News

Home » News

China’s power and tower

Chinese workers working on a pylon tower in Norochcholai: Despite the Chinese-built Norochcholai coal power plant being blighted by regular shut downs due to various technical problems, work on a high-tension power line project continues from Norochcholai to Anuradhapura ahead of the inauguration of the plant’s third unit during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit [...]

Canada slams door on Govt. officials

Two senior Sri Lankan Government officials nominated to attend an international conference in Canada have been denied visas to enter that country. The two were to travel to Canada for the International Prison Conference from September 7 to 14, but could not make it due to the visa denial. The two Prisons Department officers who were denied [...]

Deportation of refugees resumes; UNHCR says ‘stop’

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged the Government to stop deportations and provide protection to refugees and asylum-seekers residing in the country. The UNHCR headquarters said it was “gravely concerned about the resumption of arrests, detention and deportation of asylum-seekers and refugees in Sri Lanka”. The UNHCR sad that it had [...]

President Xi’s visit: 20 mega deals in 23 hours

Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for a 23-hour state visit during which he will oversee the signing of at least 20 agreements. Many of the agreements had been received by the Ministry of External Affairs in the final weeks before the proposed visit, leaving officials with little time to [...]

Political granite row in Customs

The decision by Customs Director General Jagath Wijeweera to release two container loads of granite products has sparked off a protest from the Preventive Division which detained the consignment. The containers were released after the consignee, a politically influential person backed by a Cabinet minister, wrote to the Customs Chief saying the products had been imported [...]

Mission heads to carry responsibility for DPL bags

Heads of Sri Lanka diplomatic missions overseas — Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Representatives — will be held personally responsible for the secure despatch of DPL bags from their stations to Colombo.This is the highlight of special instructions sent out to them by External Affairs Ministry Secretary Kshenuka Seneviratne. The move follows the detection of [...]

Ensure 2005-2013 Presidential Commissions’ findings tabled in House: JVP to Speaker

The JVP will appeal to Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to ensure that findings of Presidential Commissions of Inquiry appointed between 2005 and 2013, are tabled in Parliament, so that they can be made public.JVP leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake told the Sunday Times that he will bring up the matter at the next Party Leaders’ meeting [...]

School dengue checks reveal high risk levels

Nearly half the schools checked during National Mosquito Control Week now underway had potential dengue mosquito breeding places and 5 per cent actually had mosquito larvae, officials said yesterday, saying these figures are of particular concern. National Mosquito Control Week, which commenced on Wednesday and will end this coming Tuesday (September 16), is a precautionary mechanism [...]

Ace swindler and accomplices in custody

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the Fraud Bureau and at least four police stations are carrying out parallel investigations about a businessman and his accomplices who have allegedly defrauded millions of rupees from trading partners, police said. The key suspect hailing from Borella and three others have been taken into custody pending further inquiries while more [...]

Problems at design stage, technological and administrative issues causes of Unit 1 failure

The agreements that the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) entered into with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) as well as Swiss project consultants, Poyry, “were weak in the extreme and detrimental to the country,” says Champika Ranawaka, former Energy Minister, in his book ‘Power and Power’. “We later became aware that there had been gross violation of [...]

Norochcholai: Never ending problems in pipeline

The first unit of the Chinese-built coal power plant in Norochcholai started malfunctioning a few weeks after it was commissioned in March 2011. There have been nearly 30 breakdowns since then, sometimes resulting in the plant remaining idle for many days. One of the main issues with Unit I was that its condenser, containing 16,000 [...]

Uva goes to vote – Precursor to bigger elections to come

Food, household goods and cash are being scattered around the Uva Province as campaigning for the provincial election draws to a close, while the army is engaging in heroic parades in the area with, election monitors alleged, the aim of boosting the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance. The final rallies of all the main parties [...]

Judiciary; a citizen-state bulwark against Executive excesses: BASL President

President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), Upul Jayasuriya P.C,, this week hit out at the appointment of the new President of the Court of Appeal, reiterating the need for Judicial appointments to be made on the basis of merit and seniority and not on political considerations. “Due consideration should be given to [...]

Munneswaram festival sans animal sacrifice

The annual festival at the Munneswaram Badrakaliamman Kovil, Chilaw, ended peacefully on Sep 10, following a decision by Kovil authorities not to allow any animal sacrifice offerings. Following the Supreme Court decision that a licence should be obtained from the Chilaw Provincial Council if any animal sacrifices were to be made, Kovil authorities decided against [...]

Dead worker’s family finds it difficult to swallow JMO report

As Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) await a report on the investigations over the suspected food poisoning case at the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) where some 500 garment factory workers fell ill last week, questions have arisen over the death of one of the employees who was admitted to hospital PHI Union Secretary Senerath Bandara said [...]

