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Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, his Indian counterpart Jagat Prakash Nadda, South-East Asia region health ministers and top World Health Organisation officials doing Yoga exercises outside the Galle Face Hotel. They were practising what they preached at the WHO regional convention where the theme was on how to curb the epidemic of non-communicable diseases. Changes in [...]
Move to draw more foreign investment
Govt. to withdraw 300% tax on leasing of land to foreigners; PR for foreign spouses of Lankans under consideration In a major move to draw foreign investment, the Government is to withdraw the 300 percent tax on foreigners leasing land in Sri Lanka and consider offering permanent residency to foreigners married to Sri Lankans. “For this [...]
Army to release another 700 acres
The Army has agreed to release to civilians 700 more acres of private land occupied by it in the Valikamam North area in Jaffna, District Secretary N. Vedhanayagan said.He said this was in response to a request made by him to the military to release 1,500 acres currently held by the Army so that the [...]
Madushanka case in Maldives: Lawyer wants Sinhala translator
By Minushi Perera A translation problem has been raised during the trial of Sri Lankan Lahiru Madushanka who is accused of taking part in a plot to kill Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. The trial of 24-year-old Lahiru Madushanka and two Maldivians has begun with three hearings already concluded in the local language Divehi and translated [...]
UNP pledges to resist foreign interference
By Chandani Kirinde At its 70th annual convention yesterday, the ruling United National Party passed several resolutions including a pledge not to allow any foreign force to threaten the country’s independence or undermine, ridicule or exert pressure on the people’s sovereignty. Prime Minister and Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe submitted the resolution titled “Our Ideology” to [...]
SriLankan, pilots reach deal on alcohol test
By Namini Wijedasa SriLankan Airlines and the Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka have agreed that breathalyzer tests on pilots will no longer be carried out by security officers but by trained medical staff of the company. The test will be conducted in the airline’s Flight Control Centre at the airport with the Ground Safety [...]
Rude shock in the mornings as vendors turn up volume
Doctors warn of risk of strokes, mood changes, hearing loss By Anushiya Sathisraja Kalaieswary Shanmuganathan, 55, is jolted out of sleep every morning by the din of the musical horns sounded by vendors passing by her house selling bakery products.There has been no action by local authorities or the police against the vendors making a [...]
Battle for solar energy begins
By Malaka Rodrigo The government this week launched Soorya Bala Sangramaya (Battle for Solar Energy) with President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurating the programme by lighting his official residence with solar power.The government said it expects the programme to add 200 MW of solar electricity to the national grid by 2020 and 1000 MW by 2025. A [...]
LRC’s questionable leasing out of 528 properties under Rajitha’s watch
By Namini Wijedasa Between 2002 and 2004, Sri Lanka’s Land Reform Commission (LRC) gave out more than 500 of its properties on lease to private parties. It happened under Rajitha Senaratne, who was Project Minister of Lands in the short-lived United National Front administration.. But, in August 2004, Chandrika Kumaratunga, then President, cancelled all land [...]
Lands like no other
Some of the findings of the Committee appointed by the Kumaratunga administration in 2004, to examine land deals under Rajitha Senaratne: The lands were handed out without project proposals being submitted; The Minister and LRC Chairman exceeded their powers in some instances; even the LRC’s Executive Director had approved some applications for lands; The Chairman [...]
Labour Department restructuring runs into dispute
Unionists to continue work to rule campaign A Government proposal to restructure the Labour Department is running into crisis with trade unions threatening to continue a work to rule campaign launched in protest. Labour Commissioner General Chandani Amaratunga said restructuring of the department was long overdue and the Labour Minister had appointed a committee of [...]
Air Force choppers fighting to control Knuckles fire
The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) was last evening fighting to control a fire fast spreading in the Knuckles range with much destruction already caused to the forest. SLAF Spokesman, Group Captain Chandima Alwis said the fire had broken out on Friday evening and was spreading across the mountain due to strong winds. “The situation [...]
