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Home » NewsMeeting top leaders, but also having the common touch
Rudyard Kipling’s immortal words of being able to walk with kings but not lose the common touch are portrayed in these pictures. On Thursday President Maithripala Sirisena went to Moneragala where he met the indigenous people’s leaders, soon after he returned from Goa where he met the leaders of several countries during the BIMSTEC summit. [...]
Attack on nightclub: Probe draws a blank
Police investigations into the attack on a nightclub in Colombo two weeks ago, where a security guard was injured and property was damaged by an unidentified group, has ended without a trace of the persons responsible for the attack. OIC Maradana Police- Chief Inspector Sarath Perera told the Sunday Times that there was no formal [...]
Clerk caught prioritising heart surgeries for ‘something’
An investigation has been launched into an incident where a clerk attached to the Colombo National Hospital (CNH) obtained money to expedite a heart surgery. The clerk had allegedly taken money to ‘jump’ the waiting list and give priority to a patient down the list. The clerk had got the patient to deposit the money [...]
Motion in House to ensure UN 2030 goals are met
A motion signed by fourteen MPs for the setting up of a Select Committee of Parliament to look into and make recommendations to ensure that Sri Lanka achieves the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, will be introduced to Parliament on Tuesday. The Motion will be moved by UPFA MP Duleep Wijesekera and has [...]
Daytime runway renovation: SriLankan slashes 620 flights
By Namini Wijedasa SriLankan Airlines will have to slash a massive 620 flights off its schedule to accommodate the daytime renovation of the airport runway after agencies overrode the carrier’s request for construction to be shifted to night hours. Earlier, the airline had said more than 200 flights would be cancelled. It has now been [...]
Detained Ex-Maldivian Def. Min.’s family calls for his release
Family members of former Maldivian Defence Minister Col (Rtd) Mohamed Nazim this week called on the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the international community to intervene and secure the release of Mr Nazim, who has been under house arrest for the past 20 months. The family members-backed Human Rights (HR) activists and lawyers addressing [...]
Here they come — three more foundations
The trend of setting up foundations in the name of MPs and former MPs will continue in Parliament this week with three new bills scheduled to be introduced in the House on Tuesday. They include the Bill to incorporate the Maithripala Sirisena Lakdaru Diriya Foundation. It will be introduced by UPFA National List MP Malith [...]
Bond scam: UNP MPs challenge COPE finding
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) finding that former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran was directly responsible for a controversial Treasury bond scam in 2015 is being hotly challenged by the United National Party MPs on the committee. It is learnt that the COPE report has also recommended that Mr. Mahendran and officials [...]
UNESCO resolution: Govt. says no change in Lanka’s stance on Palestine
By Sandun Jayawardana Sri Lanka chose to abstain during voting on the United Nations Cultural Agency’s recent resolution on a flashpoint holy site in Jerusalem due to the contentious wording of the text, and the decision does not signal a shift in its stand towards the Palestinian issue, the Government said yesterday. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson [...]
HSBC’s alleged ‘bogus’ Agri-loans hoodwink Monetary Board
By Namini Wijedasa HSBC’s Sri Lanka branch allegedly passed “bogus” loans to agriculture sector clients, to meet a Monetary Board (MB) stipulation that 10% of the loan portfolio of all commercial banks must go towards the agriculture sector, an investigation by the Sunday Times (ST) has found. These loans were passed before the reporting date [...]
JO submits proposals on its stance to new Constitution
The Joint Opposition (JO) has submitted its list of proposals to the Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly, tasked with drafting a new Constitution for the country. The 14-point list of proposals were submitted by JO MPs Dinesh Gunawardena and Prasanna Ranatunga. The proposals insist that Articles 2 and 3 of the 1978 Constitution, which [...]
Navy increases patrols off Kalpitiya to deter illegal fishing practices
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) will increase its patrols in the seas off Kalpitiya to apprehend those using illegal fishing methods, Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi stated. An increase in both day and night patrols in the area would be ffective immediately, he said. While the Navy does arrest those engaged in illegal fishing, Captain [...]
Ministry overturns Cabinet’s award to State-owned Co.
