<ul><li>Yugadanavi, Sobadanavi and Sahasdanavi come under fire</li><li>ECA demands disclosure of operating costs, fuel expenses, contractual payments</li><li>Questions whether agreements add around Rs 3 per unit to electricity bills</li><li>Calls for official data on plant operations, power output and payments during shutdowns</li></ul> The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has called on the Government to disclose the operating costs, fuel expenses and contractual payment arrangements of the Yugadhanavi, Sobadhanavi and Sahasdhanavi power plants, questioning their impact on electricity tariffs and the lack of public information on their costs.ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said the Government should disclose how many days each plant operated, the amount spent on fuel, the cost of each unit of electricity generated and any payments made when the plants were not generating electricity.He questioned whether agreements linked to the plants were adding around Rs 3 to the cost of a unit of electricity and called on the Government to release the figures needed to establish their actual impact on tariffs.“Electricity consumers are paying these costs through their bills, so the Government must explain how the money is being spent. The decisions and agreements behind these expenses cannot be concealed from the public,” he said.Dhammika said a review of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka’s (PUCSL) 2026 electricity tariff decisions and the National System Operator Private Limited’s cost estimates had raised questions about fuel prices, power purchases and electricity generation plans.He said cost projections for the Sobadhanavi power plant included the use of diesel or liquefied natural gas (LNG), while questions had also been raised about the possible use of alternative fuels and the transparency of fuel procurement agreements.He called on the Government to disclose the annual operating days of each plant, fuel expenditure, any capacity charges or other payments made when a plant was not generating electricity, and the cost of obtaining a unit of electricity from each facility. He also sought details of how the agreements affected the overall electricity tariff.Dhammika further claimed that Sobadhanavi operated for fewer than 10 days a year and challenged the Government to publish official figures on its operating days, electricity output, fuel expenditure and other payments so that consumers could assess the cost of maintaining and operating the facility.“If official data can confirm that the Sahasdhanavi power plant operates for fewer than 10 days a year, who will take responsibility for that? The Government should respond to this with official data instead of political statements,” he said.Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka was unavailable for comment.

Electricity Tariffs: Power plant costs under scrutiny 

<ul><li>Minister says move aims to ease supply issues as private distributors cut deliveries</li></ul> Energy Minister Anura Karunathilaka said steps are being taken to establish additional filling stations operated by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) to ease fuel supply problems in the country.Speaking to the media in Colombo, he said the Government had decided to establish new CPC filling stations to minimise difficulties faced by consumers during fuel supply disruptions.He said private fuel suppliers had reduced the quantities they supplied to the market, citing difficulties in absorbing losses. In response, the CPC had increased its share of fuel supplied to the market to help ease the impact on consumers. “There were serious grievances among private suppliers, who said they were finding it difficult to bear these losses. As a result, they limited fuel supplies to the market to some extent. However, the CPC increased its share of the market supply from 55% to 80%,” he said. Karunathilaka acknowledged the difficulties faced by private suppliers and urged them to remain patient until the current crisis eased, saying they would then have an opportunity to continue their businesses while earning a reasonable profit.He added that, in some areas, filling station owners were the only people involved in operating their stations, creating additional difficulties during supply disruptions.“We hope to establish new filling stations in the future to minimise the difficulties faced by fuel consumers during a crisis of this nature,” he said.The Minister had previously warned that the Government would seek legal advice and consider action against private fuel suppliers if they continued to restrict supplies, in line with their agreements with the Government and the powers vested in the Ministry.His remarks came amid fuel queues at filling stations in several parts of the country, with motorists reporting that some stations had fuel, including Octane 92 petrol, but were not releasing it to customers.Private distributors, including Lanka Indian Oil Corporation (LIOC), China Petroleum &amp; Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) and RM Parks Private Limited, had reduced the quantities of fuel supplied to the market. However, the Ministry had stated that existing agreements did not empower it to direct these companies to release specific quantities of fuel to individual filling stations.

