Sri Lanka: CEB Chief resigns following controversial remarks to COPE

Nick Cannon sported an all-black look as he showed up to host the Hip Hop & Mental Health: Facing The Stigma Together event at The GRAMMY Museum on Saturday.TheWild 'n Out host, 41, rocked a stylish black leather jacket over a matching scoop neck T-shirt and jeans, and covered his head with a black turban.The event was hosted by the Recording Academy's Black Music Collective, MusiCares And Universal Hip Hop Museum in Los Angeles, and sought to 'amplify the importance of mental wellness, especially in Hip Hop culture.' Host of the night: Nick Cannon sported an all-black look as he showed up to host the Hip Hop & Mental Health: Facing The Stigma Together event at The GRAMMY Museum on SaturdayCannon finalized his trendy look with a pair of silver-rimmed eyeglassesand sturdy black boots. The rapper was seen flashing a big smile as he posed with Universal Hip Hop Museum's Executive Producer and Advisory Board member Tina Marie Tyler, music executive Adrian Miller, andpanelist Eric Brooks on the red carpet.Tyler looked ravishing in a form-fitting long-sleeve black dress, which she paired with open-toe platform heels.

Also Read: Maharashtra logs 23 cases of Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, four Covid deaths in a day The country reported 25 deaths with total number of fatalities now at 524999. The country saw 10917 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating a shooting that left a 24-year-old man fighting for his life.According to authorities, 12th District police responded to multiple 911 calls for gunshots Saturday night, around 9:30, on the 5400 block of Grays Avenue, in Southwest Philadelphia.Philadelphia police investigate a shooting in Southwest Philadelphia that critically injured a 24-year-old man. Responding officers found the 24-year-old man shot multiple times all over his body and head.Police rushed him to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he is listed in extremely critical condition.Philadelphia Inspector DF Pace stated at least 45 spent shell casings from different caliber weapons were found at the scene.

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 8: In this photo illustration, the new Impossible Whopper sits on a table at a Burger King restaurant on August 8, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. On Thursday, Burger King is launching its soy-based Impossible Who Burger King is adding five new Whopper-style burgers to its menu, two of which will be part of the "Impossible meat" lineup. The fast-food chain said the new types of Whoppers will be the Southwest Bacon Whopper Junior, Southwest Bacon Whopper, and a double Southwest Bacon Whopper. The company will also add the Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper and the Impossible King.

MELILLA, SPAIN - JUNE 24: Several migrants make their way to the Temporary Immigrant Center (CETI), after jumping the fence of Melilla, June 24, 2022, in Melilla, Spain. The group of migrants is made up of more than 400 sub-Saharans, who have accesse MADRID (AP) - The number of people who were killed after they tried to scale a border fence between Morocco and a Spanish enclave in North Africa rose to 23 Saturday as human rights organizations in Spain and Morocco called on both countries to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.Moroccan authorities said the individuals died as a result of a "stampede" of people who attempted Friday to climb the iron fence that separates the city of Melilla and Morocco.

Hundreds of people who perished during the historic heat wave in British Columbia last summer died in homes ill-suited for temperatures that spiked into the high 30s and beyond for days,a report by B.C.’s coroners’ service found this month.

Paul McCartney has shared more and more details of his health - the good and the bad. For one, the star recently opened up about his own past struggles with mental health and alcoholism during the peak of his career. He told GQ Magazine: "In truth, I just took to booze.

Today we are reporting 4,429 community cases, 332 current hospitalisations, and 6 deaths.

health complications, including breathing difficulties or acute lung function impairment, irregular heartbeat and chest discomfort, back, shoulder, and joint pains, eye redness and irritation, skin rashes, headaches, and overall weakness, as per Hindustan Times report. Co-author Suresh Jain, professor at IIT Tirupati said, “over the years, air pollution in Delhi has become a significant concern.

