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Home » NewsDon’t cry mother, they didn’t die in vain
Two of the mothers who sacrificed their sons for Lanka seen weeping at the war memorial in the Parliament Grounds at Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte last Wednesday. President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, government and military leaders took part in this official ceremony to remember those who were killed or disabled in the war. President [...]
CID in Jaffna for full probe on protests
A 15-strong group of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives arrived in Jaffna last night to conduct an urgent probe into a string of incidents that culminated in Wednesday’s attack on the Magistrate’s Court. The probe will centre on the causes that led to the incidents and whether any ‘anti national’ groups were attempting to destabilise the [...]
MR faction seeks nominations for remanded members
The pro-Mahinda Rajapaksa faction in the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is seeking nomination even for its members currently in custody, a spokesman said yesterday. Former minister T.B. Ekanayake said their group would take the position that none of the members in custody had been proven guilty and therefore nominations should be given to them. He [...]
CC takes shape: Members to be named this week
Appointments to the proposed Constitutional Council are to be finalised this week. President Maithripala Sirisena’s nominee to the Council is Power and Energy Minister and Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Champika Ranawaka. Tamil National Alliance Parliamentary Group leader R. Sampanthan has been nominated to represent political parties or independent groups in Parliament other than the ones [...]
Reshuffle of top officials at SriLankan
Several senior officials identified in the report of the board of inquiry on SriLankan Airlines will see their “duties reassigned” next week, authoritative sources said. The management will also seek government consent to an internally drafted restructuring plan. SriLankan has bled an estimated US$ 850 million within the past four years and needs urgent reform. [...]
Panel says highway costs highly inflated
An official committee reviewing the former Government’s highway projects has found several of them to be highly inflated in price but has recommended their continuation on a smaller scale. For instance, the cost of the Outer Circular Highway (OCH) Project Phase III is found to be at least 50% higher than the price based on [...]
Nets within nets: Untangling the problem of illegal fishing in the north
Early this month three fishermen from Jaffna were selling their catch along the main road when a couple of Navy officers stopped to buy some. One of the fishermen thought he would be honest with the officers and had apparently told them that the fish was not good for cooking as they were caught by [...]
Commuters go hungry as rail officials untangle cafeteria mess
Thousands of commuters face daily inconvenience due to the lack of restaurant cars on long-distance trains caused by delays in the approval of food provision tenders. Sixteen long-distance trains, some of which travel for journeys lasting more than 12 hours with more than 2,000 passengers, do not have cafeteria compartments. Mafaz Sanoon, 24, a Batticaloa [...]
JSS boss’s son for Geneva conference; seniors protest
Senior members of the Jathika Sevaka Sangama (JSS), the trade union wing of the United National Party (UNP), are questioning the selection of a junior member to represent the union at the International Labour Oraganisation (ILO) conference in Geneva later this month. They said the selection of Gayan de Mel, son of JSS General Secretary [...]
Govt. loses up to Rs. 300m by reducing registration fee for overseas employment
Government will lose between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300 million annually, compared to its present income of Rs. 1,200 million, following its decision to slash by nearly half, registration fees charged from Lankan workers taking up employment overseas, senior officials warned yesterday. From the start of this month, Lankan workers leaving through a licensed foreign [...]
Shy, elusive and nocturnal otters important for ecosystem
They are shy, elusive and nocturnal. In a clear case of ‘mistaken identity’, the one and only species of their kind slinking around the wetlands of Sri Lanka are often thought to be mongooses and not taken much notice of. Coincidentally though, as the world prepares to celebrate International Otter Awareness Day on Wednesday (May [...]
More rains and hotter days ahead
The Meteorology Department has predicted that showers during the south-west monsoon period are set to get more intense with climate changes taking place due to variability of rainfall in the upcoming weeks. Moderate showers and thundershowers were reported this week from Kalatuwawa, Labugama, Neboda, Canyon, Kukuleganga, Hiniduma and Avissawella, the Met. Department said. The highest [...]
Garbage rots on roadsides as councils fumble for lasting solutions
Bags of garbage scattered on main roads, in front of supermarkets and even medical centres have become a common sight in Hendala, Wattala over the past three weeks. Uncollected garbage bags hang on front fences of properties with maggots crawling over them; flies swarm around them in the daytime and rats and dogs dig into [...]