A large portion of the Rs 90 million tender for the supply and delivery of fishing nets has been awarded to several private companies, contrary to Cabinet decision to award the tender solely, to a Treasury-owned company. A joint Cabinet note was submitted to Cabinet by the Ministers of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Amaraweera [...]
Killing of Jaffna students: Five policemen remanded
Five policemen allegedly involved in the incident where two Jaffna University students were killed, were remanded until November 4 by Jaffna Magistrates’ Court yesterday as security was tightened in the Northern peninsula. Security measures were stepped up around Jaffna town particularly the court complex and police headquarters to prevent any unrest or violence. Jaffna Magistrate [...]
Salary hikes: First judges, then MPs
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe has given notice of a motion to Parliament to revise the salaries of the Chief Justice, Puisne Judges, President and Judges of the Court of Appeal in five phases from January this year to January 2020. The notice was placed on the Addendum to the Order Book of Parliament this week. [...]
Did farmers’ fires send the country into darkness?
CEB probe into outage cause turns up reports of cultivation burnoffs By Sandun Jayawardana Authorities are investigating whether fires lit for cultivation purposes caused the tripping of the Anuradhapura-Kotmale transmission line last Saturday. The incident led to the complete shutdown of the 900 megawatt (MW) Lakvijaya coal power plant in Norochcholai, leading to island-wide power [...]
Drug prices slashed with immediate effect
The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 48 essential drugs, in respect of all their branded and generic versions, will come into immediate effect and there will be no postponement of the implementation date, Health Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrema said. The gazette notification was issued on Friday and no manufacturer, importer, trader or pharmacist would be [...]
Four standby power plants to cushion Norochcholai breakdown
By Damith Wickremasekara The Government is to set up four power plants on urgent basis to overcome a short fall of power supplies during breakdowns of the Lakvijaya power plant in Norochcholai, a senior official said. Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary B.M.S. Batagoda said Cabinet had approved the proposal to set up three gas [...]
Perahera tusker felicitated
‘Nedungamuwe Raja’, one of the tuskers in the annual Perahera of the Dalada Maligawa was felicitated for its services at an event organised by the Eksath Bauddha Balamandalaya, Kirindiwela this week. The 63 year old tusker has paraded in the Perahera for 11 years.
Huge North-East housing project: Cabinet nod sought for fresh tenders
By Namini Wijedasa The Ministry of Resettlement has sought Cabinet approval to call fresh tenders for a massive housing project in the North and East. It is also learnt that the number of houses for which the green light is being sought has been significantly increased. The project to build 65,000 houses has been [...]
India-Lanka military exercises starting tomorrow
‘Mithra Shakthi’, the 4th India-Sri Lanka joint training exercise will start at the Regimental Headquarters of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) tomorrow, Military Spokesperson Roshantha Seneviratne said. The exercise being held in Sri Lanka for the second time is designed to enhance understanding of transnational terrorism, inter-operability skills, conduct of joint tactical operations and sharing [...]
No obstacle for AG to indict Tiran Alles in High Court: SC
The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday pronounced there was no obstacle for the Attorney General (AG) to file indictments against businessman and former MP Tiran Alles in the High Court (HC). The pronouncement was made consequent to a clarification sought on the Interim Order (IO) issued by the Supreme Court regarding the former MP. A [...]
Drugs-price slash with immediate effect
The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 48 essential drugs, in respect of all their branded and generic versions, will come into immediate effect and there will be no postponement of the implementation date, Health Ministry Secretary Anura Jayawickrema said. The gazette notification was issued on Friday and no manufacturer, importer, trader or pharmacist would be [...]
Did farmers’ fires send the country into darkness?
CEB probe into outage cause turns up reports of cultivation burnoffs By Sandun Jayawardana Authorities are investigating whether fires lit for cultivation purposes caused the tripping of the Anuradhapura-Kotmale transmission line last Saturday. The incident led to the complete shutdown of the 900 megawatt (MW) Lakvijaya coal power plant in Norochcholai, leading to island-wide power [...]
Baby delivered and tumour removed in single operation
It is a moment of tenderness between mother and baby. S.D. Kanchana Lakmali, 34, holds her baby-daughter close, just a week-old and yet to be named, and looks into her bright little eyes. Unexpected was this pregnancy, so many long years after the birth of her older son and daughter who are 19 and 16 [...]