Every two minutes a bus driver is booked for a traffic offence somewhere in the country, but drivers are fiercely resisting police attempts to discipline them through a system of instant penalties. A staggering 173,000 road traffic offences were committed by bus drivers in the first seven months of this year alone, with drivers of [...]

The newly formed musical group Constellation emerged winners at the TNL Onstage 2014 in the band category. The gala event was held at the Viharamahadevi open air theatre last evening. Nikhil D’ Almeida won the award for the best soloist.

Warnings over fatigue as expressway claims more victims

Thirty-two-year-old Krishantha, lying on a bed at the Colombo National Hospital, lost his right leg below the knee in the freak accident on the Southern Expressway last week that also claimed the right leg of parliamentarian Ajith Mannapperuma. Krishantha is the United National Party (UNP) MP’s police-appointed security officer and has 12 years of VIP [...]

Baby dies after fall from mother’s hand

A four-month-old infant died due to head injuries he suffered when he fell from his mother’s hands in the bathroom, a Coroner’s Court was told. The child’s father, an accountant, said the infant, his second child, fell on the tiled floor of the bathroom at his residence in Moratuwa on Wednesday. He said they rushed [...]

Renovation of Sri Wickrama Rajasinhe’s concubines’ bathing place

Ulpenge or better described as the bathing place of the concubines of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, which another school of thought describes as the time spent by them during their ‘difficult’ days, by sitting around the cool water within, is under renovation. After the British annexation of the Kandyan Kingdom, this building was used as [...]

Light rains make no dent in punishing drought

Despite minor showers in some drought-affected areas over past days more than 1.6 million people continue to suffer from the impact of the arid weather. Many people are still forced to walk or cycle several kilometres to fetch water while farmers have been left idle in most of the drought-hit areas, leaving questions about the [...]

Beach litter makes waves

Mount Lavinia- a key tourist attraction in Sri Lanka- is known especially for its lustrous beach. However environmental pollution is threatening its reputation as a local beauty spot. Dead fish, discarded plastic bottles, cups and cans are strewn in heaps on the beach. Regular visitors claim that the beach is never cleaned. This beach is [...]

Keyhole heart surgery at SJGH opens up new vistas

A tiny wave from his beloved Jayawathi dispelled the tension that had gripped W. Lionel as he peered through the glass walls of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital. Wracked by worry earlier and pacing up and down outside the Operating Theatre (OT), it was only then that he heaved [...]

Thousands of schoolchildren in traditional costumes welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Sri Lanka last week. They danced in sync to local folk songs as his convoy rolled from the airport to the Colombo-Katunayake Highway. It was the first time such a show—using 3,200 students from 22 schools across five districts—had been staged for [...]

Asbestos sheet in roof cut open to gain access

The main suspect in the abduction of a four-year-old in the Digama area in Wellawa was arrested by the police yesterday morning. He was arrested nearly two kilometres away from the place where the abducted child was found on Friday evening. The victim, Pamara Keshani Wijekoon was reunited with her parents by the police following [...]

Customs, CDDRA in hi-tech detection of medicinal drug smuggling

An online system connecting Customs and Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA) is to be set up to share updated information real time, to streamline detection of illegal drug imports. Further, the CDDRA intends to charge errant importers under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act No. 27 of 1980, in addition to the charges [...]

Pope’s visit to Lanka: Small car and simple residence

Pope Francis in keeping with his simple and humble lifestyle and servant leadership, has asked for a small car and will live at the residence of the Papal Nuncio during his visit to Sri Lanka in January next year, a Vatican envoy said. Addressing a news conference at Archbishop’s House in Colombo, a Papal Nunciature official [...]

IGP reads ‘Riot Act’ to Moneragala OICs for inaction against polls violence

Officers-in-Charge (OIC) of police stations in the Moneragala district will be held responsible in the event of election violence, Inspector General of Police N.K. Illangakoon warned yesterday. The warning came at a conference of senior police officers and OIC’s of the Moneragala district where the most number of election violence and violations have been reported. “If [...]

More food for the animals

More food for the animals in Yala, which has been hit by a severe drought, has been pouring in from the public. This week more lorries carrying food from Kandy, Ratnapura, Embilipitiya among other areas arrived at the park. A tusker enjoys the food soon after a truck arrived at the park this week. Pic [...]

Land lease to foreigners face restrictions

Parliament will take up for debate the Land (Restrictions on Alienation) Bill next week. The Bill that was presented to Parliament land Tuesday stipulates retractions on the alienation of lands in Sri Lanka to foreigners, foreign companies and certain institutions with foreign shareholding. It also specifies instances where exemptions can be granted in this connection and makes [...]

India requests release of fishermen and boats

The Fisheries Ministry has sought the Attorney General’s advice over a fresh request from India to release its fishermen and boats which have been detained after they were found to be fishing in Sri Lankan waters, officials said. Early this week Indian High Commissioner Y. K. Sinha sent a letter through the External Affairs Ministry requesting [...]