#TeamIndia Captain Mr Rohit Sharma has tested positive for COVID-19 following a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted on Saturday. He is currently in isolation at the team hotel and is under the care of the BCCI Medical Team. Subject to recovery, Rohit is set to lead the team against England in the postponed fifth Test match starting July 1 in Edgbaston.

Also Read: Monkeypox outbreak: How to protect yourself against monkeypox virus and what to do if you have symptoms "The vast majority of cases is observed among men who have sex with men, of young age," chiefly appearing in urban areas, in "clustered social and sexual networks", according to the WHO report of the meeting. While a few members expressed differing views, the committee resolved by consensus to advise Tedros that at this stage, the outbreak was not a PHEIC.

The recalled 10-foot Solar LED Market Umbrella with LED lights on the arms of the umbrella. Image: CPSC A solar umbrella sold exclusively at Costco has been recalled after multiple fires were reported when the solar panel puck overheated. The 10’ Solar LED Market Umbrellas were sold in a variety of colors from December 2020 through May 2022 for between $130 and $160 at Costco warehouses nationwide and online. The umbrellas have LED lights on the arms of the umbrella and a black solar panel battery puck at the top of the umbrella.

CENTER CITY - For those seeking abortions, local women’s centers want them to know they are not alone and that it’s up to them to make decisions for their bodies."Our patients are really comfortable with the decision that they’re making today, so a lot of them are coming feeling confident," said Amanda Kifferly, of the Philadelphia Women’s Center.Managers at the Philadelphia Women’s Center near Chinatown say medical staffers are assisting women seeking abortions while wearing bulletproof vests, one day after the high court struck down Roe vs. Wade.Tensions are just that high.MORE HEADLINES:"It’s really uncomfortable to have to see all these protestors outside.

A view from the crewler-way of the massive Artemis I Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at Launch Pad 39B after rolling out from the Vehicle Assembly Building for a second time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 6, 2022. (Pho A late-summer test launch for NASA's mega moon rocket is still a possibility, space agency leaders said after declaring the final critical test of the Space Launch System rocket complete.On Monday, NASA conducted a wet dress rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center launchpad 39B.

for overturning Roe v. Wade, giving states power regarding abortion rights. "Twenty-five percent of U.S. adults say they have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the U.S.

Meaonia Michelle Allen confessed to the 1993 murder of her infant son to hide the pregnancy. (Credit: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) CHOCTAW COUNTY, Okla. - A mother turned admitted to the 1993 murder of her baby son after surrendering to authorities. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said authorities arrested 53-year-old Meaonia Michelle Allen last Wednesday after she turned herself in for an outstanding warrant for one count of first-degree murder.

told FOX 19 in Cincinnati. "He did what I think any of us would do."Following the incident, Judge Megan Shanahan found Hughes in contempt of court and sentenced him to seven days at the Hamilton County Justice Center, FOX 19 reported. Hughes is the father of Nylo Lattimore, a 3-year-old boy who went missing in December 2020. Brown is accused of fatally stabbing Nylo’s mother, Nyteisha Lattimore, who was his girlfriend at the time, before throwing the boy off a pedestrian bridge in the Ohio River.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - MAY 16: A Frontier Airlines plane near a Spirit Airlines plane at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on May 16, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. JetBlue announced it is taking a hostile position in its eff Frontier Airlines on Friday added more cash and a larger breakup fee to its offer to buy Spirit Airlines, and the Spirit board repeated its preference for Frontier over a rival bid by JetBlue Airways.Frontier added $2 per share to its previous offer, boosting it to $4.13 in cash plus 1.9126 shares of Frontier for each Spirit share.The Denver-based airline also raised the amount it would pay Miramar, Florida-based Spirit if antitrust regulators stop the deal — from $250 million to $350 million — matching JetBlue's proposed breakup fee.Spirit said that, given the sweetened terms, its board reiterated its unanimous recommendation that shareholders approve the Frontier offer at a special meeting next Thursday.RELATED: Spirit should reject Frontier bid, advisers sayJetBlue said its proposal remains better than Frontier's with a higher value, more cash, "more certainty, and more regulatory protections."Frontier's move was the latest gambit in a fight between Frontier and JetBlue to see who gets the nation's largest discount airline.

