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Govt. aims to lower tariffs for Adani power projects

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The Energy Ministry will seek Cabinet approval next week for a new negotiated tariff of US cents 5.97 payable by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for each kilowatt hour of energy sold to the national grid by the 135 MW Sampur solar power plant proposed to be built by India’s NTPC Ltd.

Negotiations had started at around US cents 7 per kWh, said Udayanga Hemapala, Secretary to the Ministry of Energy. But it has now been lowered to US cents 5.97.

As a joint venture between NTPC (formerly National Thermal Power Corporation) and CEB, the project is differently structured from the proposed Adani Green Energy Sri Lanka Limited (AGESLL) wind power plants in Pooneryn and Mannar.

For these Adani projects, too, the Sri Lanka government is seeking a revision in the tariff approved by the Cabinet in May last year.

Last month, the Attorney General’s (AG) Department informed the Supreme Court that the government would revoke a May 2024 Cabinet decision approving a tariff of US cents 8.26 per kWh for the Adani wind power plants in Pooneryn and Mannar.

The motion also said a new Project Committee and a Cabinet-Appointed Negotiating Committee will be set up to re-evaluate the terms and conditions and to arrive at a new tariff with AGESLL. Neither committee has still been appointed, Prof. Hemapala said, adding that the government will first get the court’s sanction before proceeding. A meeting is scheduled to be held with the AG’s Department next week in this regard.

“If the AG says we can proceed without court clearance, we can do so,” he explained. “However, if we are told we must wait till the cases are over, we won’t be able to start discussions till then.” There are currently four fundamental rights applications before the SC and one writ application before the Court of Appeal (CA) challenging the Adani wind power projects.

Prof. Hemapala also said the Government is looking at a rate closer to US cents 5 per kWh for the Adani projects. “Our target is to reduce the cost of generating electricity,” he explained. “For that, we can only accept projects at less than US cents 6 (per kWh). This doesn’t relate merely to the Adani projects but to everything.”

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

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Former Eastern Provincial Council member arrested

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Ampara District Organizer of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party and former member of the Eastern Provincial Council K. Pushpakumar alias Iniya Bharathi has been arrested.

He was arrested over the abduction and disappearance of the former Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University Prof. Subramaniyam Ravindranath.

Sivanathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillayan, the leader of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and former State Minister, was arrested by the Colombo Criminal Investigation Department at his office in Batticaloa on April 8, over this incident.

He was later detained for 3 months under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Iniya Bharathi, also known as Kumaraswamy Pushpakumar, was arrested based on information revealed during the interrogation of Pillayan.

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e-Revenue Licence system down due to technical glitch, ICTA says

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The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) said the electronic Revenue Licence system (eRL 2.0) is currently unavailable due to a critical technical infrastructure issue.

According to the ICTA, the disruption began on July 3, 2025, and has made vehicle revenue licence issuing services inaccessible.

The unavailability is expected to continue until July 9, 2025.

The ICTA expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the public and assured that technical teams are working urgently to resolve the issue.

The agency also said that further updates will be shared as work progresses, with an official notice to be issued once services are restored.

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Three injured in Kosgama shooting, including 12-year-old girl

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Three people, including a 12-year-old girl, were injured in a shooting incident at Suduwella, Kosgama, early this morning (6), police said.

They said the victims were travelling in a three-wheeler when two individuals on a motorcycle opened fire using a pistol-type weapon.

The injured include a 30-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter, both residents of Avissawella, as well as a 44-year-old man.

All three have been admitted to Avissawella Hospital for treatment.

Police said the motive for the attack and the identities of the suspects have not yet been established.

Kosgama Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.

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