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President Maithripala Sirisena’s daughter Chathurika launched a book titled “Janadhipathi Thaththa’ at the International Book Fair which began at the BMICH on Friday. She presented the first copies to the President and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Here Chathurika Sirisena is seen signing the book she presented to Sri Lanka’s first president William Gopallawa’s daughter Chandrika [...]
Ruwanpura: RDA pushes ahead without EIA report
The Road Development Authority (RDA) has started acquiring land for the US$ 1.8 billion (Rs. 275 billion) Ruwanpura Expressway even before a mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) and an economic feasibility study are completed, prompting Central Environment Authority (CEA) sources to denounce the process as ‘inside out’. Tens of families have been issued notices under [...]
Sri Lanka not likely to sign nuclear weapons ban treaty at UN
UNITED NATIONS – Sri Lanka, in an unprecedented move in the country’s diplomatic history, is not signing a major international treaty which it has already voted on. Along with 121 other countries, Sri Lanka voted last July to approve a landmark UN treaty that bans the possession, development, testing, and use of nuclear weapons worldwide. [...]
Ethanol imports, liquor sales boom despite Govt.’s sobriety policy
Ethanol imports for the manufacture of hard liquor doubled from 10.4 million bulk litres in 2013 to 20.4 million bulk litres in 2015 after the new Government took over, Excise Department statistics show. The high levels were maintained in 2016 when 18.4 million bulk litres were legally imported. In the first six months of this [...]
Harsha’s SAITM Committee proposes non-state sector medical education
Any solution proposed to resolve the current issues related to the South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) must be in accordance with the Government’s commitment to enable some level of non-state higher education, including in the medical sector, and must not be a financial burden on the state, a five member Presidential Committee [...]
Flood compensation: Minister orders probe on DS
Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena has ordered an inquiry into allegation that Kolonnawa Divisional Secretary had failed to pay compensation to the people affected by 2016 floods. Flood victims have complained they have not been paid yet though the Government has allocated Rs 900 million for compensation. The minister said that the Divisional Secretary had [...]
Police seargent hit by Colombo-Kandy express train
A Police sergeant was killed when he was hit by the Colombo – Kandy express train in the Dematagoda area, a coroner’s court inquiry was told . The Officer in charge of the Police station Anuradha Mahindasiri told the inquiry that sergeant Pallegedara Anuratillake, from Anuradhapura, was proceeding for an interview to admit his daughter [...]
Indian Govt gifts ship to Sri Lanka Navy
The Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) provided by the Indian Govt to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), to expand its operational capabilities, arrived at the Colombo harbour yesterday morning. Upon arrival, the ship was received in keeping with Naval traditions, by the SLN. The ship was officially taken over by the Director General of the Sri [...]
Nearly 100 garbage dumpers rounded up in WP in 24 hours
An operation to nab errant garbage dumpers in the Western Province has rounded up 99 suspects during a 24-hour period. The Police Media Unit said a joint operation conducted by police and the army on September 12 to 13 resulted in these arrests. Of the culprits 50 were from Colombo North and Colombo Central areas. [...]
Oncologist passes away
Well known oncologist Dr. Sarath Abeykoon passed away yesterday after a black-out at a supermarket followed by a car accident. He was attached to the Maharagama, Cancer Hospital for a long time before he joined the Ceylinco Cancer Center at Park Road, Colombo. An old pupil of S. Thomas’ College, he represented the College in [...]
Controversy overloads bid opening as Samsung plans short-circuit
The controversial tender for the 300 MegaWatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya, is set to take another turn tomorrow (18), when the financial Bids submitted by five previously unsuccessful Bidders will be opened. Eight Bids had earlier been submitted for the Plant. Consequent to the technical evaluation process, six had been recommended by [...]
JVP leader calls for more investment in education, health and sports sectors
Education, health and sports sectors should draw more investments if Sri Lanka is to stay in the world labour market in the future, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. He was speaking on Thursday at a seminar titled, ‘The Way Forward For Sri Lanka. What Next?’ Pointing out that the foreign exchange [...]
