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Home » NewsPutting body and soul into public service
In a healthy move to improve the fitness and work of public servants, the Southern Province Sports Ministry has asked public servants to do various exercises before they start work to serve the people. Public servants are seen engaged in such exercises at the Matara District Secretariat. Pic by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk.
SL-Maldives spat over alleged plot to kill Yameen
Sri Lanka-Maldives relations took a plunge yesterday as the Government of Maldives said last night that a Sri Lankan citizen has been arrested for “conspiring to assassinate” President Abdulla Yameen. The announcement came in the official twitter account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Male. It said “A Sri Lankan citizen is under Maldives [...]
Procedural issues may delay local council elections
Procedural issues are likely to delay the conduct of local council elections scheduled for March next year. Firstly, an official committee now reviewing appeals will need at least two more months to complete its report. The report is likely to be ready in February next year, according to Provincial Councils and Local Government Deputy Minister [...]
Ven Sobitha Thera critically ill in Singapore hospital
The Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera, who played a key role in the campaign to defeat the Rajapaksa regime, is critically ill at a hospital in Singapore, a spokesman said yesterday. The prelate, who was flown to Singapore on Tuesday for urgent medical treatment, after suffering from several complications, including heart failure, is being attended to by [...]
Cloud over drug control as chairmen clash
With investigations into multibillion-rupee heroin rackets being dragged on like many other probes, a new crisis has erupted in the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB), which plays a key role in busting drug rackets..The newly appointed Chairman, retired DIG Sirisena Herath is to meet the President Maithripala Sirisena tomorrow to clarify the legitimacy of [...]
Lanka piles more billions onto foreign debt load
Sri Lanka continues its borrowing spree, adding several billions to its massive debt load by issuing yet more debt — a US$ 1.5 billion 10-year international sovereign bond. Sri Lanka will pay a higher 6.85% annual interest on the additional billions borrowed. Just months earlier, the Government borrowed US$ 650 million through a 10-year sovereign bond [...]
Detainees reject bail, seek general amnesty
More than one hundred prisoners who have been held on terrorism charges in prisons islandwide will begin a fast unto death tomorrow demanding they be released on a general amnesty. They say they are opposed to the moves to release them on bail since there has been no credible evidence to charge them. They alleged [...]
Wasantha de Zoysa killing: Four more suspects in custody
Four more suspects allegedly involved in the attack on a nightclub in Anuradhapura, and the murder of its owner, were taken into custody, raising the number arrested to 32, said a senior Police officer involved in the investigations. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Athula Weerasinghe told the Sunday Times that police believe all the suspects [...]
Latest stamp enveloped in dispute
Sri Lanka’s most recently issued stamp with its first-day cover has run into controversy on the basis that it has failed to meet the requirements of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute. The controversial stamp was launched to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand during President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to that country [...]
Deepavali is in the air
Hindu devotees countrywide are getting ready to celebrate Deepavali on Tuesday. Among them are those in the upcountry who are seen purchasing goods in preparation.This is a scene captured in Hatton town yesterday. Pic by G.K.Krishanthan
Colombo resident apologises to Rotary International President, pays Rs. 10,000 to charity
A Colombo resident, Amrit Muttukumaru who was brought to court on contempt charges, on Friday, tendered an apology to Rotary International President, Sri Lanka-born K.R. Ravindran, and agreed to pay Rs 10,000 to the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, in settlement of the case. Mr. Muttukumaru of Rosmead Place, Colombo 7, also promised never to address [...]
The Poppy Day at the War Memorial today
The Poppy Day to remember soldiers killed or injured while fighting for their country will be marked at the War Memorial at Viharamahadevi Park today. A rehearsal for the ceremonies to mark Poppy Day was held yesterday. Pic by Indika Handuwela
Statutory rape: Laws to change age of consent
The Government is considering changing the laws dealing with statutory rape to allow partners who are below the age of consent to engage in physical relations, if the age difference between them is around three years. The changes have been recommended by the Law Commission of Sri Lanka. The change is being proposed as more [...]
COPE, PAC increased to 24-members each following Opposition demands
The number of members to be appointed to the two Parliamentary oversight committees, the Committee on Public Enterprise (COPE) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was this week increased to 24. This was after several Opposition lawmakers had wanted more MPs named to the Committees following Speaker Karu Jayasuirya’s announcement of 12 members each, named [...]
Land Bank in Western Province for local and foreign investors
The Government is to establish a ‘land bank’ in the Western Province where local and foreign investors will be able select lands for investment purposes in the Western Province, a senior ministry official said. Secretary to the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Province Development, Nihal Rupasinghe said identification of the lands to be demarcated for [...]