Pope Francis arrives to lead the mass for the 10th World Meeting of Families in Saint-Peter square on June 25, 2022 at the Vatican. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images) ROME (AP) - Pope Francis celebrated families Saturday and urged them to shun "selfish" decisions that are indifferent to life as he closed out a big Vatican rally a day after the U.S.

Philadelphia police investigate a shooting where a man between 20 to 30-years-old was killed. HUNTING PARK - Philadelphia police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in Hunting Park.According to officials, police were called to the 500 block of West Bristol Street Saturday, in Philadelphia's Hunting Park neighborhood, just before 1 p.m., on the report of a shooting.When they arrived, police found an unidentified man, who they suggest is between 20 and 30 years old, shot multiple times throughout his body.Police rushed him to Temple University Hospital where he died.Police are investigating the shooting.

(Photo by Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) CACHE COUNTY, Utah - A flight instructor and student, part of the aviation program at Utah State University, were killed in a plane crash Friday.The university identified the pilot as Blake Shumway and the student as Michael Carpenter."We are devastated by this morning’s tragic crash and the loss of members in our USU community," USU President Noelle E. Cockett said on the school’s website.

A member of the National Guard prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena drive-thru facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. The Louisiana Department of Health WASHINGTON (AP) - Up to 40,000 Army National Guard soldiers across the country — or about 13% of the force — have not yet gotten the mandated COVID-19 vaccine, and as the deadline for shots looms, at least 14,000 of them have flatly refused and could be forced out of the service.Guard soldiers have until Thursday to get the vaccine.

SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida driver who reportedly avoided rush hour traffic on a regular basis by taking the sidewalk was finally caught and ticketed by deputies. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office said a person emailed them dashcam footage showing a Sedan driving down a sidewalk on Tuesday morning, and told officers that this was a regular occurrence on Fruitville Road.The sheriff’s office said deputies went to the scene on Wednesday and they saw the same dark Sedan pull onto the sidewalk. The driver, after noticing the police presence, returned to the road, and was issued a citation, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post.MORE NEWS: New Florida law allows police to ticket drivers playing music too loudlyThis video, published by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, first shows the dashcam footage provided by the person who reported the violation, and then the deputy dash cam video showing them pulling over the driver."We REALLY shouldn’t have to say this, but you are not supposed to drive a motor vehicle on the sidewalk," the sheriff's office said.

PHILADELPHIA - Another major protest broke out in Philadelphia Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a landmark ruling.Signs in hand, hundreds chanted as they gathered with the National Constitution Center as their backdrop.

WILDWOOD, N.J. - Three Wildwood lawmakers, including its current mayor, are being charged by the state of New Jersey.Wildwood Mayor Peter Byron, former Mayor Ernest Troiano Jr. and current City Commissioner Steven Mikulski have all been accused of fraudulently participating in the State Health Benefits Program, according to AG Matthew Platkin.All three city officials allegedly received publicly funded health benefits, despite never being eligible:To be eligible to receive employer-provided healthcare, elected officials must be full-time employees.

A view of an IRS 1040 Tax Form on a Laptop computer screen being prepared for an electronic filing. WASHINGTON - The IRS still needs to process more than 21 million paper tax returns, delaying refunds for many Americans as the agency struggles to work through the backlog, a government watchdog said this week.National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins said in a recent report that the agency still needs to process about 21.3 million paper returns as of May 31 – a 7% increase from this same time last year, when there were 20 million unprocessed paper returns."Unfortunately, at this point the backlog is still crushing the IRS, its employees and, most importantly, taxpayers," Collins wrote in the report.

PHILADELPHIA - Beer lovers, rejoice! A new agreement between local beer distributors and its workers means your Fourth of July is officially saved.Teamsters Local 830 went on strike earlier this week after rejecting a proposed contract from the Delaware Valley Importers Distributors Association. Picket lines went up at three big beer distributors: Muller, Inc. and Origlio Beverage in Philadelphia and Penn Beer in Hatfield in Montgomery County.

