News
Rain gods save CEB despite a loss of 300 MWs from N’cholai
By Ifham Nizam
The First Unit of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant Complex, would commence generation of electricity, next Monday, afrter repairs, engineers said.
The Ceylon Electricity Board yesterday said that since more than 50 per-cent of the electricity was now being generated by hydro power plants, it had been able to manage the Norochcholai problem.
Responding to queries, CEB Spokesperson Andrew Nawamani agreed that the first unit had been stopped for annual routine maintenance, but a few technical problems had delayed the process of completing repairs on schedule.
Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera earlier said that the CEB had commenced repairs and assured that they would restore it on 08 May.
The PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathanayake told journalists that the Norochcholai Power Plant, would be reconnected to the national grid by the 22 of May.
CEB Spokesperson said sufficient stocks of coal to run the Lak Vijaya Plant at Norochcholai had been imported.
He said that two million metric tonnes of coal had been imported South Africa and Russia.
The coal reserves were sufficient to run the Norochcholai power plants until September this year, the CEB added.
The CEB has to pay USD 60 million to Chinese engineers operating at the first coal fired power plant in Norochcholai, and the amount would further increase with another one-year extension of their contract.
The Island
learns that some 35 Chinese engineers’ contract had cost the CEB more than USD 60 million by 2021.
Plans to extend the Chinese engineers’ contract had run into stiff opposition from a senior official at the Power and Energy Ministry.
Engineers at the plant confirmed that Chinese expertise could not be matched by Sri Lankan engineers.
“Even after the total blackout on 03 Dec., 2021, Chinese experts had to attend to technical problems,” an official said.
The electricity sector regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) earlier instructed the CEB to increase thermal and hydro power generation to meet the shortfall created by the breakdown of the first machine at the Lak Vijaya Power plant complex at Norochcholai.
The PUCSL also issued instructions to maintain the present three hours and 20 minutes daily power cut without any increase.
The 300 MW generator at the Norochcholai first power plant suffered a breakdown on 03 May.
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
