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Christmas bonanza for MPs
The Treasury has granted approval for Members of Parliament to sell their duty free vehicle permits in the open market. The move will mean that MPs who are entitled to import a vehicle worth up to US$ 50,000 or around Rs 6.5 million will now be able earn Rs. 20 million rupees by simply selling [...]
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Racket-busting Customs chief fired; transferred to Treasury
Customs Director General Neville Gunawardena has been removed from his post and transferred back to the Treasury with immediate effect amidst a CID probe on who leaked to the Sunday Times news regarding the Treasury chief’s interference in investigations into huge rackets. He will be replaced from tomorrow by Jagath Wijeweera, Commissioner General for Registration [...]
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Ranil gets huge majority to continue for six more years
After months of controversy and bitter infighting and criticism, the main opposition United National Party (UNP) yesterday approved with a huge majority a resolution that the election of the party leader will take place every six years and not every year as at present. The approval of this resolution will enable party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe [...]
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Govt. seeks crude oil from Iraq
The Government is planning to buy Iraqi crude oil which is similar to the Iranian crude so that the fuel could be refined at the Sapugaskanda complex and has appointed a senior diplomat to work this out, a top official said yesterday. “Oil deposits in Northern Iraq bordering Turkey are similar to Iranian crude and [...]
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One dead, two injured in underground tragedy
One worker was killed and two seriously injured when a mound of soil collapsed on them while they were working below ground on a drainage system at the Jayawadanagama Housing Scheme in Battaramulla last evening. The victims were rescued and taken to the Sri Jayewardenepura hospital. One of them was in a critical condition and [...]
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Two die in mosquito coil fire
A mosquito net that fell on a lit mosquito coil sparked off a fire that claimed the life of a woman and a child in Kuliyapitiya on Friday night, Police said. The victims were identified as H. M. Kumari (37) and her daughter, eight year old Nethmi. Police said the woman’s husband and another child who [...]
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Watch out for Chinese visitors trading in mobile phones
Chinese nationals here on visitor visas are doing illegal vending of mobile phones, kitchen appliances and other electric gadgets, Immigration authorities warn the public. Last week a Chinese woman was arrested while selling mobile phones in Kandy town. Immigration Controller Chulananda Perera told the Sunday Times that a special team of officers has been deployed [...]
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New envoy in Nepal ahead of SAARC summit
The External Affairs Ministry’s Publicity Division Director Sarath Dissanayake has been appointed as the country’s Ambassador to Nepal, replacing Thosapala Hewage, the present envoy, officials said. They said Mr. Dissanayake’s appointment was made ahead of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Summit to be held in the capital Kathmandu later this year. Lawyers cry [...]
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Petroleum Corp losses top Rs. 100 billion
Losses incurred by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) exceed Rs. 100 billion, according to a senior official of the Ministry of Petroleum Industries. The amount includes arrears due from state institutions and losses suffered by providing fuel at concessionary rates. The Ministry of Petroleum Industries has sent out reminders to all state institutions in arrears [...]
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Business jealousy drives car dealer to cybercrime: CID
A local car dealer who allegedly hacked into an online auction site and made bogus orders that led to the blacklisting of a Japanese car exporter was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). The suspect from Katugastota, Kandy was arrested after the Japanese exporter made a complaint to the police. According to a CID [...]
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My only struggle in life is to topple the Rajapaksa regime, says Ranil
United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday he has made it his personal struggle in life to topple the Rajapaksa regime and install a ‘people-friendly” government by 2014. “This is my struggle. I have only one struggle. My only struggle is against the Mahidna Rajapaksa regime and the struggle to topple it. Other [...]
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Uthayan journalist allegedly assaulted while taking pictures
Four students of the University of Jaffna were arrested by Kopay Police on Friday night in connection with protests at the university last Wednesday. Following the arrests University lecturers staged a protest outside the premises on the same day condemning the security forces’ attack on the students. The arrested students — P. Dharshanth, S.Solomon, K. Jemomenon [...]
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50 asylum-seekers sent back
The Australian government has sent back another group of Sri Lankan asylum-seekers, amounting to 50 persons. Since August 13, more than 700 Sri Lankans have voluntarily and involuntarily returned home, according to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. “We will continue to return people to Sri Lanka. We will continue to transfer people to [...]
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Bills on contempt of court, prison administration coming next year
The Justice Ministry will introduce several new Bills next year including a law relating to contempt of court and one on prison administration. The Contempt of Court law is to be presented to the Cabinet shortly by Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem. “We notice that there is a disparity when judges given contempt of court orders. [...]
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It’s ChinaSat-12 with a Lankan payload
The much hyped “Sri Lanka’s first satellite” is actually ChinaSat-12 launched by the Chinese to replace another communication satellite, ChinaSat-5A, that has completed its expected 15-year term. SupremeSat-I is one of several names for ChinaSat-12 (also called Zhongxing-12). According to the online spaceflight news site, NASAspaceflight.com part of ChinaSat-12′s communications payload has been leased to [...]
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SC orders PS to remove boards changing name of village
The Supreme Court this week ordered a local council in Jaffna to remove name boards of a village after residents claimed that the name would represent one caste only and thus create disharmony. The directive was issued to the Valikamam West Pradeshiya Sabha, in the Vaddukoddai electorate after 10 villagers filed a fundamental rights petition. The [...]
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New name for 57th Lane faces road blocks
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was forced to put on hold a decision to re-name 57th lane in Wellawatte as ‘Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane’ in recognition of a well known cultural centre along the road, after Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said he was revoking permission he had given earlier for the name change. [...]