SLAF aviation unit including helicopters to support UN peacekeepers in CAR

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) is to send an Aviation Unit including aircraft, to South Sudan, on the request of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Force, Accordingly, three Mi-17 helicopters from the SLAF fleet, along with17 professionals of the SLAF and 105 officials attached to other divisions were deployed under the United Nations Multidimensional [...]

Veteran journalist passes away

Veteran journalist and social rights activist Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar passed away on Tuesday at the National Hospital in Colombo after a brief illness. He started his journalistic career at the Times of Ceylon as a sub editor. He joined the Lake House group of newspapers in 1976 and served for 30 long years. He joined the Wijeya [...]

A previous manthri.lk analysis revealed that 20% of Parliamentarians benefited from dynastic influence. On the flipside, how are current Parliamentarians ensuring that their dynasties continue? UNF more dynastic in the past: As a proportion of their coalition, the UNF have benefited more from dynastic influence than the UPFA. 17 of the 42 UNF MPs are [...]

UNCITRAL in Colombo after 20 years

The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law – Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNCITRAL-RCAP) will conduct its South Asia Seminar on September 18 and 19 in Colombo. The two-day seminar will bring in more than 15 foreign experts who would join their Sri Lankan counterparts as keynote speakers, panel discussion moderators and [...]

Colombo University’s hostel facility made self sustainable

The University of Colombo aims at generate sufficient funds to maintain their student residence facilities through the new exhibition and convention centre in Telawala. The centre, designed as part of the Telawala hostel project, will be up to international standards to attract private establishments to use the facilities. The first batch of students moved into [...]

Richmond Group of ’92 20th Anniversary Get-Together

The Richmond Group of ’92 has organised a Get-Together to mark its 20th anniversary, at South Lake Resort Ahangama on Saturday, September 20, from 9.30 am to 4 pm. Music by the Gypsies. For details, call Sajith 0777 303 230, Chandima 0777 304 436 or Aruna 0774 776 828

Schoolchildren were seen enthusiastically browsing through the stalls at the Colombo International Book Fair 2014 organised by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers’ Association, which opened on September 10 at the BMICH, and will go on till September 16. Schoolchildren in their thousands visit this annual fair to purchase books at generous discounts. Pix by Indika [...]

Bens in Shakespeare Drama Competition finals

Performing an extract from “Richard III”, St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, qualified for the boys’ finals of the Inter Schools Shakespeare Drama Competition 2014, held at the Lionel Wendt Theater on September 10 & 11. The Competition, in its 41st year, was organised by the Rotary Club of Colombo and the Central YMCA. Colombo. As many [...]

SB to new varsity entrants: Make SL a different place

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake invited new entrants to universities to think differently, engage in constant research and innovations, to make Sri Lanka a different place. Addressing the newly enrolled undergraduates at the opening ceremony of Leadership Training at the Gannoruwa Electric Engineering and Mechanical Forces base, the minister said that it is important to [...]

Wycherley International commemorates Dr R.L. Spittel’s 45th death anniversary

The 45th death anniversary of proficient surgeon, gifted writer and renowned anthropologist, Dr Richard Lionel Spittel, was commemorated on September 3, 2014 with the issue of a stamp and first day cover. The Wycherley International School (WIS) took pride in organising the event while perpetuating the memory of this iconic patron. The issue took place [...]

Teachers’ Unions at loggerheads over teachers’, Principals’ long overdue promotions

Trade unions are in a war or of words over school principals’ promotions on the eve of the Uva Provincial Council elections, with a pro-government union claiming that the government has agreed to resolve the issues, but a rival trade union disputed the claim. The Sri Lanka Independent Teachers’ Union (SLITU) claimed that the Education [...]

Colombo International Book Fair 2014 draws thousands of schoolchildren and public. Notwithstanding the books, education related equipment too is on display. A schoolgirl attracted to a stall with telescopes. Pix by Indika Handuwala.

Special Unit to conduct Term Tests within WP: WPC Education Ministry

The Western Province (WP) Education Ministry is to set up a special unit to conduct all term tests in the province, a Ministry official said. The unit is being set up to prevent malpractices crippling the WP zonal education office at present. The unit aims to prevent leaking of question papers, and errors in them. [...]

China, SL universities to sign partnership agreements during President Xi’s visit

During the Chinese President’s visit to Sri Lanka, two agreements will be signed for two State-funded universities to share resources and knowledge with Chinese universities. The newly established Ocean University of Sri Lanka in partnership with South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) will sign an MoU to share knowledge through exchange of staff and [...]

Cabinet approves Rs 1,610 m academic building for Postgraduate Institute of Medicine

Cabinet has approved a proposal from Higher Education Minister, S.B. Dissanayake, for the construction of an eight-storied academic building, at a cost of Rs 1,610 million, for the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine. Government will provide funds for the project, while construction is to be completed in 3 years, starting this year. The new building will [...]

Advertising Rates