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Indian presence, Devananda suspends 5,000-boat protest
By Chris Kamalendran in Jaffna Minister Douglas Devananda yesterday dramatically backed out from his plans for a 5,000-boat protest in the Palk Strait against poaching by Indian fishermen in the face of a visit to the north by Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha and heightened Indian coastguard presence along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) [...]
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Indians to work in Lankan fields
Minister cites labour shortage in North and East; offers three-month visas By Nadia Fazlulhaq Indian nationals are to be granted work visas to harvest paddy in the North and East, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said yesterday. “The Government is helpless as our people are leaving the country to work as labourers in countries in West [...]
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CoL likely to soar as fuel prices are increased
Millions of people faced a further increase in the soaring cost of living after the Government yesterday revised fuel prices, citing financial losses of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, increase in world market prices and issues involving fuel storage. Accordingly, the price of diesel has been increased by Rs. 6 a litre and petrol by Rs. 3. [...]
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Uniforms, ID cards for vendors in buses, trains
By Damith Wickramaratne Vendors are to be allowed inside buses and trains from next month. They will wear a uniform jacket and a special identity card, a senior Economic Development Ministry official said yesterday. “Not only that, these vendors will also be given a three-day crash course and training conducted by the Tourism Development Authority,” [...]
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Maldivian crisis worsens: TV journalist attacked
By Chandani Kirinde The crisis in the Maldivian capital, Male, deepened yesterday following the attack on an outspoken television journalist who was rushed to Colombo for medical treatment with serious head injuries. He is being treated at a private hospital in Colombo. Ibrahim ‘Aswad’ Waheed, Head of News of Raaje TV, an independent television channel, was [...]
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Customs officer’s rights petition to be heard on Tuesday
A rights petition by Customs Deputy Superintendent T. R. Ratnasiri will be heard on Tuesday. On February 1, the Supreme Court had dismissed Mr. Ratnasiri’s petition to revive a Customs inquiry into an alleged duty fraud running into millions of rupees.Mr. Rathnasiri told the Supreme Court that he wanted quashed and annulled an unlawful decision by [...]
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Betraying the doctrine of public trust
Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in this exclusive article to the Sunday Times says the Attorney General has deliberately misled the Government to pass the Appropriation Bill, disregarding a Supreme Court determination that stresses Parliamentary control over public finance. Claiming the passage of the Bill was a blatant violation of the Constitution, constitutional rule, [...]
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Latest fuel price hike deepens consumer discontent
Yesterday’s move sparks angry reactions, writes Aanya Wipulasena and Skanda Gunasekara Friday night’s fuel price increase has sparked strong reactions from the general public. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has raised by three rupees the price of a litre of 90-octane petrol, 95-octane petrol, and super diesel, while a litre of auto diesel has gone up [...]
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All Lankans duty-bound to protect Buddha Sasana, says Bodu Bala Sena
All Sri Lankans should act as “unofficial policemen” and do their part to protect and preserve the Buddha Sasana, said Bodu Bala Sena leaders at a general meeting held in Maharagama. The Bodu Bala Sena (“Buddhist Strength Force”) has announced a list of 10 demands drawn up to counter any attempt to limit the rights [...]
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New Education Act to register, regulate International schools
By Nadia Fazlulhaq A new Education Act will be introduced this year with international schools islandwide, coming under the Education Ministry, in order to maintain proper teaching standards, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. Minister Gunawardena told the Sunday Times that this decision was confirmed by President Rajapaksa at the Ministry of Education this week. “While reviewing [...]
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Resignation not connected to Principal’s contract extension
Right of reply Dr. Raja Thalgahagoda of Kundasale has written to us with reference to a news item that was published last week titled ‘ Trinity College board, manager resign over acting Principal’s extension’ stating that his resignation from his post as manager was not connected to the extension of the Principal’s contract. He has [...]
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Be close to your children from early age, President urges parents
Prize day ceremony at premier Kandy school Distinguished Trinitians who served the country remembered By L.B.Senaratne President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday urged parents to play an important role in developing the character of children by fulfilling their responsibility of remaining close to the children after they start schooling. “Parents should be with the child in his [...]
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Blaming and shaming or learning from errors the way out
Reducing medical misadventures By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Doctors are under the microscope with headlines highlighting two separate incidents of a hand-amputation and a death of a child allegedly linked to preparations before an MRI scan. This brings to the forefront not only issues of patient safety but also whether there should be a “naming, blaming, shaming culture” [...]
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New SC Bench to hear Golden Key depositors’ FR case on March 4
By Wasantha Ramanayake The Supreme Court on March 4 will name a new Bench to hear the fundamental rights (FR) cases of the depositors of the Golden Key Finance credit card company. When the case was mentioned on Monday (18), Supreme Court Judge Nimal Gamini Amaratunga J withdrew from hearing the FR cases filed by [...]
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Tangalle murder case to go ahead
The Attorney-General has given the go-ahead for non-summary proceedings against the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha chairman, the main suspect in the 2011 murder of a British national in Tangalle. Charges will be issued on the chairman and seven other suspects, said Additional Solicitor-General, Suhanda Gamlath. On February 20, Tangalle Magistrate K. U. T. de Silva postponed [...]
