<h3> </h3><ul><li>3,053 MW already installed against 3,000 MW night peak</li><li>Battery storage essential for further rooftop solar expansion</li><li>SEA says excess daytime generation must be stored for night use</li></ul> Sri Lanka has already installed 3,053 MW of solar power, exceeding the country’s night-time peak electricity demand of around 3,000 MW and making battery storage essential for further expansion of rooftop solar generation, Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA) Chairperson Dr Wijendra J. Bandara said.Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said the country could not continue generating electricity beyond what could be consumed at a given time, as excess generation could create problems for the national grid.He said daytime peak demand was even lower than the night-time peak of around 3,000 MW, creating a situation in which the existing solar capacity was already higher than what could be absorbed during certain periods.“We can generate only the amount that is being used. There is no point in generating more than that. If the amount generated exceeds consumption, there is a problem,” Dr Bandara said.He said the issue could be addressed by storing excess electricity generated by solar systems during the day and using it after sunset, when electricity demand increases.“The only solution is to store the excess solar power generated during the day and to use it at night. That is why we are currently installing battery storage systems so that the solar power generated during the day can be used at night. That is happening at the moment,” he said.His comments came after the Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) questioned the SEA’s position on measures affecting the rooftop solar sector, alleging that the Authority had failed to intervene in programmes being implemented by the Energy Ministry and electricity licensees.In a letter addressed to the SEA Chairperson and Director General on 30 September, ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika questioned why the Authority had not intervened despite its statutory responsibility to promote sustainable and renewable energy.The Association said it opposed the SEA’s failure to carry out its responsibilities under the Electricity Act, No. 36 of 2024 and the SEA Act, No. 35 of 2007.

 Rooftop solar expansion: Solar hits night-time demand ceiling

Some private nurses’ training schools are allegedly using students as labour instead of properly training them, with some also issuing unrecognised certificates, Deputy Health Minister Dr Hansaka Wijemuni claimed.Responding to questions from The Daily Morning yesterday (5), Dr Wijemuni said the Government is collecting data on such institutions and would bring them under proper regulation.He said that nurses’ training schools should obtain approval from both the Health Ministry and the Education Ministry and should meet the requirements set by the Tertiary and Vocational Training Commission, including the relevant National Vocational Qualification levels. “If they are offering a diploma, there are criteria for that as well, and they should operate according to those criteria,” he said.Dr Wijemuni said that some institutions had prepared syllabuses but did not have properly qualified staff to provide the training. “What actually happens is that the hospital gets the manpower it needs by simply using these students. Then, they give them certificates, nobody recognises those certificates,” he said.He added that institutions using students to perform work should also pay them.“We have collected the data now. But, we have not taken strong action yet because there are many such activities in Sri Lanka’s private sector. If we suddenly intervene in all of them, it could create a problem for that sector,” Dr Wijemuni said. However, he stressed that the Government could not allow the situation to continue and would intervene to regulate the sector.He also acknowledged that some institutions are providing proper training, while problems exist in others.

Govt to strictly regulate private nursing training 

<ul><li>Rs 30,000 for 3 months to families with pregnancy, children&nbsp;</li></ul> The Government is preparing to provide Rs 10,000 a month for three months to families with pregnant women and young children who have suffered livelihood losses due to El Niño-induced dry weather conditions, according to the Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment Ministry.Speaking to The Daily Morning, Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa said the Government had identified pregnant women and families with young children as groups requiring assistance and was preparing to provide financial support to those who had faced economic difficulties due to the El Niño conditions.“We have identified pregnant women and families with young children as groups that need assistance. If they have faced economic difficulties due to El Niño, arrangements have been made to provide them with financial assistance. The proposed assistance will be provided at a rate of around Rs 10,000 per family per month for a period of three months,” he said.He further said instructions had already been given to District Secretaries to identify families meeting the relevant criteria and submit their details to the Ministry so that the assistance could be provided.The programme is being considered as part of the Government’s response to livelihood losses caused by the dry weather conditions linked to El Niño, which have affected communities engaged in agriculture, fishing, plantation work, livestock farming, self-employment and other activities.Environment Minister Dr Dammika Patabendi told Parliament on 10 September that a total of 78,368 people belonging to 25,037 families had lost their livelihoods as a result of the conditions, with affected communities reported in Monaragala, Badulla, Ratnapura, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara and Anuradhapura.A total of 2,107 fishing-sector families involving 7,491 people had suffered livelihood losses, while 12,304 agricultural families comprising 36,875 people had been affected.A further 2,333 plantation-sector families, involving 7,889 people, had suffered losses, along with 1,769 families comprising 6,039 people engaged in self-employment.A total of 108 families involving 369 people in the business sector and 2,966 families comprising 9,408 people involved in livestock activities had been affected.Another 3,450 families, involving 10,297 people, had been categorised under other livelihood-related activities.