Pennsylvania SPCA removes 100 animals from a property in Lancaster County. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - A hundred animals are on their way to safety after the Pennsylvania SPCA removed them from a property in Lancaster County.Eleven dogs, 27 cats, 5 horses, 4 sheep, 1 goat, 2 turkeys, 32 chicks, 4 guinea hens, 6 hens and 8 baby ducks were seized from the property on Pumping Station Road in Quarryville.  The SPCA says they found the animals living in "extremely unsanitary conditions" after a tip from a Good Samaritan.They were "living in filth" inside and outside the property, according to officials.

MUMBAI : The state of Maharashtra on Saturday reported a total of 23 cases of coronavirus infection caused by Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5. This addition takes the total tally to 49, according to state health department.  Maharashtra on Saturday reported 1,728 Covid-19 cases, lower than the actual rise, due to a technical glitch in the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) portal, and four fatalities, the state health department said.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - New details were released Friday on a police shooting in San Jose that involved a suspect connected to two homicides.At a news conference, San Jose Police Chief Anthony Mata said two of his tactical officers had no choice but to fire when the suspect came rushing out of a shed and pointed a weapon at them.The chief also filled in some details about the crime spree that spanned from San Jose to Modesto.Video provided by the police department shows the suspect, identified as San Jose resident Raymond Calderon, running out of a shed he was hiding in carrying what turned out to be a stolen gun.It was shortly after the video was taken that Calderon pointed his weapon at tactical officers, who had been involved in standoff with him overnight, authorities said."At approximately 7:22 am (Wednesday) the suspect ran out of the shed and raced toward the perimeter officers," Mata said.The chief said that is when officers first saw the handgun."Calderon ran at the officers surrounding the house and raised and pointed the gun at special operations officers.

Van and box truck crash in Upper Makefield Township. (Upper Makefield Township Police Department)BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. - Police are investigating after a crash left two people injured, and two vehicles severely damaged early Saturday morning.A van was traveling on Taylorsville Road in Upper Makefield Township when police say it crossed it oncoming traffic.The truck reportedly crashed into a box truck, sending both drivers to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.A photo from the scene shows the front of the van to be bent, while the passenger side of the truck is partially smashed.

The Bank of Canada’s efforts to tamp down on persistent inflation are increasing the odds of pushing the economy into a recession in the next year, according to some economists.

Shattered glass walls and left behind personal belongings are seen behind a police cordon on June 25, 2022, in the aftermath of a shooting outside pubs and nightclubs in central Oslo (Photo by TERJE PEDERSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) OSLO, Norway - A gunman opened fire in Oslo's night-life district early Saturday, killing two people and leaving 10 seriously wounded in what police are investigating as a possible terrorist attack during the Norwegian capital's annual Pride festival.The Norwegian security service PST has raised its terror alert to the highest level. Acting PST chief Roger Berg called the shootings an "extreme Islamist terror act." He said the gunman, a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran who was arrested shortly after the shootings, had a "long history of violence and threats."While the motive was unclear, organizers of Oslo Pride canceled a parade that was set for Saturday as the highlight of a weeklong festival.

PHILADELPHIA - Summer weather is in full force this weekend as temperatures reach a scorching 90 degrees.However, those warm and sunny skies will also bring some humidity on Saturday and Sunday.If you're headed down the shore, get ready for a beautiful beach day! High expected in the upper 70s to low 80s with plenty of sunny skies. The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for Saturday in effect until midnight Sunday for most of the Delaware Valley, except for New Jersey shore counties.Next week's forecast starts with some scattered storms on Monday as temperatures take a slight dip into the 80s.___SATURDAY: Sunny & Humid.  High: 90.SUNDAY: Sunny & Humid.  High: 92. Low: 72MONDAY: Scattered Storms.  High: 82.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the most sweeping gun violence bill in decades, a bipartisan compromise that seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school."Lives will be saved," he said at the White House. Citing the families of shooting victims, the president said, "Their message to us was to do something.

