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Home » NewsCommuters driven to their deaths by reckless bus drivers
On Friday, shortly before dawn, a group set out from Hatton to attend a wedding in Haputale. Their journey did not last long, as the driver crashed into a lamp post injuring 23. The accident came four days after a passenger bus skidded off the road in Bandarawela, killing 12 and injuring over 30 others. Both [...]
Burdened by the skyrocketing cost of living public look for relief in Budget 2014
With the 2014 Budget round the corner, the public are hoping for relief from the high cost of living, by way of a salary increase or a reduction in the cost of essential goods. Some 35 Trade unions in a coalition representing all sectors, have submitted a petition of 18 demands to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who [...]
Local crocodile dundees in croc capture, release op
A crocodile that had brought fear to people around the area of Pahala Maragahawewa reservoir in Rajanganaya was caught and released in the Thimbiriwila reservoir in Wilpattu National Park. “Measures were taken to catch the eight metre-long crocodile after villagers complained that it frequented their gardens and attacked calves and dogs,” assistant wildlife ranger D. Ramasinghe [...]
Absence of Kadirgamar: Tragedy for minorities, disaster for the majority
The following is the full text of the introductory speech made by Justice Minister Rauff Hakeem at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Oration 2013 held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Wednesday. The keynote speech was made by Prof. Francis Gurry, Director General of WIPO. “I am privileged to introduce a distinguished international lawyer and [...]
Haggling over UK-SL summit
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s gift for Prince Charles’ 65th birthday, which he will celebrate in Colombo, will be a fine collection of kavun and kokis. Prince Charles will arrive in Colombo by a special flight to inaugurate the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that begins on Friday. He is booked to stay at the boutique hotel [...]
Dog embarks on asylum mission
With stray dogs being rounded up to clean up Colombo for the Commonwealth summit, one stray dog is seen here seeking asylum at Westminster House, the residence of the British High Commissioner in Colombo. Below picture shows a dog being netted. Pix by Indika Handuwela
Conditional State sector retirement age extension exploited, allege unions
A Finance Ministry circular pertaining to the retirement age of employees in Public enterprises, has been misused by several institutions, trade unions alleged. Under the circular, the employee is entitled to work until 60, without applying for extension after reaching 55 years. However, the same circular says, “if the appointing authority decides that the extension [...]
Damage to property: PS member out on bail after surrendering to court
Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha member, Neelakanthi Samarawickrama will face charges of causing damage to the property of a private contractor. The local council member who surrendered, was produced before the Magistrate’s Courts on Tuesday over charges of trespass and damaging property worth Rs. 300,000 in Makumbura, Kottawa, and was released on bail of Rs 25,000 and personal [...]
US protest raises Lanka’s fuel bill: Refined oil from S’pore
Strong protests by the United States that Sri Lanka was busting Iranian oil sanctions have prompted the Government to go into a long-term deal with a Singapore firm to import refined petroleum products from this month till June next year. This will mean Sri Lanka will have to pay more for fuel purchases as refined [...]
Casino Act opponents set to educate public on evils of high stakes gambling
The alliance formed by the opponents of the casino act including politicians from both government and opposition, clergy and leading civil activists will hold seminars in the coming weeks to educate the public about the ill effects of the casinos and to counter the arguments put forward by pro-casino groups, Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammampila [...]
Laksala gears for big sales
Traditional handicraft shops in Colombo and the suburbs are putting their best goods on display to attract the large number of visitors expected for CHOGM including members from the British Royal family. Laksala, a leading handicraft store is keen to make use of the opportunity to promote their gift items with many outlets being renovated in [...]
Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lanka’s waters is talk of the House
Both Government and Opposition legislators raised serious concerns about the intrusion into Sri Lanka’s territorial waters by Indian fishermen, as well as the harassment of local fishermen at the hands of Indian authorities, during a Parliamentary debate on Tuesday. Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda who began the debate on the Fisheries and [...]
On our toes, ready and all set for CHOGM 2013
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 will be the most publicised Sri Lankan event with live coverage to all five continents. CHOGM Secretariat said activities of the meeting will begin today with the opening of the Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF) in Galle, and will continue till the 14th at Hikkaduwa, and the Commonwealth Youth [...]
Immigration Dept. seeks public assistance to nab foreign nationals overstaying visas
The Dept. of Immigration and Emigration is concerned about the increasing violations of visa conditions evident in the last few years. However, due to stringent monitoring, most foreign traders who come on ‘visit visas’, now look for covert ways to conduct their business through local agents, making it difficult to nab the offenders. This is [...]
Jackpot! Showdown on casinos
Growing resentment against casinos and gambling has intensified with street protests by public and religious groups island-wide. One such demonstration organised by the ‘Casino Virodhi Jathika Ekamuthuwa’ included Minister Champika Ranawaka, religious leaders Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and opposition politicians. JHU member and Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila told the Sunday [...]