Assistance for El-Niño job loss families

The Court of Appeal (CA) yesterday (5) ordered the Commissioner General of Prisons to enforce the remaining period of imprisonment imposed on Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera after he was found guilty of contempt of court.Gnanasara Thera, who had been subject to an open warrant for his arrest, was produced before the CA yesterday by prison officials. After considering submissions made before the Court, the CA directed the Commissioner General of Prisons to take the necessary steps to enforce the remaining period of his sentence.Prison Media Spokesperson Senaka Palletenna said Gnanasara Thera had been provided with standard prison attire yesterday and was being held in a ward designated for ordinary prisoners.He said the monk’s robes had been removed and Gnanasara was now dressed in the attire prescribed for inmates.The Colombo Magistrate’s Court (MC) on 4 October ordered Gnanasara to be remanded until yesterday after he was arrested on outstanding warrants.He was arrested following an order issued by the CA in connection with contempt of court proceedings arising from the case concerning the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda.Gnanasara Thera was produced before the MC by Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) officers when a motion relating to the warrants was taken up before the Colombo Additional Magistrate in chambers on 4 October.CCD officers informed the Magistrate that Gnanasara had been arrested and produced in accordance with warrants issued by the CA, Colombo High Court and MC.Appearing for Gnanasara Thera, Attorney-at-Law Iresh Seneviratne, together with Attorney Pasan Karunaratne, told the MC that his client had been experiencing severe mental distress and had therefore gone to an Aranya Senasanaya, where he had been staying.Seneviratne also told the Court that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks had recommended that special security be provided to Gnanasara Thera. He requested the MC to issue directions to ensure his safety while in custody.Having considered the submissions, the Additional Magistrate ordered that Gnanasara Thera be remanded and directed that he be produced before the CA yesterday in connection with the warrant pending before that Court.Prison officials were also directed to produce him before the MC on 7 October in connection with the warrant pending before that Court.

Gnanasara Thera to serve remaining prison term 

<h3> </h3><h3>India’s National Cooperative Exports Limited and Sri Lanka’s Cooperative Federation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate the supply of essential food commodities from India to Sri Lanka.</h3>The agreement was signed in the presence of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha.Following the signing, the two sides held discussions on strengthening trade and commercial ties between India and Sri Lanka, including the further development of the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement.The MoU is expected to ensure a continuous and affordable supply of essential food commodities to Sri Lanka while creating new opportunities for cooperation between the cooperative sectors of the two countries.

India-Sri Lanka pact on food supplies

A train operating from Peradeniya to Colombo Fort yesterday (5) derailed after crashing into fallen earth and rocks between the Gangoda and Kadigamuwa Railway Stations, just three days after services resumed on the repaired section of the Upcountry Railway line.The incident occurred at around 4.35 a.m., when the first office train from Peradeniya to Fort travelled along the line that had been closed for nearly 10 months due to extensive damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.The locomotive and one carriage derailed after the train struck a mound of earth and rocks that had fallen across the track. The front section of the train was also damaged in the incident.Train driver D A P Sendanayake said the mound was not clearly visible until the train was less than 10 metres away.“A mound of earth had fallen across the track. When we saw it, we were less than 10 metres away. The train hit the mound of earth and was thrown off the track. The impact caused the train to hit a rock, which resulted in the damage seen here,” he said.Following the derailment, passengers were taken via an alternative route to the Kadigamuwa bus road and transported by bus to Rambukkana. The Railways Department subsequently arranged an additional train from Rambukkana to Colombo for the affected passengers.Train services on the Upcountry line experienced delays following the incident.The derailment occurred just two days after services between Fort, Peradeniya and Gampola resumed on 2 October following repairs to damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.However, the Railway Station Masters' Association has alleged that services were resumed on the repaired section without clearance from the National Building Research Institute (NBRI).Meanwhile, services between Rambukkana and Peradeniya were temporarily suspended following the incident as railway officials worked to clear the fallen earth and rocks and restore the track.The Railways Department said restoration work was nearing completion, with the 4.35 p.m. train from Fort to Gampola and the 5.15 p.m. train from Fort to Peradeniya scheduled to operate as usual yesterday.

