructions were issued at a meeting of the Committee held in Parliament on 17 March under the chairmanship of Hector Appuhamy.It was revealed during the meeting that due to issues related to the quality of coal imported for power generation, the volume of ash emitted during electricity generation has increased significantly. The Committee noted that if this ash is not properly disposed of, there is a risk of future environmental damage.Officials were directed to formulate a plan under the leadership of the District Secretary of the Puttalam District to take the necessary measures.It was also proposed that the possibility of reusing the removed ash for production purposes be studied, and that any revenue generated from such products be utilised for welfare projects benefiting communities affected by the Power Plant.In addition, the Committee instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to submit a comprehensive report on whether water and air pollution have occurred as a result of the Plant.Meanwhile, officials of the North Western Provincial Environmental Authority stated that although the volume of ash emitted from the Plant has increased, the filtration system in use at the Plant is sufficient to absorb these particles.

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dispose Norochcholai ash

<ul><li>Cites shortfall of forensic staffers&nbsp;</li></ul> The Office on Missing Persons (OMP) has rejected any interference by international organisations in its operations regarding cases of disappeared persons, stating that a request made to a UN office for forensic officers has yet to be addressed.Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), OMP Chairperson Mahesh Katulanda said the institution had sent requests for forensic officers due to a shortfall in staff, and that other requests are also being made, but they remain unaddressed despite the UN having offered to conduct a needs assessment on the OMP.“The UN has done a needs-related assessment for the OMP, yet they have not offered us a single volunteer. A few other organisations have also done needs assessments and have requested the UN to consider supporting us. Yet none of those requests have been considered to date. For the tenure I have been in the Office, which is four years, not a single nation or international organisation has offered us any sizeable or quantifiable support to this process. Yet various organisations come to us asking for reports,” he said.He added that successive Governments have supported the operations of the OMP without interfering in its independence, and therefore the Office rejects any external interference in its operations.When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday, the UN head office in Colombo requested that the newspaper call back today (31), as the office was closing at 4 p.m.Meanwhile, Justice Minister attorney Harshana Nanayakkara recently told Parliament that the Government is opposed to any international mechanisms to probe disappearances, stating that 2,764 persons had gone missing during the final stage of the war.The OMP is currently engaged in efforts to determine the fate of disappeared civilians, including those referenced.

OMP bemoans lack of UN support 

The Auditor General will conduct a forensic audit of the Health Ministry’s procurement of medicines and medical supplies during former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s tenure, the Attorney General (AG) informed the Supreme Court yesterday (30).The announcement was made by the Deputy Solicitor General representing the AG during a hearing on a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Transparency International Sri Lanka.

Over next 2-3 weeks: Water cuts loom

Urea restricted to paddy cultivation

Urea restricted to paddy culti ...

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Petitioner-activist claims Govt violating S ...

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Pet ...

Energy Ministry says: No immediate need for energy emergency

Energy Ministry says: No immed ...

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost subsidy to continue

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost s ...

Power tariffs up from 1 April

Power tariffs up from 1 April

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dispose Norochcholai ash

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dis ...

OMP bemoans lack of UN support

OMP bemoans lack of UN support ...

Keheliya-era drug procurements: AG informs SC of forensic audit

Keheliya-era drug procurements ...

Urea restricted to paddy cultivation

Urea restricted to paddy culti ...

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Petitioner-activist claims Govt violating S ...

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Pet ...

Energy Ministry says: No immediate need for energy emergency

Energy Ministry says: No immed ...

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost subsidy to continue

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost s ...

Power tariffs up from 1 April

Power tariffs up from 1 April

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dispose Norochcholai ash

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dis ...

OMP bemoans lack of UN support

OMP bemoans lack of UN support ...

Keheliya-era drug procurements: AG informs SC of forensic audit

Keheliya-era drug procurements ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Urea restricted to paddy cultivation

Urea restricted to paddy culti ...

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Petitioner-activist claims Govt violating S ...

MV X-Press Pearl disaster: Pet ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Energy Ministry says: No immediate need for energy emergency

Energy Ministry says: No immed ...

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost subsidy to continue

With IMF blessing: Fuel cost s ...

Power tariffs up from 1 April

Power tariffs up from 1 April

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dispose Norochcholai ash

SOC orders: Urgent plan to dis ...