News
Home » NewsTeachers singing in the purple rain
Despite the heavy rain yesterday, about 500 teachers took part in an event at Hettimulla in Beruwala to mark World Teachers’ Day. The event was organised by an opposition MP and addressed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Pic by Sarath Siriwardene
Sirisena-Mahinda talks to form grand coalition
President Maithripala Sirisena and his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa met this week to discuss a potential caretaker grand coalition government. A fruition of the talks could see Rajapaksa emerging as the new Prime Minister. In Beruwala, yesterday, Rajapaksa spoke of a caretaker government, but said it would never be with those “who sold the country”. The [...]
DIG Nalaka Silva faces arrest; recorded voice authentic, says Govt. Analyst
The Government Analyst has confirmed that the voice of DIG Nalaka Silva, the former head of the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID), contained in recorded telephone conversations over an assassination plot now under probe is authentic and that of the DIG. In the light of this, DIG Silva faces arrest anytime now, highly placed Police sources [...]
Licences of two finance companies cancelled; 7,000 people had deposited Rs. 6.1 billion
More than 7,000 people had deposited about Rs 6.1 billion in the two finance companies, whose licences were cancelled by the Central Bank this year. The two are the Central Investments and Finance PLC (CIFL) which had its license cancelled in March this year and the Standard Credit Finance Limited (TSCFL) which had its licence [...]
PC polls unlikely
The unlikelihood of Provincial Councils elections being held has heightened after a meeting President Maithripala Sirisena held this week to discuss the matter. Taking part in the discussions were members of the Executive Committee of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) which included seven parties in the ‘Joint Opposition.’ At the meeting held at President [...]
Heavy rain today also
Heavy rain and thunderstorms will continue over most parts of the island for the next 24 hours, the Meteorology Department warned in a special advisory last night. It said the inclement weather was caused by the low pressure system developing in the Arabian sea to the west of Sri Lanka and as a result the [...]
20 percent hike in prices of imported items
Importers raised prices of household electrical and electronic items this week — and despite a drop in sales in the local market and at airport duty free shops, they warned prices may be raised further for new stocks.Reports said there was a 20 percent increase in the prices of television sets, washing machines, fans, refrigerators, [...]
SC green light for SSP’s right’s petition against Police Chief
The Supreme Court on Friday granted leave to proceed in a fundamental rights petition case filed by a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the National Police Commission (NPC) and the Ministry of Law and Order. The Court also granted an interim order preventing the IGP, the Minister of [...]
Ministry enlightens agitating residents around garbage site
Following agitations launched by area residents, against shifting the sanitary landfill from Arawakkaru to Serakuliya, Puttalam, the Megapolis Ministry intends to educate and create awareness among the residents. The Ministry officials who met the protestors, will make the area residents inclusive and involve them in the project. With this in mind, representatives of the protestors, [...]
Payment dispute may bring Colombo’s garbage collection to a halt: Mayor
Colombo city’s garbage collection could come to a grinding halt following a dispute over payments to the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation Development Corporation (SLLRDC) which manages the Kerawalapitiya garbage disposal site, Mayor Rosy Senanayake warned yesterday. She said the council’s efforts to maintain a clean city had contributed to bringing down the number of dengue [...]
Counter Terrorism, Appropriations Bills in Parliament on Tuesday
Two important Bills, namely the Counter Terrorism Bill and the Appropriations Bill will be presented in Parliament on Tuesday. The Counter Terrorism Bill, to be presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No. 48 of 1979. This new Bill provides for the protection of Sri Lanka [...]
‘Recovery of Damages for the Death of a Person’ Bill in Parliament on Tuesday
A Bill that would make provision for the next-of-kin to recover damages from the death of a person caused by a wrongful act, omission, negligence or default of another, will be presented to Parliament on Tuesday. The Bill titled ‘Recovery of Damages for the Death of a Person’ has got Cabinet approval, and will be [...]
