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Despite resolution, US-Lanka joint exercises continue

Though the US has co-sponsored a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution relating to alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka, US Navy personnel and marines are seen conducting the annual joint exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy in Trincomalee this week. Pic by Amadoru Amarajeewa

Local council polls in January

The Election Commission has set in motion the official machinery for local government elections in January next year. Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times that an estimated 15.6 million people would be eligible to cast their votes to elect members for 335 Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas. He said the [...]

Sri Lanka imposes tough economic sanctions on nuclear North Korea

The Government this week issued regulations imposing sanctions on the Democratic People’s republic of North Korea (DPRK or North Korea) in keeping with United Nations Security Council Resolutions dealing with the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The regulations were issued by Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana on Friday. The sanctions are in keeping with [...]

Discredited Aussie firm paid Rs. 1.4 billion by former regime

SMEC International–the Australian consultancy firm debarred by the World Bank last week over “inappropriate payments” for projects in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka–received more than Rs 1.4 billion for an expressway feasibility study which has still not been approved by the Road Development Authority (RDA). Not only was the paid sum nearly Rs 450mn over the [...]

Hi-tech number plates to keep tabs on vehicles

A Radio Frequency Identification system to be introduced to new number plates will help police to keep close tabs on vehicle movements. The new number plates will be introduced next year, Motor Traffic Commissioner General Jagath Chandrasiri told the Sunday Times. The vehicles with the new number plates could be tracked by the nearest tower [...]

Mullaitivu polls: Nominees get back deposits with interest

Candidates who filed nomination papers to contest local polls in Mullaitivu six years ago are to be given back their deposits with interest as the nominations papers have been revoked. A gazette notification was issued this week revoking the nomination papers. It notes that some of the candidates have died or have been displaced or [...]

Legal battle over award of huge tender for medical air

Action has been filed in the Supreme Court against a large Health Ministry tender to supply medical air, which is used in ventilators, incubators and for administering anaesthesia in public hospitals. It is the latest Government tender to run into controversy over allegations of bid-rigging. The contract is to supply, deliver and unload medical air [...]

Shocked travel passengers travel with bleeding headless body

Passengers in a Colombo bound train on the southern coastal line were in for a rude shock when railway workers loaded into a passenger compartment a headless body of a person who had committed suicide. The incident took place around 3pm some 300 metres from the Kollupitiya railway stattion. The man believed to be in [...]

With heavy rains being experienced in Colombo and other areas, most people are braving the adverse weather to engage in their daily chores. Our picture captured at Boralasgamuwa shows a father taking his son to school. Pic by Sameera Weerasekera.

3 LTTE prisoners on hunger strike to refuse fluids

Three LTTE suspects engaged in a hunger strike at the Anuradhapura Prison since Sept.23, have threatened to stop taking fluids from today (8), unless the Govt either brings charges against them or, orders their release. A delegation of six Northern Provincial Council (NPC) members who visited the Anuradhapura Prison yesterday, failed to persuade the fasting [...]

TNA, Govt at loggerheads over Batti’ Dist. Sec. appointment

A dispute has arisen between the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Govt over the nominees for the post of Batticaloa District Secretary (DS) which fell vacant, following former DS P.S.M. Charles appointment as Director General of Sri Lanka Customs. The TNA nominated three Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) Class I Officers from three prominent [...]

People urge urgent end to exploitation by micro-finance companies

Northern Civil Societies (CS) urged the immediate intervention of the Central Bank (CB) of Sri Lanka to address the continued exploitation of war-affected people by micro-finance companies and unauthorised financial institutions issuing loans under soft terms that leads to debt. CS representatives met CB Gov. Dr Indrajit Coomaraswamy in the last two days, when the [...]

The eighth Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians (ASSP) was inaugurated by President Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo on Wednesday. This Conference is a platform for the Parliamentarians of South Asia to work together to reach the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. President Sirisena accompanied by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya [...]

10 Years RI for accepting Rs 190,000 bribe

Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga this week sentenced an official of the State Timber Corporation (STC) to 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment, after he was found guilty of accepting a bribe of Rs 190,000 to issue a permit for the transport of timber. STC Assistant Regional Manager Dhanushka Sampath was arrested in December 2012, following [...]

