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Sri Lanka to sell renewable power to India

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Sri Lanka and India will sign a pact to link power grids and start negotiations on an upgraded trade agreement within two months, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India  Milinda Moragoda has said.

India has provided some $4 billion in assistance to Sri Lanka since the crisis hit early last year, but the country is now seeking to enhance trade and investments as it moves to close a $2.9 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Moragoda told Reuters on Wednesday.

“We have to have growth, otherwise the economy will shrink. As far as growth is concerned, India offers that prospect. So we will have to move on from that. Tourism from India, investment from India, integration with India. That’s what we have to do,” Moragoda said.

A key part of Sri Lanka’s economic recovery plan rests on developing its renewable energy resources in the north, from where power can be transported into southern India through a cross-border transmission cable.

The two countries resumed talks on linking their electricity grids last year, and Moragoda said a memorandum of understanding on the project would be signed within two months, which will be followed by a feasibility study.

First proposed more than a decade ago, the project has made little progress so far. But Moragoda said Sri Lanka hoped to get the transmission line in place within two to three years so that renewable power produced can be sold to India.

“We need to have more sources of foreign exchange and electricity will be ideal,” he said. India is Sri Lanka’s biggest trading partner accounting for about $5 billion each in bilateral trade in 2021.

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Circular issued on recording statements from individuals

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The Attorney General yesterday (July 03) informed the Supreme Court (SC) that the Acting Inspector General of Police has issued a circular to police stations outlining the procedure to be followed when a person is summoned to make a statement regarding a complaint.

The circular has been distributed to all police stations islandwide, the court was informed.

This development was revealed during the hearing of a Fundamental Rights petition filed by energy expert Vidhura Ralapanawe against the Computer Crimes Investigation Division (CCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The petition was heard before Supreme Court Justices Achala Wengappuli and Sampath Wijeyaratne.

The petitioner claimed that when he was contacted by CCID officers over the phone to provide a statement regarding an opinion he had posted on social media. However, they had refused to disclose details of the complaint, thereby violating his fundamental rights, the petitioner further claimed.

In response to the petition, the AG has informed that in accordance with a prior undertaking given before the court by the suspended IGP – Deshabandu Tennakoon and relevant officers of the CCID, a circular had been formulated and issued to all police stations islandwide.

Counsel for the petitioner told the court that his client was satisfied with the issuance of the circular and requested that the petition be concluded.

Accordingly, the SC decided to terminate the hearing of the petition.

Suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon, Sub-Inspector Thisara of the CCID, and the division’s Officer-in-Charge were named as respondents in the petition.

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Hotline to report dengue breeding sites in CMC limits

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A hotline has been introduced to report mosquito breeding sites within the limits of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

Accordingly, the public are able to report such incidents to 011 2696594.

The CMC has announced that extensive dengue control programs covering all areas within the municipality limits were launched yesterday (July 03) with 60 teams deployed.

Last year, 2,576 dengue cases were reported within the CMC area.

Meanwhile, today marks the fifth day of the National Dengue Prevention Week.

According to the Ministry of Health, 6,370 mosquito breeding sites were identified during inspections carried out yesterday.

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‘Army Upul’ shot dead in Ragama

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A man was shot dead at around 10.30 pm last night (July 03) in Batuwatte, Ragama, police said.

He was gunned down by 02 unidentified suspects in a three-wheeler, who had fled soon afterwards, police said.

Police believe a pistol was used in the attack.

The deceased, has been identified as ‘Army Upul’ – a 45-year-old former soldier and reportedly an accomplice of underworld figure ‘Ganemulle Sanjeewa’.

Ragama Police have launched further investigations.

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