Govt. says attackers linked to group sympathetic to LTTE
Lankan HC attack at Kuala Lumpur Airport By Sandun Jayawardana The Government had received credible information which linked those behind the attack on Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Ansar to the ‘Naam Tamilar Katchi,’ (We are Tamils Party) an extremist nationalist political party based in South India, Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Harsha De [...]
New look Jaffna police station
The New police complex in Jaffna was opened by President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday.
BASL to seek revision of ‘Singarasa Case’ judgment
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) will file papers in the Supreme Court seeking a revision of the Supreme Court judgment on the popularly known ‘Singarasa Case’. Former BASL President Upul Jayasuriya, a member of the BASL Executive Committee (ExCo), said the Committee took up a statement made by Prime Minister (PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe [...]
Lottery ticket printer’s contract still in force: NLB Head
Right of Reply The National Lotteries Board (NLB) has drawn reference to the Sunday Times news item titled, “NLB suspends contract of lottery ticket printer found wanting”, published last week, regarding an investigation on an error of some of the lottery tickets printed by a private company. NLB Chairperson Shyamila Perera said the current contract [...]
70th annual convention of the UNP
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe share a light moment during the 70th annual convention of the UNP held at Campbell Park in Colombo yesterday. The President was amused by the tea buns embossed with an elephant that were served at the occasion, one of which the Prime Minister was holding in [...]
UN ‘clarifies’ Sec.Gen.’s comparison of SL with Rwanda, Srebrenica
By Our Diplomatic Editor United Nations (UN) Official Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday clarified UN Secretary General (SG) Ban-Ki moon’s controversial remarks in Colombo last week, by saying he was only engaged in self-criticism of the world body in protecting vulnerable people and that, he did not mean to compare situations in the different countries. [...]
New police division to be opened soon to protect crime victims and witnesses
The Police Department is expected to set up a division to assist and protect victims and witnesses of crime by the end of this month. The inauguration of the unit — prescribed under the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act passed last year — is “tentatively scheduled” for September 29, [...]
President, PM pledge joint effort for reconciliation, economic revival
UNP’s 70th Anniversary Celebrations By Chandani Kirinde President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday pledged to continue to work together, to bring about reconciliation, strengthen the economy and ensure there was no return to the days of the Rajapaksa regime. The two leaders came together at Campbell Park in Colombo last morning, where [...]
Four female cops file FR cases against gender inequality in promotions
By Namini Wijedasa The Supreme Court this week granted leave to proceed with two fundamental rights petitions filed by four senior women police officers seeking gender equality in promotions within the Police Department. The officers, all Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) want the Court’s intervention to increase cadre positions available to females from the ranks [...]
Minister calls for report on road project following ST story
By Kasun Warakapitiya Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Fasizer Musthapa is to call for a report from the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) about the slow progress of the road construction project around Thurstan Road, Royal and Thurstan Colleges and the Lionel Wendt Theatre. “I will look into the matter of the delay in the [...]
All cops to personally endorse ten-point code of conduct
A Code of Conduct for all police personnel, released to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Police, contains a ten-point pledge that each of them needs to personally endorse and adhere to with immediate effect. Superintendent of Police (SP) Ruwan Gunasekera said that copies of the Code of Conduct prepared by the [...]
Lanka underlines science-based development at Colombo symposium
By Malaka Rodrigo A three-day symposium on “Science and Technology for Society” ended yesterday with the adoption of the ‘Colombo Resolution’ – a blue print aimed at incorporating Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Sri Lanka’s Sustainable Development programme. Commonly referred to as the STS Forum, the event — organised by the Ministry of Science, [...]
Almost 600 accidents from growing carelessness on expressway
By Anushiya Sathisraja More than 590 accidents have been reported in the Southern Expressway during the past seven months, a 12 per cent increase over the same period last year. The Road Development Authority (RDA) will launch a traffic safety campaign to educate Southern Expressway users on rules and regulations for safe driving. Posters will be [...]