Improper parking cause of recent fatal accidents: Authorities
By Chrishanthi Christopher Improper parking has been blamed for a series of recent accidents involving speeding vehicles and heavy vehicles parked on the roadside. Last week, popular TV actress Kavisha Ayeshani (24) was killed in a motor accident. The actress was returning home from a party in the early hours of Sunday morning, when her [...]
Level-crossing deaths show alarming increase
By Kasun Warakapitiya The double-powerset passenger train making its way to Maradana from Kurunegala was approaching a railway crossing in the Polgahawela area with engine driver H.D.R.A. Hettiarachchi at the controls with his assistant. “As we headed towards the crossing I saw a motorcycle and van crossing the track while the warning bell and [...]
No RIP for dear departed in Batti
A dispute over a cemetery near Batticaloa town has reached the office of the President. Members of the Amirthakaly Rural Development Society (RDS) have written to President Maithripala Sirisena seeking his intervention to stop the encroachment of cemetery land by a group of persons who want it turned into a children’s playground. The land in [...]
Strokes: One-stop centre for emergency plus long term care
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi A National Stroke Centre, a model for stroke-care in Sri Lanka, is to be set up in Mulleriyawa, with the foundation stone due to be laid in the next three months. As Sri Lanka prepares to celebrate World Stroke Day next Saturday, October 29, the Sunday Times learns that the proposed [...]
SriLankan changes strategy: A330s and regional focus
Namini Wijedasa extensive interview with the debt ridden national carrier’s CEO In a marked departure from the previous management’s business strategy for the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines will focus on becoming a regional carrier flying mostly narrow-bodied aircraft, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Suren Ratwatte said. He also admitted that finding capital to run the airline [...]
Immunisation: Experts urge concerted action to build on Lanka’s success story
Chief Epidemiologist says fair pricing of vaccines can save lives By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Dengue, zika, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Hepatitis C came under the spotlight, with the prevention and control of these infectious diseases which cause much misery and also death to humankind, being discussed at length. It was vaccines which took centre-stage [...]
Hundreds of deathtraps left by lax sand miners
Gem areas also riddled with dangerous pits By Chrishanthi Christopher The hundreds of gaping pits abandoned by sand miners are death traps, authorities said, following community outrage over the deaths of two children who drowned in a pit – and the same problem exists in gem mining areas. Residents of Kochchikade, near Negombo, where the [...]
Two teenagers drown in sand extracted pit
By Richard Walter Perera The two children who met with their deaths while playing in a huge pit from which sand was extracted and subsequently filled with water, at Udangawa –Kochchikade in Negombo, were identified as R.Danush and R. Priyadarshan both aged 13. The two were studying in Grade 8 at Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Thoppu [...]
Sri Lanka’s future hinges on paving a path for 10-year-old girls to thrive, study says
From Kapila Bandara in Hong Kong Politicians must allow Sri Lanka’s 10-year old girls to exercise their rights, stay healthy, complete their education, and decide about their own lives so that the heavily-indebted island will reap economic rewards, a global study suggests. According to estimates by the United Nations Population Fund in a report today, [...]
Photo focus: A city sans rules or regulations
Story and pix by Nilan Maligaspe and Athula Devapriya Shopkeepers, vehicle repair centres and owners of mobile boutiques have arbitrarily taken control of city sidewalks, parking areas and at times even sections of the main road itself in Colombo and its suburbs. There seems to be no authority responsible for regulating parking areas or sales [...]
Land grabbers eye unprotected forests around Sinharaja
Protect these LRC forests immediately – environmental organisations urge president By Malaka Rodrigo Environment organisations fear there is an ongoing attempt to grab forest lands in the vicinity of the Sinharaja forest by individuals and groups.. The scheme came to light when a group commenced surveying around 400 acres of the Delgoda Forest located near [...]
Widowed mother of SLAF officer ‘killed in action’ appeals for redress
By Chrishanthi Christopher The mother of a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) officer who died when his aircraft was shot down by the LTTE 21 years ago, has been denied death gratuity due to a shortfall in the required period of service in the SLAF, has made a fresh appeal to the government to reconsider [...]