 Amid Fuel Shortage: New CPC filling stations planned 

The revised prison regulations that will allow Buddhist monks serving prison sentences to be taken outside prison in their robes under a procedure involving recommendations from their respective sects and chapters are expected to be finalised within the next two weeks, the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated.&nbsp;The move follows discussions between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and representatives of the three main Buddhist Sects on 8 October, after the chief prelates wrote to the Commissioner-General of Prisons over procedures followed when monks are taken outside prison, following the incident involving Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera.The PMD stated the existing Prisons Ordinance of 1877 and its regulations did not contain separate provisions specifically governing Buddhist monks. The President had explained that prison officials had acted within the existing legal framework and that any changes should be made by amending the law rather than issuing special orders for individuals.During the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, the Buddhist clergy said the imprisonment of a monk was a sensitive matter for both the Sangha and society. They proposed that, when a monk is convicted by a court and sentenced to more than three years in prison, the relevant sect or chapter should be informed. The monk could then be taken outside prison in robes based on the views and recommendation of the relevant religious chapter.They said such a procedure would provide an appropriate way to address the issue without allowing the proposed relief to be misused.President Dissanayake acknowledged the shock and dismay such incidents could cause among Buddhists and members of the Sangha, particularly when a monk who had previously been venerated was subsequently seen in a different situation. However, he stressed that laws could not be set aside to accommodate individual preferences and that legislation needed to be amended through the proper process to address changing circumstances.The President said no monk should have to face a similar situation in the future and directed the Minister of Justice to ensure that the necessary legal regulations were prepared promptly, with the process completed within two weeks. He also accepted that the proposal put forward by the chief prelates would provide greater clarity in the process.A five-member committee was subsequently appointed to examine the relevant provisions of the Prisons Ordinance and update the regulations and standing orders. The committee is chaired by Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Secretary Prince Senadheera. Its other members are Justice Ministry Additional Secretary Piyumanthi Peiris, Public Administration Ministry Additional Secretary Wasantha Ariyaratne, Commissioner-General of Buddhist Affairs R.M.G. Senaratne and Commissioner of Prisons A.C. Gajanayake. The committee held its first meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on 9 October under Senadheera’s chairmanship. Minister of Justice and National Integration, attorney Harshana Nanayakkara, provided policy guidance for its work. The committee is expected to complete its review and submit proposals for amendments to the regulations within two weeks. The proposed provisions relating to Buddhist monks are due to be presented to the Maha Sangha for their views by the middle of next week.

Revised prison rules for monks within two weeks

The Government is looking to the private sector to expand employment opportunities for youth, acknowledging that it cannot tackle the country’s unemployment problem on its own, Deputy Minister of Youth Dinindu Saman Hennayake said.Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said employment opportunities for youth remained limited, making market expansion essential. He said the Government had launched several public-private partnership (PPP) projects while seeking to attract new investors and increase foreign direct investment (FDI).He noted that Sri Lanka had recorded its highest FDI inflow in the previous year, adding that the Government was working to create further investment opportunities. However, he said rapid change was difficult given the country’s low economic growth, which also limited the pace of job market expansion.Hennayake said sectors such as tourism, which offer significant employment opportunities, were largely driven by the private sector, making private sector participation essential to addressing unemployment.He added that the Government planned to facilitate private sector growth, identifying energy stability as a key concern for businesses. He said plans were in place to stabilise the country’s energy supply and remove this obstacle to business expansion.

