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Home » NewsSurvived Tigers only to be attacked by private bus thugs
This off-duty soldier was critically injured in Friday’s attack on public buses near Medawachchiya. He is seen being treated at the neurological intensive care unit of the Anuradhapura Hospital. Pic by Athula Bandara
Govt. considers bringing EPF, ETF under Treasury
Proposal to work out new social security scheme for private sector By Damith Wickremasekara With the objective of introducing a pension scheme for private sector employees, the Government is considering a proposal to bring the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees Trust Fund (ETF) under the Treasury, a Cabinet minister said. Labour Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne [...]
Mobs attack 128 buses, 30 injured, soldier critical: Govt. backtracks in face of strike threat
By Kasun Warakapitiya A day-long strike on Friday by private bus operators crippled services and forced the Government to re-think imposition of enhanced traffic fines. The state owned Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB), which had increased its operational fleet, was unable to cope with the passenger demand. Protestors badly damaged 128 of its buses. Stone [...]
SriLankan Airlines: Three bidders to meet Cabinet committee
Three bidders shortlisted for a management stake in cash-strapped SriLankan Airlines will hold discussions with a Cabinet committee this month to clarify, among other things, their strategy for the national carrier. “The shortlisted parties will be spoken to by a committee appointed by the Cabinet,” an authoritative source said. Depending on the outcome of the [...]
Central Expressway: Chinese firm likely to get Stage four
The Highways Ministry is seeking approval to hand over the construction of stage four of the Central Expressway between Kurunegala and Dambulla to a Chinese firm. The funding for the project will come as a loan from the China Exim Bank and the project is due to be completed within three and a half years. [...]
CE third stage: Bids being evaluated before approval of EIA report
By Namini Wijedasa The Highways Ministry is evaluating two bids for the third section of the Central Expressway (CE) even before the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project is approved by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). Two Japanese companies have made offers and these are under consideration while “ninety percent” of people whose [...]
Bill to facilitate overall National Policy formulation
The Government will introduce a Bill in Parliament shortly to facilitate the formulation of a National Policy on all subjects including the Accelerated Economic Development of Sri Lanka. The Bill provides for the establishment of a Policy Development Office (PDO) which will operate under the Prime Minister who is also the Minister of National Policies [...]
Security tightened in Batticaloa to prevent communal clashes
Security in and around Batticaloa town was tightened last night with the deployment of additional police and Special Task forces personnel to prevent a possible clash between two communities. Earlier in the day, a tense situation arose when police stopped a group led Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Galagoda-atte Gnanasara Thera from proceeding to Batticaloa [...]
New vehicle ownership rule eases tracing errant motorists
The new rules introduced by the Government to track down motor vehicles with open papers has eased the tracing of vehicle owners involved in accidents, the Traffic police said. DIG, Traffic, Palitha Fernando said the introduction of the new rule will enable the Motor Traffic Dept (MTD) to nab motorists involved in hit-and-run and drunk [...]
18 three-wheeler drivers remanded for unlawful assembly
Eighteen three-wheeler drivers and a bus driver who were arrested during a protest on Friday, were yesterday remanded till next Friday (9) by Negombo Acting Magistrate Shantha Niriella. They were charged for unlawful assembly at the Galkanda Railway crossing and blocking both the rail tracks and road traffic. Hundreds of train commuters were held up [...]
11th Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference in Colombo
Delegates attending 11th Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference being held in Colombo visited the historic Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. Picture shows Chief Incumbant of the Viharaya Ven Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera explaining the artwork in the temple to the visiting delegates.
Indian academic’s proposal for joint fishing rejected by Mannar fishers
A proposal by an Indian academic for joint fishing by Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait, without engaging in bottom trawling, was rejected on Friday by Mannar fishermen. At least 37 fishermen from Mannar representing Pallimunai, Pesalai, and Talaimannar fishing villages were invited for a discussion with Prof. V. Suryanarayan, a leading [...]
Patients become pawns in GMOA’s fight against Govt.
Patients islandwide faced immense difficulties due to the token strike launched by members of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) this week. The GMOA said they were striking for an increase in their allowance and for the Government to drop the proposed new taxes they claimed would hurt Medical Officers. Many patients reacted angrily to [...]
Navy, Coast Guard to check dumping of plastic waste in Lankan seas
The Fisheries Ministry has requested the Navy and the Coast Guard to inspect all fishing vessels that are leaving or returning to port to check for plastic objects after a internal study found that nearly five tons of plastic waste are dumped in Lankan seas, a senior official from the ministry said. The study which [...]
Lotteries board says tender not awarded
The National Lotteries Board (NLB) said the tender for printing and supplying instant/scratch lottery tickets which closed in April this year is yet to be awarded. The NLB referring to a news item in the Sunday Times last week said that the tender is being evaluated by the Standing Cabinet Appointed (Special) Procurement Committee (SCAPC) [...]
‘Fostering strategic maritime partnerships’ underlines this year’s forum
Exploring ways of fostering stronger partnerships to counter maritime threats and challenges was the main focus at ‘Galle Dialogue 2016′ held this week at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. In its 7th consecutive year, this year’s theme was ‘Fostering Strategic Maritime Partnerships.’ The two-day conference organised by the Ministry of Defence and the Sri Lanka [...]
