News

Douglas’ solution for to solve Indian fishermen fishing in SL waters

Published

1 year ago

December 12, 2023

editor

In a significant stride toward advancing the fisheries and aquatic resources sector, Fisheries Minister Mr. Douglas Devananda announced the enactment of a revised Fisheries Act. The draft of this transformative legislation has been forwarded to solicit opinions and insights from field experts, marking a collaborative effort to optimize the industry’s potential.

Addressing the media at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) under the theme Collective path to a stable country,’ today (12), Minister Devananda highlighted key initiatives aimed at bolstering the fishing community. Notably, the encouragement of using battery motors for fishing boats was underscored as a measure to alleviate production costs for fishermen and address fuel-related challenges.

Minister Douglas Devananda, while providing his insights during the press conference, expressed admiration for the unprecedented budget plan presented by the current government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The multifaceted challenges posed by factors such as the aftermath of war and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to economic setbacks, causing the country to face considerable adversity. He attributed the rapid recovery of the economically challenged country to the President’s guidance, leadership and the collective support of the nation.

He also said that while abroad, the Minister frequently faces queries from international counterparts curious about Sri Lanka’s rapid recovery. In response, the Minister credits this success to President Ranil Wickremeinghe’s adept guidance and strong leadership. The Minister highlights the President’s distinctive personality and commends the unwavering support from those aligned with the current government. Additionally, the Minister underscores the vital role played by the people of Sri Lanka in understanding the nation’s challenges. Their active cooperation and collaborative efforts with the government have proven instrumental in navigating the crisis and expediting the recovery process.

In the 2024 budget, the Ministry of Fisheries has been allocated Rs. 8,400 million, off that Rs. 6,077 million allocated for capital expenditure and Rs. 2,323 million for recurrent expenditure. Minister Devananda emphasized the importance of utilizing these funds to enhance the overall development of the country, particularly focusing on improving the livelihoods of the fishermen. He also called for support from domestic and foreign private investments to further boost the marine industry.

Battery motors to curb fuel costs
Owing to the surge in fuel prices, the fishing industry in Sri Lanka has experienced significant setbacks. Acknowledging the uncontrollable fluctuations in international fuel prices, the government cannot be held responsible for the resulting increase in prices domestically. In response to this challenge, strategic plans are underway to enhance the maritime sector by maximizing available opportunities.

The government is actively exploring various alternative methods, with a specific focus on reducing both fuel and production costs within the fishing industry.

Concurrently, a comprehensive study has been undertaken to assess the viability of incorporating battery motors in fishing boats. This initiative aims to alleviate the production costs for fishermen and address the on-going challenges associated with fuel consumption. Experimental trials have been conducted in this domain to gauge the effectiveness and feasibility of integrating battery-powered motors into fishing activities.

Amended Fisheries Act
The Minister highlighted the forthcoming introduction of a new amended Act on Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, emphasizing the collaborative approach taken to seek expert opinions and improve the draft.

‘Most effective solution’
The matter of Indian fishermen participating in fishing activities within Sri Lankan waters necessitates a diplomatic resolution between the two nations. As per the Constitution of India, fisheries issues fall under the jurisdiction of the state government.

In line with this, it is the Minister’s stance that the most effective solution involves direct engagement. Therefore, he advocates for all members of parliament representing the Northern Province to engage in discussions directly with Indian authorities, including those from Pondicherry and the Tamil Nadu state government and the Indian Media. to solve Indian fishermen

President’s Media Division (PMD)
12.12.2023

News

Reason for Feb. 09 islandwide blackout, revealed

Published

2 hours ago

April 23, 2025

editor

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) today issued a clarification informing the public about the results of a comprehensive investigation conducted by an independent Expert Committee regarding the nationwide power outage that occurred on February 09, 2025.

The complete committee report is available on the website of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) for public viewing, it said.

The Expert Committee has confirmed that the primary reason for this blackout was low system stability, technically known as low “system inertia,” caused by an exceptionally high contribution of solar photovoltaic (PV) power at the time. On that day, solar power supplied more than half of the country’s electricity needs, the CEB said.

According to the investigation, the blackout began with a disturbance at the 33kV Panadura Grid Substation, causing a sudden voltage drop across the entire electricity network. This incident occurred during a low-demand weekend, commonly known as the “Sunny Sunday” effect, when many businesses and industries consume less electricity, it said.

With a high amount of solar power generation, the grid lacked sufficient inertia—normally provided by traditional power plants—to absorb the shock from the disturbance. This situation quickly led to a serious imbalance between electricity generation and demand, triggering cascading failures and ultimately the complete islandwide blackout, the statement said.

The investigation highlighted that traditional power stations, which typically maintain stability by providing inertia, were operating minimally due to the large solar generation share. To prevent future outages and enhance grid reliability, the Committee recommends urgent implementation of measures outlined in the Long-Term Generation Expansion Plan (LTGEP) and the Long-Term Transmission Plan.

These measures include deploying Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), synchronous condensers, and adapting conventional generators to operate as synchronous condensers, it said.

Additionally, the Committee strongly advises including real-time inertia indicators on the grid’s control systems (mimic boards) to improve proactive management and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Importantly, the findings of this Expert Committee fully match the details provided by the CEB in its initial media statement released on February 18, 2025. “Thus, we categorically dismiss recent false claims alleging the blackout was due to a defect at Victoria Power Station or that CEB misreported the outage’s cause. Such claims are entirely baseless and contradicted by the committee’s evidence-based findings,” the CEB added.

The CEB said it remains fully committed to delivering reliable electricity services and maintaining transparent communication with the public.

“We sincerely thank all stakeholders for their cooperation and understanding as we take prompt action to strengthen the stability and resilience of Sri Lanka’s electricity network,” it further said.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

CAA raids conducted over overpriced bottled water

Published

2 hours ago

April 23, 2025

editor

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) is intensifying island-wide raids to punish vendors selling bottled drinking water above the recently set Maximum Retail Prices.

The MRPs are Rs. 70 for 500ml, Rs. 100 for 1L, Rs. 130 for 1.5L, Rs. 160 for 2L, and Rs. 350 for 5L bottles.

All bottled water regardless of production date must now be sold at or below these rates, with new prices required to be printed on bottles produced after the gazette.

Violators face heavy fines up to Rs. 05 million for companies and Rs. 500,000 or jail sentences for individuals, with harsher penalties for repeated offenses.

News

Committee appointed to probe charges against Deshabandu

Published

2 hours ago

April 23, 2025

editor

A Committee of Inquiry headed by a Supreme Court Judge has been appointed to investigate the allegations of misconduct and abuse of power against Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Chaired by Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, the committee also includes Justice Neil Iddawala and the Chairman of the National Police Commission (NPC) – Lalith Ekanayake.

A resolution to appoint a Committee of Inquiry for the removal of Deshabandu Tennakoon from his position as IGP due to alleged misconduct and abuse of power was passed in Parliament on April 08 with 151 MPs voting in favour.