News
Home » NewsFrom yellow to white, crisscrossing the country
With the Government imposing heavy fines in a bid to curb road accidents, the Road Development Authority is also making an important colour change. The RDA from next week will start changing all zebra-crossings by painting them in white and black instead of yellow and black. RDA Chairman Nihal Suriyaarachchi  said that usually in countries [...]
Dutch firm ups stakes on Airbus A 350 deal
More conditions set, besides huge termination fee of US$ 98 m; Govt. consults AG The controversial payment of US$ 98 million or more than Rs. 14.5 billion to a Dutch firm for the cancellation of the A 350 aircraft ordered by SriLankan Airlines has run into snags.The Dutch firm Aerocap, which had said it had [...]
Education budget: Ministers throw the book at each other
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam yesterday hit back at Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, who had charged that the Education Ministry’s 2017 budgetary allocation was cut because this year’s allocation was under underutilised. Mr. Kariyawasam told the Sunday Times yesterday the allocation was underutilised because of Treasury delays in releasing the funds on time.“Often, the money [...]
1.5 billion-rupee tax bill on Asiri Surgical Hospital
By Namini Wijedasa The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has slapped Asiri Surgical Hospital with a backdated tax bill of Rs. 1.5 billion for allegedly not complying with key conditions in a Board of Investment (BOI) agreement under which the hospital was started. At the time of setting up, the hospital had consented to maintain one [...]
IMF gives another loan of US$ 162.6 million
The International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board on Friday completed the first review of Sri Lanka’s economic performance under a loan facility and has released SDR 119.894 million (about US$ 162.6 million) after expressing satisfaction of the performance. The three-year facility under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement was approved on June 3, 2016 for approved [...]
PM proposes pay hike, extra allowances for MPs
By Chandani Kirinde Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday proposed a salary increase and additional allowances for Members of Parliament. Mr. Wickremesinghe said he strongly advocated a salary hike for MPs and a rise in the daily attendance allowance to Rs. 2500 from the present Rs. 500. He also proposed another monthly payment of Rs. 100,000 [...]
Indian coach companies on collision course over tender dispute
A tender for the supply of passenger coaches to the Department of Railways has been awarded by the Transport Ministry to an Indian company though its prices were more than double those offered by the second bidder. The failed bidder has now taken his case to the Procurement Appeals Board, the ministry’s secretary confirmed. The [...]
Govt. won’t buy vehicles, only lease
The Government henceforth will lease vehicles required by ministries, departments and state institutions, instead of outright purchases. The move is aimed at cutting down costs involved in purchasing, paying for insurance, maintaining the fleet and having large garages with staff for repairs. Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told the Sunday Times the measures would be implemented [...]
Right to life, consent for marriage, Constitutional Court among new features in proposed Constitution
The subcommittee report on fundamental rights has recommended the inclusion of the “right to life” in the new Constitution. The relevant section of the report presented to the Constitutional Assembly yesterday reads: “Every person shall have the inherent right to life, dignity, equality, freedom and security of the human person. Every person shall have the [...]
Civil society activists, Govt. MPs march against corruption
A collective of civil society activists on Friday held a protest march calling on the Government to expedite investigations on corruption and ensure that measures are taken to prevent incidents of corruption and bribery. Activist carrying placards marched from Horton Place to the Independence square where they read out a pledge against bribery and corruption. [...]
Dead youth in MPs house: Govt. Analyst’s report yet to come
Authorities are still awaiting the report from the Government Analyst’s Department regarding a youth who was found dead at the home of MP Wimal Weerawansa. Dr. Prasanna Dissanayake, Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, told the Sunday Times yesterday that he had given an open verdict regarding the cause of death [...]
Divineguma Dept. to become Samurdhi once again
The Department of Divineguma will revert to the Department of Samurdhi when an amendment to the Divineguma Act, No. 1 of 2013 is introduced in Parliament shortly. The amendment will replace the word “Divineguma” with the word “Samurdhi”, wherever the word appears in that Act and other written laws while there will also be a [...]