Separate area around Parliament complex for demonstrators: PM
The spate of protests around the Parliament complex in the past week, that hindered the movement of MPs, to and from Parliament, led to suggestions yesterday that a separate place be demarcated for protestors, and that, the High Security Zone (HSZ) around the area be re-demarcated. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said that, any person has [...]
Govt. willing to discuss LG polls under PR system with Opposition
The Government is willing to discuss with Opposition political parties, the possibility of holding the next Local Government (LG) elections under the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, Parliament was told yesterday. “If the Joint Opposition (JO) and the JVP are agreeable to holding the elections under the old system, the Government is willing to discuss [...]
Navy to hand over new church in Kachchativu
A newly built Catholic church in Kachchativu island is officially going to be handed over to the Diocese of Jaffna next Wednesday by the navy who were commissioned to carry out construction work on an uninhabited island in the Palk Strait. The church built by the Diocese of Jaffna at a cost of nearly Rs.15 [...]
Arjun Aloysius: The James Bond of bond business
Just three days after last year’s presidential election, someone predicted the Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) bond issue on an online website for stock market investors. The man wrote on Sri Lanka Equity Forum: “Perpetual Treasuries owned by Free Lanka Capital Holdings owners will mostly get a large amount of business volumes of Treasury Bills and [...]
‘Tormented’ commuters tell Govt. to stand firm against strikers
Ruchira Rumesh Hemamal, 24, from Kiribathgoda was on his way for his first job interview in Borella on Friday. He had spent nearly four hours waiting for a bus. “I left at 7.30 in the morning to go for the interview but when I reached Kiribathgoda to take a bus I was told that only [...]
Foreign tourists stuck
Foreign tourists were also among those caught in the bus strike. Most were only able to take trains and taxies to reach their destinations. Sofi Mattingley (24), an Australian national, said she had been able to travel on time as trains were working. She had taken the Galle train, which while an archaic train, had [...]
New vehicle ownership rule eases tracing errant motorists
The new rules introduced by the Government to track down motor vehicles with open papers has eased the tracing of vehicle owners involved in accidents, the Traffic police said. DIG, Traffic, Palitha Fernando said the introduction of the new rule will enable the Motor Traffic Dept (MTD) to nab motorists involved in hit-and-run and drunk [...]
More deaths at protected railway crossings
Far more railway crossing accidents occur at protected rather than unprotected crossings, Railways Department records show. There were 62 accidents resulting in nine deaths on protected level crossings this year compared to 15 on unprotected ones with no fatalities. Last Sunday alone, five people lost their lives at a crossing in at Poddaramulla, in Pothupitiya, [...]
Post procedure deaths at NHS: Was inquiry into mishaps exhaustively carried out?
Was an in-depth situation analysis carried out with regard to the deaths of the four patients who underwent a common heart procedure this week at the Cardiology Institute of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka? This was the question of utmost importance being asked in health circles as the three-member team appointed to probe the [...]
In spite of clear ‘no no’, Lankan boat people keep coming
The head of Australia’s border protection operation says he cannot understand why there are still Sri Lankans attempting to enter the country illegally by boat. Since Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) started in September 2013, Australia has turned back six boats with a total of 105 people to Sri Lanka. The last one was detected as [...]
N-E monsoon can bring heavy falls everywhere
Weather experts warn the north-east monsoon could bring falls of up to 100mm in coming weeks around the country after months of mixed weather patterns. The Eastern, Northern, North Central and Uva provinces and the Matale and Hambantota areas can expect scattered showers during the day with the possibility of thundershowers in other parts of [...]
Supreme Court raps Mervyn and police goons for wall-breaking
The Supreme Court this week held that former Minister Mervyn Silva, when he was Deputy Minister of Highways and Road Development had led a team of persons to destroying a citizen’s parapet wall and toilets while the Police in the area of Kiribathgoda provided security for the illegal operation. The then Deputy Minister had personally [...]
Stink rises as plastic waste clogs recycling centre
A garbage and compost recycling facility operated by the Ja-Ela Pradeshiya Sabha has become the rubbish dump for the entire Ja Ela area, angry residents say. Six years ago, the residents of a housing scheme at Ekala allowed the Pradeshiya Sabha to set up a local recycling centre but the site has become a huge [...]
Pollution hotspots along Kelani mapped
All the main pollution sources along the Kelani River have been mapped by the Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL) to prevent a repeat of the disastrous leakage of diesel fuel into the river in August last year. Flowing through highly-populated and highly-industrialised zones the Kelani, Sri Lanka’s fourth-longest river, is also its most polluted waterway. Waste [...]
Photo focus: Stop this menace… clear the roads
The recent spate of street protests which occurs almost on a daily basis is causing grave inconvenience to the public. These protests in the city’s capital bring daily life to a complete standstill. Traffic is brought to a complete standstill and protesters seem increasingly intent to conduct their protests with the sole intention of causing [...]