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Home » NewsFloods no bar to liquor shops
At Pitigala in Elpitiya floods have caused havoc damaging houses and forcing most shops to close. But significantly, this wine store is one of the few that are still open and drawing a stream of customers despite being flooded. Pic by Sirangika Lokukarawita
UDA to lease out underutilised land
The Urban Development Authority’s underutilised Colombo city and suburban lands are to be identified and leased to the private sector. The UDA has already identified several lands, including a 110-perch land at Union Place, Colombo 2 close to the Access Tower, a car park located adjoining the Hemas building in Fort, around 100 perches adjoining [...]
Bigger role for private sector in Govt.’s building projects
The private sector will be invited to construct buildings for state agencies under a two-pronged programme approved by the Cabinet. Under one programme, land for such construction will be provided by the Line Ministry or State Agency. Investors will be paid lease fees but will be required to turn over such property to the state [...]
Many essential drugs being withdrawn from Sri Lanka
Many essential and life-saving drugs are to be withdrawn from Sri Lanka, while some have already been pulled out mainly due to price slashes imposed by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), the Sunday Times learns. With the big pharmaceutical companies terrified to talk to the media fearing repercussions, serious concern is being expressed in [...]
Rs. 2.1 billion asked for mystery school uniform order
Cabinet is considering a joint ministerial request to approve a Rs. 2.1 billion payment for school uniform material ordered years ago from India by the now defunct Lanka Salu Sala. Once approved, the cloth will be distributed to schoolchildren in special circumstances. The request was contained in a joint cabinet memorandum submitted for approval last [...]
Concrete elevated highway from Kelanitissa to Galle Face
The US$ 300 million proposed elevated highway aimed at easing traffic congestion in Colombo city will get underway in December this year, with the money coming from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as a loan, officials said. Bids have already been closed for the 5.3 km project from Kelanitissa power station junction via the Colombo [...]
Indian assistance for 1,200 houses in Hambantota
India and Sri Lanka signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to build 1,200 houses through 50 model villages, using Indian grant assistance of 600 million Sri Lankan rupees. The MoUs were signed by India’s High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Housing and Construction Ministry Secretary Bernard Vasantha in the presence of Minister Sajith Premadasa. [...]
Largest Uni auditorium, courtesy India
The Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium built with Indian grant assistance of Rs. 300 million at the University of Ruhuna, Matara was declared open jointly by Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu (Right) and Vice Chancellor Gamini Senanayake on Tuesday. The state of art auditorium with 1500 seating capacity is the largest in any of the [...]
Tamil activists move to involve Sri Lanka in London arrests
British MPs of a pro-Tamil lobby and Tamil activists are trying to drag the Sri Lanka Government and its High Commission in London into the arrests last Monday of four Tamils demonstrating against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presence at the Oxford Union. Tamil groups claim they were detained and released the next day following complaints [...]
SLAF’s Air Symposium 2018 on October 18-19
The Colombo Air Symposium 2018, the 4th consecutive symposium organsied by the Sri Lanka Air force (SLAF), will take place on October 18-19, with over 40 foreign delegates from 20 countries in attendance, said SLAF Spokesman Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne. The theme of the conference will be ‘Air Strategy in Substantiating the Geo-Strategic Importance of [...]
SLC wire transfer fraud: Likely target of hackers
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is likely to have been the target of hackers using a Hong Kong-based shell company to perpetrate international wire transfer fraud in a textbook case of “business email compromise” (BEC), an investigation by the Sunday Times shows. Last month, SLC’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Piyal Dissanayake was sent on compulsory leave [...]
No provision to accept Submissions as a sealed document: Magistrate
Counsel appearing on behalf of an Attorney-at-Law who claims attempts were made by two Attorney General’s (AG) Dept officials to forcibly obtain an affidavit related to the Perpetual Treasuries Ltd (PTL) case on the Bond scam this week, raised objections to the AG’s Dept trying to file written submissions as a sealed document, to courts. [...]