Youth jobs hinge on private sector growth: Minister 

<ul><li>Low-interest schemes aim to support local manufacturers and cut vehicle emissions</li></ul> The Ministry of Environment has taken steps to support the electric vehicle (EV) industry by providing low-interest loans to businesses in the sector, as the Government encourages the use of EVs to address air quality concerns in Kandy and Ratnapura.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody said controlling vehicle emissions was essential to addressing air pollution in the two cities. However, he said the available scientific data was insufficient to conclusively establish that pollution levels in Kandy and Ratnapura were higher than elsewhere in the country, despite residents’ experiences suggesting otherwise. “With the support of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), we have installed air quality monitoring stations across the country, and air quality is being monitored using real-time data,” he said.He added that Sri Lanka’s overall air quality remained at a relatively good level and stressed the importance of maintaining these conditions.Jayakody said experts had initially recommended managing traffic within the cities to address air pollution. "However, as these efforts proved ineffective, the Government is encouraging the use of EVs as an alternative means of reducing emissions."He said the Government could not make EVs mandatory for entry into Kandy and Ratnapura cities but was encouraging their adoption through various initiatives. "Accordingly, local manufacturers are being identified and offered low-interest loan schemes to support the establishment of EV industries. Both the industry and the use of EVs are gradually growing in the country."Attempts to contact the Ministry of Transport for comment were unsuccessful.

Air Quality in Kandy, Ratnapura: Govt to offer loans for EV industry

<ul><li>JCPSM seeks talks with Health Ministry</li></ul> The Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) has warned that it may resort to trade union (TU) action if the Ministry of Health continues to ignore its requests for discussions on professional issues and patient care.JCPSM General Secretary Chanaka Dharmawickrema told The Daily Morning yesterday (11) that the Council had been seeking meetings with the Health Minister, Health Ministry Secretary and Director General of Health Services (DGHS) for more than a year and a half, but had not been given an opportunity to discuss its concerns. “We have been asking for discussions on problems affecting our services, the health sector and patient care for more than a year and a half. However, we have not been given these discussions. If our issues cannot be resolved through discussions, we will have no alternative but to take TU action,” he said.The JCPSM brings together TUs representing professionals in radiology, radiotherapy, laboratory services, pharmacy, audiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.Dharmawickrema said members faced several issues, including staff shortages, delays in revising approved staff cadres and problems within hospital administrations. He said the Council had met DGHS Dr Asela Gunawardena in January, 2026, but the minutes of the meeting had not yet been provided. The issues discussed at the meeting had also not been resolved, while requests for meetings with the Health Minister and Health Ministry Secretary have gone unanswered, he claimed. Dharmawickrema also questioned the impact of new equipment on patient care, claiming that the installation of new machines had not reduced waiting lists and that patients continued to face delays in receiving treatment. He further alleged that inaccurate data supplied by the Ministry had affected cadre revisions, with requests for additional posts failing to secure approval from the Management Services Department due to insufficient justification. However, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni told The Daily Morning that the Ministry had provided reasonable opportunities for discussions to trade unions that had requested meetings. “There are more than 300 TUs in the Ministry. We have given them reasonable opportunities and time for discussions. If we were to allocate a separate day to each union, we would need more than 300 working days, while we have only around 200 working days available. Therefore, it is difficult to accommodate every request immediately,” he said. Wijemuni said unions that had not yet received an opportunity to meet the Ministry could submit fresh requests, adding that reasonable time would be allocated. He also said there had not been a general criticism from TUs claiming that they had been denied discussions.

Health professionals threaten union action

<ul><li>IGP says new measures aim to improve officers’ health, fitness and efficiency</li></ul>Inspector General of Police (IGP), Priyantha Weerasooriya said the Police service records the highest number of officers dying in the line of duty among Sri Lanka’s public services.He said the Police had introduced several programmes to build a more disciplined, efficient and capable service.Speaking at an event in the Biyagama area, Weerasooriya said a significant number of police officers fell ill or suffered road accidents during their daily duties. “Looking at the number of officers, a significant number fall ill or are involved in road accidents every day. Even today, two officers have been involved in road accidents. Nearly 200 officers have died while on duty. If you look at the services in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Police has the highest number of officers dying in the line of duty. There are many reasons for this, and we are taking steps to minimise them,” he said.He added that basic medical equipment kits had been provided to every police station as part of these efforts. The Police are also taking steps to provide physical training equipment at station level to improve officers’ fitness, he added. The Sri Lanka Police is the country's primary law enforcement agency, responsible for maintaining public order, preventing and investigating crime, and ensuring the safety and security of the public. Operating under the Ministry of Public Security, the department comprises a number of specialised divisions handling areas including traffic management, narcotics, cybercrime and counter-terrorism.

