Effigies of Obama and Moon burnt in demonstrations of Sri Lanka government

Thousands of pro government Sri Lankans rallied today in demonstrations to protest the international conspiracies against Sri Lanka and to express solidarity with the government burning effigies of Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Sri Lanka's ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party general secretary and Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena led the demonstration in Polonnaruwa. He said that people had gathered round the government to die one after the other if needed in the fight for the country.

In recently liberated northeastern Mullaithivu toen Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim protesters burnt an effigy of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon as well. An effigy of US president Barack Obama was set on fire at a protest demonstration held in northwestern town Chilaw where a fisherman was killed in police fore several weeks ago in a protest demonstration against the increase of petroleum price.

The main protest of the series of protests organized across the island by the government against a would be resolution on Sri Lanka at UN Human Rights Council was held near the Colombo Fort Railway station in the evening. A large crowd marched on the streets in Colombo Fort as part of the road before Fort railway station was blocked for motor traffic due to chaos.

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Veteran Sri Lankan cricketer Ranil Abenayaka passed away

Renowned international cricket commentator of Sri Lanka Ranil Abeynaike passed away at 57 years age following a heart attack.

He was a first class cricketer in Sri Lanka in the time Sri Lanka was not a test playing country.
He was a right-handed batsman and a slow left orthodox bowler. He played for the Sinhala Sports Club and Bedfordshire during his first class career.

Abeynaike was also a curator and the General Manager of the SSC.

The funeral is to take place on 23 at Mount Lavinia cemetery.

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Sri Lanka police to import tear gas

Sri Lanka Police has decided to import a new stock of tear gas, a local radio reported.

However, the police spokesman Ajith Rohana said to the same radio that the imports were part of the routine procurement.

The radio reported that the police had to spend a large stock of tear gas in the mass agitations held in the past few days.

Police fired tear gas last Friday also at an agitation led by the major Opposition United national Party against petroleum price increase.

Local media reported yesterday that the intelligence wings had warned the government of a series of mass agitations country wide in the coming weeks. Share this article

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Ceylon Electricity Board to lose Rs. 34 billion this year

Sri Lanka Minister of Power and Energy Champika Ranawaka says that the loss to the country's power monopoly Ceylon Electricity Board is Rs. 34 billion.

The Minister said that the 23% hike of electricity tariff through fuel adjustment is insufficient to cover the loss.
The Minister pointed out that 85% of the electricity generation of the country depended on petroleum.

The loss to Ceylon Electricity Board this year had been calculated as Rs. 40 billion before the petroleum price hike. However, the fuel adjustment added to the electricity tariff has helped the board to minimize the loss.

Meanwhile the report of the committee appointed by Sri Lanka Minister of Power and Energy to look into the causes of frequent breakdowns of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant is near completion now, Ministry of Power and Energy sources say.

The report is expected to be handed over to the Minister of Power and Energy by the end of this month.
The committee was assigned to probe whether the breakdowns are caused by technical problems, maintenance drawbacks or disruptive acts.

The power plant broke down on January 21 nearly a month ago. The plant was not in operation for weeks time a month ago to this breakdown. Share this article

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Sri Lanka state to censor unsuitable tele drama and songs

Sri Lanka Ministry of Culture says that a new bill will be brought soon to censor broadcasting unsuitable tele drama and songs.

With implementation of the proposed act, the the tele drama producers will have to obtain the approval for the production from the Public Performances Control Board before telecasting it through TV channels.

The song writers will have to submit their lyrics to the Public Performances Control Board and the songs will be inspected by the board even after music is composed, the Ministry says.

A Ministry spokesman said that the the move is due to complaints from the public over the unsuitable content of the tele drama and songs.

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Joint trade union coalition protest next week in Colombo

Joint Trade Union Coalition of Sri Lanka, a collective of 35 trade unions have decided to hold a massive protest in Colombo next week.

Saman Rathnapriya, a convener of the trade union coalition said that the protest would be held on February 23 at 3.30 at Lipton Circus, Colombo.

The trade union coalition says that 10,000 employees of the public and private sectors will be summoned to the protest.

The demands of the protest are reducing the price of fuel, electricity tariff and bus fare and increasing the salaries. Share this article

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. Sri Lanka major opposition party protest tear gassed in Colombo

Sri Lanka police fired tear gas, attacked with water cannons and used baton charges to disperse an opposition protest held in Colombo today.

The protest against the increase of fuel prices led by United National Party (UNP) was held before the Colombo Fort railway station this evening. Left parties such as the Left Front and United Socialist Party joined the agitation with NGOs like Platform for Freedom.

A large crowd participated in the protest and the roads in the commercial center of the city was blocked for nearly two hours causing a severe traffic jam.

UNP MP Jayalath Jayawardhana was taken to Colombo national hospital and treated for tear gas effect and injuries, UNP sources said.

UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe addressing the masses at the Fort railway station demanded the government increase the salaries since the recent fuel price hike had effected drastic escalation of cost of living. Share this article

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Sri Lanka adds 40% fuel surcharge to electricity bill

Sri Lanka's electricity bills are to high up as the Public Utility Commission nodded today to add a fuel surcharge to the electricity tariff.

The majority of the electricity bills are to be increased by 40% since 40% fuel surcharge is added for electricity bills which exceed 60 units per month.

A fuel surcharge will be added to the electricity bills under three categories with effect from today.

Accordingly a 25% fuel surcharge will be added to electricity bills ranging between 0-30 units, while 35% fuel surcharge will be added to bills ranging from 31- 60 units and 40% fuel surcharge for electricity bills which exceeds 60 units.

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