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Home » NewsIran to forge closer ties with Sri Lanka- Ayatollah Ali Tashkiri
Iran will continue to expand its relations with Sri Lanka and hold inter-religious dialogues with leaders of various religions and beliefs, in order to eliminate misunderstanding, said Ayatollah Muhammed Ali Tashkiri, advisor to the Spiritual Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ayatollah Ali Tashkiri who is presently in the country, told the Sunday Times [...]
Ranil-Sajith phone call today to settle UNP crisis
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will telephone the party’s former deputy leader Sajith Premadasa today to fix a date to meet to resolve internecine problems that have plagued the country’s main opposition political party for years. The move comes in the backdrop of violent clashes between rival factions in the party at Matara last Saturday and Monday’s [...]
Massive cyclone hits eastern India, Lanka’s coastal areas on high alert
Sri Lanka’s coastal areas were put on high alert because of a possible fallout from a massive cyclone that was lashing South Eastern India yesterday. The Department of Meteorology sent out an early warning of dangerous and rough seas to the authorities while sea goers were advised to take precautions. Disaster Mangement Centre (DMC) official Pradeep [...]
Justice for victims of crime
The Government will set up a National Authority for the protection of victims of crime. This is one of the major highlights of an Assistance and Protection of Victims of Crime (NAPVC) Bill that will be introduced in Parliament. The proposed Authority will be empowered to “provide assistance and redress to victims of crime upon an [...]
No business visas online for trading here
Sri Lanka has stopped issuing business visas online to prevent the misuse of the facility, particularly by foreigners who are known to be using it to trade in merchandise here. At present, there are three ways in which a person could obtain a business visa, Controller (Visa and Border Control) M. N Ranasinghe said. “An [...]
MPs need good food: Anyone to supply?
Parliament has called for bids for the procurement of food items including vegetables, fruits, fish, dried fish, halal local mutton, pork, bakery items, kitul jaggery and treacle, coconut jaggery and treacle, as well as sweetmeats. Those interested are requested to submit their bids to the Chairman, Procurement Committee of Parliament, Sri Jayewardenepura. Closing date for the [...]
17 villagers released on bail after fresh clash in Weliweriya
Seventeen people arrested for allegedly clashing with officials of the controversial rubber glove manufacturing factory in Nedungamuwa, Weliweriya were released on bail last evening by the Gampaha Magistrate Tikiri Jayathilake. The incident occurred on Friday night when villagers got news that an animal sacrifice ritual was being performed in the Weliweriya Uruwela Sabha Temple. The villagers [...]
Govt. to buy landmark SCB building
The Government is to take over a historic landmark in Colombo — the Standard Chartered Bank building overlooking the President’s House. President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the ministers recently the building was being occupied by staff of the Presidential Secretariat and Presidential Security Division (PSD) personnel. Since 2006 it had been on rent to the President’s [...]
CB to encourage mergers of financial institutions
Over the next year, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) will encourage mergers and consolidations within the banking and non-banking financial institutions (NBFI) sectors, said Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday. His comments to the Sunday Times come amidst fresh efforts by the regulator to set more stringent standards for finance companies. Last week, four new [...]
CBSL knew CIFL was in a nosedive in 2011
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) knew of a crisis at Central Investments and Finance Ltd (CIFL) as far back as 2011, even stating in internal reports that the Company was “operating as a ponzi scheme”. Matters only came to head in July 2013, when CBSL acknowledged “prevailing liquidity and management issues of CIFL” and [...]
37 allegedly involved in UNP’s Matara clash up before Magistrate tomorrow
Thirty seven persons arrested in connection with the October 5 clashes in Matara, between two groups of UNP supporters, will be produced before the Matara Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (14), for an identification parade. Among those in custody include Herman Gunaratne, father of Southern Provincial Council member Maithree Gunaratne. Herman Gunaratne, along with another individual who [...]
Supplementary estimates of over Rs. 1 billion allocated
Rs.100 million has been allocated from funds of the President’s Secretariat as a supplementary allocation to renovate the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre ahead of November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The opening ceremony of CHOGM will be held at the Theatre which was opened last September. A supplementary allocation of Rs. 100 million [...]
Hambantota Port operations hampered by lack of trained personnel
Since the declaration of the Hambantota Port as a free port, there has been a heavy inflow of ships carrying vehicles into the Port, but lack of trained operational staff has hampered unloading and loading work. Between January and September this year, a total of 37,537 vehicles from India, Japan and the Gulf States were unloaded [...]
High drama at posh boutique hotel
The Board room drama at the multi-million rupee boutique hotel in Wadduwa took a new turn this week when the CEO and Deputy Chairman Anura Lokuhetty claimed that armed men entered the hotel early Friday morning, assaulted staff members, abducted him in a white van, kept a pistol to his head, stole his documents and [...]
Race on for effective treatment or vaccination against deadly dengue
While the National Dengue Eradication Week ends today, in the state-of-the-art Centre for Dengue Research (CDR) of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University, vital information is being gathered in the race towards finding either a treatment for this deadly viral disease or a vaccination against it. A majority of people who are infected with the dengue virus [...]
Ant-bites could be fatal, don’t ignore its allergic reactions
Ant-bites have compelled a few people in areas of Panadura to seek medical treatment. However, only people allergic to these bites need medication, and there is no need to panic say experts. Earlier this week, it was reported that several people in Horethuduwa, Panadura, sought medical treatment for ant-bites. Upon information received, Medical Research Institute [...]
