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Home » NewsAll’s not well at this end of the well
With Sri Lanka being hit by the worst drought in recent decades, all’s not well at the end of this well. At Pasyala in the Gampaha district, with even drinking water hard to get, this boy in desperation uses a rope to get to the bottom of the well and get some water for the [...]
IMF demands sale of assets
Urgent moves to avert economic crisis; Lagarde here next Sunday Crucial discussions are under way with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on measures needed to stave off an economic crisis — the result of issues arising from servicing foreign and local debts. The move comes ahead of an impending visit to Sri Lanka by Christine [...]
No amnesty but provision to bring back legitimate foreign money
The Government will allow Sri Lankans holding undeclared funds in foreign banks to repatriate them to Sri Lanka if they have earned them through legitimate channels. The decision to attract such funds was made by the apex body headed by President Maithripala Sirisena. This body now monitors the workings of the Cabinet Committee on Economic [...]
Bond issue: All JO MPs to testify
The ‘Joint Opposition’ will call upon all its 51 parliamentarians to testify before the Commission of Inquiry probing the Central Bank bond scam, its leader Dinesh Gunawardena said yesterday. He said they would make representations to the Commission with regard to the matter. “Every member of the JO is privy to some aspect of the [...]
Power crisis: No tax cuts for fuel, but emergency measures
By Damith Wickremesekara The use of furnace oil and diesel for power generation due to the prevailing drought will cause the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) a loss of Rs. 51 billion over the next six months, a senior official said yesterday. Power and Renewable Energy Ministry Secretary B.M.S. Batagoda told the Sunday Times this projection [...]
Illegal fishing: The Sunday Times invokes RTI law to get to the bottom
By S. Rubatheesan As many as 641 permits were issued to foreign fishing vessels between 2012 and 2015 despite warnings by the European Union (EU) that many of them were engaged in illegal fishing practices which ultimately cost Sri Lanka a ban on exports, the first application by the Sunday Times under the new Right [...]
Top CB official, Govt. Printer to testify; vital details emerge
Commission of Inquiry into the issuance of Treasury Bonds Government Printer (GP) Gangani Kalpana Liyanage and Central Bank (CB) Statistics Dept’s Additional Director Dr M.Z.M. Azim, who was its Debt Dept’s former Additional Superintendent, will appear before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena to probe irregularities in the issuance of Treasury [...]
Dengue cases decrease, but changing weather patterns could bring about hike
In spite of a reduction in the number of dengue cases so far for this month month, the fluctuating weather patterns could see a rise in numbers once again, health officials warned. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 2668 dengue cases were reported in Colombo last month. This is higher than the cases reported in January [...]
Sand diggers put Katunayake Expressway in danger
By Kasun Warakapitiya Uncontrolled, illegal removal of sand from the base of the Katunakayake Expressway access road could endanger the structure, maintenance officials have warned. They are seeking public and police support to stop the illegal activity that has been going on for two months. Expressway Operations Maintenance and Management, director, S Opanayake appealed for [...]
Lawyers as presiding officers at BASL polls
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday amended its constitution to allow lawyers to act as Presiding Officers (PO), consequent to the Judicial Services Association’s (JSA) refusal to perform the role this week at scheduled elections, in protest against the recent appointment of an Attorney from the Private Bar as High Court Judge (HCJ), [...]
Victims’ families hit out as boat tragedy sinks in
50 people were travelling in a fishing vessel meant for six and operated by an inexperienced ‘skipper’ Navy spoeksman says incident eye opener to all stakeholders, calls for regulations on boat movements, to prevent such incidents in future By Chrishanthi Christopher Last week’s incident where a fishing boat transporting people to an annual church feast [...]
No postman, no University admission
Lack of a postman at the sub-post office of a remote village, has deprived a deserving student from gaining admission to university. L.G.H. Nayana Sanjeewani from the village of Thelawilla in Suriyawewa, had sat the 2015 GCE Advanced Level Exam in the Arts Stream, from Thelawilla Maha Vidyalaya, and secured 1 A and 2 Bs. [...]
SL should be wary of trade agreements: GMOA President
GMOA President Dr Anuruddha Padeniya said Sri Lanka should be wary of entering into Trade Agreements (TA) with other countries, as the world is changing into an era of Economic warfare. He said this at a ceremony organized by the Professionals’ National Front to mark the inauguration of a Public Commission to formulate a National [...]
USAB tells Colombo Uni: Rethink order, reconsider relief to appellant
The University Services Appeals Board (USAB) has recommended that the Council of the University of Colombo (UoC) reconsider an order and reconsider relief to an official who was sent on compulsory leave on charges of misconduct, the order of the Board said, noting that, “Appellant appears to have suffered unduly due to that order, which [...]
Nat. Procurement Com. official plan tomorrow, a year after appointment
The independent National Procurement Commission (NPC) is amending Sri Lanka’s National Procurement guidelines and manual, and will release an official plan tomorrow, more than a year after it was appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena. A committee is drafting the amendments, sources said, adding that, the NPC will also launch its website in a ceremony at [...]
Peradeniya uni ‘organised criminals’ had secret off-campus torture chamber
By Kasun Warakapitiya An off-campus night session of fresher abuse by 15 second-year Peradeniya University undergraduates were rudely interrupted last Sunday when officials walked in on the perpetrators who enjoy free education at public expense.The suspected abusers in this cases are being characterised as organised criminals by police and university officials. Psychiatrists believe undergraduate abusers [...]
