The third unit of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant, which had been temporarily shut during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays due to reduced electricity demand, has been successfully restarted at 11:00 am today (April 21).

With this development, all three units of the plant are now operational, boosting national capacity to meet the recent surge in electricity demand.

Renewable energy curtailment also endsIn an official statement, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) also announced that the renewable energy curtailment program which began on April 10 to maintain grid stability during the holiday period was concluded early due to increased electricity demand.

Originally scheduled to continue until 3.00 pm on April 21, the curtailment was lifted a day earlier – at 3.00 pm yesterday – due to a notable increase in electricity demand.

 “CEB wishes to inform the public that renewable energy management which commenced on April 10 ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays due to reduced electricity demand, and need to ensure grid stability has now been concluded earlier than scheduled,” CEB Spokesman, Engineer Dhammika Wimalaratne said.

“We extend our sincere thanks to nearly 100,000 solar suppliers and prosumers, including domestic rooftop owners, net-plus and net-plus-plus commercial producers, whose cooperation during this critical period was instrumental in safeguarding national grid stability”, he expressed.

His Holiness Pope Francis has died aged 88, the Vatican has announced.
According to the Vatican news service, the Pope has passed away at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.

“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” His Eminence Cardinal Farrell has stated.

His death comes a day after the Pope appeared in St Peter’s Square to wish “Happy Easter” to thousands of worshippers.

He was the first Pope from the Americas or the southern hemisphere. Not since Syrian-born Gregory III died in 741 had there been a non-European Bishop of Rome.

(Agencies)

The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy has announced that the daily exposition hours of the Sacred Tooth Relic has been extended.

Accordingly, the exposition will be held from 11.00 am to 5.30 pm. Previously the exposition started at 12 noon.

The move comes in response to the significantly increased number of pilgrims arriving in Kandy for the ‘Siri Dalanda Vandanawa’.

(Previous news 2025 April 21 –9.57.a.m.)

‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’ : Nearly 300,000 pilgrims 03 days

The Central Province Deputy Inspector General of Police Sudath Masinghe has said that nearly 300,000 devotees have paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic during the first 03 days of the ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’.

Long queues continue as the ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’ enters the 04th day today (April 21).

Meanwhile, Kandy District Secretary – Indika Udawatta has said that a special programme will be kicked off to broaden services provided to devotees arriving at the city for the special exposition.

Kandy Municipal Health Officer Pasan Parakum Jayasinghe has also said that registrations had been granted for 820 ‘dansals’ which have come forward to offer food and beverages to devotees.

He said that with the increase in the number of devotees, registrations for ‘dansals ‘are also increasing rapidly and the registration can be done easily by visiting the official website of the Kandy Municipal Council.