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Home » NewsForeign spy agency tapping Gota’s phone
Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has complained to his mobile phone service provider that his phone is being tapped by an organised team with the intention of gathering national security secrets, according to a newspaper report. A special investigation that looked into this complaint has revealed that those behind it were linked to a foreign mission [...]
Sampur power project not handled properly, may lead to diplomatic issue: Minister Ranawaka
Right of Reply Technology, Research & Atomic Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka has contested claims by the Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M.M.C. Ferdinando. Minister Ranawaka was reacting to a news item titled “Sampur: Power Ministry Secretary denies former minister’s claims” which appeared in the Sunday Times- of June 23, 2013. He said : The article says [...]
TNA decides to stay out of PSC
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) last night unanimously decided not to participate in the Parliamentary Select Committee set up to study the 13th Amendment, Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said. He said the decision was taken at a meeting headed by party leader R. Sampanthan. “We believe that the Government is trying to dilute or abolish the 13th [...]
Annual Kandy pageant starts on August 7
The dates for the forthcoming Kandy Esala Maha Perahera were announced yesterday by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela at a meeting at the Kandy Secretariat auditorium. Accordingly the kap planting ceremony will be held on August 7, followed by the Kumbal Perahera that will begin the same night. The main Randoli Perahera which will begin [...]
Govt. slashes supply of subsidised fertiliser
Agriculture Ministry says paddy lands over-fertile; farmer unions dispute claim The Government has slashed the supply of subsidised fertiliser to paddy farmers by over 100,000 tons or by 25% on the grounds that the farming lands were over-fertile, but farmer unions are disputing the claim. The move would save the Government Rs. 7 billion annually [...]
Uncertainty looms over rupee as dollar rises
Current uncertainty and depreciating trends in the Sri Lankan rupee against the US dollar could continue in coming weeks and see an outflow of dollars from Central Bank reserves, bankers and treasury dealers warned yesterday. “It is anybody’s guess as to foreign exchange trends but I reckon the Central Bank (CB) won’t allow it to [...]
Champika stripped of atomic energy portfolio
The subject of Atomic Energy has been withdrawn from the portfolio currently held by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka. Instead he will now be only Minister of Technology and Research in terms of a June 24 Gazette Extraordinary signed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Minister Ranawaka was not immediately available for comment. His Ministry officials said he [...]
Shortcomings still remain for a totally disabled-friendly environment
The current development within Colombo city is yet to address the disabled persons’ right of mobility, says National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Director M.D.C. Jayamanne. Under the act of protection of the rights of disabled persons, the national council was established to ensure the protection, promotion and advancement of the rights of disabled persons. [...]
BASL launches newspaper to raise public awareness
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) launched its first monthly tabloid newspaper “The Bar Reporter,” at a ceremony held in Colombo on Friday evening. The Chief Guest, the senior most President’s Counsel and a former Bar Association President N.M.R. Daluwatte PC was given the first copy by the Bar Association President Upul Jayasuriya. President’s Counsel [...]
All show but no shelter from storm
This banana leaf-shaped bus halt built at a cost of Rs. 2.5 million in Battaramulla by the State Engineering Corporation on the instructions of Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa seems only a showpiece that can give some shade but not shelter from heavy showers. Pic by Indika Handuwela
New traffic plan in Maradana and Panchikawatte today
A new one way traffic plan that had a trial run yesterday would be tested around the Maradana and Panchikawatte areas today. Vehicles heading from Panchikwatte junction to Pettah should proceed through the Panchikwatte Road and turn right at Elphinstone and proceed to the technical college junction while vehicles heading from Maradana towards Armour street [...]
Acting US Assistant AG has Lankan roots
The United States’ newly appointed Acting Assistant Attorney General has her roots in Sri Lanka. Mythili Raman is the daughter of A. Tharmaratnam, who served the International Financial Corporation of the World Bank, and granddaughter of C Loganathan, a former general manager of the Bank of Ceylon. Her parents are from Vadaramarachchi, Jaffna. Ms. Raman, [...]
President briefs Tanzanian counterpart on CHOGM 2013
President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on an official visit to Tanzania, briefed his Tanzanian counterpart President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete on the preparations under way in Sri Lanka to host the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The two leaders held bilateral discussions and signed three agreements covering visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport [...]
AG’s Dept awaits crucial DNA report to indict suspects
Tangalle killing of British national | Case shifted from Tangalle to Colombo following allegations of suspects threatening witnesses The Attorney General’s (AG) Dept is still waiting for a crucial DNA report to indict suspects in the killing of British Red Cross Worker Khuram Shaikh 18 months ago, an authoritative source from the Dept. said. The case [...]
Rs. 7 billion settlement ends oil hedging dispute with SCB
A five-year-old dispute between the Sri Lankan Government and the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) over flawed oil hedging deals finally ended last week with a US$ 60 million (Rs.7.5 billion) payment settlement. The money was paid to the SCB by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). “We have taken a commercial decision and (concluded) an agreement [...]
On a track of care and concern
Residents of Delkanda join to keep motorists safe from passing trains at an unprotected railway crossing At 6 a.m. every day, W.A Karunawathi takes her spot near the unprotected railway crossing down Edirisinghe Road in Delkanda. For six years, this compassionate human barrier has waited faithfully to alert motorists about the 6.15 a.m. locomotive —one [...]
Railways’ 750 blood-gates: 48 crossings to get gates by year’s end
As eight people died in two horror crashes at level crossings this week, the Department of Railways announced it will construct gates at 48 unprotected crossings by the year’s end. Railways Operating Superintendent L.A.R. Rathnayake told the Sunday Times there were 750 unprotected railway crossings island-wide and the department would call for tenders to construct gates [...]