A mental health service for young people in South Lanarkshire has won the National Youth Work Award in Health & Well-Being 2022.

READ MORE: Nicole Kidman's sexiest moments – wardrobe malfunction, skimpy swimsuit and thigh splitThe star-studded cast was made up of three rising stars in Hollywood, alongside two acting legends who already had decades worth of experience under their belt.To celebrate the beloved romantic classic turning 18 today, Daily Star have looked at where the cast are now.After his performance as Noah in The Notebook, Ryan Gosling, 41, was catapulted to global stardom and has become one of the most successful actors in the industry.The actor has been credited for his work in countless blockbusters, but also earned a huge respect from the independent film community, giving memorable performances in 2011 movie's Drive and The Ides of March.He achieved stellar commercial success after appearing opposite Academy Award winner Emma Stone in the romantic classic Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), which also prompted the beginning of one of Hollywood's favourite on screen partnerships.The pair teamed up again in 2016 for the critically acclaimed musical La La Land, for which both Gangster Squad star's received incredible reviews.The Canadian actor proved he could do it all, eventually breaking away from the shadows of The Notebook and securing spots in action films such as The Nice Guys (2016) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).He is now set to star as Ken in Greta Gerwigs, Barbie, which stars Margot Robbie in the title role.Gosling met Hollywood beauty Eva Mendes in 2011 on the set of The Place Beyond The Pines and the two began a relationship.

One dead, one injured in Saturday morning shooting. PHILADELPHIA - Police say a man and woman were found in a shot-up vehicle on a Kensington street early Saturday morning.Both victims reportedly suffered several gunshots on the 3400 block of A Street just before 3 a.m.Police say a 25-yeard old woman was shot twice in the chest, and a 25-year-old man was shot in the arm.

COVID-19 cases are found, an area is often designated as a containment zone. However, they said that it is a dynamic exercise carried out by district authorities according to need. The Delhi Epidemic Disease COVID-19 Regulation, 2020 gives district judges the authority to isolate a region, prohibit egress and re-entry of the populace, and implement any measures prescribed by the health department to stop the spread of the disease.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A week before it could walk out on strike against numerous Atlantic City casinos, the resort’s main casino workers union is warning that a strike could cost four casinos a total of $2.6 million a day in losses. Local 54 of the Unite Here union says the Borgata could lose $1.6 million a day, and Caesars, Harrah’s and Tropicana could collectively lose an additional $1 million a day. The union made its projections based on past casino revenue reported to the state, and assumed that a strike would cause revenue to decline by 25% in the third quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2021.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Power & Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that the licenses of three fuel trucks have been suspended with immediate effect by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka IOC.He said investigations are underway in to three individual incidents reported on social media of fuel transporting trucks illegally unloading fuel. License of 3 Fuel trucks have been suspended immediately by CEYPETCO and LIOC pending further investigations in to the 3 Incidents reported on social media on fuel transport trucks illegally unloading fuel.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A letter dated the 25th of November 2021 from the now-resigned Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board M. M. C.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera noted that the fuel shipment that reached Sri Lanka on Thursday (16) is the final shipment under the Indian Line of Credit and NOT the final shipment ever to reach the country.‘This shipment comprises of 44,000 MT of Diesel and it is being subject to quality checks. Once it is cleared, the shipment will be unloaded on Thursday (16) evening,” he told reporters.The Minister said that the Cabinet-appointed Sub-Committee granted approval to enter into agreements with two entities to import Petrol and Diesel to Sri Lanka in the long term.“These agreements are letters of Awards.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ceylon Electricity Board Chairman told the Parliamentary Watchdog that he was told by the President that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was insisting that the energy investments projects be awarded to the Adani Group.Appearing at the Committee on Public Enterprises hearing in Parliament on Friday (10), the CEB Chairman said that following a meeting chaired by the President, he was summoned by the Head of State and was told that the Indian Prime Minister was insisting that the 500 MW wind power plant be given to India’s Adani Group.“I told him (President) that this is not a matter related to me or the CEB and it should be referred to the Board of Investment,” he told COPE.The CEB Chairman said that he thereafter informed the Treasury Secretary in writing, and requested him to look into the matter while noting that there was a government to goverment requirement on the matter.However, he admitted that the agreement can be termed as unsolicited as it is a G2G agreement.In Parliament, Sri Lanka’s Opposition charged that an unsolicited government-to-government agreement to build a 500 MW wind power plant in the northern coast with the involvement of the Adani Group was the main reason to bring forward amendments to the 1989 Act.The main Opposition SJB wanted projects beyond 10 MW capacity to go through a competitive bidding process, but the majority of the government MPs voted against the clause.This Bill, introduced in Parliament on May 17th, 2022 by the Minister of Power and Energy, qualifies a person to apply for a generation license to generate electricity.Accordingly, this amendment will remove the restrictions on the issuance of a power generation license for a person whose generating

