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Home » NewsPolitical symbolism: Elephant versus others
Symbolic of the political situation in Sri Lanka is this event at the traditional New Year celebrations held by the Central Cultural Fund and Sigiriya hoteliers in Sigiriya on Friday. Involved in the tug o’ war is an elephant on one side, and a host of others on the other. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa.
UAE refuses to deport Weeratunga; proposes extradition case in court
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has turned down Sri Lanka’s request to repatriate to Colombo Udayanga Weeratunga, a former ambassador to Russia, and advised the Government to initiate extradition proceedings in UAE courts. An extradition treaty exists between Sri Lanka and the UAE. However, though it was signed on April 29, 2002 it has not [...]
14 unions to defy ban on May 1 rallies
Some local trade unions, backed by a global trade union body, are bracing for a confrontation with the authorities after deciding to go ahead with May 1 rallies and celebrations despite the Government changing the date of May Day to May 7. Backing the local unions is the Geneva-based IndustriALL Global Union which on Friday [...]
Lankan LGBTI activist welcomes move by Commonwealth
British Prime Minister Theresa May’s public expression of regret for her country’s role in criminalising same-sex relations under colonial rule will pave the way for making some positive change for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and inter-sex (LGBTI) communities of the Commonwealth, says Sri Lankan LGBTI activist Rosanna Flamer-Caldera. Sri Lanka has upheld such laws for [...]
Finance Ministry to review social protection programmes; consultants to be recruited
The Finance Ministry is to recruit consultants to study Sri Lanka’s social protection programme–which includes pensions, employment, health and other welfare benefits–and to make recommendations for a new policy. The assignments include a US$ 40,000 (Rs 6.2mn) contract for a comprehensive assessment of existing social protection structures; a US$ 25,000 (Rs 4mn) commission for the [...]
Central Expressway third stage: Experts question resettlement action plan
The Road Development Authority’s (RDA) “resettlement action plan” (RAP) to minimise effects of massive displacement from building the proposed third stage of the Central Expressway (CEP III) is riddled with holes and spells disaster for the affected parties, experts said. Thousands of people will be impacted by the project for which land acquisition is underway. [...]
Immediately screen 49 peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon, UN tells Lanka
The Sri Lanka Government must immediately prioritise the completion of the screening of 49 soldiers deployed to Lebanon in February, a spokesman for United Nations Peacekeeping has told the Inter Press Service (IPS). The UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has also notified Sri Lanka that, if concerns arise regarding the 49 personnel already deployed [...]
Elephant known among the villagers
This elephant known among the villagers as ‘Wevel Dalaya’ was often spotted in the Digampathana area of Dambulla. It was one of the seven elephants that have been shot by unidentified villagers. The elephant had been missing for 20 days and was located this week with gunshot injuries. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
Amendments soon: Maternity benefits for private, estate sector women
Government is to amend the Maternity Benefits Ordinance and Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act, to grant the same maternity leave and benefits to women workers in the private and plantation sectors, as granted to those in the government sector. Amendments to the relevant Legislation have been published in the Gazette, [...]
Highway crawl to the south
It was a crawl on the Southern Highway on April 14 as people headed down south for the Avurudu holidays. Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
US grant $ 35m with lengthy strings attached
The US Congress approved Foreign Appropriation Bill has allocated US$ 35 million for Sri Lanka for FY 2018 “for economic development and democracy programmes, particularly in areas recovering from ethnic and religious conflict”. The Bill also details extensive conditions to be eligible for the funding. Repealing Laws that do not comply with international standards, for [...]
President Sirisena affirms SL’s commitment to PCA, SDA
Sri Lanka remains firmly committed to the full implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement (PCA) and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (SDA), said President Maithripala Sirisena said, when he addressed the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) session in London on Thursday (19). Speaking further, President Sirisena said Sri Lanka extended its support to the [...]
Brother (27), sister (24) drown at sea
A young brother and sister were washed away to sea yesterday, in one of the latest of a string of drownings reported during the New Year. The latest incident took place in Beruwala, where 27-year-old Ahamad Mudjahid and his 24-year-old sister, Thrushna Taabi, from Hulftsdorf, Colombo, had drowned at sea, while visiting a lighthouse situated [...]
One year on, Meethotamulla victims continue to be hit by official indifference
One year after the Meethotamulla garbage dump tragedy, survivors are still haunted by memories of that fateful day. Many also allege that their plight has been largely forgotten by the officials. Over 30 people lost their lives when the garbage dump collapsed on their homes on April 14, last year. Most were celebrating the Sinhala [...]
Dehiwela-Mount council vows action on high-rises
The Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council (DMMC) has offered to look into the grievances of residents upset by the proliferating construction of high-rise condominiums. This is despite the fact that the approval process for buildings higher than five floors and in an area more than 4,000 sq ft is under the Urban Development Authority’s (UDA) wing. [...]
Health Ministry debunks FAO report on SL’s child undernourishment
The Ministry of Health (MoH) last week refuted the UN Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report, ranking Sri Lanka the second highest in undernourishment among 5-year-olds in South Asian (SA) countries. The report published last week said recent FAO studies found Sri Lanka to have 22.1% malnutrition, a step better than its troubled neighbour Afghanistan [...]
