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Home » NewsThe last aircraft flies away from Mattala
The Mattala airport built at a high cost and opened with much fanfare in 2013 lost its only scheduled flight on Thursday when Fly Dubai decided to terminate its services. The last flight is seen at the abandoned international airport. Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi
Hambantota project: Chinese firm holds back US$ 585m
The Chinese company involved in the Hambantota Port project has put on hold the last tranche of US$ 585 million to Sri Lanka over a dispute involving infrastructure facilities. The China Merchants Port Holdings Company (CMPort) Ltd is insisting that in accordance with the existing Concession Agreement, an artificial entertainment zone on reclaimed land is [...]
Medical specialists threaten to withdraw from private hospitals over “unfair” taxes
Sri Lanka’s medical specialists are threatening to withdraw for two weeks from private practice from June 18 onwards, if their requests for a reasonable tax structure are not heeded. The ‘Medical Specialists’ Collective’ brought together under the guidance of the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) says that while they are opposed to the post-April 1, [...]
KDU Act to be amended to absorb SAITM students
The minimum entry requirements for the 982 SAITM students set to be absorbed into the Kotalawala Defence University (KDU) will be three S grades (simple passes) in science subjects at the G.C.E. (Advanced Level ) Examination, the Government has decided. This is outlined in a KDU Act amendment submitted to Parliament and due be taken [...]
Highest level task force to expedite North-East development
President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a high-level 48-member task force to direct, coordinate and monitor development activities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, according to a Gazette notification. The task force, chaired by the President, will review the development projects so far launched in the Northern and Eastern Provinces since the end of the conflict [...]
President requests Britain to arrest or deport editor of LankaeNews
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday requested Britain to have London-based LankaeNews Editor Pradeep Sandaruwan Senadheera arrested or sent back to Sri Lanka. He made the request during a 30-minute a meeting with British High Commissioner James Dauris whom he summoned to his Paget Road residence. Among those present at the discussion were the President’s Coordinating Secretary [...]
CB tells Aloysius companies to disclose payments made from 33 banks
The Central Bank has called upon four companies at the centre of the bond scam to disclose payments made to different persons from accounts they held in 33 commercial banks. It follows a Court order to this effect and is expected to lay bare the names of more recipients of money from the companies–Perpetual Treasuries [...]
AG: TNL used unauthorised Channel; TNL Counsel: Action taken due to critical newscast
The TNL Media Network had used an unauthorised frequency for its telecasts, thus obstructing other Channels, which led to its Repeater Transmission Centre in Polgahawela, being shut down, the Attorney General informed the Polgahawela Magistrate’s Court this week. Police shut down the RTC and seized the equipment there, after obtaining a court order from the [...]
GPPAC-RCSS Week for Conflict-Prevention and Peace-Building
Global Partnership for Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) and the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) held “GPPAC-RCSS Week” from June 4-8 in Colombo. The main aim of the programmes held throughout the week was to convey the importance of ‘Conflict-Prevention’ and ‘Peace-Building’ to the public, the organisers stated. The events presented an opportunity to [...]
SC judgment calls for law reforms to expand grounds for divorce
A Supreme Court judgment this week advocated amendments to Section 19 of the Marriage Registration Ordinance to expand the grounds for divorce to instances where one party wishes to end the union but the other does not. At present, the only grounds for divorce in Sri Lanka are adultery subsequent to marriage, malicious desertion or [...]
2 alleged gangsters killed in shootout with STF
Two men, described as gangsters by the police, were killed in a shootout with Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel at Madawala, Kandy, last afternoon. Police said the deceased were close associates of underworld kingpins ‘Makandure Madhush’ and ‘Angoda Lokka,’, believed to be operating from overseas. Following a tip-off that the two gangsters were traveling [...]
Adverse weather affects 12,000 acres of agricultural lands
Winds exceeding 70 miles per hour were experienced in several parts of Sri Lanka yesterday. Forecasting director Anusha Warnasooriya, said coastal areas also would be hit by strong winds. She expects average rainfall during the southwest monsoon. With strong winds and showers also comes the danger of landslides. The National Building Research Organization said that [...]
Karandeniya PS deputy chairman shooting: One suspect arrested, other on the run
Police yesterday arrested one of the two suspects allegedly involved in the shooting of Karandeniya Pradeshiya Sabha deputy chairman Donald Sampath. The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Asela Ranasinghe, was taken into custody by the Uragasmanhandiya Police while he was undergoing treatment at the Uragasmanhandiya Hospital last morning. Mr. Sampath, who represents the Sri Lanka Podujana [...]
Riding with open umbrella proved fatal
A woman who was travelling as a pillion rider with her umbrella opened died of severe injuries that she sustained after she was blown off and hit her head, a coroner’s court heard this week. The victim who was identified as Nawaratne Menike 66, from Polpitigama in Kurunegala District had been offered a lift by [...]
Biyagama plant struggling with putrid water
Biyagama will be threatened with polluted water every year if the authorities do not act to avert the hazard. The manager in charge of the local water treatment plant is urging a long-term solution to the problem which, he says, occurs when there is flooding. The water board says it has a proposal under consideration. [...]