Future Minds goes to Kandy
The ‘Future Minds’, a career exhibition organised by the Nalanda Junior Old Boys’ Association is being held in Kandy this weekend. The exhibition was held last week in Colombo and will be held in Galle in September.
US charge of human trafficking by overseas job officials noted: EAM
The Government yesterday was taking serious note of a US statement that accused officials and agents in the foreign employment industry of complicity in the trafficking of persons to foreign countries, a senior official said.“We are examining the statement made by the US Secretary of State John Kerry and will respond appropriately at the very [...]
Drugs policy soon, CJ calls for co-operation
The Government has again assured the Supreme Court that legislation for a national medicinal drugs policy will be presented soon so that quality drugs could be made available to the people at affordable prices. The assurance was given by the State Counsel when the fundamental rights petition filed by the People’s Movement for the Rights [...]
State-run estates see the wood from the trees to settle dues
Day of reckoning for 67,132 trees as funds, patience and time run out on 16 years of unpaid worker payments. The State Resources and Enterprise Development Ministry decided to chop down and sell nearly 70,000 trees on Government-owned plantations, after the Labour Dept said they would sue estate management companies for 16 years worth of [...]
Presidential Commission of Inquiry to begin sittings within next fortnight
BASL, JVP voice concern over transfer of Matale Magistrate who was hearing the case The Presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the Matale mass graves, will begin sittings within the next two weeks, Commission head, retired Supreme Court Judge Justice S.I. Imam said. The three-member Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on [...]
Easy pickings as crime pays and pays well
A lucrative ‘career’ for most youth living just above and below the poverty line and drug addicts. Housebreaking, theft and robbery continue to top the police’s grave crimes list in alarming numbers within Colombo and its suburbs. According to law enforcement agencies and sociologists, the increase in drug addicts and growing disparity between high and [...]
Power bills triple, users at a loss for answers
The new electricity tariff has tripled power bills across the board, from domestic users to service providers. Domestic consumers complain that even when they have kept usage to the reduced-rate band of 60-180 units their bills have shot up. Business owners stress that they are sacrificing net profits in order to meet the higher charges, and say [...]
From Sri Lanka Army with gratitude
Army commander General Jagath Jayasuriya is seen presenting a memento to Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at a function held at the Army headquarters this week. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Bus drivers kill but given bail to drive and kill another day
When supply outstrips demand, awareness programmes, GPSs in buses no match to un-roadworthy buses, inexperienced drivers as the death toll mounts A house at Hewadewila in Rambukkana is mourning the deaths of a brother and sister aged 11 and 2, victims of yet another speeding private bus. The two children- Sasantha Mirihanga and Malsha Nethumani, and [...]
Northern expressway work to begin next year
Construction work of the northern Expressway starting from Enderamulla in the Gampaha district and ending in Dambulla will start early next year, Highways Ministry Secretary and Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman R.W.R. Premasiri said yesterday. He said the first phase of the project — from Enderamulla to Ambepussa — is expected to cost US$ 1 [...]
‘Free our husbands’
Spouses meet to discuss their hardships and official apathy over the fate of their seafaring husbands held by Somali pirates for more than 2 years A group of women met at a location in Colombo this week to exchange views and seek support from one another as their husbands remained hostages of Somali pirates. The place [...]
IRD nets casinos, tax officers monitor roll of the dice
Casinos remain unlicensed, illegal operations yet to be regulated under new legislation passed in 2010. Just two gaming and 46 betting centres have registered for the first time with the Inland Revenue Dept (IRD), in compliance with a new legal amendment passed this year, said Commissioner General Mallika Samarasekara last week. She also said that [...]
NSAIDs deadly for dengue-hit children
Stick to paracetamol and sponging to bring down fever, says expert Common pain-relieving medications prescribed for children with fever are not only worsening the complications of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) but also resulting in death, warned a top dengue expert yesterday. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid and diclofenac sodium can [...]
Tragedy at the railway crossing
After the loss of many lives, the Railways Department has finally decided to install a rail gate at the unprotected level crossing near the Alutgama railway station. This was following last week’s accident that killed six Poson pilgrims. The Sunday Times had earlier highlighted this unprotected rail crossing posed a danger to life and limb. On [...]
Nilwala crocs strike back
Another woman fell victim to a Nilawala River Croc. According to villagers the woman had gone to the river on June 21 around 9 a.m. either to fetch water or wash clothes. The villagers with the support of the Disaster Management Committee and police had launched a search party and around 7 p.m. the body [...]
Ex- MPs to pay for overstaying in official quarters
Nugegoda District Court issues notice on former Parliamentarians still enjoying perks Former Parliamentarians of the 2001-2004 Parliament who were issued notice by the Nugegoda District Court for their failure to pay accommodation rentals for occupying official apartments at Madiwela say they are willing to pay what is due. Former People’s Alliance Parliamentarian and the UPFA Southern [...]
Passenger comfort, safety features a must in new long distance luxury buses
Long distance super luxury bus services to be deployed on roads in future will be required to have additional facilities including a toilet and a mini-refrigerator, National Transport Commission (NTC) Chairman Roshan Gunawardena told the Sunday Times. The buses will be required to have a series of other facilities which will be set out in [...]
Lankan Prof. on Internet Hall of Fame
Professor Gihan Dias, a pioneer in the introduction of networking in Sri Lanka, has been selected for induction into the Internet Hall of Fame of the Internet Society, an independent international organisation for Internet information and thought leadership from around the world. Prof. Dias, who together with his wife , Prof. (Mrs.) Dileeka Dias, was [...]
