News
Power supply disconnections reflect deepening economic crisis – Udaya
SJB: CEB not interested in recovering unpaid electricity bills amounting to Rs 65 bn
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila, MP, yesterday (26) said that disconnection of electricity supply to nearly 600,000 families so far this year reflected the magnitude of the deepening economic crisis.
Former power and energy minister Gammanpila said so responding to his successor Kanchana Wijesekera declaration that 3,000-rupee re-connection fee levied by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) would be reduced by Rs. 1,000 with effect from 01 Dec. The announcement was made at the regular media briefing held at the President’s Media Division (PMD) on Saturday (25).
The PHU leader lost power and energy portfolio in early March last year when the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed him following his criticism of government policy.At present power supply reconnections would depend on the payment of the outstanding amount in full and an additional 3,000-rupee penalty.
Gammanpila pointed out that the rapid increase in the number of disconnections should be examined against the backdrop of the vast majority of people reeling from the extremely high cost of living. Increase of VAT (Value Added Tax) from 15% to 18% with effect from January 01, 2024 would further worsen their situation, the ex-minister said.
Gammanpila said he had raised the issue during the committee stage debate on the vote on the Ministry of Power and Energy last week.Eng. Noel Priyantha, CEB spokesperson, who is also DGM (Business and Operational Strategy), said that by end of Oct there had been altogether 544,488 disconnections though electricity supply was resumed after the payment of the total outstanding amount plus Rs. 3,000.
Responding to The Island query, Priyantha said that the vast majority of them got electricity back within 48 hours after the disconnection. The top official stressed that power had been restored to all 544,488 households within days of disconnection.
MP Gammanpila said that the growing number of disconnections couldn’t be discussed without taking into consideration the increase in power tariffs twice this year, in Feb (61.65%) and Oct (18%). The former minister pointed out that tariffs had been increased twice and decreased once in June (14%) regardless of much touted assurance to restrict the revisions within a year to two.
The assurance on two power tariff revisions annually had been given by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in January this year.
Responding to the CEB decision to go all out against those who had failed to settle their bills on time, Samagi United Trade Union Force convener Ananda Palitha yesterday said that the government should explain why those who owed the CEB massive sums of money continued to receive uninterrupted services.
Claiming that he had obtained the latest official data, Palitha said the CEB had not recovered unpaid bills amounting to Rs 65 bn. He asked the CEB to release the names of those who hadn’t paid massive bills but continued to receive uninterrupted services. “Among the culprits are politicians, politically influential persons and major companies,” Palitha said, adding that those who settled their bills religiously with difficulty were being further burdened with increased bills.
According to CEB data, of the 544, 488 disconnections (January-October, 2023), 88,020 and 85,621 had been carried out in August and September respectively.JVP trade union leader in the power sector Ranjan Jayalal said that disconnections, too, had been outsourced. According to him, each disconnection and reconnection cost the consumer Rs 800 each. The CEB spokesman stressed that only part of the operation had been outsourced.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