SL Navy bags Crown-of-Thorns starfish haul
The Sri Lankan Navy was successful in collecting 46 Crown-of-Thorns starfish, which harm coral, in the Pigeon Island National Park, Trincomalee on Friday. These starfish are found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. They eat coral polyps, thus destroying the corals. They are covered in long poisonous spines, and range in colour from purplish-blue [...]
Days of downpours, winds ahead for several provinces
Winds exceeding 70 miles per hour are expected to blow into the provinces of Central, North Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa. Forecasting director Anusha Warnasooriya, said coastal areas also would be hit by strong winds. She expects average rainfall during the southwest monsoon. With strong winds and showers also comes the danger of landslides. The National [...]
Script writer behind favourites such as Yashoravaya, dies
Well-known novelist, script writer and journalist Somaweera Senanayake passed away yesterday. He was 74. Senanayake’s name is synonymous with several teledramas for which he wrote scripts, such as Yashorawaya, Asalwesiyo, Doo Daruwo, Palingu Manike and Sitha Nivana Katha. These teledramas, and the characters in them, became household names in the country. Mr. Senanayake’s ability to [...]
Roofs over their heads: When will that day dawn for 15,639 landless people in Jaffna?
After squandering three years plugging unpopular prefabricated metal houses, the Government has approved two initiatives to build concrete and brick-and-mortar dwellings for war-affected people in the North and East. But a key criterion to qualify for these homes is ownership of a plot of land. What happens then to the 15,639 people who are registered [...]
It’s the flu, it’s not a new virus so don’t panic
Don’t panic – it’s the flu. Take precautions to prevent catching the flu and if you have the flu take steps not to spread it to others. This is the strong advice on how to combat influenza from Consultant Epidemiologist Dr. Samitha Ginige when the Sunday Times contacted him on Thursday. Confirming that the flu [...]
A case of the jitters at crumbling, facility-less court in Hulftsdorp
Up-to-date judicial infrastructure is essential for the efficient, effective, and fair delivery of court services to a community. But in the heart of the capital Colombo, lies the dilapidated Court No 9 in the District Court in Hulftsdorp. Boldly, a notice warns of the dangers from the crumbling court, which comes under the Ministry of [...]
Riding with open umbrella proved fatal
A woman who was travelling as a pillion rider with her umbrella opened died of severe injuries that she sustained after she was blown off and hit her head, a coroner’s court heard this week. The victim who was identified as Nawaratne Menike 66, from Polpitigama in Kurunegala District had been offered a lift by [...]
Karandeniya PS deputy chairman shooting: One suspect arrested, other on the run
Police yesterday arrested one of the two suspects allegedly involved in the shooting of Karandeniya Pradeshiya Sabha deputy chairman Donald Sampath. The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Asela Ranasinghe, was taken into custody by the Uragasmanhandiya Police while he was undergoing treatment at the Uragasmanhandiya Hospital last morning. Mr. Sampath, who represents the Sri Lanka Podujana [...]
Yashodha Range Bandara under guard in hospital
Son of State Minister Palitha Range Bandara will continue to remain under guard at the Sri Jayewardenepura Teaching Hospital until Tuesday (12), after doctors ruled his injuries were too severe for him to be produced in court. Yashodha Range Bandara (25) was, on Friday (8), remanded in custody till June 12, by the Acting Nugegoda [...]
50 years ago Sri Lanka got its first ICU
A rare black-and-white photograph says it all – the humble beginnings, the striving for excellence and the paving of the way to achieve greater things. All for the benefit of the patients who seek succour at state hospitals. There is a quiet purposefulness and also excitement as deep within the National Hospital of Sri Lanka [...]
Strike after strike cripples public utility services
A string of strikes and trade union actions have disrupted public utility services in the past few weeks with more unions threatening to resort to further strikes and protests. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is one such body that has been affected by a key union’s work-to-rule campaign launched in protest against what it claims [...]
Union says too many women running railway off track
Recruiting unskilled employees under political influence has resulted in about 6,000 vacancies for professionals in Sri Lanlka Railways, a union official said. Railway Employees’ Union Convenor S.P. Vithanage claimed that there were only about 20 professionals to maintain the upcountry services. He said women were recruited on the recommendation of politicians from time to time [...]
Too much monkey business causing havoc on many fronts
Large troops of monkeys, sometimes numbering 50-100, are causing havoc in populated areas in a grab for food, with homes and public property suffering damage in many areas. Monkey attacks come up as one of the main complaints heard at District Secretariats and agriculture-related meetings. Monkeys are causing damage to crops, roofs, power cables, telephone [...]
Anti-corruption parliamentary caucus imperative to arrest spread of corruption
For several decades now, the spread of corruption to all layers of Governance has been a worrying phenomenon. Corruption has spread like a cancer and has eaten into the vital organs of Government. The debilitating effect of corruption has not only retarded national economic development, but has greatly contributed to the suffering of the poorest [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Sameera Weerasekera,Indika Handuwala, Priyantha Wickramarachchi, Karuwalagaswewa Jayarathna, Sunil Thanthiriarachchi, Muzayyin Nazim
The idyllic Katuwana Fort lies idling
The Katuwana Fort -around 50 km from the Matara town- was renovated with help from the Dutch government. Earlier the site was popular with local tourists. However, the lackadaisical approach of local authorities since renovations were completed, have failed to popularise it as a major tourist attraction. M.P. Arachchi an area resident said that despite [...]