Labour Minister urges SLPA to absorb H’tota port workers

The Labour Minister has urged the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) to absorb Magampura Port Management Company’s 466 employees who are set to lose their jobs once the new Chinese management takes over. There have been three rounds of meetings between Labour Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne and the Magampura Port Workers’ Union. The next discussion is [...]

Gypsies’ Sunil says RTI jingle will promote democracy

As part of events connected with International Right to Know Day which fell on September 28, the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) has launched the Right to Information (RTI) promotional jingle ‘Eyi’ which was composed by veteran singer Sunil Perera, of Gypsies fame. The purpose of dedicating such a day is to make citizens aware [...]

GMOA to meet PSC, Health Min.Sec. to resolve ‘illegal’ issues

The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) will be meeting the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Health Ministry Secretary next week for further discussions. GMOA Secretary Dr Haritha Aluthge told the Sunday Times they have received an appointment to meet the PSC to discuss matters regarding the Post-Internship Appointments list. The GMOA expressed its objection [...]

3 state banks’ chairmen pull the trigger on Ravi K

Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake instructed three State Banks to bid at lower rates during two Treasury Bond (TB) auctions held last year, the Chairmen and senior officials of the State Banks told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the TB issue this week. Those who testified before the CoI last Wednesday included People’s Bank [...]

Large absenteeism, JVP’s ‘House truths’ ring loud at ceremony

It was a solemn occasion when Parliament met on Tuesday to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its 1st sitting as an independent Legislature, but the absence of a large number of MPs dampened the atmosphere. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe moved the Motion commemorating the 70th anniversary, in which it was noted that the Parliament of [...]

Rohingya case: Allegations of rape and inaction by police

An identification parade will be conducted tomorrow at the Mt Lavinia Magistrate’s courts to identify the suspects involved in the intimidation of the Rohingya refugees — amid allegations about the rape of a refugee and inaction by some police officers. Six suspects have been taken into custody and remanded until tomorrow. The refugees were accommodated [...]

Old and new ideas help to shove polythene further into exile

More individual and private initiatives continue to see the light of day in the wake of the September ban on polythene in the country. Housewives are making fabric bags, small vendors are making paper bags by themselves as in the days gone by before the polythene menace took hold, and the banana leaf has got [...]

Historic sexual medicine parley in Colombo

It is a hush-hush, taboo topic which Sri Lankans shy away from discussing not just with doctors but even within their bedrooms, though it is vital for the wellbeing of humans. Just mention ‘sex’ and the embarrassment is tangible. This is what a path-breaking meeting of top medical specialists will bring not only to the [...]

Anti-poverty banks to host care centres for seniors

Care centres will be set up at 1,074 Samurdhi bank branches next year to provide recreational and basic health services for the elderly during the day time. Samurdhi banks were set up to help reduce poverty in 1995 but lacked proper management and became politicised. Dr Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne, director general of the Department Of [...]

Mother of many felicitated on Elders Day

The Elders Secretariat last week celebrated World Elders Day by honouring 77-year-old Rosalyn Nona from Bambaragaswewa in the Galle District, a proud mom of 20 children. Rosalyn Nona was felicitated at the BMICH on October 1 for her incredible feat of giving birth to all 20 children at home. Her husband Jinadasa (88), a labourer, [...]

Unprecedented crop failures, extreme weather destroy rice harvest

In an unprecedented turn of events, the rice harvest has failed for three consecutive seasons, creating a need for rice imports once more. From the Yala season of 2016 up to this year, the harvest has failed and rice production has hit a 10-year low. The government plans to import more than 500,000 metric tonnes [...]

Advanced tools help reduce natural disaster risks

Projects undertaken with the co-operation of geotechnical experts of Norway is helping Sri Lanka to reduce the risk of natural disasters in some parts of the country. The Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (Asia) regional manager, Rajinder Kumar Bhasin, told the Sunday Times the institute is helping in landslide mitigation in Badulla and Matale Districts, and also [...]