Extra US grants for Sri Lanka
The United States has increased assistance for two different important programmes in Sri Lanka – “Strengthened Partnership for Democratic Reform and Social Integration” and “Increased and Equitable Growth and Public Financial Management.” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said in a cabinet memorandum that grant funds up to US$ 22,767,781 and US$ 21,526,650 have been provided. [...]
Suspected Facebook ‘friend’ turned rapist gathered trove of child porn
By Damith Wickremasekara Two youth who allegedly raped a girl and her sister and extorted money from them after building up a friendship via Facebook are being held in remand custody until March 9. The suspects were arrested by the Cyber Crime Division of the Criminal Investigations Department this week after the victim’s father made [...]
Sea cucumber hatchery to give momentum to industry
By Malaka Rodrigo The construction of a new sea cucumber hatchery was initiated in Mannar yesterday at a cost of Rs 180 million rupees, says Nimal Chandraratne, the director general of National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka. Once completed this year, the hatchery will produce a million juvenile sea cucumbers annually, Chandraratne assured. Sea [...]
Cinnamon: From exotic to curative
For the first time in Sri Lanka, the health benefits of this spice are coming under the microscope in a comprehensive, multi-centre scientific study. Kumudini Hettiarachchi reports He was heavily into tea before but now he has turned his sights on something which attracted much attention from east and west to this teardrop island aeons [...]
Protests mount over ‘protestful’ city
With traffic police facing an uphill task to minimise disruption to daily life in the face of various groups taking to the streets regularly and public anger mounting, does the Govt. have a solution? Sandun Jayawardana reports Authorities are overwhelmed by a barrage of street protests, which in turn is causing severe hardship to the [...]
Drought-hit Gampaha District walks miles, digs deep for water
The Gampaha District, which has been relatively free of the drought, is the latest to be affected by it, with villagers compelled to travel five to 10 km to fetch drinking water or, for bathing and washing clothes. Residents of Mirigama, Millawa, Pasyala, Muruthawela, Kal Eliya and Bolakanda are among those severely affected. Residents complain [...]
Village tank project provides lessons for restoration
By Malaka Rodrigo Sri Lanka is famous for its irrigation heritage, but only the marvels of large tanks built for irrigation draw attention, while small village tanks are ignored. In many cases village tanks function as a ‘cascade system’ – so using wrong methods to restore them ignoring specific functions of associated components can do [...]
‘Physician heal thyself’
In a wide-ranging and hard-hitting speech, the 41st president Dr. Jayaratne spoke of ethical values, private practice, the physician-pharma link and much more Simple, significant and powerful were the messages amidst humorous quips and video cartoons, when an eminent Physician took the very heart and brain from within a doctor, examined them thoroughly by turning [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Indika Handuwala, Augustin Fernando, Gamini Obeysekera, Shelton Hettiarachchi and Sirangika Lokukarawita
Chinese construction worker remanded over accident that killed Lankan colleage
A Chinese worker at a construction site in Kollupitiya was arrested after a Sri Lankan employee was killed when a metal bar accidentally dropped by the foreign worker fell on the local worker’s head. The incident occurred at a building site at R.A. De Mel Mawatha, Kollupitiya, where a 33-story building was under construction. An [...]
Wrong blood: Hospital launches probe
The family of a patient admitted to Lanka Hospitals claim the hospital made a life-threatening blunder by providing the wrong blood type for the patient as she was being prepared to undergo surgery. Lanka Hospitals Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Prasad Medawatte confirmed he had been informed of the alleged incident, and was personally looking into [...]
Moratuwa’s ‘garbage sale’
The Moratuwa Municipal Council has come up with a novel system to solve the problem of solid waste. The program is directed by the Moratuwa Municipal Commissioner M.M.C.K. Mannapperuma and implemented by the staff led by Chief Public Health Inspector (PHI) Malinda Jayawardana. Under the new scheme solid waste as for example disused computers, computer [...]
Talks on Tuesday to end Telecom manpower dispute
By Akash Widanapathirana Talks to resolve the Sri Lanka Telecom ‘manpower’ labour dispute will be held Tuesday between Labour Minister W.D.J. Seneviratna and trade union leaders. Labour Commissioner General M.D.C. Amarathunga said Telecom officials and trade union leaders had met the minister twice and submitted recommendations. She said the Ministry was negotiating with the two [...]
Norochcholai coal plant toxic emissions under scrutiny
By Anushiya Sathisraja Deadly air pollution continues due to the misuse of air quality standrads by the Norochcholai coal power plant, experts say. For too long power plants have used the environment like an open sewer for emissions. These emissions fuel climate change and also pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. [...]
Pera Uni and police in discussions to breed horses on Campus land
By L.B.Senaratne The Peradeniya University and Kandy Police are holding discussions about allocating an area of about five acres within the Campus premises to breed horses. The university it is learnt is in need of horses to develop its ground breaking anti venom project. The antivenom is being developed in close collaboration with the Instituto [...]
SLMC betrayal: Muslims should join national parties
By Latheef Farook A spate of controversies involving the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has underscored the call that the Muslims in Sri Lanka should reassess their politics and withdraw themselves from this party which many accuse of betraying the community for positions and perks. The SLMC came with the slogan of Islam and unity. [...]