Notice re-issued in RADA case
Megapolis & Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has been re-issued notice to appear in the Colombo High Court on October 18, to testify as a witness for the Prosecution, in relation to the criminal misappropriation case filed against the Reconstruction & Development Agency’s (RADA) former chairman Tiran Alles and 3 others. The Minister had [...]
Adulterated palm oil: Counsel turns petitioner after client withdraws case
The Attorney, who represented a consumer rights advocate in the case of an adulterated palm oil shipment detained by Sri Lanka Customs, has filed a fresh writ application in the Court of Appeal, after his client withdrew from the case. Public Interest Litigation activist and Attorney-at-Law Nagananda Kodithuwakku said he felt compelled to file his [...]
Safety of undersea cables vital for interconnected world: PM
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said this week that while the economic and commercial well-being of most countries depend on internet traffic, there are concerns that a vital component lies in an unregulated maze on the seabed around Sri Lanka. He was referring to the numerous undersea internet connectivity cables which account for nearly 80 percent [...]
Aviation expert highlights more issues at Ratmalana Airport following ST story
The bright lights illuminating the solid perimeter wall of the Ratmalana airport are a distraction to pilots landing planes at night, an expert has warned, just weeks after the Sunday Times highlighted the dangers this same wall poses to any aircraft that overshoots the runway and crashes into it. In May, the Civil Aviation Authority [...]
Court orders to resume investigations against Ravi K.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate Ranga Dissanayaka this week ordered that investigations related to former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayaka giving false evidence to the Bond Commission, could proceed, though, at this stage he cannot be named as a suspect, as investigations were still in progress. Accordingly, the Chief Magistrate granted permission to the CID to proceed [...]
Posthumous publication of Hemantha’s articles
A book containing articles by the late Hemantha Warnakulasuriya PC, from his ‘Kewal Theeruwa’ column in the Maubima newspaper was launched on Friday at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe.
Unpaid millions pile up on Colombo mayor’s doorstep
The Colombo Municipal Council is looking for alternative land to dump the city’s garbage following the refusal by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) to allow disposal at the Kerawalapitiya sanitary waste site from next year. Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake said with no solutions at hand and the controversial Arruwakaru sanitary land [...]
Ex-cop arrested for selling drugs to schoolchildren
An ex-policeman has been arrested for allegedly selling heroin to schoolchildren in Sapugaskanda, the area’s police inspector said. OIC (Crimes) Tusitha Jayakody said the man had been interdicted years ago for breaking police rules and since then he had been on the wrong side of the law. He said they searched the suspect’s house and [...]
Former MP Duminda Silva and 3 others guilty as charged, rules Apex Court
In a detailed decision of fifty one pages, comprehensively dealing with relevant law and facts, a Divisional Bench of the Supreme Court presided over by former Chief Justice Priyasath Dep who retired this week, affirmed the majority decision of the Colombo High Court to impose the death sentence on former parliamentarian Duminda Silva and three [...]
Justice Nalin Perera sworn in as 46th Chief Justice
Justice Nalin Perera was sworn in as the 46th Chief Justice of the country before President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday. He commenced his career as a Primary Court judge in 1980, after passing out from Law College in 1977. After serving as a Primary Court judge in Embilipitiya and Welimada, he was promoted a Magistrate [...]
Rs. 2.1 billion asked for mystery school uniform order
Cabinet is considering a joint ministerial request to approve a Rs. 2.1 billion payment for school uniform material ordered years ago from India by the now defunct Lanka Salu Sala. Once approved, the cloth will be distributed to schoolchildren in special circumstances. The request was contained in a joint cabinet memorandum submitted for approval last [...]
Loco motives behind train fare hike
Commuters vented their anger at the latest rail price hike but railway officials insisted they were heeding a call by Treasury. Worst hit are state sector officers and middle-income earning workers in the private sector. In the state sector, officers complained they now have to pay more for a season ticket. The last railway strike [...]
Cybercrimes: Financial fraudsters are becoming increasingly innovative
The Indian nationals were thought to be running a jewellery shop. Yet, when Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detectives raided the establishment at the ground floor of the Gold Centre building in Pettah last week, not a trace of gold was found; only a few empty cupboards. The jewellery shop was a front, the detectives found. [...]