Chaos and confusion rules at Kochchikade
At Kochchikade in Negombo, a number of nefarious individuals seem to have taken control of state property to run their private business enterprises. For instance a block of land situated by the Kochchikade rail gate and belonging to the railway authorities is being used by a particular female as a private vehicle park for motor [...]
Physical activity takes centre stage at Intl health conference
South East Asian Health Ministers practise what is preached By Kumudini Hettiarachchi With healthy lifestyles high on the agenda as an essential and simple tool in combating the burgeoning threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Health Ministers from 11 South-East Asian nations including Sri Lanka meeting in Colombo left the podium to engage in physical activity. [...]
‘Duminda led gang involved in violence that day’
Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra killing By Manopriya Gunesekera The shooting incident leading to the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others was sparked off due to the actions of former MP Duminda Silva who gave leadership to the group involved in violence on the day of the provincial council elections, the judgment sentencing five persons [...]
Child abduction incident: How serious is the problem?
The abduction of a four-year-old boy had allegedly taken place, amidst reports that the suspects involved had offered money to several mothers in the Puttalam area to persuade them to sell their children, police said. Five suspects, including two women and an Indian national were taken into custody in connection with the alleged abduction. The [...]
KLM returns to Colombo after 20-year break
By Sunimalee Dias KLM, one of the world’s oldest airlines, is resuming direct flights to Colombo from Amsterdam, from November 1, after a 20-year absence (since 1997), largely due to the conflict in Sri Lanka. The resumption, making it the only foreign carrier to operate directly from Europe, will help ease the shortage of seats [...]
Experts raise alarm, dengue rapid test kit withdrawn from Osu Sala
By Chrishanthi Christopher The State Pharmaceuticals Corporation has decided not to sell the Dengue Rapid Diagnostic Kit (DRDK) at its Osu Sala outlets following complaints from health authorities that it will put patients at risk of developing the disease. SPC Chairman Sarath Liyanage told the Sunday Times the decision to withdraw the kit a week [...]
Men at work, but little safety at construction sites
Researcher cum civil engineer calls for policy suited for Sri Lanka and an independent state body to look into safety and health of workers By Kasun Warakapitiya The safety of construction workers in Sri Lanka is a woefully neglected area, a researcher and civil engineer has pointed out. Dushan Dharshana has said his research revealed [...]
Eight people a day take own life
By Anushiya Sathisraja Sri Lanka’s suicide rate remains high with an average of eight persons taking their lives daily but the rate would be 20 times higher if all suicide attempts succeeded. According to Family Health Bureau statistics, suicides in Sri Lanka remain high among all age categories between 17-55 years, with 3,058 suicides recorded last [...]
Pic of the Pix
Pix by M.A.Pushpa Kumara, Indika Handuwala, Athula Devapriya, Amila Gamage and Dammika Nimalasuriya
Sri Lanka formally ratifies Paris climate agreement
By Malaka Rodrigo Parliament unanimously approved ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change two days ago. With this action, Sri Lanka formally joins the list of countries to follow the action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions mooted at the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris last December. The Minister of Science, Technology and [...]
As rubber loses its bounce palm oil seeps in
By Chrishanthi Christopher The loss-making Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) increasingly opt to plant palm oil trees in the traditional rubber plantations, the Plantation Ministry said this week. The RPCs are now turning to palm oil trees in view of the local demand for palm oil for cooking purposes, said Secretary Upali Marasinghe. He said the [...]
80,000 farmers get aid to buy organic fertilizer
By Ravi Shankar Around 80,000 farmers will be given financial assistance by the Government to promote organic farming, an official said. Ashoka Abeygunawardena, head of the National Food Production Programme Unit at the Presidential Secretariat, said organic fertilizer had been produced from cow dung, fish waste and sugarcane waste and it was processed through a [...]
Condemned to lives of poverty
Story and pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa Rural schools in the Matale district are witnessing high dropout rates among students between the ages of 8 and 10. Extreme poverty is said to be the cause of this phenomenon and many of these children are found to be working as manual labourers in sand mining, brick [...]