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired railway line derails on first run

<h3> </h3><h3>Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wife, Shiranthi Rajapaksa, has filed an anticipatory bail application before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court (MC), seeking protection from arrest in connection with an ongoing investigation into the financial affairs of the Siriliya Saviya organisation.</h3>The application was filed through her lawyers yesterday (5), amid an investigation by the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) into financial transactions linked to the organisation.The FCID has sought a statement from Rajapaksa as part of the investigation. She is currently in Singapore for medical treatment and had previously requested additional time to appear before the FCID.The investigation concerns financial transactions involving Siriliya Saviya, an organisation that operated under Rajapaksa’s leadership.Through the anticipatory bail application, Rajapaksa is seeking an order preventing her arrest in connection with the investigation should she return to Sri Lanka.Further proceedings on the application are expected to be taken up before the Maligakanda MC.

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory bail

The Police Illegal Assets Investigation Division has ordered the freezing of property and bank accounts allegedly linked to organised crime and drug trafficking suspect Nirmala Prasanga, alias Backhoe Saman, who was arrested in Indonesia.The order, which came into effect yesterday (5), will remain valid for 14 working days and covers assets reportedly valued at around Rs 40 million.Among the assets are a luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicle valued at approximately Rs 20 million and two fixed deposits totalling Rs 20 million held at two private banks.According to information received by investigators, the assets had allegedly been acquired in the name of a woman identified as Nimanthi Fonseka.The freezing order has been issued as part of investigations into the suspected assets of ‘Backhoe Saman’, who is alleged to be involved in organised crime and drug trafficking.Further investigations into the assets are being conducted under the supervision of the Director of the Illegal Assets Investigation Division, Senior Superintendent of Police CW Wickramasekara.

Assets of Backhoe Saman frozen

The Department of Meteorology has warned that the heat index could reach the ‘Caution’ level in several parts of the country today (6), particularly during the daytime.The warm weather advisory, issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 4 p.m. yesterday (5), will remain in effect until tomorrow.According to the advisory, the heat index, which indicates the temperature felt by the human body, is expected to reach the ‘Caution’ level in some areas of the Northern, North-Central, Eastern and North-Western Provinces, as well as the Monaragala District.The Department has advised the public in the affected areas to take necessary precautions to minimise the effects of increased heat, particularly during the daytime.

Rooftop solar expansion: Solar hits night-time demand ceili ...

Govt to strictly regulate private nursing training

Govt to strictly regulate priv ...

Assistance for El-Niño job loss families

Assistance for El-Niño job los ...

Gnanasara Thera to serve remaining prison term

Gnanasara Thera to serve remai ...

India-Sri Lanka pact on food supplies

India-Sri Lanka pact on food s ...

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired railway line derails on first run

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired ...

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory bail

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory b ...

Assets of Backhoe Saman frozen

Assets of Backhoe Saman frozen

Heat advisory for several areas

Heat advisory for several area ...

Govt to strictly regulate private nursing training

Govt to strictly regulate priv ...

Assistance for El-Niño job loss families

Assistance for El-Niño job los ...

Gnanasara Thera to serve remaining prison term

Gnanasara Thera to serve remai ...

India-Sri Lanka pact on food supplies

India-Sri Lanka pact on food s ...

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired railway line derails on first run

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired ...

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory bail

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory b ...

Assets of Backhoe Saman frozen

Assets of Backhoe Saman frozen

Heat advisory for several areas

Heat advisory for several area ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Govt to strictly regulate private nursing training

Govt to strictly regulate priv ...

Assistance for El-Niño job loss families

Assistance for El-Niño job los ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

Gnanasara Thera to serve remaining prison term

Gnanasara Thera to serve remai ...

India-Sri Lanka pact on food supplies

India-Sri Lanka pact on food s ...

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired railway line derails on first run

Upcountry Rail Line: Repaired ...

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory bail

Shiranthi seeks anticipatory b ...