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SC discharges UGC Chairman from Contempt of Court proceedings
Terminating the contempt of court proceedings, the Supreme Court, discharged former University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Gamini Samaranayake last Monday. The Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohan Pieris P.C. and Justices P.A. Rathnayake and Priyasath Dep delivering the order, noted the Court was of the view that the matter has been resolved. Faisz Musthapha P.C. appearing [...]
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Upul Jayasuriya in landslide win for independent judiciary, rule of law
Former Secretary of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Upul Jayasuriya was elected President of the legal fraternity at last Wednesday’s all-island elections, defeating his main rival, Thirantha Walaliyadda, P.C. The election was held because incumbent BASL President Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, MP, P.C. was not standing for a second term, and comes in the immediate wake [...]
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Govt. efforts at investigating alleged war crimes lack credibility: NP
Namini Wijedasa in an e-mail interview with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HR) Navi Pillay UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (HR) Navi Pillay says none of the steps taken domestically in Sri Lanka, to investigate allegations of war crimes, have inspired confidence. This made an international investigation essential. Excerpts from her email [...]
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Crew on strike, Lanka Mahapola stuck in Mombasa port
Vessel’s lessee says all dues will be settled when ship docks in Colombo By Leon Berenger The debt-ridden Lanka Mahapola is in limbo in an African port with the crew refusing to work in protest over the alleged non-payment of wages for the past five months, a senior maritime trade union official said yesterday. The vessel [...]
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70 Rohingyas languish in detention here with nowhere to go
A severely persecuted minority in Myanmar which fears repatriation while no other country wants them By Skanda Gunasekara. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe The Government is burdened with the task of feeding and clothing 70 Rohingya people whom no country wants to accept as their citizens. The 68 men and two boys aged 12 and 14 years are [...]
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Adversities, hardships spur poverty-stricken Sanjeevani to 3 ‘A’s at A/L
Pix and text by Athula Devapriya Twenty-three-year-old Widyaratnage Sanjeevani Priyadharshini grew up amidst many an adversitiy, but instead of them weakening her resolve, she faced every challenge with determination and forbearance. Born and bred among the slum community of Sedawatta in Grandpass, each day was a struggle to get by. It was amidst numerous hardships Sanjeewani [...]
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Parents unite to fight for school
Story and Pix by: Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Parents of students in the Puttalam district have united to overcome a fresh obstacle put forward by the Education authorities which would have affected the schooling of hundreds of children. Less numbers in schools is forcing the Ministry of Education to close them down. The move has forced students [...]
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All’s not well in the Maldives
What are the political implications of ousted Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed seeking refuge in the Indian High Commission in Male? Chandani Kirinde hears two sides of the crisis, Pic by Hasitha Kulasekera The standoff created by ousted Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed seeking refuge in the Indian High Commission in Male to avoid arrest, is straining relations [...]
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Manta ray struggles for survival
Overfishing threatens the magnificent and prized ‘Ali Maduwa’, writes Malaka Rodrigo A giant “maduwa”, or manta ray, was netted last week by fisherman in Welipatanwila, Ambalanthota, on the South coast. The ocean creature was pregnant and weighed 1,500 kilograms. A week earlier, another manta ray was caught by fishermen in Akkaraipattu, on the East coast. [...]
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Biopiracy on the rise
The country’s rich biodiversity attracting a new kind of overseas visitor, writes Malaka Rodrigo In the space of a week, two attempts by overseas visitors to smuggle out local flora and fauna were foiled. A German national and four Russians were apprehended for collecting indigenous wild plants and animals without a permit. Environmentalists say Sri [...]
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Halal: Food for thought
By Charundi Panagoda Halal, a word that has stirred much controversy and tension in the country, is simply Arabic for “permitted,” as opposed to Haram, Arabic for “prohibited.” Under Sharia Islamic law, Halal and Haram designate objects and actions permissible or sinful for Muslims. More commonly, Halal is a term referred to food items Muslims [...]
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Sinhala Muslim amity intact, small group creating tension over Halal: ACJU chief
By Anthony David As controversy grows over the issue of Halal certification by the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), a Cabinet Sub Committee is trying to work out a solution to the crisis. Against this backdrop, the Sunday Times spoke to ACJU President As-Sheikh M.I.M. Rizwe (Mufthi), and Halal expert Tariq Mahmud to get their [...]
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Valuable memories of friendship
A tribute to the cordial relations between Muslims and Sinhalese in the past By Jezima Ismail A one-time Minister of Foreign Affairs, A.C.S. Hameed, once pointed out that “Historians have traditionally been attracted by wars and rebellions whereas the peaceful co-existence of groups of people over long periods tends to be overlooked”. He went on [...]
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What’s medical negligence?
By Prof. Ravindra Fernando Negligence may be defined as doing something which a prudent and reasonable man would not do or omission to do something which a prudent and reasonable man would do, in a given situation. Although medical accidents and misadventures are an expected social phenomenon, medical negligence is not. Medical negligence is the breach of [...]
