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Candlelight vigil for Peshawar victims

Move to impersonate 100,000 foreign workers suspected

In a bid to prevent the alleged impersonation of more than 100,000 Sri Lankans living in Kuwait, independent monitors yesterday demanded that the passport of those who have come from abroad be produced as proof before they are allowed to vote. The Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) spokesperson Keerthi Tennakoon said they had [...]

Raging floods in six districts: 40,000 displaced, transport hampered

Raging flood waters that hit the districts of Batticaloa, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Trincomalee and Mannar yesterday left more than 40,000 people displaced; road transportation crippled and hundreds of acres of paddy land inundated. The eastern district of Batticaloa was the worst hit with more than 30,000 people displaced. The AGA divisions of Kiran, Valaichchenei and [...]

Five injured as goons attack Ranil’s meeting in Haputale

At least five people, including the main opposition United National Party’s chief organiser Senarath Jayasinghe were injured when suspected pro-government goons stormed an election propaganda meeting in Haputale last evening, police said. The attack took place inside the Hindu Cultural Centre Hall in Haputale shortly before UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Uva Provincial Council [...]

Polls monitors at only 300 of 1,115 counting centres

The Elections Commissioner will permit polls monitors to be at only 300 of the 1,115 counting centres for the presidential election. The decision was conveyed to the election monitors on Friday at a meeting with Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya. Seven election monitoring groups will have to share the 300 slots among them in consultation with the [...]

China again: Rs. 2b rail-bus terminal in Hambantota

A combined bus and railway terminal is to be constructed in Hambantota town at a cost of US$ 16 million (Rs. 2 billion) by a Chinese company, the Government has decided. Construction of the project by the China Harbour Engineering Company would begin early next year and was expected to be completed in one and half [...]

Police OIC to be charged for act of cowardice?

Police said they are contemplating action under the provisions of the Police Ordinance against the Wanduramba Police Station OIC for an act of cowardice in failing to prevent Deputy Minister Nishantha Muthuhettigama from forcibly freeing three suspects who were in Police custody. The three men were taken in on suspicion that they had set fire [...]

Defence Ministry clearance required for foreign observers visiting North: Spokesman

International Observers (IO) visiting the country to monitor the presidential election will require a ‘special clearance’ along with a recommendation from the Elections Commissioner, to visit the Northern Province for monitoring purposes, Military spokesman Brig. Ruwan Wanigasuriya said yesterday. “We have not lifted the restrictions on travel to the North. Foreign nationals will not be [...]

Polls Chief guides media on Presidential election

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya this week requested all Media institutions to follow the guidelines he has laid down in respect of the presidential election to be held on January 8. He said that, during the period of an election, the Media have a special responsibility to encourage the participation of the public in the democratic [...]

Lawyers’ group gives notice to KMC Commissioner to remove polls posters. cut-outs

Lawyers for Environment headed by its President Shanti C.Ratnayake has called on the Kandy Municipal Council Commissioner to remove banners, posters and cut-outs of the respective Presidential candidates It says the normal levies for displaying banners and cut-outs due to the Kandy Municipal Council, have not been recovered. It points out that if these posters [...]

Victims twice over

Sweat pouring down his face, 70-year-old Ranulu Emis Singno is digging out the foundations of his former house. He musters all the strength in his scrawny body for each hammer-blow on the structure. The blistering sun shows no mercy as he painstakingly digs out the foundation stones one by one. Since Mr. Emis Singno’s house [...]

End is nigh for Maithri and his achcharu coalition

I feel it is my duty to respond to the comments of my unseen friend Viruddha Pakshikaya last week, as he has attempted to paint a bleak-and false-picture of Sri Lanka under President Mahinda Rajapaksa — and is already behaving as if the election has been won by Maithripala Sirisena. I’m told that the joint [...]