Cleaner hit by speeding bus dies in hospital
A 41-year-old man was hit by a speeding bus in Wellawatta, and flung against an iron railing, leading to his death, a coroner’s court inquiry was told. The victim, Thalarambage Gamini Fernando, a bachelor, was employed as a cleaner by a private company .On Friday the victim had been working in a house in Wellawatte. [...]
My son is a lion, my baby is an orangutan
Want to adopt a naughty chimp, an adorable baby orangutan or a majestic lion with a flowing golden mane? Then call the National Zoo on a special hotline to add a new member to your family or your firm. Although you won’t be able to take your adopted pet home, you will have a greater [...]
Flurry of investigations into bloody attack on students
A week after students and police clashed at Ward Place, Colombo 7 three separate committees are trying to determine causes and parties responsible for the key issues that led to the fracas in which at least 30 students were injured. The committees were set up by separate parties including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe after Higher [...]
Landslide warnings mean little to those who have no place to run
As fresh warnings of landslides continue to be issued, most affected plantation workers are struggling to find safe accommodation with no alternatives offered to them, workers and officials said. The latest warning was issued on Friday for eight districts. The warnings said there could be landslides in the Monaragala, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Kalutara, Kurunegala [...]
Met Dept forecasts hot mornings and wet windy, wild evenings through November
Incessant rains prevalent in the country will continue islandwide through November, as the low pressure areas remain above the country, the Meteorology Dept. warns. “The intensity of rain will increase significantly from today, over western Sri Lanka, and most probably, within the next two days several areas of the country will experience heavy showers and [...]
It rained fish in Anuradhapura
Residents of Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura, had a surprise last Sunday evening when live fish fell from the sky. Residents of this small town of Maithiripura in the Anuradhapura area said that, at around 5.30 pm. there had been a heavy downpour, when suddenly they saw tiny fish slithering in the rain water. W.B. Lakshman, a resident [...]
Coordination and planning nets prestigious prize for LRH heart staff
Three mothers and three children, a 12-year-old, a two-month-old and a six-day-old, from across the country, amongst numerous others……winners all the way! Although a beautiful plaque stands on a ledge in the doctors’ room amidst three huge teddy-bear soft toys, for want of a place to keep it, the true ‘prizes’ are the thousands of [...]
Perishing powerlines put people in peril
The electrocution of three soldiers in Galle by a falling 11, 000 watt power cable along the coastal line in Galle last week has raised questions of the safety of these lines. Residents complain that regular checks are not carried out and such checks were necessary as the power lines could get corroded as they [...]
Daylight robberies on the rise, even temple not spared
Theft and burglary are on the rise with even places of religious worship not being spared. Recently, the Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya was robbed in broad daylight. The suspect had reportedly walked casually into the chief incumbent’s room and walked out with Rs.860, 000. The chief incumbent Rajamaha Viharaya Urulavathethe Dhammarakkitha Thera was on a visit to [...]
Thousands of parents targeted in motorbike safety campaign
Police have slapped more than 39,000 stickers on motorbikes on which kids have been riding without helmets, warning parents to take greater care about motorcycle deaths the number one killer on the roads. Most of these deaths are related to traumatic head injuries that can be minimised or prevented by helmets, Deputy Inspector-General of Police [...]
Inclement weather brings the sting back, warn health officials
The prevailing weather is causing concern among health authorities as the number of dengue cases has increased since last month (October). Till then there was a downward trend in the number of cases, the Sunday Times learns. In spite of the increase the Epidemiology Unit says in comparison to the past fouryears, this year has [...]
Slow death in oceans from millions of tons of plastic waste
People concerned about the chunk of space debris expected to fall into the sea close by this Friday should be more worried about the tons of earthbound debris that enter the oceans, with Sri Lanka ranking fifth among countries releasing plastic waste into the sea. Marine litter affects all the world’s oceans and causes injury [...]
Police barracks or line rooms
You wouldn’t guess it, but the over a century-old, long low building in the heart of the Nuwara Eliya town are the living quarters to 11 married police constables and their families attached to the N’Eliya police force. The living conditions are abominable, with leaky roofs made up of ancient Sinhala-clay tiles dating back to [...]
Avant Garde, theatre of coarse governance or, how not to govern
JVP MP Anura Dissanayaka: It was the public outcry against growing corruption and the need to punish who are involved in these acts that brought about the change in government. However, since of late, public disquiet is growing as investigations against those engaged in large scale corruption has not been expedited, while serious allegations are [...]
MAS Holdings prove their prowess
MAS Holdings PLC proved their prowess in Badminton when they swept the board to win the Men’s and Women’s ‘A’ Division championships at the 32nd Inter Firm Team Badminton championship 2015 concluded at the Mercantile Badminton Headquarters courts.MAS Holdings Men emerged winners when they scored a 3-0 win over Hatton National Bank while their women [...]