News
Udaya warns of longer power cuts as situation deteriorates further
‘Electricity deficit growing due to continuing drop in hydro-power generation
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila says the country is paying a very heavy price for failing to enhance electricity generation capacity since 2014.
Attorney-at-law Gammanpila, who is also the leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) stresses ongoing unannounced power cuts are likely to be a regular feature due to what he called ‘system imbalance’ caused by sufficient power to meet the regular requirement.
The outspoken lawmaker warned that the duration of power cuts would be further extended sooner when the supply and demand gap widened.
Responding to another query, the Colombo District MP said that the CEB had no option but to switch off selected sections to avoid countrywide disruption of electricity. Whatever various interested parties say, power cuts were necessary and couldn’t be avoided, Minister Gammanpila said.
Minister Gammanpila said that he recently suggested a daily 90 minute power cut as there was no other option. Acknowledging that his proposal hadn’t received the required attention, Minister Gammanpila said that the situation would continue to deteriorate until all stakeholders reach a consensus on the issue.
According to the Minister, those who had been in authority since 2014 couldn’t absolve themselves of the responsibility for the current crisis.
Asked whether the failure on the part of the political leadership and those who had been at the CEB’s helm as well as trade unions was deliberate, Minister Gammanpila declined to comment. The minister pointed out that all stakeholders should examine the full picture if the country was to address the issue at hand properly. It would be a serious mistake to believe that the issue could be addressed by operating thermal power stations alone, MP Gammanpila said. Those who propagated the lie that the entire power requirement could be met through thermal power generation obviously didn’t understand the contribution made by hydro-power generation, the PHU leader said.
Had there been a proper strategy, the government could have initiated tender procedures to secure electricity from private operators to meet the shortfall. However, in the absence of such a strategy, emergency power purchases could be quite costlier at a time the cash-strapped government was experiencing a financial crisis. Perhaps there should be a genuine dialogue involving all stakeholders at least now, Minister Gammanpila said, asserting the energy situation was in a dicey situation. “Do we have a realistic view of the developing situation,” Minister Gammanpila asked, underscoring the importance of reaching a consensus among all stakeholders.
Appreciating India providing USD 500 mn through a new Line of Credit for the purchase of Indian oil products in addition to extending foreign exchange support of over USD 900 million to Sri Lanka, Minister Gammanpila emphasized the fuel supply remained at a critical stage. “There is no point in denying that fact. We are struggling, really struggling with no permanent solution in sight. That is the undeniable truth. Perhaps, the government should take the public into confidence. The public should be told of the exact situation and urged to bear up difficulties.”
Minister Gammanpila said that the situation could further deteriorate.
The energy Minister said that Sri Lanka was also grateful to China for providing a six-month loan facility to procure oil products. That would come to an end at the end of February, Minister Gammanpila said, adding that one more diesel shipment was scheduled to take place in terms of this agreement.
The Minister admitted that their negotiations with several other countries to procure fuel at concessionary terms hadn’t been successful. “We shouldn’t expect other countries to respond or come to our rescue the way India and China do,” Minister Gammanpila said.
The PHU leader dismissed Opposition criticism. Perhaps, those who had been in power in the 2015-2019 period should explain their failure to enhance power generation to meet the annual increase in the requirement. According to him, Sri Lanka needs to increase power supply by six percent annually.
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