Tsunami survivors fighting for survival

To the inhabitants of Austrian Tsunami Village at Galagoda in Galle, though a decade has passed since the Boxing Day tsunami of December 26th the disaster is no distant memory. Life has moved on, but eking out a living has not been easy. The houses gifted to them by the Salvation Army under Austrian funding [...]

The choice of rapid road building as a catalyst to economic development, particularly post-war, is a judicious and timely strategy that must be commended. When properly planned, highways should deliver benefits much greater than the cost of construction, thus contributing towards economic growth. However, higher construction costs and poor planning lead to inadequate benefits that [...]

The escalating presidential election violence took to hand-to-hand fighting on the streets of Haputale yesterday when pro-government goons stormed and attacked a UNP meeting to be addressed by National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The inset picture shows the police shielding the suspected attackers. Pix by Shantha Ratnayake

State resources ‘manipulated for Rajapaksa’– polls monitors

Opposition parties and election monitoring bodies allege the government is using an array of state and public resources to boost ruling party candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa in the presidential elections due in three weeks. A podium prepared for a rally by National Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Maithripala Sirisena was set alight by an unidentified group in [...]

Illegal cutouts reappear as fast as polls officials take them down

Men get out from mini-lorries with bundles of posters of presidential candidates and a buckets full of glue to plaster walls with election propaganda while larger-than-life cutouts of the candidates and their banners remain on streets, a blatant violation of election law. “The Commission is struggling with a shortage of manpower to deploy officials throughout [...]

“Call for early presidential poll to know your opinion”

“The need of the hour is to defeat the Western powers and their stooges who are planning to divide our country into pieces,” stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the SLFP rally held at the Shalika Grounds in Kuliyapitiya on Wednesday. Addressing his supporters, he declared that the large numbers gathered to listen to him was [...]

Wheels within wheels – buses used for election propaganda

The misuse of state-run buses for the re-election campaign for President Mahinda Rajapaksa is costing the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) money and depriving the public of regular bus services, mostly in remote areas, a trade unionist charged this week. Trade unions are planning to take action against top officials of the SLTB by complaining [...]

“End to political instability and Rajapaksas’ dynastic ambitions”

”Speaking at the rally at Avissawella, Opposition’s Common Candidate Maithripala Sirisena said that Mahinda Rajapaksa will have to leave for good after the January 8 elections. He said he would put an end to the current political instability and to the dynastic ambitions of the Rajapaksas, and promised a multi party government with political stability, [...]

Almost 14% of postal vote applications rejected

Of the 626,953 postal voters, nearly 85,000 applications of State employees and Defence personnel have been rejected by the Elections Dept, said Deputy Commissioner of Elections M.M. Mohamed. He said applications were rejected on the grounds of eligibility, providing false information, delays in forwarding applications, and in some instances more than one application from one [...]

After a walk through an alley barely three feet wide, we ascended a flight of steps strewn with cigarette butts, crumped pieces of newspaper and banana skins. We are in the heart of Pettah, the country’s commercial world. Here, we watch public health officials of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) check one of those ‘eating [...]

Kiwi legend Garratt Williamson to boost local referees’ society

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union in their quest to reach great heights and run under the watchful eyes of its President Asanga Seneviratne is making every endeavour to uplift the sport from all angles. For starters the depleted and current sorry state of rugby referees affairs is about to get a shot in the [...]

Judge Abeyratne moves to SC

Court of Appeal Judge Upali Abeyratne was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge this week. Mr. Abeyratne was the third senior most judge in the Court of Appeal after Justice Anil Goonaratne and Court of Appeal President Justice Vijith Malalgoda. Meanwhile Civil Appellate Court Judge Shereen Madawala has been appointed to the Court of [...]

Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe’s mother passes away

Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe’s mother, Ms Yuvan Seneviratne, passed away yesterday. She was 80. Her remains lie at 51/5, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. Cremation will take place at the General Cemetery, Borella, at 3 pm today.