Fishermen say industry is drowning but fisheries chief denies charges
Fishermen blocked the Chilaw-Colombo main road and several other routes this week demanding that they be given some relief to overcome problems arising from fuel and ice price hikes. They also protested against the Fisheries Ministry’s decision to grant licences to 30 vessels belonging to a single private company to fish in the seas around [...]
Weather improves, but landslide warnings yet for Galle and Kalutara districts
Landslide warnings in Galle and Kalutara districts are still effective due to the prevailing weather conditions, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. Heavy rainfall together with strong winds experienced across several parts of Sri Lanka caused flash floods in 12 districts in the Southern, Western, North-Western and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. “As of Friday about 435 families [...]
Why motorists are bumping along Colombo roads at snail’s pace
Constant excavation and repairs by various authorities have compounded the appalling conditions on roads in Colombo city for the millions of people who live and work there. Many roads are scarred with craters and potholes that have filled with water following the recent heavy showers. Peak-hour traffic is made worse by manic driving as cars [...]
Vaccination, the way forward to a healthy country
The country’s much-lauded immunization programme is inextricably linked to vaccines and last Sunday saw the 9th Annual Symposium of the Vaccine Forum of Sri Lanka turning the spotlight on many important issues in this arena. While the Chief Guest was the Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe and the Guest-of-Honour the Country Representative of [...]
Roads must be converted into safe spaces for citizens
The end of the armed conflict, thankfully, brought an end to the wanton destruction of life and property in the country. Many of those who suffered were civilians who were not directly involved in the fighting, but the cost to them was enormous in terms of lost lives and harm caused to their loved ones, [...]
Whether President, PM appear or not, Tissa Attanayake case will go on
The forgery case against former UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayaka will be continued even if President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe do not present themselves as witnesses in the case, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Deilipa Peiris told court this week. Mr. Attanayake is accused of displaying a fraudulent document to the media during [...]
Group searches ways to end elephant carnage on rail tracks
Members of a committee appointed to prevent elephants being killed by speeding trains are now on the field trying to identify places from were elephant herds cross the rail tracks, the general manager of the Railways Department, Dilantha Fernando, told the Sunday Times. The committee is made up of members of the Department of Wildlife [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by M.A.Pushpa kumara, Karunarathna Gamage, Shelton Hettiarachchi, Jayarathna Wickramarachchi, Rosairo Karunarathna
A closer look at COBRA
Two high-level and equally important events took place recently – one in a Colombo hotel and the other in rural and impoverished Pallama in Puttalam. Both were linked to the spectre of high blood pressure which is holding people in its vice-like grip, causing premature deaths not only in Sri Lanka but across the world, [...]
‘Rescue’ of wild cat babies backfires
Two wild cat cubs were found in a tree cavity several days ago by workers at the Bogawantalawa tea estate. The mother could not be spotted so the workers carefully took the cubs away, thinking they had been orphaned. The Nallathanniya Beat Office of Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) was alerted to the find on [...]
Urban flooding
Urban flooding has become a biannual occurrence in Sri Lanka occurring with the advent of the North East and South West monsoons. The main reason for this flooding has been illegal constructions which block drains and drainage outlets leaving many areas flooded. Last week after many areas were left flooded in the aftermath of the [...]
Homeless ask why no land for housing but plenty for business
Last Monday, on World Habitat Day a demonstration organised by Janawabodaya Kendraya, which opposes economic globalisation, was held from the Negombo Municipal Council up to the Rukmani Devi Arts Gallery at Negombo, where they held a meeting demanding houses for the homeless, under the banner ‘where shall we dine tonight?’ Headed by Rev. Fr. Sarath [...]
Mihin Lanka never filed Performance Reports despite repeated reminders
Even six months after its launch in 2006, the government-funded Mihin Lanka failed to submit its Performance Report (PR) to the Dept of Public Enterprises (DPE), through the relevant line ministry, DPE Director M.C.N. Balasooriya informed the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to Investigate Alleged Irregularities at SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan), SriLankan Catering (SL Catering) and Mihin [...]