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After UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the party’s Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa struck a unity deal on Friday with the latter being assured the deputy leader’s post, they appeared together at the party’s 68th convention at Passara in Badulla yesterday. See details in our political column on Pages 14 and 15. Pic by [...]
New Constitution being planned
Government’s legal advisors are formulating a new draft Constitution for Sri Lanka. Once finalised, the document, a UPFA Government source said yesterday, would form part of the manifesto for the upcoming presidential election. The idea is to obtain a mandate from the people to implement it. Though details of the provisions are not immediately clear, the [...]
Namo, Namo Lanka, Abe comes with deep gratitude
Japan hopes that Sri Lanka’s efforts at national reconciliation, such as expanding the mandate of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Missing Persons, will dispel concerns raised by resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Times. Mr. Abe, who arrives today, [...]
Lanka to train more foreign troops
The Government is to provide more training opportunities for foreign Army officers at the Defence Services Command and Staff College. This will be both on payment and free of charge, in terms of a decision reached by the Cabinet, following a recommendation by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Defence. Free training [...]
Norochcholai stocks run out: Urgent order from S. Africa
Coals stocks to run the Norochcholai Power Project are sufficient only to generate 600 megawatts of power until September 21.The crisis situation has prompted Lanka Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Ceylon Electricity Board, to work out a deal with Singapore Overseas Enterprises Private Limited. This is to get 1.25 million metric tonnes of coal [...]
All ten fingerprints on your passport
The Cabinet of Ministers has decided that applicants for Sri Lankan passports should provide their biometric data or finger prints. For this purpose, the Immigration and Emigration Act is to be amended. The move comes on a recommendation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Defence. The Ministers forwarded their decision to [...]
Big tax increases on imported food items, including milk powder
The Government is to increase import duty and cess on several imported food items which an official describes as ‘semi luxury food items’.This plan to be introduced in the November Budget is to increase revenue from these items by 30 per cent to more than Rs. 60 billion next year from an estimated Rs. 46 [...]
SL psychiatrists seriously alarmed over high local suicide rate
The Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists (SLCP) expressed concern over the alarmingly high rate of suicides in the country which is ranked among the highest in the world. Almost 4,000 individualskill themselves per year, or about 11 per day, with the majority of them between 15 and 44 years. Sri Lanka records an alarming 28.8 [...]
Feeding the Yala animals: More people join the Thera’s initiative
Animal lovers have now joined hands with the Chief Incumbent of the Sithulpawwa Rock Temple in Yala to aid animals in their search for food and water. Though rain is experienced in many areas of the country, the Hambantota District of the Southern Province remains dry without any rain. The dire drought has continued for [...]
Anagarika Dharmapala- A life dedicated to Buddhism and a Sri Lankan identity
In their lama sarees the choir of Ananda Balika Vidyalaya reverently raised their voices in salutation. Maha Nayake Theras and Chief Incumbents of various temples, members of the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust, relatives and invitees gathered at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies, on September 1, to kick off commemorations marking the [...]
Fire at SPC in Fort
A fire broke out yesterday morning at the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) in Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha, Colombo Fort, destroying files and documents. The fire broke out around 4.30 a.m. causing severe damage to the SPC office and the garage. However, drugs stored in the basement of the building were not affected, police said. Fire [...]
These commandos not for the comrade!
This is not a military escort for the veteran trade union leader Bala Tampoe’s funeral procession. As Mr Tampoe’s funeral procession with a three-wheeler leading it makes it way to the General Cemetery, Borella a military bike squad rehearsing passes by. Mr Tampoe was the Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) General Secretary for 62 years. Pic [...]
Govt. flinging State resources into Uva campaign
Vehicles belonging to ministries, corporations and departments have been observed in the Moneragala and Badulla districts amid complaints of misuse of state property and resources in campaigning for the Uva Provincial Council polls due in less than two weeks. The Human Rights Commission (HRC) on Thursday summoned Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and four other senior [...]
Private bank manager diddled docs
The manager of the Anuradhapura branch of a private bank has been taken into custody for defrauding over 23 doctors to the tune of nearly one billion rupees by promising to invest their money in Treasury Bills but instead lending the money to third parties at a higher interest rate. The man who had been [...]
Mihin Lanka seeks to go back on Boeing lease deal
Mihin Lanka is negotiating with a US aircraft leasing company to cancel orders for two Boeing 737-800 aircraft for which contracts have already been signed, authoritative aviation sources said. The loss-making budget carrier is trying to modify its agreement with the California-based Air Lease Corporation (ALC) so that it can lease two Airbus planes instead. [...]
