The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has said that over 29,015 electricity breakdowns have been reported across the country due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions. 

CEB teams are actively engaged in attending to these breakdowns despite challenges posed by limited staffing and resources, the statement said.

The CEB requests the public to report any outages or safety concerns via the CEBCare mobile app or by calling the ‘1987’ hotline, so that their teams can prioritize and respond swiftly.

1,757 affected

Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) reports that a total of 1,757 individuals from 485 families have been affected by the adverse weather conditions.

‘Red’ warning for strong winds and rough seas 

The Department of Meteorology has issued a ‘Red’ warning for strong winds and rough seas for the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankesanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar, and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambanthota.

Due to the effect of the active southwest monsoon condition, the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Kankesanthurai via Puttalam and Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be very rough at times with very strong wind gusts up to 60-70 kmph, it said. 

Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the above sea areas until further notice. 

Wind speed may increase up to 50-60 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Chilaw to Galle via Colombo and from Kankasanthurai to Trincomalee via Mullaittivu. 

The naval and fishing communities engaged in fishing and naval activities in these sea areas are requested to be vigilant in this regard. 

The advisory further states that the wave height may increase about 3.0 meters in the sea areas off the coast extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. 

It further said there is a possibility of surges due to swell waves over the coastal areas extending from Mannar to Pottuvil via Puttalam, Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. 

Naval and fishing communities are also requested to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

A discussion between representatives of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and a Sri Lankan delegation led by Minister of Energy Kumara Jayakody, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando, was held today (30) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting focused on identifying supply and investment prospects in the petroleum industry between the two nations and initiating groundwork for potential joint projects.

Discussions also covered the possibility of swiftly forming a long-term agreement to supply crude oil to Sri Lanka at a reasonable price, improving the country’s oil refining capacity and strengthening Sri Lanka’s position in the regional petroleum market.  

Also in attendance were H.E. Khaled Nasser Al Ameri, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka, along with Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Senior Vice President – Crude and Condensate at ADNOC, and other senior executives from the company.

(President’s Media Division)

Former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB) – Thusitha Halloluwa, has been remanded until June 02 by the Fort Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The remand order is in connection with an ongoing case being heard before the court concerning the alleged criminal misappropriation of government assets belonging to the National Lotteries Board (NLB).