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Home » NewsSuryabishekaya: Mega New Year festival
The mega Sinhala and Hindu celebrations organised by the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development drew a large number of visitors. The festival named “Suryabishekaya” took place at the Sports Ministry grounds in Colombo. Our picture shows children having their Avurudu fun on a giant wheel. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara.
Sharp increases in fuel prices after Avurudu
The refusal by the Treasury to remove taxes on fuel will see sharp increases in fuel prices after the National New Year. These increases will be based on fluctuating world market prices, officials said. A senior Finance Ministry official said it was set to approve a new pricing formula for fuel. This would mean that [...]
National policy on injury prevention and management
A national policy and strategic framework on injury prevention and management has been prepared by the Health Ministry as the country faces an alarming increase in the number of persons suffering from debilitating injuries mainly due to road accidents. The ministry said the policy was a long-felt need and would provide policy guidance to the [...]
Minor cabinet changes, major reshuffle after President returns from London
President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday swore in three Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members and one United National Party (UNP) member as ministers to act for those who resigned, pending a major cabinet re-shuffle. It will take place after he returns from London where he will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He [...]
President to attend CHOGM summit, key issues on agenda
President Maithripala Sirisena will leave for Britain today to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 which will be held from April 16 to 20 in London. This year’s summit with the theme “Towards a Common Future” comes at a time when Britain is finalising plans to pull out of the European Union [...]
Tainted medicinal drugs: Urgent need for quality assurance labs
The lack of quality assurance labs to evaluate imported medicinal drugs has led to dozens of product recalls, adverse reactions among patients and also rejected or outdated stocks piling up in the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation stores, awaiting destruction. There are more than 8,000 registered pharmaceutical drugs and not every one of them is tested for [...]
SriLankan, Civil Aviation Authority in dogfight over new aircraft’s safety issue
SriLankan Airlines this week mounted an impassioned defence of its Maintenance Department, blaming January’s in-flight shutdown (IFSD) of an engine on UL898 to Bangkok on “a global issue that has occurred on identical engines fitted to aircraft of other airlines”. But the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL)–the industry regulator–also hit back strongly, questioning [...]
Temporary caretaker appointed for Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya
Seethaka Dilruwan Rajapakse has been named as the temporary caretaker of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya in the Moneragala District. The appointment, with effect from April 9, has been made by Buddhist Affairs Commissioner General Nimal Kotawalagedara in terms of the powers vested in him by the Buddhist Vihara and Devalagam Ordinance of 1931, the [...]
University crisis settled; lectures to resume soon
All universities are likely to return to normal by Monday after the Government agreed to a key demand for the increase of an allowance to non-academic staff members. Thereby the 48-day strike staged by the University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) was temporarily called off. The universities are calling on students to return to their [...]
Battling mosquitoes: Ex CMC official says expired chemical being used excessively, CMC medical chief says not so
Questions have been raised by a former senior CMC official about the alleged excessive use of a chemical with a passed expiry date, by the Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to control mosquitoes. A complaint has been lodged with the Municipal Commissioner, that the chemical identified as ICON Lambda Cyhalthrin is [...]
Automated tax system being modified to conform with new Act: IRD
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said the automated tax system RAMIS is being modified in keeping with the new IR Act. IRD Commissioner General Ivan Dissanayake drawing reference to a Sunday Times news item last week, said the cost for the modification will be negotiated after it is completed. He said that, “According to the [...]
Construction projects approved only if headed by qualified persons
Under a new regulation introduced by the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), all local authorities have been directed not to grant approvals for new construction projects, unless qualified persons are employed to implement the project. The new law comes in view of the increasing number of new constructions collapsing even before completion. The CIDA said [...]
A family doctor for all soon – Minister
PM urges better management of hospitals to get more value for money Sri Lanka was the cynosure of all eyes as Global World Health Day 2018 was celebrated last Saturday at Nelum Pokuna in Colombo, with the participation of high-level leaders not only of the country but also the World Health Organisation (WHO). The commitment [...]
Bang goes the future of small-time cracker makers
Traditional small-time firecracker manufacturers, who have exploded in numbers and mostly work in small, highly dangerous premises, face being snuffed out by tightened licencing procedures that favour the bigger manufacturers. The government has restricted the issuing of chemical components needed to manufacture firecrackers to only 176 makers who have licences for the trade while thousands [...]
State apathy continues amid drowning tragedies
Sri Lanka counted yet more deaths – mainly of young people – by drowning in inland rivers and in the ocean in recent months, while the government appears unmoved by the tragedies and is delaying the implementation of a national plan that has been recommended by professionals. While the Government lay idle, fate was unkind [...]
Matale drying up
Climate change, accelerated by man-made degradation of the environment, is drying up the Matale District, which once had annual rainfall of 2500mm. Now trees such as teak and halmilla, which like drier conditions, are growing well in areas of Matale that used to be considered wet zone areas – areas such as Raththota, Ukuwela, Yalawatta [...]
Dispute over NCPA top post: ‘Ousted’ head and new administration trade allegations
Controversy surrounds the alleged removal of the Head of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) and the elevation of her deputy to sit in that seat. “I was attending an event at the remote Niyagama Primary School in the Galle district on Saturday (April 7) when I was informed by a subordinate through a text [...]
By 2020, a massive 24-hour market complex
The Manning Market relocation programme is now underway with the awarding of the contract for the Rs. 5 billion-plus project. Land-filling and sitework had commenced earlier. The contract was awarded for the construction of the buildings, set to be completed by 2020. The new market complex, at Peliyagoda, will be convenient for both traders and [...]
Ranil has won many a battle but his war is not over
Next two years crucial; Premier’s presidential hopes hang on radical makeover, reinvigorated fight against corruption and forming a UNP government Wickremesinghe’s biggest obstacle is Sirisena; placating the President even after winning NCM won’t win him hearts and minds of party supporters Former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson it was, who said, “a week is a [...]
Pick of the pix
Pix by Indika Handuwala, M.A.Pushpa Kumara, Shelton Hettiarachchi, Jayaratna Wickramarachchi and Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi. The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words. So shutterbugs out there, here’s your chance to send in your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph to pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk
Rain brings relief from hot days, but winds bring destruction
There was relief from the hot and humid weather this week with intermittent rains in many areas of the country, but strong gusts of wind that accompanied the rains caused damage to houses and other properties and felled trees in some areas. Two villages along the Puttalam-Mannar road were subjected to strong cyclonic winds and [...]
Peace studies and social cohesion questions in Advanced Level GK paper
The Peace Education and Reconciliation Unit of the Education Ministry hopes to discuss with the Examinations Department, the possibility of including questions related to peace studies and social cohesion to the Advanced Level General Knowledge question paper. The unit’s director, S. Muralitharan said though aspects of peace education is included in history and civic education [...]
Kandy’s new council has got work to do — the city drains
Kandy city residents have urged the newly appointed Municipal Council to take up as a matter of urgency the lack of a proper drainage system in the town. As these photographs show when it rains the drains get blocked and there is no outlet for the rainwater. Residents complain that during the past two years [...]
SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa awarded President’s Colours
Sri Lanka Air Force Combat Training School Diyatalawa (SLAF-CTS), the oldest training school of the SLAF, was honoured with the award of the President’s Colours in a colourful parade held at SLAF-CTS Diyatalawa recently. President Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, presented the award, as the Chief Guest. He was [...]