Environmentalists to fight Wilpattu clearance in court
Despite President Maithripala Sirisena’s order to stop the clearance of forests in the Wilpattu area, the row over the forests dragged for another week with Minister Rishad Bathiudeen justifying his actions while environmentalists fought back, insisting the clearances were illegal. The problem of illegal resettlement inside Wilpattu National Park surfaced earlier this month with social [...]
After rape and murder, fear and tension in Jaffna over covert menace to public safety
Relief as a young woman in Kayts gone missing was found yesterday did not dispel fears over public safety being menaced by sinister forces as a Jaffna court banned public protests – now spreading to the east – in the wake of the gang-rape and murder of schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya. Sweeping changes were made late [...]
State-owned Litro Gas leaks in its tender procedure, selection process
A tender to supply lp gas to state-owned Litro Gas Co. has run into controversy, with allegations of irregularities in the tender procedure and selection process. Tenders to supply 190,000 Mt LPG closed last month with the tenders initially due to be opened on a Sunday. Following objections from the bidders, the tender opening was [...]
Govt. loses up to Rs. 300m by reducing registration fee for overseas employment
Government will lose between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300 million annually, compared to its present income of Rs. 1,200 million, following its decision to slash by nearly half, registration fees charged from Lankan workers taking up employment overseas, senior officials warned yesterday. From the start of this month, Lankan workers leaving through a licensed foreign employment [...]
JSS boss’s son for Geneva conference; seniors protest
Senior members of the Jathika Sevaka Sangama (JSS), the trade union wing of the United National Party (UNP), are questioning the selection of a junior member to represent the union at the International Labour Oraganisation (ILO) conference in Geneva later this month. They said the selection of Gayan de Mel, son of JSS General Secretary [...]
EPF lost over one billion rupees on investments in 2013: PAC
In envestment of funds from the Employees Provident Fund – monies meant to provide social security to workers – caused a loss of over one billion rupees, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has revealed. The financial watchdog of Parliament noted that the man responsible for those investments, the former Governor of the Central Bank has given [...]
Govt. loses up to Rs. 300m by reducing registration fee for overseas employment
Government will lose between Rs. 250 and Rs. 300 million annually, compared to its present income of Rs. 1,200 million, following its decision to slash by nearly half, registration fees charged from Lankan workers taking up employment overseas, senior officials warned yesterday. From the start of this month, Lankan workers leaving through a licensed foreign [...]
Minister Ranawaka launches website at the Sigiriya Rock
The newly updated website of Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka was launched on May 22, in front of the Sigiriya Rock entrance flanked by the two famed lion paws. The Minister said that he completed 14 years as a politician on that day. “It was on May 22 in 2001 that I first took oaths [...]
Noodles under scrutiny for excessive MSG
Two State bodies have been given samples of the popular instant Nestlé’s Maggi Noodles to ascertain if they held excessive Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) as is the case in neighbouring India, senior officials said yesterday. CAA Director Chandrika Thilakaratne told the Sunday Times that several different samples of the product have already been sent to the Sri [...]
SL’s External Debt up by US$ 3.1b in 2014- CB Report
Sri Lanka’s External Debt increased to US$ 43 billion at the end of 2014, up from US$ 39.9 billion in 2013, according to the Annual Report of the Central Bank tabled in Parliament this week. The Report signed by new Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran said the increase was mainly due to the issuance of the [...]
Ambalangoda PS waives the rules
The Ambalangoda Pradeshiya Sabha seems to be a law unto itself. Recently the Pradeshiya Sabha with scant respect to the dead or to the sensitivities of the bereaved it bulldozed the Batapola common cemetery, using heavy machinery. Relatives of those interred charged that the Pradeshiya Sabha obtained neither their permission nor a Court order -both [...]
The “no fire zone” doctor turns up at London Tamil rally
One of the doctors who worked in Mullaitivu during the last stages of the war against the LTTE, and said to have given information to the outside world on the happenings there, was one of the main participants at the “Mullivaikkal Genocide” remembrance day last Monday in London. Dr Thurairajah Varatharajah, a former Regional Director [...]
Two teachers, one student injured in wild jumbo attack
Two lady teachers and a female student escaped with injuries after a lone wild elephant charged their vehicle at a location along the Dambulla – Kandy Road early last morning police and hospital officials said. Police and hospital authorities confirmed that the incident occurred at around 5.45 am at Digampathana, when a group of 12 female [...]