Another fire at Fashion Bug store
A major fire swept through the premises of a ‘Fashion Bug’ warehouse at Pepiliyana in Nugegoda last night. At least five fire engines and emergency vehicles were sent to the scene by the Dehiwala Fire Brigade to put out the blaze which started in the third floor and spread to the other floors of the [...]
Customs officers’ union lodges protest over re-instatement of retired officer
The Customs Officers’ Trade Union has lodged a strong protest with Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake over a move to bring a former senior Customs officer back into service on contract basis a day after his retirement. The recruitment had been approved through a special Cabinet paper submitted by the Finance Minister. The officer had retired [...]
The misery continues
Six months after the deadly Aranayake landslide, victims who were displaced continue to lead a miserable existence inside tents. Relief provided by the State has also run almost dry. To compound matters, heavy monsoonal rains are now lashing the area, leaving the tents waterlogged.
Bank officials hit out at proposed financial sector taxes
Last week the financial institutions that deal with cash transactions said that the proposals for the banking centre in the 2017 Budget will have a negative effect on its customer base with less people using the bank for financial transactions. Seylan Bank, payment card industry association, Chairman, Jayanath Dias said that the decision to charge [...]
Northern schools to start at 7.30 a.m. from next year
All schools in the North including national schools will adopt the island wide norm of commencing school activities at 7.30 a.m. and wind up by 1.30 p.m. ending a three decade practice of starting at 8 a.m., a circular said. The circular which will be effective from January 2 next year was sent to all [...]
Govt. takes action to avert street protests
Government has decided to establish a new unit to take advance action, as a means of preventing unauthorised street protests by trade unionists, and other organisations. The unit headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police and will comprise a Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Order whose main task will be [...]
TNA rejects steel houses, calls for brick
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) yesterday wrote to the President and Prime Minister saying they are “totally opposed to pre-fabricated steel houses” and called for civilians in the North and East to be provided with traditional brick houses in keeping with their culture and way of life. The letter was signed by all sixteen parliamentarians [...]
Investigations into journalists deaths continuing
The nine year period between January 2006 to January 2015 was deadly for Sri Lankan journalists with 13 killed and 87 others assaulted during this period, Parliament was told yesterday. One journalist, namely Prageeth Eknaligoda went missing, and 20 others were taken into custody during the same period, Law and Order and Southern Development Minister [...]
New Constitution through referendum; politicians decree
Political parties across the board yesterday agreed on the need for the new Constitution to be approved by the people at a referendum after it gets two third approval of Parliament. The strongest call for a referendum came from the leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) R. Sampanthan who said that sovereignty is vested [...]
Traffic fines could be adjusted to match offence severity
A committee studying the huge increase in traffic spot fines is set to make its recommendations by the end of the month as views for and against the proposals flow in. The committee, headed by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, was appointed by Cabinet after protests from the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association about the proposed [...]
Along with increasing fines there should be more awareness
The announcement by Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake in his Budget proposal that the minimum spot fine will be increased to Rs 2,500 has drawn different reactions from the public. Some of them believe that it would be an effective system while others are doubtful. Following is a cross section of peoples’ views: Y. Tiron (37) [...]
Reliance on road fines questioned by experts
The move to rely heavily on increasing fines to minimise traffic accidents instead of opting to enforce other methods has been questioned by traffic experts. Retired deputy inspector-general of traffic, Camillus Abeygoonewardene said escalating road violations could be stemmed by, having a de-merit system, deploying police officers in civies and deploying mobile units using unmarked [...]
SC calls for guidelines to protect Good Samaritans helping accident victims
To protect ‘Good Samaritans’ from unwanted legal and police hassles when they help accident victims, the Supreme Court has called on the Attorney General to appoint a body to recommend guidelines. The court’s order came in response to a fundamental rights petition filed under public interest litigation by Kasun P. Chandraratne, President of the Foundation [...]
