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Home » NewsGarbage inferno leaves 19 dead; President intervenes
500 tons to be destroyed daily; little action so far because one institution thought the other would do it A garbage inferno at Meethotamulla on National New Year day — that left 19 dead and more than 140 houses destroyed — has prompted President Maithripala Sirisena to intervene to resolve the festering issue. As Minister [...]
On Good Friday, Pope speaks of shame for Church and humanity
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis, presiding at a Good Friday service, asked God for forgiveness for scandals in the Catholic Church and for the “shame” of humanity becoming inured to daily scenes of bombed cities and drowning migrants. The Pope presided at a traditional candlelight Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) service at Rome’s Colosseum [...]
Bonanza for workers when GSP Plus facility is restored
A visiting European Union (EU) team has been assured that worker benefits would be enhanced in return for the restoration of GSP Plus tariff preferences to Sri Lanka. One such move would be to double workman’s compensation from the present Rs. 500,000 to one million rupees in the event of disability caused during work, Labour [...]
Rs. 1 billion worth jewellery and gold to be returned to owners soon
By S. Rubatheesan The Defence Ministry has decided to fast-track the process of returning almost Rs one billion worth of gold and other valuable ornaments seized by the military from the custody of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and found in abandoned houses during the final phases of the conflict, a senior official [...]
Thirikkal racing still raises hackles
By Chrishanthi Christopher One year on and the battle to ban the thirikkal (hackery races), a sport held to celebrate National New Year, continues. While seasonal revellers make arrangements to have the thirikkal races, animal rights activists have once again raised their voices against the cruelty to the bull that pulls the cart during the [...]
High prices and flu fear dampen festive spirit
By Akash Widanapathirana and Shelton Hettiarachchi The National New Year this year appeared to be a lacklustre affair in comparison to last year, with traders complaining about reduced sales due to rising prices while holiday destinations saw lesser crowds due to excessive heat and the fear of contacting influenza. Most traders we spoke to said [...]
Sweetmeats much in demand now; but sweet makers say future bleak
Traditional New Year sweetmeat makers in Kevumgama, Kiribathgoda were busy with their orders last week as usual, but they are doubtful that the younger generation would continue with the traditional food industry.With the busy schedules of people living mostly in the city, and who still follow traditional practices associated with the National New Year, the [...]
Dengue fight goes high tech in Beruwala
Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) in Beruwala are using drones to check for potential dengue- breeding sites. In a novel initiative PHIs are using a small radio-controlled drone equipped with a camera to check premises where they are not being granted access to. Beruwala PHIs said they decided to adopt this high tech method after one [...]
New York Mayor gets a taste of Avurudu
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the popular Sri Lankan New Asha restaurant in Staten Island for lunch to celebrate the New Year. Pic courtesy the New York Mayoral Photo office.
Two foreigners, Lankan saved from southern watery graves
Three persons including two foreigners were rescued from drowning by the Coastguard in two separate incidents off Mirissa and Hikkaduwa, the Navy said. A foreigner and a local were rescued at Mirissa on Thursday while being dragged away by the waves. The foreigner was identified as an Iranian National, Akbar Yolami 54, while the local [...]
Japan grants 45 billion yen aid for economic, social development
The Japanese Govt granted aid for Economic and Social Development Programmes, and signed loan agreements for the development of rural infrastructure and the Kalu Ganga Water Development project during Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s official visit to Tokyo. Notes were exchanged in the presence of both leaders for the yen loan Rural Infrastructure Development Project in [...]
President participates in oil anointing ceremony
The Asgiriya Mahanayake Ven. Panditha Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera anointed oil on President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday at the auspicious time at the historic Natha Devale. Pansil was administered by the Mahanayake Thera. A short anusasanawa (sermon) was delivered by the Malwatte Anunayake Ven Rajakeeya Panditha Niyangoda Vijitha Siri Thera. The Thera pointed out that the [...]
O/L re-scrutiny applications close on May 2
The Exams Dept is accepting applications for re-scrutiny of results of the GCE Ordinary Level Exams held last year. Applications for re-scrutiny should be sent on or before May 2, 2017, while late applications will be rejected without notice. Incomplete applications as well as applications sent without payment of the prescribed fees, will also be [...]
No ST2 this week, MediScene next week
In view of the National New Year holidays, the Sunday Times will not have the usual ST2 section today. Meanwhile, the April issue of MediScene will appear with our next issue on Sunday, April 23, postponed from this Sunday due to the holidays.
Easter messages
President Sirisena: God’s love transcends all at Easter President Maithripala Sirisena said that Christian devotees who celebrate Easter with great devotion demonstrate that an incomparable supreme sacrifice was made to rise above humans and achieve divinity. Issuing a message for Easter Sunday, he noted that the unparalleled supreme sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save [...]
Open verdict on mentally disturbed woman’s death
The Colombo city Coroner this week returned an open verdict into the death of a woman who claimed that she was haunted by evil spirits and was later found fallen at her residence, with cut injuries which had led to her death. The victim, Pryanthini Kumuduni (45), was employed as an Administrative Officer in a [...]
Garbage inferno leaves 19 dead; President intervenes
A garbage inferno at Meethotamulla on National New Year day — that left 19 dead and more than 140 houses destroyed — has prompted President Maithripala Sirisena to intervene to resolve the festering issue. As Minister of Environment, he will announce measures in the coming week on how to prevent the piling of garbage [...]
On Good Friday, Pope speaks of shame for Church and humanity
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis, presiding at a Good Friday service, asked God for forgiveness for scandals in the Catholic Church and for the “shame” of humanity becoming inured to daily scenes of bombed cities and drowning migrants. The Pope presided at a traditional candlelight Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) service at Rome’s Colosseum [...]