Annual year-end dinner on Friday night of the century old association of lawyers

Voetlights Society, the century old association of lawyers had their annual year-end dinner on Friday night at the Cinnamon Grand Oak Room. The society was formed to honour the memory of a famous Roman Dutch law jurist Johannes Voet. At the high table are left to right D.M..Swaminathan (last year’s president of the society), chief [...]

Christmas Eve mid-sea swap of fishermen

The Government was yesterday considering a Christmas Eve mid-sea swap of local and Indian fishermen, a Senior fisheries Ministry official said.Fisheries Ministry Secretary Damitha de Zoysa said this was in response to an Indian Government decision to release 30 Sri Lankan fishermen along with 19 vessels now held in Tamil Nadu. “India is insisting that [...]

Hanged: Kingpin in attack at Lahore on Lankan cricket team

The suspected mastermind behind the bloody attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore in 2009 was hanged on Friday along with another terrorist suspect, foreign media reported. Aqeel Ahmad alias Dr. Usman was captured at a location in Lahore in October 2009 after he was injured while trying [...]

Maitripala to address Business Forum on Tuesday

The New Democratic Front Presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena will address a Business Forum on Tuesday (December 23) at 10.30 a.m. at the King’s Court of the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. Accompanying Mr. Sirisena will be UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who will speak on the policy framework for boosting socio-economic development within a stable policy environment. The [...]

BASL invites Presidential candidates to debate

The Bar Council of the BASL (Bar Association of Sri Lanka) yesterday decided to invite the two main Presidential candidates Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena to a debate on the Rule of Law, Independence of the Judiciary, Good Governance, including the control of corruption on a mutually agreed date under its auspices. A committee comprising [...]

Bad weather is causing havoc again, with many parts of the country experiencing heavy rains, floods, landslides and strong winds. The North Central, Eastern, Uva and Central provinces are currently experiencing heavy rains while floods are reported in the Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Mannar and Puttalam Districts. Over 5,000 persons are at present reported displaced due [...]

Now, it’s beginning to look like Christmas

With less than a week for Christmas, the festive feeling is slowly descending on Sri Lanka, aided by the Pope’s scheduled visit in January. In Colombo city, roundabouts are sprouting Christmas trees while Baby Jesus sleeps in a stable outside Churches and Christian schools. Established businesses beautify their shops with baubles, tinsel and gold stars [...]

SLFEB’s ‘Rataviru’ programme ordered closed by Jan.8, before Jan.30 schedule

A Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLFEB) programme known as ‘Rataviru’, launched on Monday this week, to help dependants of Sri Lanka’s migrant workers, was scheduled to end January 30, 2015, but has now been ordered to be completed on or before the Presidential Elections on January 8. According to SLFEB sources, the new [...]

Education Ministry to identify ‘Best Classroom Practices’ in Govt. schools

The Education Ministry has decided to identify Best successful Classroom Practices with regard to teaching -learning process in State schools, to be included in a Resource Manual to be compiled next year. The Ministry also intends to prepare a Resource Directory to assist in developing professional competencies of teachers at school level, and raise students’ [...]

Shorter name, wider curriculum to attract students to Technology institutes

The Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technology Education (SLIATE) will be known as the Advanced Institute of Technology (AIT) from 2015, and also undergo several changes in its course curriculum, in a bid to attract more students next year, said Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr Sunil Navaratne. Along with this, the 2015 student intake into [...]

Close encounters with denizens of the Wild

With the onset of school holidays, children are visiting the Dehiwela National Zoological Gardens in increasing numbers. At the start of the school vacation in December, the Young Zoologist’s Association released Research books and papers on animals, as well as conducting fun activities with the visitors.

GCE O/L ended on Dec.19, paper marking commences on Dec.28

The GCE O/L 2014 which began on December 9 concluded last Thursday, 19. A total of 578,135 candidates including 370,030 school candidates and 208,105 private candidates sat for the exam, said the Government Information Dept. The exam was conducted at 4,279 centres islandwide including in Nainativu (Nagadeepa), Analaitivu and Delft Island, supervised by a staff [...]