People affected by Uma Oya project could face landslide threats with onset of rain

The Disaster Mangement centre (DMC) and the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) are closely monitoring landslide prone areas in 40 GramaNiladhari divisions in Bandarawela, Divisional Secretary Nihal Gunaratne said. He said they were also monitoring areas where cracks had occurred due to the Uma Oya Multi purpose project. “With the start of the rains, warnings [...]

Divulapitiya Acting OIC up for identification parade

The Negombo Chief Magistrate ordered the Acting Officer In Charge (OIC) Crimes of the Divulapitiya Police to be produced in court on Tuesday for an identification parade in connection with the death of a suspect who allegedly died after being tortured by police. The 50-year-old victim had been in remanded custody at the Negombo Prison [...]

Brakes on bid to hike fuel prices, minister pushes for price formula

The continued delay in implementing an independent fuel pricing formula threatens to plunge the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) into further crisis, Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga has warned. His remarks came against the backdrop of an announcement by the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) that it intends to effect a price hike this [...]

One of the visible features of our current education landscape is its high pressure environment. While there is a welcome recognition of parents across the board that their children’s future will be determined largely by their educational and professional attainments, the pressure on the young one’s is largely influenced by the failure of the system [...]

Pix by Indika Handuwala, Sameera Weerasekera, Priyantha, Wickramarachchi, Shelton Hettiarachchi, Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe, Sarath Siriwardana

The estuary of Deduru Oya Delta (an embankment dam built across the oya) is being plundered by sand miners in the area. The illegal scheme has been taking place over a long period of time and dredgers are being used to to maximise the quantities of sand mined. At present sand is excavated to a [...]

Tens of thousands of people commute daily using the country’s rail system. Unfortunately, it is not the most comfortable or safest ride for the thousands who use the service. Trains overflowing with passengers hanging from footboards, during the rush hour is a common sight on our rail tracks. Most trains, during the morning and evening [...]

Open verdict on sudden death of Trinity College rugby player

An open verdict has been returned on the death of a 17-year-old Kandy schoolboy rugby player who died while on a warm-up jog before practices. Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) Dr. H.Subramaniyam also sought the Government Analyst’s report to determine the cause of death of Bhathiya Eranda Ekanayake, a student of Trinity College Kandy. His team [...]

Five steps to peace in Myanmar

CANBERRA – The humanitarian crisis afflicting Myanmar’s Muslim Rohingya has damaged the country’s political stability and shattered its image as a country moving toward democracy. Moreover, it has tarnished the reputation of the government’s de facto leader, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi; called into question the crisis-management credentials of ASEAN and [...]

Galle Dialogue 2017 to focus on challenges in countering maritime security threats

‘Galle Dialogue 2017,’ the International Maritime Security Conference organised by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) jointly with the Ministry of Defence, will be held for the 8th consecutive year, on Oct.9 and 10 at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo. This year’s theme is, “Greater Maritime Visibility for Enhanced Maritime Security.” “The growing reliance on the [...]

Trinity College Principal explains

Trinity College Principal Andrew Fowler Watt in a statement explained the incident, quoting students who were taking part in the training exercise. The team members of the rugby team had explained that they started their morning running from Trinity Collage to Pallekelle during the day which the incident took place. He added that none of [...]

Unifying global airpower to address common challenges

The Colombo Air Symposium 2017, organised by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), will be held on Oct.12-13 at Eagles’ Lakeside Banquet & Convention Hall, Attidiya, Colombo. “This year’s symposium, under the theme “Airpower in Addressing Asymmetric Threats”, will bring together military leaders, technical experts, global think-tanks and diplomats worldwide to share their knowledge and [...]

Nuwara Eliya facing growing garbage mountains

The Asst. Commissioner of Local Government Nuwara Eliya District, Vidura Sampath speaking at the District Co-ordination Committee meeting held late last month, said though he requested the Ministry of Plantations to make an allotment of land for the disposal of garbage collected from Hatton, Dickoya and Kandapola areas, no action had been taken by the [...]

Tamil Literature festival in N’Eliya

The 2017 Central Province Tamil Literature Festival commenced yesterday (7) at the Nuwara Eliya Town Hall under the patronage of Central Province Governor Niluka Ekanayake. The festival’s closes today (8) with Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake in attendance as Chief Guest. The Tamil Literature Festival is being organised under the direction of Central Province [...]

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