Gems belong to Lanka, regulate the trade
We should not be afraid to speak when what we say is true. We do not need to hide the truth or mislead others. I have endeavoured to stand by this principle. There was an international forum of leading businessmen in the gem trade on Sunday, May 17 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. I was [...]
The light of Thanthirimale
For the 13th successive year, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd will make an offering of light or Aloka pooja at the historic Thanthirimale Viharaya on June 1 and Poson Day (June 2). WNL electrical department staff are seen here attending to wiring work. Pic by Athula Bandara
Uma Oya project cancellation: Worst affected yet to receive compensation
Officers involved in paying compensation to families and individuals adversely affected by the Uma Oya project are blaming each other for the discrepancies that arose in beneficiary lists. Last Monday a heated situation arose at the ceremony organised to pay compensation to the first batch of recipients as residents of the area who were present at [...]
Heightened security at Exams Dept to prevent leaks: Ed.Min.
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has decided to beef up security at the Exams Dept, to prevent leak of question papers. The decision was taken due to the misdemeanours reported at last year’s GCE A/L exam, when parts of certain exam papers had been leaked, while some papers had mistakes. Minister Kariyawasam said that, at [...]
Jaffna schoolchildren protest rape, murder of teenage girl
Students in Jaffna were among those who took to the streets this week to protest against the rape and murder of an 18-year-old girl. Students seen involved in the protest, calling for additional security for children.
Peradeniya University VC application sans date of birth rejected by Council
A candidate for the position of Vice Chancellor (VC) at Peradeniya University, had not stated his date of birth, resulting in the rejection of the application, by the Council which decides on the appointment, to take effect when the present VC, Prof Athula Senaratne’s term expires in August this year. University Dons are of the [...]
SLEAS Union protests irregular appointment to EP Education Ministry
The Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) Union of the Eastern Province (EP) said that the appointment of a member of the Eastern Provincial Council Public Service Commission (PCPSC), as Acting Secretary to the EP Education Ministry, is at odds with the purpose of the appointment. EP SLEAS Union, General Secretary, A.L.M. Mukthar said that [...]
Gifts, grants to Education sector diverted to private institutions by previous government: AVK
Tensions rose between the present and former Education Ministers in Parliament this week, over donations made to the Ministry. Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam charged that, donations and gifts given to the Education Ministry of the previous government, to be distributed to State-run schools, have been distributed to private education institutions affiliated to former President [...]
IT Labs for rural schools islandwide – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Foreign Affairs Ministry, together with its Information & Communication Unit, launched a programme to provide Computer Laboratories to rural schools islandwide, said External Affairs Deputy Minister, Ajith P. Perera. Each of these IT Labs will consist of 10 desktop computers, a printer, a scanner, a projector and screen, a network system, 20 Computer tables [...]
Little Friends Avurudu Ulela 2015
The Little Friends Montessori School of Sirimal Uyana, Ratmalana, recently held its annual Sinhala-Tamil Aluth Avurudu Ulela at the School Premises under the patronage of its Director- Mrs Surangee Baranage. The picture highlights some of the events that took place, such as Kiri Ithireema, Kiribath Kema, Aliyata Eha Thabeema and selection of Avurudu Kumara and [...]
Nalandians Rakitha and Rananjaya win Gold at ISPRO 2015
Two Nalandians did the country proud when they won Gold medals at the International Science Project Olympiad (ISPRO) 2015 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Rakitha Malewana and Rananjaya Subash, both senior students of Nalanda College, Colombo, won Gold for their scientific innovations. Rakitha won for his use of nanotechnology and plant genes to prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus [...]
Fresh Tenders for supply of school uniform material – Ministry of Education
The Education Ministry is to call for fresh Tenders for the supply of school uniform material, following revelations that some samples provided were not in keeping with the required standards, said Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam. The decision came after the Education Ministry called for a report from the Sri Lanka Institute of Textile & [...]
Undergrad monks vow to continue satyagraha against limits on intake
Undergraduate Bhikkus vowed to continue their week-long satyagraha over allegations that State universities intend to limit the intake of student monks. Inside a makeshift tent in front of Fort railway station, student monks lie in protest, waiting for authorities to give a solution to the problem they consider a serious threat to student monks who [...]