President at London Buddhist Vihara
President Maithripala Sirisena this week visited the London Buddhist Vihara, established in 1926 as the first Buddhist temple in the United Kingdom by Anagarika Dharmapala. He took part in the traditional oil anointing ceremony connected with the Sinhala and Hindu New Year. He was accompanied by his family. The Viharaya’s Chief Incumbent, Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala [...]
Avurudu spirits cause more than 60 road deaths
Motorcyclists losing control and crashing into other vehicles, lamp posts or veering off the road, and three-wheeler accidents were responsible for most of the accidents over Avurudu week that claimed more than 60 lives and left dozens of others in hospital. Negligence, reckless driving, speeding and driving or riding under the influence of liquor caused [...]
From Avurudu to a kill: the deadly tale of New Year high jinks
Violence during the Avurudu season has doubled since last year with much of it caused by drunken, murderous frenzy. Most patients admitted to hospital over the season had deep cuts, crushed skulls, fractured bones and other injuries caused during brawls, the Deputy Director of National Hospital (Accident Services), Dr Samiddhi Samarakoon said. “The recent trend [...]
Money laundering probe: British Govt. rejects French request to raid Allirajah’s company
The controversial telecom tycoon of Sri Lankan origin Subaskaran Allirajah, boss of Lycamobile, is again at the centre of a French police and media investigation that involves money laundering and tax frauds. A five-part investigation by BuzzFeed News that has been looking closely at the activities of the Allirajah telecom empire in Britain and elsewhere, [...]
The light of Vesak to fall on Kurunegala
Kurunegala will be the cynosure of all eyes, with plans underway to hold the national Vesak festival in this district. The Government has declared a National Vesak Week from April 26 to May 2 and various programmes will be held throughout the country with the main event being held at the Devagiri Rajamaha Viharaya in [...]
Veggie farmers cry out for sales channels for their surpluses
Every year, Sri Lanka’s farmers produce some varieties of vegetables more than is needed by households. Only minute amounts are exported. The bulk ends up on garbage dumps, for elephants to rummage through. The glut of vegetables cause financial loss to farmers and the waste of thousands of tonnes of vegetables continues. Farmer associations are [...]
Rubber factory owner flees after five deaths due to ammonia
The owner of a latex factory in Bellapitiya in Horana has become a fugitive following the deaths on Thursday of five people from inhalation of the corrosive, colourless, deadly gas ammonia. Ratansiri Edirisinghe, the manger of the latex factory, which is suspected to have breached environmental regulations, has been arrested and remanded until April 25. [...]
Teachers up in arms: Chief culprit in principal humiliation handed portfolio despite inquiry
Outraged teachers are demanding that controversial Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake of the Uva Province be removed after he was reinstated by the outgoing Governor M P Jayasinghe as the provincial education minister while a court case and a human rights violation investigation are continuing. Mr Jayasinghe said a one-person inquiry had cleared Mr Dassanayake [...]
Ven. Sobitha wanted the Executive Presidency abolished –not on an account of the UNHRC or RAW
The issue of abolishing the Executive Presidency (EP) has once again come to the forefront of the political agenda, with the JVP announcing they would move a Private Members motion in Parliament to amend the Constitution, to achieve this objective. Not surprisingly, opposition to this move has come from several quarters. Some argue this will [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, Indika Handuwala, M.A.Pushpakumara, Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi and Thusitha K De Silva Hallucination? Nope!! Nearing heaven’s height Feet on a slippery GI pipe A few fingers clutching a GI pipe, overhead Left hand to operate the roller paint brush Daily wage overrides my valueless life? Overseer where are you? Pic sent by Dr. Susil W. Gunasekera
Nuwara Eliya bedecked in flowers once again
It’s that time of the year when Nuwara Eliya blooms and flower growers show off their gardening skills. One of the most looked forward to seasonal events in Little England, the annual floral competition, was organised by the Municipality and private institutions,as part of the Vasantha Udanaya festival. The competition categories usually include the best [...]
Three abandoned calves find a home
Three abandoned baby elephants, found in the Eastern Province within the span of a week, are being cared for at the Ampara wildlife health unit. The unit’s veterinary surgeon Dr Nihal Pushpakumara said the calves were found roaming in Kopawali area in Trincomalee, Maha oya area in Ampara and Dammina walamandiya area close to Maduru [...]
Turtle conservation in troubled sands
The conservation of turtles in the southern coast is facing a threat from both humans and animals. In spite of attempts by Wildlife officials, around 200 to 500 turtle eggs are destroyed on a daily basis by people who dig out the eggs buried in the sand and sell them and as night falls by [...]
Drought drives deer to poachers’ trap
Deer and other wild animals hit by the prolonged drought in Sri Lanka’s northern half are increasingly becoming easy prey to poachers, a veterinary surgeon, who is looking after animals rescued from hunters’ traps, has said. Dr Chandana Jayasinghe, the state veterinary surgeon in charged of the North Western Province, said hunters had set up [...]
SL Navy’s second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel set to sail
The second Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) of the Sri Lanka Navy, built at an Indian shipbuilding facility was commissioned by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday at the Eastern Container Terminal of the Colombo port. Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) had built the ship. After the guard of honour the Prime Minister handed over the [...]
Megapolis Ministry cannot override decisions taken by Kandy Municipality: Mayor
The newly elected Mayor for Kandy Kesara Senanayake is to urge the Megapolis Ministry not to approve plans that have been turned down by the Municipality. He said that he would have to have a discussion with Megapolis Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and explain to him that the Ministry cannot override and go ahead with [...]