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Hambantota’s ‘Lord Mayor’ Eraj Ravindra Fernando manhandles UNP MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha as UNP MPs were intimidated and pelted with eggs and tomatoes when they arrived at the Rajapaksa bastion for a fact-finding visit. A police officer looks the other way. Pic by Shantha Ratnayake
Casino laws coming again with word game
The Government will make a second attempt to gain parliamentary approval to grant tax concessions to two major projects that have run into controversy over allegations that the move would lead to legalising of the casino business. The amended regulations in which the words “entertainment and gaming facilities” have been replaced with the words “associated facilities”, [...]
Civil Aviation bosses may fly away to Dubai
Civil Aviation Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri and his deputy, Senior Director Parakrama Dissanayake have both applied for the same job abroad — as advisor to their counterpart in the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, reliable sources said. Both officials were not contactable throughout the day yesterday. Several messages left for them remained unanswered. However, Civil Aviation [...]
Huge tax on sale of duty-free permits
A ten per cent tax will have to be paid when vehicles bought on duty-free permits are transferred, the Government has decided.The move would mean persons transferring a vehicle bought from a duty free permit holder would have to pay about Rs. 500,000 in addition to other taxes. According to a new circular issued by [...]
Road terror: 94 killed in nine days
At least 94 people were killed and 150 seriously hurt in road traffic accidents during the past nine days and police attributed most of the tragedies to reckless and drunken driving. In addition, another 243 people suffered minor injuries and were discharged from hospitals after treatment, a senior police officer said yesterday. He said 1,631 motorists [...]
Uni. promotion schemes to be on par with global standards
In a move to bring academic promotion schemes on par with international standards, the University Grants Commission has issued a fresh promotion scheme for professorial positions. The circular, effective from the first of this month, states that all applicants for the position of Associate Professor, Professor or Senior Professor should possess a PhD/Doctoral Degree. The [...]
For protesting students, cause is bigger than Avurudu
Every year, April brings about a cheery and festive mood to Ishara’s residence. The National New Year celebrations are extra festive in her family as it is her birthday too. But this year was different. Her parents were alone during the New Year and celebrations were on low key because Ishara, a first year Allied [...]
Consumers cheated while traders caught in price trap on rice
Efforts by the Trade Ministry to keep rice prices down by imposing price controls on selected varieties has rebounded on consumers with low-quality produce being dished out in the markets. The Government’s decision to impose price controls came a week ahead of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year after many small traders had already bought their stocks [...]
Long arm of the law falls short as thugs hold sway in Rajapaksa-land
Five parliamentarians from the main opposition United National Party (UNP) left Colombo early Thursday on a fact-finding mission to the controversial Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and the neighbouring Magampura Port. The UNP MPs, Ajith Perera, Eran Wickramaratne, R. Yogarajan, Ajith Mannamperuma and Nalin Bandara were accompanied by seven journalists from the national print media [...]
Wilpattu houses under wildlife fire
As the controversy over the construction of houses close to the Wilpattu National Park rages, moves are underway to evict squatters in the northern part of the Park, the Sunday Times learns. Wildlife Director General H.D. Ratnayake said legal action had been filed against 18 families that had built houses at the northern end of [...]
Avurudu in Mannar a truly national celebration with Army, Police backing
Avurudu is all about celebrating hallowed traditions and new beginnings. For those rebuilding their lives in the former conflict areas, there is a sense of peace and prosperity reaching them slowly, but steadily. Mannar town, the bustling modern township is dominated by Hindu temples, mosques and churches, the population is made up of mainly Muslims [...]
Foreign alarm grows at attacks on female tourists
Reports of sexual harassment of Western female tourists continue to haunt the country with the latest being reported last week from Matara. In Polhena, Matara, a 22-year-old Briton lodged a complaint with local police stating that the guide she had trusted to take her on a coral reef exploration had molested her by touching her [...]
Murder most foul: Brutality on increase, say police
The New Year party at which K.T.H. Sameera was enjoying himself turned deadly when a fellow villager turned to him for a cigarette. Many of the villagers of Mahaoya, in the Wagaspitiya area, were at the party on the evening of April 15. An angry Gamini Jinadasa landed one blow after another on Sameera’s head [...]
A CEB smokescreen hiding unpalatable facts from consumers
The Deputy General Manager (Business and Operational Strategy) and Media Spokesman of the Ceylon Electricity Board has responded to the Sunday Times front-page lead story of March 30, 2014. He says in a letter: ‘This article has been written on factually incorrect materials. The Ceylon Electricity Board has not prepared monthly accounts for January, February [...]
Northern CM urges Tamil girls to take to nursing
Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran called upon Tamil girls to get over the issue of taking up nursing because of the social stigma attached to the profession and praised the initiative of the Oxonian Heart Foundation together with the Northern Central Hospital to begin cardiac surgery in the North. Speaking as a one-time heart [...]
Grief amidst New Year celebrations as 94 die in accidents
New Year is all about joy and celebration but the dawning of this year’s Sinhala and Tamil New Year has brought grief to the loved ones of about 94 people who lost their lives in road accidents during the festive week. In the latest tragedy, on Friday, four children were among 10 people who were [...]