Nearly 200 police officers have died on duty

<ul><li>Medical staff cadres last revised in 2017</li></ul> Hospitals in the Northern Province have been waiting nearly 10 years for a revision of their approved medical staff cadres, while the Ministry of Health has stated it cannot appoint additional doctors beyond the existing cadre, it is learnt.Speaking to The Daily Morning, informed sources in the Province's health service stated the medical officer cadre in the province was last revised in 2017. "Although the Cadre Commission visited all hospitals in December 2025 and agreed to complete the revision in July 2026, it was postponed first to August and then to October. The revision has still not been completed." They said hospitals were receiving new consultants without a corresponding increase in the approved cadre of medical officers needed to support their services, while patient numbers and demand for treatment were increasing. "Base Hospital Chavakachcheri, for example, previously had 25 medical officers and one consultant. It now has seven consultants, but the approved cadre of medical officers remains at 25. The hospital has an approved cadre of six consultants, although seven have been appointed." The sources said the Ministry had told them it could not appoint additional doctors beyond the approved cadre when they requested more staff.They also cited differences in staffing levels across the Province. Base Hospital Point Pedro has 18 consultants and 56 medical officers, while District General Hospital Kilinochchi has 20 consultants and 110 medical officers.Several hospitals are already operating above their approved medical officer cadres, the sources said. Chavakachcheri has 29 medical officers against an approved cadre of 25, Point Pedro has 56 against 52, and Tellipalai has 68 against 56.They added that consultants returning after overseas training had to be appointed to hospitals, sometimes without adequate consideration of the existing medical officer cadre. They called for annual cadre revisions to account for changes in hospital services, staffing requirements and patient numbers. However, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni told The Daily Morning that medical staff shortages were a nationwide problem and that a cadre revision alone would not resolve them. “There is a general shortage across the country. People working in these provinces would know the situation there, but the shortage is a nationwide problem.”&nbsp; He said the information required for the cadre revision had been prepared, but additional recruitment was also necessary to address staff shortages. “New recruitment is necessary, and training the recruits takes time. Since we took office, we have recruited staff to the maximum capacity, including nurses, midwives and doctors. However, apart from doctors, it takes time for recruitment to produce results because the other staff need to be trained,” he said.

Hospitals in North await cadre revision for nearly a decade 

<ul><li>Fines of up to Rs 20m for hazardous waste offences</li></ul> Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya said the Government is introducing tougher penalties for environmental destruction, including fines of up to Rs 20 million and imprisonment for those who dispose of hazardous waste in ways that damage the environment.She also said fines ranging from Rs 1 million to Rs 10 million would be imposed on those who destroy protected wetlands.The Premier made these remarks while addressing the 36th anniversary celebrations of Jathika Namal Uyana, South Asia’s largest rose quartz mountain range and largest 'Na' tree forest.Dr Amarasuriya said the Government viewed children’s education and character development as the country’s most important investment, adding that its education reforms aimed to produce well-rounded children who cared for the environment rather than focusing solely on examinations. “The real investment of any country is not in the buildings it constructs. It is in the education of its children and the development of their character.”&nbsp; She also said the Government had taken practical steps to strengthen environmental protection, including passing the National Environmental Amendment Act in Parliament after 25 yeaRs The amendments would strengthen environmental impact assessments for development projects, she added.“We have not limited environmental protection to words. We have taken several practical decisions. After 25 years, we were able to pass the National Environmental Amendment Act in Parliament. Through it, we have strengthened environmental impact assessments for development projects,” she said.

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