Bonanza for workers when GSP Plus facility is restored
A visiting European Union (EU) team has been assured that worker benefits would be enhanced in return for the restoration of GSP Plus tariff preferences to Sri Lanka. One such move would be to double workman’s compensation from the present Rs. 500,000 to one million rupees in the event of disability caused during work, Labour [...]
Rs. 1 billion worth jewellery and gold to be returned to owners soon
The Defence Ministry has decided to fast-track the process of returning almost Rs one billion worth of gold and other valuable ornaments seized by the military from the custody of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and found in abandoned houses during the final phases of the conflict, a senior official said. “The committee [...]
New Year nightmare: Garbage dump turns into graveyard
What should have been a joyous celebration of the National New Year became a nightmare on Friday for many families living near the Meethotamulla garbage dump — when mounds of garbage crashed down on their houses in a devastating landslide. By last afternoon, at least 19 people had been confirmed dead due to the disaster. [...]
Flying three-wheelers a fatal attraction
Having spent months labouring at building sites in Colombo, young Dharshana Madushanka, was looking forward to be with his family during the National New Year celebration. So the 26-year-old bought gifts for his sister’s family in Inamaluwa, Dambulla and decided to travel in his three-wheeler. Mr Madhushanka left on Sunday night expecting to reach his [...]
Sleep-deprived bus drivers complain of risky trips
Drivers who cause fatal road traffic accidents when they fall asleep at the wheel are continuing to wreck the lives of thousands in the country. Just last week, 52 people were injured after a bus driver fell asleep in Nawalapititya in Gonewalapathana area at about 12.55 pm, police reported. The driver was also among the [...]
Illegal Sri Lankan toxic waste load returned, HK importers convicted
Two Hong Kong importers who illegally brought in a load of waste printed circuit boards from Sri Lanka as well as Bangladesh were convicted this week and fined HK$15,000 (Rs 295,000) by a magistrate on Tuesday. The seized toxic electronic waste, classified as hazardous electronic waste in Hong Kong, has been returned to Colombo, authorities [...]
Scrap collectors playing exemplary role in recycling
Individuals running small-scale operations recycling waste are playing a valuable role in Sri Lanka, where handicapped, unproductive municipal authorities are unable to manage the ever-mounting piles of garbage. Many of these recyclers are making a living by gathering scrap metal, plastic bottles, cardboard and the like. E.A.Seneviratne from Keththaramaya, Maligawatta has been collecting waste plastic, [...]
Incentives for dugong hunters to abandon illegal killings
Two people who were arrested while transporting 80 kilos of dugong flesh in a three-wheeler have been released on bail by a court. There were detained on Sunday, April 9, by the navy at Thavulpadu in Mannar and handed over to to regional officers of Department of Wildlife Conservation. They were then produced in court [...]
Hitting the road on his cycle for senior citizens
A 38-year-old man from Vavuniya has set out on a cycle tour covering a distance of 1,515 kilometres with the aim of raising awareness about the plight of senior citizens in the country. Tharmalingam Prathapan, a teacher and artist began his initial lap of the journey last Saturday to Jaffna via Kilionochchi from the Kandaswamy [...]
Imported workers fill gaps in short-handed building sites
Sri Lanka’s construction industry is facing a shortage of manual labour, sources say, and Indians and Chinese workers are filling the gaps. The Board of Investment estimates that 60,000 manual workers are needed in the construction sector, but 20,000 are employed. Companies registered under the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce also report labour shortages. Some companies [...]
It’s not only numbers that matter
The presentations were illuminating, while robust was the discussion that followed when the all-important question of ‘How many doctors does Sri Lanka need’ was taken up by the College of Medical Educationists Sri Lanka. ‘Whatever is done at this moment should be done very cautiously with proper planning. If we want to improve the system [...]
When to take what: It’s important to know your medicines
Patients and medications have been on the mind of this Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology for a while as she feels that it is a “neglected” sphere. Sometimes there is not enough time spent on looking at the symptoms and what disease they point to, says Consultant Physician and Emeritus Prof. Gita Fernando attached to the [...]
Kataragama crocs haunt sacred river
Fears of attacks by crocodiles in the Menik Ganga are keeping away devotees and locals, and wildlife officials say capturing and relocation is a challenge. Wildlife officials and authorities of the Kataragama Devalaya have received complaints that about 20 crocodiles have been spotted in the river. The officials of the Department of the Wildlife Conversation [...]
Urban excitement over barn owls
The barn owl is a rare bird in Sri Lanka categorized as ‘near threatened’ in the 2012 National Red List, but it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke that one was seen in Kirulapona on April 1. It had been attacked by crows and had fallen from the roof of a four-storey building, where it had [...]
Nigerian cybercrime ring makes Lanka as base to defraud overseas companies
Sri Lanka’s detectives have busted a multimillion dollar international cyber crime ring run by a group of Nigerians operating from Colombo and posing off as businessmen. Criminal Investigation Department officers said they had arrested 15 Nigerians who had allegedly been siphoning off millions of dollars from the bank accounts of several overseas companies. The CID [...]
Photo focus: The dilapidated Bentota bridge
The over 100-year-old iron bridge spanning the Bentota River was closed to vehicular traffic a few years ago. Today the bridge is in a dilapidated condition and is currently used only by pedestrians. At nights the bridge which is in a sad state of neglect becomes a haven for drug dealers and alcohol peddlers. Due to [...]