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Home » NewsAll day they trek the barren waste without the taste of water
These cattle do not know that Sri Lanka has been hit by one of its worst ever droughts. So the thirsty and innocent herd must be wondering why there is no water in this tank at Meegaswewa in the Puttalam district. More than 1.1 million people have been seriously affected by the ongoing drought. In [...]
Danger of another Uma Oya in Central Expressway
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has approved construction of the third section of the Central Expressway (CE III) without the required geological surveys in areas where three tunnels are to be bored — even after the Uma Oya disaster. The licence was granted due to the Highways Ministry’s urgency to sign the agreement with the [...]
Cabinet defers National Audit Bill for 24th time; says too much powers for AG
The Cabinet of Ministers this week deferred the National Audit Bill for two weeks after ministers from both the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) agreed the Bill in its present form conferred too much power on the Auditor General. It was the 24th time the Bill came to the [...]
Syrians seek refuge in Sri Lanka
A group of Syrians including children have taken refuge in Sri Lanka, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. Six children were among those who have sought refuge from war-torn Syria, the UNHCR said without disclosing the number of adults. The number of foreign nationals seeking refuge in Sri Lanka has been on [...]
Two CBSL accounts for money received from lease or sale of public assets
Two new Central Bank accounts are to be opened in the name of the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury to receive foreign exchange and rupee proceeds from the lease or sale of public assets. “The accounts will hold the proceeds earned from divesting these assets and that money will be used only for settlement of [...]
Emirates A380 landing tomorrow at BIA’s Code E runway
An Emirates A380 will make a one-off landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) tomorrow—as a precursor to scheduled A380 flights, officials said—despite the runway not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements for the landing and take-off of such aircraft. ICAO mandates a runway to be Code F, or with a [...]
Massive electric train project to begin this year
The Transport Ministry has shortlisted six countries to call for tenders for an electric train project due to begin this year, Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera said. Under the project estimated to cost US$ 600 million, a track of 158km will be developed covering the areas between Panadura and Polgahawela, Fort to Negombo and the Kelani [...]
New power plant: CEB union claims tender irregularity, but ministry refutes charge
Attempts are being made to sabotage the competitive bidding process to procure a 300 Mega Watt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant, the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union has claimed, but the ministry has refuted the charge. Eight bids had been submitted for the plant to be built in Kerawalapitiya. After the technical evaluation process, six [...]
New York Mayoral staffer of Lankan origin mugged
A senior staffer of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has been mugged while on a Manhattan subway, US media reports. Mahen Gunaratna, of Sri Lankan origin, is the Mayor’s Deputy Director of Communications. According to US media, thieves had snatched Gunaratne’s iPhone from his hand while he was on a crowded Manhattan subway. Though [...]
Cell phone rings in court: HC suspends lower court sentence
The Kandy High Court has suspended a one-month prison sentence a magistrate imposed on a man after his mobile phone reportedly rang while the court was in session. Kanishka Dilshan Fernando obtained the reprieve when his revision application came before Kandy’s High Court judge Sarojini Kusala Weerawardene. Mr. Fernando’s attorney Saman Thantrige told the High [...]
Two suspects arrested, 2 injured in shootout between STF and gang
Two persons were shot and two others arrested after a gun battle between the Police Special Task Force (STF) and members of a suspected criminal gang at Kurana Junction in Negombo last evening. Police Spokesman Superintendent of Police Ruwan Gunasekara said that the STF had been tipped off that members of a criminal gang were [...]
Jaffna violence : Sword-carriers among more suspects snared
The police arrested more suspects this week in the North in operations against anti-social activities and criminal gangs. At least 13 suspects were snared for their alleged involvement in the recent attack on two police constables of the Kopay police station in Kokkuvil area, Jaffna, police said. All suspects were produced in court and remanded [...]
Qatar gives on-arrival visas to 80 nations, but not Sri Lanka
Qatar last week opened its doors to nationals of 80 countries to visit the oil-rich country, visa-free, however Sri Lanka has been omitted from the list. The move came in the wake of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates imposing a boycott on Qatar in June, accusing it of supporting terrorism and [...]
60 Indian fishermen arrested this week, 77 sent back last week as “goodwill gesture”
More than 60 Indian fishermen were arrested this week for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the northern sea, on two separate instances. This follows the repatriation last week of 77 Indian fishermen as a “gesture of goodwill”, the Navy said. Along with the fishermen 15 bottom trawlers were also seized. On Monday, the [...]
Bugged Railway guards’ work stoppage delays trains
A protest by Railway guards over infestation of bed bugs in their living quarters, railway stations and compartments, delayed trains for over two hours yesterday. The guards demanded their quarters, the stations and compartments be cleaned, and warned of further trade union action if no action was taken. General Manager- Railways, B.M.P. Ariyaratne said he [...]
