All parties including the Ministry of Power and Energy, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), they Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have agreed before the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to refrain from imposing power cuts during the 2022 GCE Advanced Level Examination.

The HRCSL yesterday (24 Jan.) summoned the PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake and the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy for an inquiry as to why they failed to prevent the implementation of power cuts during the ongoing examination.

CEB Assistant General Manager Ronald Comester, the Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy Sugath Dharmakeerthi and the PUCSL Chairman had appeared before the Commission.

Accordingly, it was agreed upon at the inquiry held at the HRCSL premises that no power cuts will be imposed from today (25 Jan.) until 17 February, HRCSL said in a release.

PUCSL, together with the HRCSL, proposed to CPC that the required fuel be provided to the CEB in order to provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity during the period in which the exam is being held.

Thus, PUCSL advised the CEB to prioritise the securing of funds needed for this purpose when the proposed electricity tariff revision is implemented in the near future.

Accordingly, all parties agreed that the relevant funds would be paid within 60 days, the statement further read.

It further called on the Ministry of Power and Energy to intervene in the matter, and provide the necessary coordination required for this consensus.

The HRCSL also decided to include this agreement as a recommendation, while the PUCSL also agreed to its implementation.

(adaderana.lk)

A Black January commemoration event took place in Borella with the participation of journalists, civil rights activists, scholars and media freedom organisations.

Organized by the Free Media Movement, a candlelight vigil remembering murdered and disappeared colleagues was held.  ‘Black January’ is commemorated to mark the intimidation, murder and enforced disappearance of journalists, particularly during the month of January.

Immediate Past President of the Bar Association Saliya Pieris, PC delivered the guest address while a discussion took place with senior journalists participating in it.

(Report & pics : SundayTimes.lk)

Student activist Wasantha Mudalige was today ordered to be remanded further till 8th February.

Mudalige was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act along with 19 others during a protest in Colombo on August 18 last year.