Red card for orange uniform: New suits for suspects draw criticism from religious leaders
Justice and Buddhasasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and Prison Reforms and Hindu Religious Affairs Minister D.M. Swaminathan are both claiming ignorance regarding a new uniform introduced by the Prisons Department. Introduced on November 1, the uniform has drawn the ire of Buddhist and Hindu religious leaders who say it offends religious sensitivities. The new uniforms are [...]
Double the tax on imported fish: Ministry
The Fisheries Ministry has recommended that tax on imported fish products be doubled to keep local fish markets steady and minimise low-quality re-exports. The move came as Sri Lanka’s leading seafood exporters started to import fish from the Maldives and send it to the local market causing a significant reduction in prices. They also re- [...]
Travellers scared of running out of cash in India
The ramifications of scrapping Indian Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes are hurting not only the Indian economy but also Sri Lanka’s travel sector, which conducts a large number of tours to India. Normally, December sees a peak in business activity for travel agencies as families take holidays and bookings mount for pilgrimage tours to [...]
Snap raids on markets to stop dynamite fishing
Islandwide raids are underway in major fishmarkets to identify catches harvestedthrough dynamite explosions, following an initial raid at Peliyagoda. “We are planning to conduct similar raids in other markets also as we have received information that significant amounts of fish caught using dynamite are coming into markets. It was also brought to our notice that [...]
MRP mechanism takes away patients’ democratic right of choice
Why is the right of choice of the patient who is the consumer being taken away and who will be the beneficiaries of the price-control imposed on 48 drugs? These are the concerns being raised in a no-holds-barred interview by the head of a pharmaceutical company who is the only person who has come forward [...]
Kids on death row
Last week, a 17-year-old youth from Ilakwatta, Kalutara, was arrested for the murder of his neighbour over a dispute regarding the burning of garbage. It is alleged that he had thrown a stone at the 63-year-old man and the man had died of the resulting injury. On hearing of the arrest, the youth’s father had [...]
Steps to give 1.2m disabled a chance to vote
Braille polling cards, effective access to polling stations and special voting arrangements will be put in place for future elections to uphold the voting rights of some 1.2 million people with disabilities. The Election Commission (EC) is also considering having a wheel chair at every polling centre for those who have mobility difficulties. “This is [...]
Rare night heron found exhausted
A Malayan night heron, a rare migrant bird, appeared in a garden in Thimbirigasyaya this week, spotted by Rajini Jayawardena who lives in Siripa Road last Sunday night. “It was a relatively large bird and was in the garden, hidden in the darkness. It didn’t fly away even when we went closer to it so [...]
Filling of paddy lands to be halted immediately
According to a directive issued by the Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development, applications for filling paddy land would not be entertained in the future. The Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Services M.A.S.Weerasinghe has by letter dated November 3, informed all District Deputy Commissioners of Agrarian Services to stop all procedures [...]
Privatisation of ‘Lanka Salt’ opposed
Plans to privatise ‘Lanka Salt’ in Hambantota has drawn protests from workers and the management alike, claiming that the livelihoods of those who depended on it for several years would be affected. Management has pointed out that the number of employees will be cut if the proposed plan to privatise Lanka Salt goes ahead. General [...]
Don’t monkey around with our monkeys
As monkeys struggle for existence while causing havoc to the people with their monkey tricks, the need to co-exist with our closest animal kingdom relatives was emphasised at an international conference here. The Toque Monkey, better known as the Rilawa, causes more trouble than the Purple-faced Leaf Monkey or Kalu wandura, according to studies. The [...]
Photo focus: A moment for a child please
On Thursday, President Maithripala Sirisena chaired a special discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on the National Child Protection Program (2017-2019). The emphasis was on protection of children. The safety of children should be a priority for all citizens, yet many of us tend to adopt a casual attitude toward this important duty, ofttimes with tragic [...]