Two suspects arrested, 2 injured following shoot out between STF and alleged criminal gang
Two persons were shot and two others arrested after a gun battle between the Police Special Task Force (STF) and members of a suspected criminal gang at Kurana junction, Negombo last evening. Police Spokesman Superintendent of Police Ruwan Gunasekara stated that the STF had been tipped off that a criminal gang was planning a major [...]
Welcome rain brings some relief, but not enough to end drought
While torrential rains this week brought much needed relief to several drought-hit regions, officials warned that the drought itself is set to continue at least until the beginning of October. Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Mullaitivu districts all received heavy rainfall over three days this week, resulting in significant improvement in some areas affected by drought. [...]
Punishing drought takes heavy toll across Puttalam district
The Puttalam district is experiencing its worst ever drought in the past four and a half decades – and the residents suffering from its devastating effects lament the Government’s assistance is woefully inadequate. A Sunday Times investigation found that the drought has affected more than 164,000 people in 14 of the district’s 16 divisions. The [...]
Will the constitutional reform exercise be another lost opportunity?
One of the most compelling items on the national agenda currently is the question of constitutional reform. And the most critical aspect of the constitutional reform process must necessarily be the issue of the executive presidency. After a near 40-year experience with this all powerful institution there is general consensus that the institution must be [...]
Bus only lanes get going with rules for the road
For three hours every morning from Tuesday, public buses will run on “priority lanes’’. This is expected help vehicles move along at a better pace at rush hour. Bus only lanes will only be possible on three-lane roads. The dedicated lane will be available to public buses, office buses, school buses, and school vans. A [...]
Heavy traffic offence fines later down the road
It will be two to three months before heavy fines against traffic offences approved on Thursday come into effect. The secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Nihal Somaweera said the measures have to be sent to the Legal Draftsman’s Department for necessary amendments and the draft bill will be presented to Parliament. [...]
‘Minimum Standards of Medical Education’ gazette further delayed
Despite the recent statement by Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senarathne, that the ‘Minimum Standards of Medical Education’ will be gazetted within two weeks, it is set to be further delayed. Dr Senarathne told the Sunday Times that the Attorney General’s (AG) Dept pointed out certain flaws in the original draft which are being rectified at [...]
First-ever transplant for acute liver failure in Sri Lanka
It was meant to be – with even the tiniest detail falling into place promptly, paving the way for the first-ever liver transplant for acute liver failure in Sri Lanka. A humble family from Bandiruppuwa in Lunuwila, close to Wennappuwa, believes that for a brief moment in time all the members of the Colombo North [...]
Explosives killing hundreds of elephants, protection handicapped
A four-year-old elephant, which had suffered severe injuries after biting an explosives-packed device used to hunt wild animals for human consumption is fighting for its life. The illegal device commonly known as —‘hakka pattas’ — a mixture of explosives with lead and ball bearings inserted into a piece of pumpkin had been placed in a [...]
Police misled President into ordering forfeiture of Wellawatte building
The Supreme Court has quashed a 2009 order made under Emergency Regulations to seize a private property in Colombo 6, saying the then President, in his capacity as Defence Minister, was misled by police in ordering the forfeiture. The court ordered the premises—which was occupied by the Police Terrorist Investigation Department even up to the [...]
‘Please let me go to my country for heart surgery’
The ailing Ukrainian captain of the ‘Avant Garde’ vessel–in remand since October 2015–is pleading with the Supreme Court to let him travel to Ukraine to treat a serious heart disease. Gennadiy Ivanovych Gavrylov collapsed in court earlier this month after learning that his next hearing will be next year. The Supreme Court earlier granted him [...]
Defence seminar to focus on regional threats
The Sri Lanka Army’s annual flagship project, ‘Colombo Defence Seminar 2017’ will be held on August 28-29 at the BMICH. The theme this year is ‘Countering Violent Extremism: Global Trends’. The two-day conference is expected to be attended by many eminent scholars of national and international fame. It is designed to exchange ideas on a [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, M.A.Pushpakumara, Shelton Hettiarachchi, Karuwalagaswewa Jayarathna and Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
A Courthouse sans amenities
The Moratuwa District and Magistrate’s Courts, housed on a 43-perch block of land, lacks even the most basic of facilities. The ‘courthouse’ lacks a separate room for maintaining its files, relevant to the cases called. All files are simply packed into fertilizer bags! This ‘Court complex’ has just one public washroom. Only one of the [...]
Making “women’s work” count
ISTANBUL – Over the next few months, the 12,000 employees based at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California will complete their move to an extravagant new campus. The “spaceship,” covering 2.8 million square feet, includes a two-story yoga studio, running paths, and even revolutionary pizza boxes that keep slices crisp. One thing it does not have, [...]