Indian Premier condoles Gamani Corea’s death
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has mourned the death of Sri Lankan economist Gamani Corea on Monday. Corea passed away on Nov 3. He was 87 when death came. In his condolence message, Prime Minister described Gamani Corea as an outstanding international civil servant and diplomat, a brilliant economist and above all, a warm and caring human [...]
Disciplining students: Where do you draw the line?
On Thursday, a student who sustained injuries was hospitalised as a result of corporal punishment (caning) by the principal of a school. A group of grade 11 students of Minuwangoda Dewalapola Ananda Vidyalaya had allegedly made jokes and called the teacher names while they were in class. When the teacher complained to the principal he had [...]
500 fishermen lose work on S.Korean trawlers as SLFEB blocks Fisheries Ministry
Sri Lanka has lost 500 job opportunities for fishermen in South Korea, as the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) blocked the Fisheries Ministry from fulfilling contracts. The National Fisheries Federation Secretary Premasiri Perera told the Sunday Times yesterday that the Korean National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives wanted 500 young persons to work along with Korean [...]
Live telecast of robotic surgery a first at joint sessions of UK-Lanka urologists
Robotic surgery in Sri Lanka, not in an operating theatre of a local hospital, but streamed-in live from England to a distinguished gathering. This surgery known as ‘going beyond human hands’, is being telecast live from Essex, the time there being 10 a.m. and in Sri Lanka 3.30 p.m. on Monday (November 4). “It’s like playing [...]
Artificial beaches to woo more tourists
An artificial 2km beach from the Galle Fort is to be set up within a year to provide an added attraction for tourists, a senior official said yesterday. The Rs. 600 million project will be carried out jointly by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the Navy, Coast Conservation chief Anil Premaratne said. The artificial beach, [...]
Post waste: Millions for luxury bungalows
The Postal Department has spent more than Rs. 300 million on construction of a VIP bungalow despite incurring a loss of more than Rs. 3.3 billion last year. According to the 2012 performance report, the revenue from operations was around Rs. 4.9 billion but the administrative and operational expenses were more than Rs. 8.2 billion. Despite [...]
Biggest ever heroin haul: Sensational letter from PM’s office
The scandal over the detection of more than 250 kilograms of heroin in a container from Pakistan has taken a sensational turn with Customs detectives probing how there was a letter from the Prime Minister’s office, seeking a duty waiver for the consignment. A Customs official said the letter signed by a coordinating secretary to Prime [...]
Issue of mining permits: Minister orders probe following ST report
Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premjayantha said he has asked the internal audit unit of his Ministry to conduct an inquiry and report if mining permits have been issued in an irregular manner to private companies The Minister said he ordered the inquiry after the Sunday Times report of November 3 in which it [...]
Foreign Media accredited to cover CHOGM related events only: Ministry Secretary
Foreign journalists arriving here to cover the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), will be accredited only to cover CHOGM related events, Secretary to the Ministry of Media and Information Charitha Herath said. “There will be no restrictions on travel within Sri Lanka for foreign media personnel who arrive in the country for CHOGM, but [...]
CHOGM 2013 traffic plan
The Colombo-Katunayake Expressway entrance on Kelaniya Bridge, Baseline Road, Borella junction, Kanatta junction, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Bambalapitiya junction, Galle Road, Lotus Road, Lake House junction and Chittampalam Gardiner Mawatha, to the hotels will be closed from time to time during arrivals and departures. On November 15, delegates will proceed to Nelum Pokuna from their respective hotels. [...]
4 hour operation and little girl gets her foot back
An eight year old girl, whose right foot was separated from the ankle in a motor bike accident, underwent a successful operation at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. G. G. Dheduni Tamindi was returning home after tuition with both her mother and grand father on a motor bike when the accident occurred. As the child had [...]
Visas of three delegates to top law confab here revoked
A top law conference to be held coinciding with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) suffered a set back yesterday after the Government revoked the visas of three of the foreign delegates. The Bar Association of Sr Lanka in collaboration with the International Bar Association (IBA) of which the BASL is a member, was organising [...]
Skype complaints: Minister on overdrive, passengers apply brakes
A proposal by Private Transport Services Minister C.B Rathnayake to introduce a system where bus commuters would be able to lodge complaints via Skype, appears to have hit a road block before getting off the ground. A cross section of commuters interviewed by the Sunday Times felt the proposal had limiting factors such as the non-availability [...]
CMC on city-wide hunt for strays as summit nears
The Colombo Municipal Council’s (CMC) Veterinary Dept is on a city-wide search of stray dogs, ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).With just two dog catchers, the Vet Dept is looking for about 300 dogs in the vicinity of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, Town Hall [...]
C.R. de Silva: Learnt of books and men; learnt to play the game
The funeral of one of the leading criminal lawyers in the country, a popular public figure Chitta Ranjan de Silva was held yesterday at the Colombo General Cemetery amidst a vast gathering of colleagues, friends and students of his old school, Royal College. C.R. de Silva was a President’s Counsel, a former Attorney General and [...]