Karu Jayasuriya Chief Guest at commemoration event in Buddha Gaya
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya will be Chief Guest at the 153rd birth anniversary commemoration of Anagarika Dharmapala, the late Sri Lankan Buddhist revivalist, at Buddha Gaya, India, this afternoon (17), at a function attended by the prelates of the tri-Nikayas (Sects). A large contingent of Sri Lankan Buddhists headed by the Maha Nayaka Theras (Chief Prelates) [...]
Enforced Disappearances Bill will not apply to past incidents, says Ranil
The Enforced Disappearances Bill will apply only in the future and will not cover past incidents, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. Speaking at an event in Polpithigama yesterday, Mr. Wickremesinghe claimed no one can be charged in courts under the bill for incidents such as Prageeth Eknaligoda’s disappearance or the murder of Wasim Thajudeen. [...]
Pararajasingham murder: Pillayan and six others plead not guilty
Former Eastern Province Chief Minister Pillayan and six others pleaded “not guilty” in the Batticaloa High Court, to charges of their involvement in the murder of former Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham. The charges were filed 11 years after the incident. High Court Judge M. Ellencheliyan fixed the next hearing for November 6 and 7, and directed [...]
Rape and murder of Vidya: Verdict on September 27
The Trial at Bar appointed to hear the rape and murder case of Punkuditheevu schoolgirl Sivalokananthan Vidya, will deliver its verdict on September 27, after final submissions concluded this week. Deputy Solicitor General P.Kumararatnam in his final submission told court that it had been proven without doubt that four of the nine suspects were directly [...]
The Sri Lanka Army-initiated ‘Cormorant Strike VIII – 2017’
The Sri Lanka Army-initiated ‘Cormorant Strike VIII – 2017’ was held on Thursday at Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee. Together with 2108 infantrymen and mechanized infantrymen, 370 sailors and 197 airmen, the mock exercise, held annually and made up largely of Army Commandos and Special Forces saw a number of foreign service personnel, representing 13 countries. Pix by [...]
First woman Commissioner of Excise
Sri Lanka has got its first woman Commissioner of Excise. Helen Meegasmulla, District Secretary, Nuwara Eliya has been appointed as the Commissioner of Excise with Cabinet approval. She has a record of 32 years of service. Nuwara Eliya. She is due to assume duties tomorrow.
New UDA subsidiary to market its properties for more revenue
The Urban Development Authority (UDA) is to form a subsidiary to manage venues under its purview, to boost its income, said a senior official. UDA Chairman Jagath Munasinghe told the Sunday Times that, under the existing Act, they are empowered to form a subsidiary to operate under the approval of the UDA Board. “The main [...]
Blatant violation of conditions governing garbage disposal for filthy lucre
A Commission probing the collapse of the garbage dump in Meethotamulla on Sinhala-Tamil New year’s day, has received startling details on how moneymaking deals were made over garbage. The Commission headed by former Judge Chandradasa Nanayakkara, received information on how a private company was contracted to spray the garbage dump with a chemical, a few [...]
SAITM saga:Committee issues report amidst strikes and discussions
Parallel discussions to resolve the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) saga continued amidst strikes by doctors and protest marches, both on foot and by vehicles, opposing this private medical campus this week. The Government on Friday said in a media release that admissions to SAITM have been suspended until the announcement of [...]
Polonnaruwa pre-dawn hit-and-run crash: How Sirisena was tracked down
Battling hard for 20 years with the kidney disease L.M.J.M. Buddadhasa, 59, left home with his younger brother L.M.J.M. Jayarathne, 44, on September 8 for dialysis treatment, a must for Buddadhasa that has to be done once every three days at the Polonnaurwa hospital due to the condition of his illness. Unmarried, Buddadasa earlier lived [...]
Fisherman describes last tragic moments of British journalist before crocodile attack
A Panama village fisherman yesterday explained how he saw one of Britain’s top financial journalists waving his hand in distress before being attacked by a crocodile and drowned in a lagoon. Velupillai Sadanandan, 65, told the police that he was in his fishing hut when he suddenly heard a cry and looked towards the lagoon. [...]
Crocodile risk warning boards in identified areas a must, says Wildlife and Nature Protection Society
While sympathizing with the family and friends of the British journalist who was killed in a crocodile attack close to Arugam Bay on Thursday, the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) has requested the government to put up risk warning boards in areas inhabited by crocodiles. Underscoring that removing individual crocodiles — either to another [...]
