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Home » NewsTight security and deep devotion on Vesak
After being security checked and wearing a sticker to confirm it, this young devotee is seen in prayer at the historic Kelaniya temple during Vesak ceremonies yesterday. Legend has it that this Vesak marks the 2,600th year since the Buddha visited Kelaniya, but celebrations were cancelled due to the prevailing security situation. Pic by Priyantha [...]
Former Defence Secretary and IGP face criminal charges
A criminal investigation is under way to find out why former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and Police Chief Pujith Jayasundera failed to act on intelligence warnings about the Easter Sunday massacre. It is headed by a team led by Superintendent of Police J.T.D. Jayasinghe of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The probe comes on the [...]
Now SOFA agreement with US
Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana raised concerns of the Sri Lanka Government — during his visit to Washington DC this week — with his US counterpart, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, on the proposed Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the two countries. SOFA is another controversial agreement the US was proposing to the Acquisition and [...]
Fonseka as Law and Order Minister: 98 MPs sign petition to President
A petition is to be handed over to President Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday, calling for Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka to be appointed as Law and Order Minister . UNP Parliamentarian Ashu Marasinghe told the Sunday Times they were hoping to hand over the petition, signed by 98 MPs of the United National Front Government, to [...]
Auditor General exposes serious flaws in airport lotteries
Lottery draws conducted at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), particularly the 32nd ‘Colombo Airport Super Draw Lottery’, were loss-making, riddled with irregularities and deprived the Government of revenue, a special inquiry carried out by the Auditor General’s Department has found. It has identified multiple drawbacks including failure to formulate and gazette rules relating to these [...]
NCM against Rishad B: Ten charges for complicity with suicide bombers
The no-confidence motion (NCM) against Minister Rishad Bathiudeen alleges he tried to pressurise the Army Commander to release suspects arrested over the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, and that the Ministry of Industry and Commerce under him had supplied empty cartridge cases violating procedure to the copper factory owned by Inshaf Ahmed — the suicide bomber [...]
Integrated security system to monitor movements of people
An integrated security system linking key departments, including the Immigration, Registration of Persons, will be placed before the Cabinet soon. The project is estimated to cost about Rs. 40 bln, and is under discussion by the Home Affairs Ministry in consultation with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the respective departments. Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena [...]
After Easter Sunday terror attacks, Vesak radiates waves of resilience
Grim determination to celebrate the thrice-blessed day with religious observances Lantern and decor vendors surprised at sudden pick up in sales In some areas, people of all faiths come together to hold dansal Though security considerations in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks have led to the cancellation of many public events during [...]
Financial help for 39 Easter Sunday bomb victim families
Financial assistance was provided yesterday to 39 families who lost their loved ones in the Easter Sunday terror attacks, as part of Vesak observances at Colombo’s Gangaramaya yesterday.At the event presided over by the Ven Kirinde Assaji Thera of the Gangaramaya Temple at the Seemalakaya, family members of those who died in the blasts at [...]
Private airport taxi operators complain of raw deal
Airport private taxi operators have urged the authorities to reconsider security arrangements, which, they claim, have hit their business. Taxi drivers’ union leader L.D.S. Saman Kumara told the Sunday Times that due to the security arrangements, they were not allowed to park outside the arrivals terminal and get hires. Acknowledging that security was a top [...]
Police hunt for more than 80 people involved in mob attacks
Police are on the lookout for more than 80 people responsible for organising attacks on business establishments and houses in areas in the North Western Province and Gampaha district, a senior Police officer said. Deputy Inspector General of Police Priyantha Jayakody said that the culprits have been identified through CCTV footage, pictures taken on mobile [...]
Pera Uni to reopen on Tuesday
The Peradeniya University will reopen on Tuesday as scheduled, Vice Chancellor Upul B.Dissanayake said. Academic activities in most faculties will resume on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor said in a statement. The Arts, Management and Science faculties will be reopened on Wednesday and the dental faculty on May 27.All universities were closed as a security measure [...]