President, first family lead National New Year celebrations on an enthusiastic note
President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with members of his family led the Sinhala and Hindu New Year celebrations this year with festivities taking place across the country on an enthusiastic note. First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa lit the hearth at the auspicious time of 10.17 am as the boiling of milk ceremony took place in homes and [...]
Festival free of foul food: Over 700 traders in soup
Four days of raids aimed at cracking down on traders selling contaminated, adulterated and outdated food items unsuitable for human consumption have resulted in legal action against 704 of them during the festive season. “The number of arrests has increased from 387 last year to 704 this year. This has been following raids targeting 158 [...]
Think-tanks say right time to reset Indo-Lanka relations
The Pathfinder Foundation in Sri Lanka and the Vivekananda International Foundation in India have recently signed a Memorandum of Intent to cooperate on issues of bilateral interests, a joint release by the two think-tanks states. Under the heading ‘Resetting Indo-Lanka Relations – Irreversible Excellence is the Goal’, the release states, “with a new government about [...]
Be mindful of those who suffer for the lack of basic requirements of life
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in an Easter message said, “While we thank God and rejoice in the unique gift of peace, let us also be mindful of those who suffer for the lack of basic requirements of life.” “Our Christian discipleship always invites us to care for those in need, as it is our duty [...]
UNP requests Speaker for formal inquiry into attack on its MPs
The UNP has asked Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to hold a formal inquiry into the attack on five of its Parliamentarians which took place on Thursday during a fact-finding mission they undertook to the Hambantota Port and Mattala Airport. Acting UNP Leader Kara Jayasuirya made the request during a telephone call to the Speaker, on the [...]
Stop flow of Pakistani asylum seekers to Lanka
Pakistani Ahamadiyya Muslim asylum seekers living in Sri Lanka have been asked to discourage any more from their community from coming to Sri Lanka. Dr. Ifthikar Ahmad Ayaz, who was in Sri Lanka and is an eminent member representing the world-wide Ahamadiyya Muslim community, has made this request from the asylum seekers’ community concentrated in [...]
Celebrating Easter
A father and mother choosing Easter eggs for their two kids at a hotel in Colombo. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Govt.’s development drive treated as a joke, President tells Mahaweli settlers
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday that the Opposition members had made jocular remarks regarding the development activities undertaken by the Government. “First they said they will turn the Magampura Port into a swimming pool. Then they said they will turn the Mattala Airport into a museum. Our development work has been treated as a joke [...]
We need to build bridges of trust between communities with our lives
Meanwhile Rt. Revd. Dhiloraj R. Canagasabey, the Bishop of Colombo of the Church of Ceylon in a Easter message said “The whole world, and even over beloved nation in its brokenness is in need of Jesus. His soothing Presence, His Love, His Forgiveness, His Restoration and above all His Resurrection Power with signs and wonders. [...]
A social recognition of humans’ ability to overcome life’s trials
In a Easter message President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the celebration of Easter is a social recognition of the ability of humans to overcome the trials of life through the path of salvation offered by Jesus Christ. .The message said: The Christians of Sri Lanka join followers of their faith the world over today to celebrate [...]
May 1 ban on tuition classes
The approval of the Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa is needed to ban tuition classes for students on Poya days, Sundays and other days when important religious functions are held. Consequent to a letter sent by the Buddhist Sasana and Religious Affairs Ministry, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake told a meeting of members of [...]
BBC’s Haviland has to go, says Govt.
A request by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to grant a one-year extension of visa for its Colombo correspondent Charles Haviland has been turned down by the Sri Lankan Government. Instead he has been given clearance to stay three more months with no further extensions of his visa. Mr. Haviland was informed by Immigration officials [...]
Dab it, drink it, eat it: Turmeric’s a medical winner, say experts
Turmeric is an antiseptic and has a host of other health benefits that are not understood or used by the younger generation, say Ayurveda experts. “People know it as a spice but in Ayurveda it is not only a spice — the plant itself is a powerful medicinal herb,” said senior consultant at the Department [...]
Mannar fishermen bury their catch as collection trucks observe New Year
Mannar Island overlooking the Gulf of Mannar is well known for its fishing industry and in addition to providing fresh fish to the market, it is a common sight to see dried fish being made on the beaches. These fishermen are not in possession of modern storage facilities in the form of ice rooms. Every morning [...]
Abimansala in NWP for soldiers set to open this month
Abimansala-3, a wellness resort for handicapped soldiers in the North Western Province, is set to open on April 25. The centre at Pangolla, Kurunegala will accommodate between 50 – 52 soldiers who will receive rehabilitation and therapeutic treatment. The resort, the third of its kind, has eight villas, three cottages, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy facilities. The facility will [...]
Code of conduct for Maha Sangha to be tabled in House: Premier
Prime Minister and Minister of Buddhist Afairs Mr. D.M. Jayaratne speaking at the opening of a Dharma Salawa at Hurikaduwa Menikhinna declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the Sangha ‘Kathikawatha’ (a bill on the conduct for the Maha Sangha) was being tabled in Parliament to prevent defaming as well as maintaining the dignity of [...]
CMC’s 60 million-rupee vehicle deal in double trouble
A Colombo Municipal Council’s General Council Meeting where a controversial vehicle deal worth over Rs. 60 million was to be passed for the second time was postponed this week due to the lack of quorum.Council Member Mahendra de Silva said a majority of the members who opposed the fresh bid to pass the deal avoided [...]
