News
SL will save Rs. 12 billion annually with commissioning of Kerawalapitiya LNG Power Plant
By Ifham Nizam
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa assured that the whole country will have access to electricity before the end of this year.
“Ninety nine per cent of the population have electricity at present. There are only 84,000 families who still don’t have access to power”, the premier said at the inauguration of the construction of the Kerawalapitiya Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Power Plant with a capacity of 350 MW, on Friday.
The Prime Minister stressed that the objective of the government is to provide electricity at a competitive price using modern technology in the world.
Power and Energy Minister Dullas Alhaperuma said that the price of a unit of electricity generated through conventional diesel power plants is between Rs. 25-30.
The unit price of electricity further increases to between Rs. 30-45 when emergency purchases are required during periods of high demand.
The unit price of electricity produced at the Kerawalapitiya Natural Gas Power Plant, which has now commenced construction would cost only Rs. 15, he noted.
Alhaperuma said the new power plant has the potential to generate 13% of the country’s current electricity demand or 2,000 million electricity units annually, saving Rs. 12 billion annually to the country.
It will save the country Rs. 240 billion over a period of 20 years, he said.
He also said that the new power plant to be constructed at Kerawalapitiya-Wattala has been designed in accordance with international standards with a minimal impact on the environment.
The power plant will be equipped with a F- class gas turbine which has very high efficiency compared to other gas turbines installed in the country.
The Kerawalapitiya Power Plant is a combined cycle power plant and will be completed in two phases.
CEB Chiarman Eng. Vijitha Herath said that the first phase, or the installation of a gas turbine, will generate 220 MW, which will be completed within 21 months and synchronized to the national grid.
He said that the second phase will add a further 130 MW to the national grid via a steam turbine, which is expected to be completed within 12 months. The plant will augment Sri Lanka with a total capacity of 350 MW over the next three years.
Lakdhanavi is responsible for the investment, engineering design, construction, commissioning, maintenance and operation of the new power plant. Lakdhanavi, which is a subsidiary of LTL Holdings Group, a local company since 1996. It is an industry leader synonymous with the construction of qualitative and feasible power plants in Sri Lanka as well as in South Asia, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal and the Middle East and East Africa.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) have agreed to provide financial assistance for the construction of the power plant.
Just as low-cost power generation is significant for the future development of Sri Lanka, the construction of low-cost power plants is equally essential, industry officials remarked.
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
