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Confusion over who is doing what as subjects change; public officials don’t know what to do Twenty Gazette notifications on changes in recent months There is more haggling in Sri Lanka’s corridors of power than there is in any of the country’s marketplaces. Horse-trading has reached unprecedented levels, resulting in frequent changes within Government. Ministerial, [...]
8 more deaths as viral flu spreads
The death toll due to the influenza virus rose to 32 this week, with eight more deaths and more cases reported, health officials said. The four new deaths were recorded from different parts of the country — Vavuniya, Jaffna, Ratnapura, Kandy and the Southern Province. Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit Senior Registrar Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana,said that [...]
Rajapaksa rejects Sirisena’s ‘distinguished post’ offer
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has rejected an offer by his successor Maithripala Sirisena to appoint him to a ‘distinguished office’ if he quits politics.The offer was made by President Sirisena to a six-member Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on Friday. The committee, named at the SLFP’s National Executive Council meeting chaired by [...]
Borrowing for four months nears the whole year limit
The Sri Lankan Government spending is running out of control with local and foreign borrowings soaring to more than Rs 1.7 trillion during the first four months of this year – an amount approaching the full year’s borrowing limit, Finance Ministry figures reveal. The total amount of loans taken by the Government in little over [...]
Reckless driving now a part of Lankan road culture
An ordinary drive back home from a trip to Bandarawela suddenly took a dangerous turn for P. Janith, 28, when a bus overtaking his vehicle narrowly missed killing him. “I drive a car and sometimes travel long distances. Recently, when I was returning from Bandarawela with my fiancé we nearly met with an accident. A bus [...]
Huge losses for CPC: Cabinet approves new pricing formulaBy Namini Wijedasa
The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) continues to be in the red with losses of around Rs. 6.9 billion up to May 2015, authoritative sources told the Sunday Times. The deficit is a result of selling fuel at prices below cost — up to 25 rupees for a litre of petrol, they revealed. Similar losses are [...]
20A: Revolt by smaller parties
Minor and minority parties will meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today to protest over the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, party representatives said. The meeting will be a prelude to a discussion with President Maithripala Sirisena tomorrow where they will call for the withdrawal of the 20th Amendment that seeks to change the electoral system. [...]
Importers and exporters stagger as dollar rises
The depreciation of the rupee against the dollar has pushed up prices of drugs, imported food and essential goods, with the impact felt hardest in the housing sector. The President of the National Chamber of Commerce, Tilak Godamanna, said imported products were going up in price not only because of the appreciating dollar but also [...]
CMC Commissioner and chief MOH hauled up for Contempt of Court
Colombo Municipal Commissioner, V.K.A. Anura and Colombo Chief Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Ruwan Wijayamuni were directed by the Court of Appeal to appear before it on July 17 over a Contempt of Court charge for continuing an inquiry against Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anna Kariyawasam in violation of a Court order. The [...]
Raids reveal parts go missing before vehicles come to Hambantota port
Ports authorities have defended their workers against allegations that they were stealing expensive vehicle parts at the Hambantota harbour, saying inquiries had proven these components went missing before the cars were unloaded in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the Vehicle Importers’ Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) has submitted a list of proposals to Ports Minister Arjuna Ranatunga [...]
Public awareness on Cancer, Health issues- College of Surgeons
Raising awareness among the public on important Health issues including Cancer, and the dangers associated with seeking medical treatment from unqualified practitioners, will be among the highlights at several upcoming events organised by the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka. Among the events will be a photography exhibition as well as a Walk to educate [...]
Poisons centre docs throw the booklet at jellyfish
Sunny and humid days and the blue waters of the Indian Ocean gently lapping on the shore beckon a large number of men, women and children to take a swim or at least dip their feet in the frothy tide. “Certainly do, but watch out for those beautiful but venomous jellyfish,” warns Dr. Waruna Gunathilake, [...]
Colombo’s ancient trees need to be phased out
Ancient and massive trees like the Flamboyant and Gal Siyambala have added shade and colour to Colombo since British times. While in residential areas like Cinnamon Gardens these trees look smart, in the older commercial quarters of the city they have begun posing a risk to life and limb with branches spreading in a manner [...]
12.42% of city locations visited are potential dengue mosquito breeding grounds: CMC
The results of a survey on dengue breeding grounds conducted in Colombo on Tuesday (16), Wednesday (17) and Thursday (18) have given the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) cause for concern the Sunday Times learns. A total of 7,883 premises comprising houses, state owned institutions, private institutions, bare lands, schools and religious places were visited. The [...]
Sri Lanka on ‘Red Alert’ for MERS virus -Health Ministry
The Health Ministry last week said the country is in a Pandemic Influenza preparedness state to meet any entry of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus into the country. The Health Ministry’s Epidemiology Unit (EU) said that a ‘24/7 Help Desk’ manned by doctors and public health officers has been established at the Bandaranaike [...]