N’Eliya bumper potato harvest to be distributed as drought relief
Drought-affected peoplewould be provided potatoes as part of the food relief package offered by the government, officials of the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat said yesterday. They added measures had been taken to purchase the bumper potato harvest in the Badulla district and distribute them at controlled prices via the CWE. The move comes in the [...]
Samples of impounded, endangered Rosewood in special US lab for indentification
Samples from 28 containers of smuggled Rosewood impounded by Sri Lanka Customs in April, are being tested in a special laboratory in the US to determine their species and origin, officials said. “A total of 84 small blocks- three per container, are now with the US Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory,” said Chris Corkey, [...]
Over 24,000 to enter state universities this year
More than 24,000 students have been selected to enter state-run universities this year, University Grants Commission (UGC) Additional Secretary Dr. Priyantha Premakumara said. The UGC released cut off marks of students who sat the G.C.E Advanced Level Examination (A/L) for entrance to the university in 2013 under both new and old syllabuses. Accordingly, the cut [...]
Health union threatens more of the same bitter medicine if demands not met
Trade unions affiliated to the Joint Council of Professions Supplementary to Medicine (JCPSM) warned yesterday that they would resume their strike in two weeks if the government failed to meet their demands. The strike that crippled national hospitals islandwide was called off on Monday following discussions with Health minister Maithripala Sirisena. It was launched on [...]
Over 24,000 to enter state universities this year
More than 24,000 students have been selected to enter state-run universities this year, University Grants Commission (UGC) Additional Secretary Dr. Priyantha Premakumara said. The UGC released cut off marks of students who sat the G.C.E Advanced Level Examination (A/L) for entrance to the university in 2013 under both new and old syllabuses. Accordingly, the cut [...]
Planned, pre-advertised power-cuts short circuit lives and livelihoods
Power-cuts in the past two weeks had caused business losses and left students studying by candlelight, enraged residents and business owners in the Nugegoda, Wijerama and Borelesgamuwa areas complained. The Lanka Electricity Co. (Private) Ltd (LECO) states the power-cuts were pre-advertised and were for planned maintenance work. However, residents claimed they were not informed. E. [...]
Mavai elected as ITAK’s new leader
Tamil National Alliance National List Parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah was elected as the new leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi — the main constituent party of the TNA — at its annual convention in Vavuniya yesterday. Prior to being elected to the post, which had been held by TNA Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan since 2004, the [...]
Re-beautifying a beautified city
Colombo city and its outskirts are getting another facelift. This time to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, today and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Labourers and contractors were seen working round the clock to add glamour to Colombo City. Alluring lighting, especially of the newly built Polduwa arch bridge near Parliament junction, [...]
Legislation coming to ensure food safety
With the growing incidence of food safety issues, the Government is to introduce new legislation to ensure food safety and regulate the flow of imported food items including milk powder The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Act will soon be amended for this purpose and stringent action taken against unethical advertising, labelling and misleading marketing campaigns [...]
Govt.’s Witness and Victim of Crime Protection Bill at last
Government will present the long-delayed “Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses” Bill to Parliament on Tuesday. The Bill gives effect to appropriate international norms, standards and best practices relating to the protection of victims of crime and witnesses, and also provides for the establishment of a national authority in this connection. [...]
Baby-sale brokers ruthless in exploiting parents’ hardship
At just eight days old, little Achini*, sold by her mother and father to buy a roof over their heads, has lost both birth and adoptive parents. Today, she is under probationary care at a state home in Panadura following the arrests of her parents and the couple who bought her for Rs. 50,000. Two [...]
Innocents tortured in house of shameful secrets
A mother who begged a neighbour for work so she could buy food for her children; a mother who was sad last week because she couldn’t afford to buy a birthday present for her daughter; a mother who this week kicked and strangled the same daughter to death. Living in flea-ridden hovels right in front [...]
Rubber cheque man nabbed
A 43-year-old man who had defrauded several businessmen in Colombo by buying goods from them at wholesale prices but paying with cheques that bounced, has been arrested by the Wellawatta Police, along with three others. The man who had a store house in Narahenpita used to purchase goods wholesale at amounts ranging from Rs. 500,000 [...]
Rage over rice
Despite rhetoric about raids on hoarders to bring down the price of rice, consumers continue to pay more while big-time millers are being accused of manipulating the market and creating a shortage. Last week, Deputy Internal Trade Minister Hemal Gunasekera told the Sunday Times that the ministry and the Consumer Affairs Authority would carry out [...]
Dengue drive fails to prevent sharp rise in infection
Despite an islandwide anti-dengue drive the number of dengue cases showed a significant increase this year compared to the corresponding period last year. Health Ministry figures show the total number of cases reported for July this year was 5,574 as against 2,924 cases last year while in August this year, 3,556 cases were reported as [...]
