News
Home » NewsCEB helpless; so they turn to the deities for rain
With one of the worst ever droughts posing the threat of daily power cuts, the Ceylon Electricity Board’s Welfare Association’s Ratnapura branch members held a Aloka pooja at the Saman Devalaya in Ratnapura. With CEB engineers and other experts finding that the crisis is beyond their control, they have now turned to Saman deity to [...]
Another international money swindling racket detected here
Yet another global money laundering scam, on the heels of the mega US$ 100 million Bangladeshi Central Bank fraud, foiled by an alert Sri Lankan bank, has been nipped in the bud, again by a local bank. Ironically, the latest transactions took place on March 2nd and March 4, the same days Chinese hackers transferred [...]
Don’t keep people in the dark, tell the truth and impose power cuts: CEB engineers
The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union has urged the Government to tell the people the truth about the multiple crises in the electricity sector and impose daily power cuts for at least one hour. “There are plans to buy another 100MW of emergency power. We are at a critical juncture. Even if 100MW of power [...]
Hack-in heist: Main culprit still at large
While Bangladesh investigators are to visit Sri Lanka in connection with the US$ 100 million hack-in heist that has rocked the global financial world, the main culprit in Sri Lanka is still at large, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) sources said. A senior CID officer told the Sunday Times that the NGO Shalika Foundation which had [...]
Use less water or face cuts
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) yesterday warned of possible water cuts if the prevailing drought conditions continued. General Manager B.W.R. Balasuriya told the Sunday Times that the water purification plants were working beyond capacity and the Board might have to impose cuts if the consumption patterns continued.“The consumption has increased due to [...]
Discount if you use less electricity
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) will offer discounts on bills of domestic consumers for reduced consumption. The CEB has been instructed by the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy to prepare a mechanism to offer discounts to consumers who use 10 percent less than the average monthly consumption. Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya [...]
More than 70 tough conditions set for Port City developers
The permit granted by the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department (CC&CRMD) to the developers of Colombo Port City is highly conditional with more than 70 environmental stipulations attached to it. The permit provides a valuable insight into a multitude of environmental issues that will arise as a result of the project. It recommends [...]
Daily Lankadeepa wins SLIM-Nielsen Peoples’ Award again
The Daily Lankadeepa won the SLIM-Nielsen Peoples’ Award for the 10th consecutive year yesterday at a gala ceremony at Waters Edge. Here Daily Lankadeepa Associate Editor Indrani Peiris is seen receiving the award from award committee member Roshan Fernando. Pic by Gayan Amarasekera.
SLFP meeting in Matara disrupted by Qualified Graduate Teachers sans appointments
A tense situation arose yesterday when a group attempted to obstruct a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) meeting in Matara attended by United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera. The meeting had been organised by Southern Province Education Minister, Chandima Rasaputra, with UPFA General Secretary and Minister Amaraweera in attendance as chief guest. [...]
RTI Bill now before Parliament, but several no-go areas
The long-awaited Right to Information (RTI) Bill that seeks to give every Sri Lankan the right of access to information which is in the possession, custody or control of a public authority was presented to Parliament on Thursday by Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Media Gayantha Karunatillake. The Bill which was gazetted in January was [...]
Easter messages from the President and PM
Easter symbolises Christ’s supreme sacrifice for humankind: President Sirisena President Sirisena in his message said that Easter symbolises the supreme sacrifice made for humankind by Jesus Christ. “Christian devotees celebrate this day because the Christ, through his limitless sacrifices, succeeded in rising to the supreme divinity. This is an occasion that reflects the values of [...]
SLFP meeting in Matara disrupted by Qualified Graduate Teachers sans appointments
A tense situation arose yesterday when a group attempted to obstruct a Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) meeting in Matara attended by United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Mahinda Amaraweera. The meeting had been organised by Southern Province Education Minister, Chandima Rasaputra, with UPFA General Secretary and Minister Amaraweera in attendance as chief guest. [...]
Tender procedure for 65,000 houses flawed and fraudulent: Chief Opp. Whip
Chief Opposition Whip JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, on Thursday, questioned the tender procedure adopted in awarding the contracts for the construction of 65,000 houses to resettle displaced people in the North. He alleged that the process lacked transparency and a massive financial fraud had occurred during this tender procedure. He said the cost of [...]
Govt. plans in place as Lankans return in numbers from TN
The Government has formulated a comprehensive national policy to step up the resettlement process in the former war torn areas with the voluntary return of thousands of Sri Lankan refugees living in Tamil Nadu, a senior official of the ministry said. Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs Secretary V. Sivagnanasothy told [...]
Let us not waste, but live simply
We should set an example before advising others. I would like to inform the people about some action taken by us on important issues. At this year’s Navam Perahera we distributed a leaflet indicating that on every full moon Poya day, we would conduct a small ‘Mal Perahera’ with the participation of children. We conducted [...]