COLOMBO (News 1st); A protest took place in Colombo on Thursday (16) against the secret dealings between the Sri Lankan Government and the Adani Group in India.Recent controversial and retracted remarks by the Former Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board linked Indian influence on Sri Lankan Energy Projects.M.M. C Ferdinando, the chairman of Sri Lanka’s Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), resigned on the 14th of June 2022, three days after he claimed before a parliamentary panel that he was told by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressuring him to give the wind power project directly to the Adani Group.The allegations involve a 500-Megawatt renewable energy project in Sri Lanka’s Mannar district.A letter dated the 25th of November 2021 from the now-resigned Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board to the then-Secretary of Finance S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); M.M.C. Ferdinando, the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board that he mistakenly told the Parliamentary Watchdog COPE that the President told him that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that a Wind Power Project be awarded to the Adani Group.Speaking exclusively to News 1st, the CEB Chairman said he was very emotional when allegations were leveled at him at the Committee on Public Enterprises session on Friday (10).He said he was under pressure at the COPE session and admitted that he made a false statement.“I have withdrawn that statement,” he told News 1st.M.M.C.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Indian Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi has hit out at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Government stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s cronyism has now crossed the Palk Strait and moved into Sri Lanka.He was quoting a report where Sri Lanka’s Electricity Chief had told the country’s Parliamentary Watchdog COPE that President Rajapaksa told him that Prime Minister Narendra Modi Insisted that the Wind Power Project be awarded to India’s Adani Group.M.M.C. Ferdinando, the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board that he mistakenly told the Parliamentary Watchdog COPE that the President told him that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted that a Wind Power Project be awarded to the Adani Group.Speaking exclusively to News 1st, the CEB Chairman said he was very emotional when allegations were leveled at him at the Committee on Public Enterprises session on Friday (10).He said he was under pressure at the COPE session and admitted that he made a false statement.“I have withdrawn that statement,” he told News 1st.M.M.C.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Power and Energy Minister said that authorities have no choice by to register consumers at filling station and provide them with a guaranteed weekly quota.Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said this will be until Sri Lanka is able to strengthen the financial situation, restore 24 Hour Power and a steady Supply of fuel.“I hope to have this system in place by the 1st week of July,” said the Minister on Twitter.He further noted that until Sri Lanka has an uninterrupted power supply and steady fuel supply, fuel line management will be impossible.“With the Financial restrictions, CPC imports fuel to manage for a week but some consumers collect Fuel for a month or more for their machinery and generators,” remarked Wijesekera on Twitter.He also added that a 24 Hour Power Supply costs an additional USD 100 million monthly for Diesel, Furnace Oil and Naptha.He noted that the shortage in Gas supply has increased the demand for Electricity and Kerosine. “Monthly Fuel bill that was USD 200 Million 4 months ago is at USD 550 Million at present,” he added.