Controversy overloads bid opening as Samsung plans short-circuit
The controversial tender for the 300 MegaWatt (MW) Combined Cycle Power Plant at Kerawalapitiya, is set to take another turn tomorrow (18), when the financial Bids submitted by five previously unsuccessful Bidders will be opened. Eight Bids had earlier been submitted for the Plant. Consequent to the technical evaluation process, six had been recommended by [...]
Nelli-rasakinda herbal regime can boost immunity of oral cancer patients, study shows
Their goodness has been oft-mentioned but now the immunity-boosting capability of this herbal duo has been tried, tested and confirmed in a unique ‘western-eastern’ medicine partnership. Nelli (Emblica officinalis) and rasakinda (Tinospora cordifolia) have been placed under scrutiny and performed their roles effectively in boosting the immunity (the ability to resist and fight disease) of [...]
Abode of ‘Kohamba Deviya’ endangered
Conservationists claim the abode of the ‘Kohamba Deviya’ at Uragala in Hantana, Kandy, is being destroyed via clearing activities for a roadway and the construction of a swimming pool in an area situated 3000 feet above sea level. The Divisional Secretary of the area has categorically denied permission had been given for the construction of [...]
UK cardiologists to perform free surgeries in Galle
A team of cardiologists from the Carolina Children’s Hospital in the United Kingdom are performing heart surgeries at the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle. The team of doctors headed by Specialist Consultants Dr. John M. Simson and Dr. Monalist will perform heart surgeries free-of-charge on children with serious heart problems. The team arrived in Sri Lanka [...]
Animal bites and other accidents: Focus on prevention
Animal bites make up more than 33 percent of accidents in Sri Lanka, eating into a large chunk of the Health Ministry funds, according to the ministry’s first ever data compilation report on accidents. Health Ministry officials said most of these accidents were preventable and if people were vigilant, the tragedies could be minimised and [...]
Unknown business agenda may be behind elephant sale idea
A local politician continues to draw ridicule and raise suspicions in Sri Lanka and beyond its shores for suggesting that there are too many elephants and they should be rounded up from the wilds and be sold overseas. An elephant calf in Sri Lanka sells for upwards of US$150,000 (Rs 19 million). In Sri Lanka, [...]
Viable bags, green wrappers emerge from local initiatives
Sri Lankans have been inspired to think of alternatives to destructive polythene and a few ideas have so far emerged to challenge the machinations of industrialists bent on producing unwanted carrier bags by the millions of pieces. Housewives and academics have shown the public, locally made substitutes for lunch sheets and shopping bags. The University [...]
CEB wants police to probe alleged sabotage by strikers
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has asked police to investigate alleged acts of sabotage it claims being committed by striking CEB workers, to disrupt power supply. Several such incidents were reported during this week, after a group of CEB trade unions launched a continuous countrywide strike. Police complaints have already been lodged over two suspected [...]
Breathing space for three-wheel taxi fare meters
Three-wheeler operators will have time until the end of December to comply with rules to install fare meters under the Motor Traffic regulations. And once again, as on previous occasions, there are disputes over the meters, affordability, receipts and standards. The deputy minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Ashok Abeysinghe, told the Sunday Times that [...]
Contrasting and chaotic weather patterns continue islandwide
The contrasting weather patterns are causing chaos, with some areas experiencing heavy thundershowers and others getting little rain while still others are plagued by the prolonged drought. The Meteorological Department duty officer Kasun Pasqual said some parts of the island would experience heavy thundershowers in the next two to three days with a rainfall of [...]
Wanton destruction of Hikkaduwa’s coral reef
The Hikkaduwa Coral Reef, the country’s first and only National Marine Park is considered to be among the richest in marine life the world over. Marine environmentalists say they have recently noted a racket involving local tourist guides who break pieces off the coral reefs and sell them to foreign tourists in a bid to [...]
Sil-Redi case: Implications for Executive Presidency and State Sector financial discipline
Two legal proceedings were much talked about during the past week — the commission probing the Central Bank bond transactions and the so-called Sil-Redi case in the High Court of Colombo. Both these proceedings confirm that the administration of justice in this country is alive and kicking and have the potential to mete out justice [...]