Public places, blocked gutters at homes breeding mosquitoes
“Some people donate coins to the gods, seeking protection from evil spirits, but it is more important to check the vicinity of your home at least once a week for mosquitoes,” was the Health Ministry’s message to mark National Mosquito Control Week that began on October 7 and ends today. However, raids conducted within this [...]
Botched voyage from Beruwala: Boat people caught in racketeers’ net
The shadowy figures were huddled inside an abandoned guest house on the Beruwala coastline — men, women and children who hoped that, in a few hours, they would be on a boat to Australia. They didn’t even get as far as the beach. The police pounced just after midnight, rounded them up and took them into [...]
Hi-tech highway ready for takeoff
Sign boards giving advance warnings to motorists about road conditions ahead, facilities to monitor vehicle flow throughout the journey and road side communication posts for motorists needing assistance, are some of the features of the Katunayaka Expressway that opens in two weeks. Finishing touches to the 45 billion rupee project were underway this week, before [...]
When chlorine reigned on Penrith Estate
Residents of Penrith Estate in Puwakpitiya-Avissawella panicked on Wednesday night (October 9) when a strong smell accompanied by fumes emanated from the water supply station within the estate. Villagers recalling that night, told the Sunday Times that around 8.30 they heard a loud rumbling sound from the station as if a heavy iron container had fallen [...]
Faults and frauds of a failed finance firm
Papers submitted to the Court of Appeal last week revealed that there had been gross financial irregularities, mismanagement and fraud — among other shortcomings — at Central Investment Finance Limited (CIFL) over a period of time. The documents also showed that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) had possessed detailed information about the company’s activities [...]
CMC out in force to ensure a squeaky-clean city
Public Health Inspectors (PHI) in Colombo have commenced inspecting star class hotels, restaurants and café’s in the city to ensure hygiene, quality and safety of the delegates arriving for November’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Colombo Municipal Council’s (CMC) Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told the Sunday Times that initial raids found star [...]
Prince of Wales to visit Dalada Maligawa
The visit of Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales to the Sri Dalada Maligawa during his stay in the country has been confirmed by Maligawa officials after the British High Commissioner and Palace officials visited the Malgawa. Earlier they held discussions with the Diyawadana Nilame -Nilanga Pradeep Dela. It is understood the Prince will walk [...]
Moves afoot to bar favourite Nasheed from Maldives’ Oct.19 presidential polls
A fresh presidential election has been scheduled for October 19 in the Maldives after its Supreme Court annulled the first round of voting held there in early September, citing electoral fraud. The fresh poll has been scheduled amidst moves by political opponents of former President Mohamed Nasheed who emerged front runner in the first round of [...]
Now a mini zoo for CHOGM delegates
A mini zoo in Battaramulla is among government’s plan for entertaining CHOGM visitors according to the Botanical Gardens and Public Recreation Ministry. The mini zoo will be set up on a 3.5 acre plot of bare land adjacent to the Folk Arts Centre (Jana Kala Kendraya) in Battaramulla where a model Sri Lankan village showcasing the [...]
Lanka to set up diplomatic mission in Seychelles
The Government is to set up a resident Sri Lanka diplomatic mission in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles Islands. Seychelles is a member of the Commonwealth and has already informed the Ministry of External Affairs that they will take part in the CHOGM in Colombo next month. The Government has decided that, as far [...]
It is Ms. Baranage and not Ms. Jayaratne
FR case by school Principal A dispute over the post of Principal at the Malabe Sri Rahula Balika Maha Vidyalaya has gone to the Supreme Court with a petitioner in a fundamental rights case alleging that a candidate who scored less than her at the interview has been given the job. In the case to [...]
Seven ‘failed’ docs petition SC over faulty PGIM exam
Seven doctors have gone to the Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 9) seeking leave to proceed and interim relief in a fundamental rights application against the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) alleging irregularities in the July 2013 final examination to qualify as MDs (Family Medicine). The petitioners, in their application, say they sat for the [...]
COPE exposes, Opposition proposes, Govt. disposes
Parliament took the unprecedented step of holding a two-day debate last week on the Report of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), which was presented to the House in July this year. COPE probed the accounts of 244 State-run institutions that come under the purview of this Committee. Here are extracts of speeches made by [...]
Poaching: Lanka wants urgent meeting of Joint Working Group
The Government has told India to make a serious effort to resume meetings of the Joint Working Group of the two countries to find a solution to the fishing crisis in the Palk Strait, a top official said yesterday. “We have told the Indian government to set an early date and we expect it to respond [...]
Officials sound out warning to ‘noisy’ vehicles
Vehicles including motorbikes with modified silencers or horns that go above the permitted sound levels and vehicles with audio setups that generate sounds will be checked for noise pollution, authorities warn. The Environment Ministry and the Motor Traffic Department will assist the police to launch this monitoring programme on Tuesday with equipment imported from Denmark. [...]
People wanted clean water but police wanted to protect factory management: Magistrate
JuDicial inquiry into Rathupaswala The evidence presented at the investigation into the Army shooting that resulted in the deaths of three persons at the Rathupaswala protest, gave rise to the perception that while residents took to the streets on the issue of clean water, the Police tried to protect the factory management, Gampaha Magistrate Tikiri [...]