Salley apologises to Upul Jayasuriya in open court
Colombo’ former Deputy Mayor Azath Salley has apologized in the District Court of Colombo to the Board of Investment’s former chairman Upul Jayasuriya for defamatory statements made against him in 2016 The apology in open court followed Mr. Salley’s admission that the derogatory comments made on July 14, 2016 at a news conference at the [...]
Sindurala returns after longest sea voyage for an SLN vessel
SLN Sindurala (P624) returned home on September 24, having completed the longest sea passage for a naval exercise by a Sri Lanka Navy vessel. ‘Sindurala’ covered 6,646 nautical miles to reach Darwin, Australia to participate in the multinational exercise KAKADU 2018. “Sindurala” left Trincomalee harbour on August 20 for Australia. KAKADU 2018 started on the [...]
NLDB Chairman remanded for bribery
National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) Chairman M.K. Muthuvinayagam, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission, was yesterday remanded till October 18, after being produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. The NLDB Chairman and an associate were arrested by Bribery Commission sleuths on Friday, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 600,000. Bribery Commission Director- [...]
‘Mosquito breeder’ fined Rs. 15,000
A businessman living at Gal Vihara Road in Dehiwela was fined Rs.15, 000 by Mount Lavinia Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrema Weerasinghe this week for allowing a swimming pool on his premises to turn into a mosquito breeding ground. Public Heath Inspectors (PHIs) on a routine inspection of homes discovered that the neglected swimming pool had become [...]
STBC discussion on the economy
An interesting discussion on “Fundamentals of the economy: Are we on the right track?” has been scheduled for the next meeting of the Sunday Times Business Club (STBC). To be held at the Kingsbury Colombo, the STBC newest host hotel, on Wednesday October 17, panellists at the discussion are State Minister of Finance – Eran [...]
PM-headed committee to devise procedures for NE housing project
The Cabinet has mandated the setting up of a committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to submit procedures for financing and implementing an initiative to build 25,000 brick-and-mortar houses for the war-displaced through a consortium of humanitarian agencies. The project is to be led by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the UN Office [...]
Villagers bring relief to suffering jumbo
A team of veterinary surgeons have started treating the injured foot of this elephant at the Hondawel Pokuna Wewa area in Hambantota. Villagers in the area had alerted the veterinary office in Ham-bantota to the plight of the animal. Pic by Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
CID blunder further delays ruling on Ravi K.’s case
A ruling whether court should allow to proceed in the case regarding former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake allegedly giving false evidence before the Central Bank Bond Commission, has been further delayed until next week. The delay was caused after the Criminal Investigation Department submitted to Courts the wrong CD containing the former Minister’s evidence before [...]
Dodgy no-parking signs drive motorists round the bend
Illegal, invalid and incomplete “No Parking” signboards are frustrating motorists around the country. Some of these boards give incomplete information, not clearly stating the specific distance and/or time when parking is not allowed. Others are invalid because they do not comply with the standards in the Motor Traffic Signs Regulations gazette. Still others are downright [...]
Disability access: Poor implementation of Supreme Court order
Dr. Ajith C.S. Perera, activist for the accessibility rights of disabled persons, has filed a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition in the Supreme Courts, to ensure compliance of existing regulations on accessibility. Supported by an Affidavit and testimonials from two eminent medical doctors, he has prayed to implement the written laws and ensure compliance with existing [...]
Free business class tickets worth Rs 7.75m to US consultancy firm
SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan) had issued free Business Class tickets amounting to Rs 7.75 million (US$ 67,391) to personnel attached to a US based consultancy firm, though an agreement between SriLankan and the firm had clearly stipulated the latter will bear part of its air travel costs, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to Investigate Alleged Irregularities [...]
Charges filed in nick of time could bring justice in 20-year-old rape case
A South Korean family’s hopes of finding justice over the alleged gang-rape of their daughter 20 years ago by three Sri Lankan men in Korea have soared following a decision to pursue charges in this country against the accused. The 18-year-old victim, Jeong Eun-Hui, a university student returning from a late-night party in Daegu city [...]