Double-effect of extreme weather
Temperatures in the Northern, North-Central and North-Western provinces could rise 5-10C this year, sobering news following the World Meteorological Centre’s announcement that 2015 was the hottest year in recent times. There are signs this year that the country will face extreme weather events in two different regions. While the western plains will be bracing for [...]
Scouts Association President -Batuwangala no more
The funeral of the President of the Sri Lanka Scout Association and former Chief Commissioner, Chandrasena Batuwangala will take place today (27) at the Mount Lavinia General Cemetery. He passed away on Friday.Mr. Batuwangla started his scouting career in 1947 at the 23rd Colombo Scout Troop at Girls Cathedral College, also known as Gal Palliya [...]
One side has water, the other is denied
The drought setting in is set to create a major water crisis, particularly for farmers as they prepare for the coming Yala cultivation season. Water levels in tanks and reservoirs are dropping. A visit to the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts provided a glimpse of the hardships faced by the farmers and residents. The ancient Hakwatuna [...]
Badulla-Batti road renovation to start in September
The renovation of the Badulla – Chenkalady (Batticaloa) road spanning a distance of 120 kilometres is due to commence in September, a senior official of the Higher Education and Highways Ministry said. Ministry Secretary D.C. Dissanayake said the stretch from Badulla to Bibile – a distance of 60 kilometres – is to be renovated at a [...]
Tea production plummets
The prevailing drought has had a severe adverse impact on producers of both low-grown and high-grown tea, with many struggling to cope due to a sharp drop in production. “There has been no rain in this area for 48 days. As a result, our produce for March is down by 75 per cent compared to [...]
Heatstroke: A possible hazard with the current weather conditions
Heat stroke results from prolonged exposure to high temperatures and with the influence of global warming it is predicted that the incidence of heatstroke and its fatalities will also become more prevalent. Heat stroke often occurs as a progression from milder heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting), and heat exhaustion. Heatstroke is [...]
Dairy farmers bemoan lack of water, fodder for their cattle
The excessive heat is also affecting farmers engaged in animal husbandry around the country. “In protecting our cattle, the main obstacle currently is the prevailing dry climate,” said the Animal Husbandry Committee member H Priyantha. Among the farmers who raised their concerns was B. Sarath of Waligammulla, who said, “Through the Farmers’ Association we got [...]
‘Little England’ wilting under the scorching sun
Nuwara Eliya, the hill station that many people head to in April to beat the heat is also withering in the unusually hot weather prevalent in the rest of the country. Vegetable cultivations and tea plantations are drying up while drinking water is fast becoming scarce. With National New Year just 15 days away, vegetable [...]
Life-saving IM adrenalin jab answer to killer allergy
A rice and curry meal nearly killed him. He was at home out of Colombo when the ‘so-called severe allergy’ struck him. Rushed to hospital the medical staff carried out the protocol that they thought was right. What they did not do was give him a quick jab of essential adrenaline intramuscularly (IM Adrenaline). At [...]
New NICs next year after amendment to Registration of Persons Act
Amendments to the Registration of Persons Act which would include the introduction of biometrics to the National Identity Card (NIC) will be taken up in Parliament for approval next month, the Department of Registrar of Persons (DRP) said. The approval when granted will give the green light to the DRP to go ahead with issuing [...]
Kochchikade: The forgotten town
The bridge commonly known as “Maha Palama” which connects the Kochchikade town, to the North and North East Provinces and serves as the gateway to Colombo is in a dilapidated state due to the failure of local authorities to maintain it. A number of other roads in the city too are in a badly neglected [...]
Wildlife officer connives to ‘relocate’ and sell captive baby elephants
They posed off as Wildlife Dept officials involved in relocating elephants, while actually, they were poachers capturing wild baby elephants for sale. Whenever they were accosted by the police, one of them who was a serving Wildlife officer, would produce his official identity card claiming they were on ‘official duty’. This is what the Criminal [...]
Rising prices put basic bread out of reach for poor
The increase in the price of flour is sending the price of bread and other flour-based products out of reach of poor people who depend on them as cheap food. Bakers, caterers, restaurant owners are planning further increases after a kilo of wheat flour increased by Rs. 7.20. As an immediate result, bread was increased [...]
Authorities despair at public unconcern over dengue
Arrests are being made over dengue breeding sites as despite high mortality rates piles of rubbish, discarded containers collecting water and uncleaned premises continue to act as fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes. “The reason we resorted to making arrests is because it would make people take notice and this makes them take extra precautions,” Director [...]
Photo focus: Beating the heat
The heat wave experienced throughout the country is no closer to ending. With little rain expected until May and temperatures set to climb even higher in April, there is no relief in sight. Whereever one goes, the effect of the oppressive heat can be seen and felt. Doctors have advised people to drink a lot [...]