Foreign refugees to be temporarily relocated in Vavuniya
Moves are underway to settle more than 1,060 foreign refugees in a government-run rehabilitation centre in Vavuniya, but opposition to their presence is surfacing even there. On Friday night, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) officials transported 35 refugees from Negombo to Vavuniya’s Poonthottam Co-Operative College Rehabilitation Centre, where thousands of former LTTE cadres had undergone rehabilitation. [...]
Efficiency and efficacy in administration of Justice important for public confidence: CJ
In addition to the personal conduct of the judges, the efficiency and efficacy of the system of administration of justice is an important factor in fashioning public confidence, newly appointed Chief Justice (CJ) Jayantha Jayasuriya P.C. observed. He made these remarks while addressing a ceremonial sitting held to welcome him at the Supreme Court on [...]
First, the Sunday Times was debarred from visiting BIA; now right of reply
If they debarred the Sunday Times from visiting the Bandaranaike International Airport and flatly declined interviews, the Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) has now reacted to our report of May 12. The report bared the bedlam and havoc at the airport where passengers were given shabby treatment, harassed and humiliated. M.S. Hettiaratchchi, Head of Airport [...]
Why must we pay this price, ask victims of mob attacks
The mobs that hurled the stones were largely outsiders. But the men that threw bottles of petrol into his wholesale shop and struck the match while his family quaked in the flat above were from his own village. And that is what’s tearing communities apart in areas where, on Sunday and Monday, violence was unleashed [...]
Vesak lures nervous shoppers out after violence
Business suffered with goods in short supply and customers too scared to leave their homes and go shopping but the prospect of the Vesak holiday began to restore life to commercial activity by Friday. Transport of goods from Colombo to outside areas had all but stalled with lorry operators nervous about further suicide bomb attacks [...]
Suicide killers’ trail embedded in volumes of evidence
Detectives are awaiting reports on DNA, forensics, and explosives analysis to conclude their investigations on the Easter Sunday suicide bombing and the Islamic terror network responsible, a senior police source told the Sunday Times. “The DNA reports are expected soon, but no one knows when the Government Analyst will give them,’’ said the source. However, [...]
Looking at what makes suicide bombers tick
Over and over again, people have watched the CCTV footage – a man, bent due to the heavy backpack he is carrying, walking past some beggars. His path crosses that of a young man and most probably his daughter……..and fleetingly, the man with the backpack moves the little girl away and walks on. That man [...]
State must not fail in its duty to protect all its citizens
The Easter Sunday terrorist attacks that took the entire country by surprise, as well as the attacks that took place in several areas in the Kurunegala District, as well in Minuwangoda three weeks later, give rise to some questions that need to be answered. While the Security Forces had received and were in possession of [...]
Commission ends hearings amidst revelations of unprecedented fraud, mismanagement
The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) appointed to investigate SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan), SriLankan Catering (SLC) and Mihin Lanka (Mihin) has officially ended its year-long session of public hearings, and will occupy the remainder of its term finalising its report to be handed over to the President. CoI Chairman, retired Supreme Court Justice Anil Gooneratne, declared this [...]
Prevent recurrence of violence, Chilaw residents request
As parts of the North Western Province hit by violence return to normal, the plea of the residents is that all measures should be taken to prevent a similar situation from reccurring. A businessman posting content on social media, seemingly supporting terrorist activities in Chilaw, created tension in the town and among its inhabitants. No [...]
Hotel disputes tourist’s tale of events leading to wife’s death
A Government Analyst report to determine why a British woman died during her honeymoon in Sri Lanka will take three more weeks to complete, with mystery continuing to shroud the incident. An open verdict was given into the death of Usheila Patel, 31, by Judicial Medical Officer J.S.D. Peiris. The case was taken up before [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by M.A.Pushpa Kumara, Amila Gamage, W.Hubert Fernando, Priyantha Wickramarachchi and Jayarathna Wickramarachchi From our readers Shutterbugs out there, here’s your chance to send in your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph to pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk We would also appreciate if you mentioned [...]
Historical viharaya takes centre stage this Vesak
This year’s National Vesak Festival is being held at the Telwatta Thotagamuwe Rathpath Rajamaha Viharaya in Hikkaduwa. The temple, steeped in history and legend, is the first temple in the Galle District chosen to host a National Vesak Festival. The temple is believed to have been named Rathpath Viharaya as it used to be inhabited [...]