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New name for 57th Lane faces road blocks
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was forced to put on hold a decision to re-name 57th lane in Wellawatte as ‘Colombo Tamil Sangam Lane’ in recognition of a well known cultural centre along the road, after Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranathunga said he was revoking permission he had given earlier for the name change. [...]
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Minister, PS Chairman at loggerheads over animal flesh sales stalls
A plan by Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva to close down mutton, poultry and pork stalls in Kelaniya has run into opposition with Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Prasanna Ranaweera holding a different opinion. Minister de Silva told the Sunday Times he would seek public opinion on the matter and act accordingly. “I will get my [...]
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Lecturers to press for salary structure and special category status for dons
A fresh round of talks centred on unresolved university teacher-lecturer issues will be tabled by members of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) when they meet the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Sunil Jayaratne tomorrow. Top of the agenda is the salary revision scheme discussed with Treasury secretary Dr. P. B [...]
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Giving Colombo a new face
The commercial hub of the country is about to get a massive facelift. A number of infrastructure development and uplift plans are expected to be executed in the metropolitan areas of the city under the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP) that has been recently approved for funding by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development [...]
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Young voices raise heat over loss of cool shade
If you passed along Reid Avenue on Thursday you may have noticed a different kind of protest—a group of green-conscious youth holding placards against the felling of the majestic trees that have lined the road for so many years, giving much-wanted shade in addition to being so much a part of the familiar landscape of [...]
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Leaving a better world for our children
By the turn of the century, based on current consumption patterns, the average temperature of the world is expected to go up by around three degree Celsius. Sea waters may also rise by two metres. Addressing the gathering that included health specialists from all over the Asia Pacific region on Wednesday, 2007 Nobel co-laureate Prof Mohan [...]
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Flood waters, lightning and landslips claim 10 lives
Ten deaths in the last two weeks were caused by bad weather conditions – five persons drowned, three were killed by lightning, and two were buried under a landslip and a collapsing house, while a crocodile was swept by flood waters into a hotel in Tangalle. in Hambantota, one person died when an earth-slip flattened [...]
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Kachcheri fire report out soon
An investigation into the fire that broke out last week at the 160-year-old Colombo District Secretariat, or Colombo Kachcheri, is under way and a report should be ready by next week. The investigation is being conducted by the Government Analyst’s Department and the Colombo Crime Division (CCD). Meanwhile, business is as usual at the kachcheri, [...]
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Our malfunctioning and non functioning traffic lights
Traffic lights or signal lights are meant to ease traffic congestion and are essential to motorists and pedestrians alike especially in busy cities to ensure a smooth flow of traffic. The city of Colombo sees around 800,000 persons entering daily in around 250,000 vehicles. Additionally around another 700,000 people live in the city itself. Unfortunately the traffic lights [...]
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Law and politics of the impeachment saga
The Socialist Study Circle will hold a discussion on the impeachment of the Chief Justice at 4.30 pm on Thursday, December 6, at the N.M. Perera Centre, 106, Dr. N.M. Perera Mawatha, Colombo 8. Dr. Deepika Udagama of the University of Peradeniya and President’s Counsel Uditha Egalahewa will talk on “the Law and Politics of [...]
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Talk on voices from the grave
The 22nd Dr. W.D.L. Fernando Memorial Oration will be delivered by former Attorney General Sunil de Silva, PC, on Thursday, December 6 at 6 p.m. at the auditorium of the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Baseline Road, Borella. Titled ‘Voices from the grave – cross examination of the deceased’, the oration is part of the 75th [...]
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Little concern for sea erosion in Kandakuliya
The beaches around Kandakuliya in Kalpitiya, are being eroded by the sea. The 200-sq metre area, home to over 500 fisher families is now in danger of being swamped by the sea. The families are in a quandary as to what will become of them with the sea threatening to swallow their homes and disrupt their [...]
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Judge rules on state doc’s strike action
A Court ruling has prohibited the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) from carrying out any strike action until a case filed by a patient is heard and completed. Colombo District Judge R. A. Ranaraja determined that the patient may have to seek treatment in future, and that the respondent members of the GMOA were obliged [...]
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The 13A: To repeal or not to repeal
Sri Lanka has been plagued by Provincial Councils (PCs) for the past 24 years. The debate about whether the 13th Amendment which gave birth to these Provincial Councils should remain or not continues and has now gained some momentum with proposals being made by persons who are supposedly influential that it should be repealed. What [...]
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A death in Galway
NEW YORK – The case of Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old dentist from India who had moved, with her husband, to Ireland, continues to reverberate around the world. Halappanavar, an expectant mother, died after her doctors, citing Ireland’s legal prohibition of abortion, refused to remove her 17-week-old foetus, despite allegedly acknowledging that the foetus was not [...]
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What ails our local authorities?
As November 26, the birth anniversary of the late Lalith Athulathmudali, drew near, many people requested me to write about the present day political context. A lot is happening not only around us, but above and beyond as well. Provocative as it may be for me to comment on all these goings on, I feel [...]
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Homicides galore: What’s going wrong?
On Wednesday the body of a 47-year-old-woman was found lying in the bathroom of her house in Moragahahena, Horana. Her head had been smashed several times by a pestle and the gold necklace she wore was also missing. It was Swarna Matarage’s husband, who first found out about the murder when he reached home around [...]
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People feeling blue over high priced greens
Adverse weather conditions and the upcoming festive season have sent vegetables prices soaring with traders warning of more hikes to come. Vegetable vendors at Manning Market,in Pettah, said heavy rains in the North- Central, Southern, Central, and Uva provinces had dealt a big blow to vegetable crops reducing the harvest and thus compelled to sell them [...]