Cabinet approves 2-storeyed building at over Rs 90m for Bhikku Uni.

Cabinet approved the construction of a two-storied building at the Buddhasravaka Bhikku University for a dinning hall and a multipurpose student centre. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake proposed the construction of the building, estimated at more than Rs 90 million.

NCE student’s monthly allowance hiked by Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000: BG

The National Colleges of Education (Teacher Training Colleges) students’ Rs 2,500 monthly allowance will be increased to Rs 4,000 from January next year, said Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena. He said this at a ceremony held at Siyane College of Education in Gampaha, to hand over hand tractors under the Divi Neguma programme, to 18 National [...]

Degrees for Govt. schools’ IT teachers: Education Ministry

With the increasing demand for qualified teachers in Information Technology (IT) in government schools, the Education Ministry has initiated a plan to offer IT Degrees to teachers of the subject. Education Ministry’s IT branch jointly with the University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC) will conduct the Degree programmes for teachers of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) [...]

LTU agitates against illegal Teaching appointments, hijacking O/L candidates’ buses

The Lanka Teachers’ Union (LTU) complained against 175 persons being given voluntary teaching appointments in the Southern Province (SP), and against the hijacking of transport services which severely handicapped GCE O/L candidates. LTU Secretary, Joseph Stalin complained to the Elections Commissioner (EC) that the appointments handed over by SP Education Minister Chandima Rasaputra at the [...]

Planetarium in for major facelift in 2015

The Planetarium situated at Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha, Colombo 7, opened as part of the 1965 Industrial Exhibition, is to get a major facelift in 2015. These will include the renovation of the Planetarium, as well as the installation of adjustable chairs for visitors, adjustment to the existing universal projector, while the construction of an Exploratorium [...]

SL’s UCC envoy appointed its Sec. Gen.

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador General of the United Cultural Convention (UCC), Dr M.H.C.J. Ian was appointed its Secretary General recently. The certificate of appointment was presented to Dr Ian at a colorful ceremony held at the International Congress of Arts, Communications, Science & Technology, Queens College, University of Cambridge, England, by International Biographical Center Director General, [...]

Kalaimagal statue unveiled in Batticaloa school

A Kalaimagal (Sarasvati) statue was unveiled at the Navatkadu Namagal Vidyalam in Batticaloa by its Principal, T. Gopalapillai. Head of the Ramakrishna Mission in Batticaloa, Swami Sudarpanana G. Maharaj was the Chief Guest on the occasion.

Several Mahindodaya programme Labs handed over to students

Several laboratories were this week handed over to students in the Wayamba and Western Provinces under the Mahindodaya Thousand Secondary Schools Development Programme. The laboratories in Senerath Paranavitana Vidyalaya in Udugampola, Ananda Vidyalaya in Dewapola, and Burullapitiye Maha Vidyalaya were opened by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena. The laboratories in [...]

NDF Manifesto pledges 7% of GDP for Education

New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Maithripala Sirisena in his manifesto on Friday made a series of pledges regarding Education which will be implemented, if elected President. The following are some of the highlights of Mr Sirisena’s manifesto regarding Education. The total provision for Education will be increased from the present 1.7% to 7%. A regulatory [...]

MR enabled N, E children showcase their talents by ending the war: BG

Minister of Education, Bandula Gunewardena stated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has enabled children of the North and the East to showcase their talents, by ending the war. For a long time, children from these areas were denied opportunities to display their talents, said Mr. Gunewardena at the awards ceremony of the second National Languages Education [...]

Ruling Party abuses Education sector for electioneering violating polls laws: TUs

Education sector Trade Unions alleged that current campaigning tactics of the ruling party was a severe abuse of State property and that, it undermined the Education system. Highlighting several incidents that have taken place this month alone, Ceylon Teachers Union General Secretary, Joseph Stalin told Education Times that, consequent to the President’s excessive campaigning, many [...]

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