Jaffna Authorities act fast against alarming hike in alcohol, drugs use
Police in the Jaffna district have undertaken special round-the-clock patrolling and formulated an ‘Anti-drug plan’ to eradicate this menace from the region, said a senior police official. Newly appointed Headquarters Inspector (HQI) of Jaffna, Fredrick Woodler, said he has started awareness campaigns on the use of these dangerous drugs in all the schools in the district. [...]
Ratnapura to be first child-free Labour experiment
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has launched its first initiative, to introduce a Child Labour Free Zone in Ratnapura district by next year. NCPA Chair Natasha Balendran said child labour cases were reported highest in the Ratnapura district and hill station areas. “The reason that Ratnapura district is the first to conduct the initiative is [...]
Jail-time friendship led triple murderer to heroin trade
The major heroin-dealer arrested by police had been drawn into the dark trade while in remand facing trial for the triple murder of family members, a police investigation has revealed.A close alliance struck up with a narcotics dealer behind bars led the man into the heroin trade, a senior official attached to the Police Narcotics [...]
Probe on alleged war crimes: Domestic mechanism being finalised, says Acting FM
The legal process for a domestic probe into alleged war crimes is being drafted, Acting Foreign Minister Ajith Perera said yesterday. He said the inquiry would not include international investigators or prosecutors. The process would be finalised by end of August, ahead of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) sessions in September, he said. “This is [...]
U.S. online Visa snag
“The Department of State’s Bureau of Consumer Affairs is experiencing technical problems with its visa system restricting U.S. embassies from printing ‘most nonimmigrant visas and process online applications submitted after June 8, 2015’,” stated a media release from the U.S. Embassy in Colombo on Friday (19). “Colombo visa applicants with June appointments, who completed their [...]
Intermittent thundershowers in Western, Central, Southern, Sabaragamuwa Provinces: Met Dept
The Meteorology Dept forecasts intermittent thundershowers in the Central, Sabaragamuwa and Western Provinces, and in the Galle and Matara districts, with certain areas receiving in excess of 80 mm of rain. Thundershowers are expected to develop at several places in the Eastern and Uva Provinces during the afternoon or evening. The Met Dept also forecasts [...]
India, Pakistan Bhai-Bhai
Y. K. Sinha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka greets the new High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Major General (R) Syed Shakeel Hussain, at the cocktail reception held to welcome him. The Deputy High Commissioner Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Sipra looks on. Pic by Ranjith Perera
N’Eliya powerless after winds blow ancient tree onto electricity pylons
A 100-year-old tree has crashed on four electricity poles in Paranakada Vidiya in Nuwara Eliya, before landing on a parked van, when it was uprooted by high winds, cutting power supplies to the whole of Nuwara Eliya yesterday morning. The Sri Lanka Electricity Board was up and about all day trying to remedy the situation [...]
1 PC dead 10 others injured when their van goes down precipice
One policeman died and 10 others injured in an early morning accident yesterday (20) on the Ingurukaduwa-Passara Road in Buttala. The group of policemen were returning from a function at a colleague’s house, when their van went down a precipice near the Passara Hospital. The injured policemen are undergoing treaatment at the Buttala District Hospital.
CBC cautions against rush to enact 20th Amendment to the Constitution
The Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) in Sri Lanka has called upon President Maithripala Sirisena, the Government and political leaders to provide adequate time to study the electoral reforms envisaged in the 20th Amendment to the Constitution before it is enacted by Parliament. In a statement issued yesterday, Conference members urged that adequate time be given [...]
Two more commissioners to inquire into abductions and disappearances
President Maithripala Sirisena has named two more members to the Commission investigating disappearances and abductions of persons from the Northern and Eastern Provinces, in order to expedite its work. They are retired High Court Judge Tillekeratne Ratnayake and retired Ministry Secretary Hewahettige Sumanapala, who will join Commissioners Maxwell Parakrama Paranagama, Priyanthi Vidyaratne and Mano Ramanathan. The [...]
Foreign Policy: Engage with caution
Amidst the lack of clarity on the policy options on local issues facing the electorate before the forthcoming general election, at least the foreign policy options are now becoming visible. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in a major policy speech to Parliament this week made clear that within the mandate given to President Maithripala Sirisena to [...]
Monk at the centre of sandalwood scandal
The villagers of Nakolagane in Galgamuwa are up in arms against alleged moves by the chief monk of the Purana Raja Maha Viharaya to hand over large tracts of forested land to a multinational company. Around 600 acres, believed to belong to the viharaya, are allegedly to be handed over to the multinational company to [...]
Terrified, asphyxiated, brutalised – the chicken on your plate
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) this week cracked down on poultry stalls operating in filthy conditions and seized some 100kg of chicken, sometimes swarming with flies, as unfit for human consumption. They found chickens being killed on top of plastic crates while chickens marked for slaughter were trapped underneath, covered in blood dripping from above. CMC [...]