Killings on the rise, but police say crime down
Murders are mounting but the Police Department insists that the crime rate is down according to their statistics. Just this week, two persons were shot and hacked to death in Uragasmanhandiya near Elpitiya. It was followed by the shooting of a woman in Ja-ela when she was driving. Her eight-year-old daughter escaped miraculously. There was [...]
Minister initiates search and preservation of ‘Saradiel files’
Speaking at the Kandy Courts Complex, Minister of Justice, Thalatha Athukorala, said immediate steps would be taken to order a search for documents pertaining to the famous ‘Saradiel Trial’ and ‘Judgements made by the District Judge and Civil Servant A.C. Lawrie’. The minister took the decision in response to a statement made by the President [...]
19m Lankans face financial hit from climate change by 2050
Living standards in the Northern and North-Western provinces will be badly affected by changing climate and the economic engine of the Western Province will also falter, according to a World Bank study that links GDP to the impact of climate change. The Jaffna and Puttalam districts will be the top hotspots – areas where changes [...]
The power of journalism lies in free, responsible and ethical media
Canada’s Centre for Law and Democracy Director Toby Mendel, who was one of the nine international speakers at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility, has emphasised the need for journalism to be free, independent, responsible and ethical. “Although everyone agreed on the power of journalism, there is [...]
Rains bring smile to drought-hit farmers; DMC issues disaster warning
The current wet weather conditions have finally brought relief to drought stricken farmers, who suffered hardship due to lack of water for cultivation. The Director of Irrigation, Water Management and Training W B Palugaswewa told the Sunday Times that the prevailing weather conditions will be favourable for paddy cultivation in the East and the North [...]
Safety hazard check for Ratmalana airport border wall
Sri Lanka’s aviation regulator will review the safety of the perimeter wall bordering the Galle Road at Colombo Airport in Ratmalana because of safety concerns expressed by pilots and others. Rohan Manukulasooriya, the regulator’s deputy director general (airspace and security regulation), said a committee will be named this month. The terms of reference are being [...]
SC imposes highest court costs of Rs 1m while dismissing FR petition
The Supreme Court, unanimously, dismissed a Fundamental Rights (FR) Petition of a vehicle importer, against the Sri Lanka Customs (SLC), and ordered the petitioners to pay Rs 1 million in court costs, which is the highest court cost ordered in the country’s Legal history. In its verdict, the 3-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising [...]
Karapitiya hospital flooded again
Last weeks heavy rains wreaked havoc at the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle resulting in the outdoor medical storeroom as well as the equipment room going under water. In the wake of heavy shower, staff at the hospital were seen clearing and cleaning the two rooms in an attempt to salvage medicines and equipment which were [...]
Bundala fish are dying due to waste from salterns, say fishermen
Flora and fauna at the Bundala National Park are dying due to waste from the salterns being released into the lagoon, area residents say. A large number of birds that inhabit the park and migratory birds are also under threat as their source of food, fish in the lagoon are dying due to the pollution, [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, M.A.Pushpa kumara, Augustin Fernando Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk and Rukman Ratnayake
Move to declare open season on wild boar despite warnings
The Agriculture Ministry will seek Cabinet approval to lift the ban on the transport and sale of wild boar meat in the face of opposition from wildlife activists, citing the need to prevent the protected animal’s raids on cropland. Agriculture Ministry media director W.M.D. Wanninayake said wild animals caused about Rs. 18 billion damage of [...]
Family Planning Day: Doctors focus on unsafe abortions
The touchy topic of abortion was discussed at the inauguration of Family Planning Day last week where medical experts tried to dispel myths about the use of contraceptives and means of reducing unwanted pregnancies, thus reducing the number of unsafe abortions in the country. Health Promotion Bureau Director Dr Paba Palihawadana told the Sunday Times [...]