The Order under the Convention Against Doping in Sports Act, scheduled to be taken up for debate in Parliament on June 17 for the purpose of being passed, has received the approval of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Youth Affairs and Sports.

This approval was granted at the meeting of the said Committee held today (June 13) at Parliament, chaired by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage. 

Deputy Minister of Sports, Sugath Thilakaratne was also present at this Committee meeting held.

At the meeting, officials stated that, in relation to sports, Sri Lanka is legally updating the relevant regulations through this Gazette notification in accordance with the list published annually by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It was further pointed out by the officials that certain substances are newly added to the list while some are removed from it. For instance, the substance “Caffeine” has now been removed from the list.

In addition, matters such as the possibility of obtaining the assistance of the Ministry of Sports for inter-university sports competitions, challenges related to establishing youth societies across the island, the shortage of youth service officers, and the need to develop sports including cricket at the rural level were raised by the MPs present at the meeting. Accordingly, the Minister instructed the relevant officials to take prompt action regarding these matters.Members of the Committee, Members of Parliament who are non-member members, and a group of officials including the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports were present at this committee meeting held.

Former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board – Thusitha Halloluwa, has been further remanded until June 20 by the Fort Magistrate Court.

This is in relation to an investigation for the alleged misuse of a computer and mobile phone valued at over Rs.470,000, which were obtained during his tenure at the Board.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) announced that the generator No. 01 at the Norochcholai Power Plant will be deactivated from midnight today (June 13) for scheduled maintenance lasting 25 days.

This will result in a temporary reduction of 300 megawatts from the national grid.

However, the Kelanitissa Combined Cycle Power Plant, which had been deactivated for around one and a half months for maintenance, will also be reactivated from midnight, contributing 165 megawatts back to the system.

CEB Media Spokesman – Dhammika Wimalaratne noted that the timing of the maintenance aligns with increased hydroelectric generation capacity due to current rainfall.

(Source: Aruna)