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Home » NewsSri Lanka’s sovereign voters go to the polls on Nov. 16
For the crucial presidential election on November 16, nominations will be received tomorrow at the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya. But for the sovereign people who will elect the next president, it was a matter of life and death as they clung on to the footboards and windows of train as railway trade unions continue to [...]
Sirisena decides to support Gota; MoU to be signed after talks
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party will support the candidature of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his symbol Pohottuwa (Lotus Bud) without conditions, its leader, President Maithripala Sirisena declared last night. He told Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Nationnal Organiser Basil Rajapaksa that there would be no conditions for the presidential [...]
Sri Lanka’s Fa-Hien Lena: The site of the oldest human-made tools in South Asia
The oldest known tools from South Asian rainforests have been found in Sri Lanka—tiny, retouched stones called microliths that date back around 45,000 years. Archaeologists had previously thought that rainforests presented a barrier to the early spread of humankind. In comparison with the environments of Europe and Africa, these dense tropical surroundings are considerably more [...]
Nominations tomorrow; 33 candidates in the fray
Nominations get under way tomorrow for Sri Lanka’s eighth presidential polls — easily the toughest for officials with more than 33 candidates in the fray. Payments of candidate deposits for the November 16 poll must be made before noon today, National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said. Some 15.6 million of the country’s 21 [...]
Ministries, departments ordered to slash expenses by 10 percent
The cash-strapped Treasury has ordered ministries and departments to slash their expenses by 10 percent in the next three months. In a circular, Treasury Secretary R.H.S. Samaratunga has ordered state institutions to stop non-essential projects and projects which have not begun, curtail expenses on purchase of furniture and stop purchase of vehicles during the period. [...]
Ahimsa’s case against Gota lies in balance
The next hearing into the case filed by Ahimsa Wickrematunge in the US District Court for the Central District of California against Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former Defence Secretary, for the assassination of her father, Lasantha, has been cancelled. “We are now awaiting a decision on either the motion to stay or the motion to dismiss [...]
Final draft of law protecting personal data released
The final draft of a Law to protect personal data, was released this week, making it an offence for institutions such as banks, telecom operators and hospitals to share–including to sell–client information for any purpose that is not first clearly specified. The Personal Data Protection Legislation Bill was released through the website of the Information [...]
In a first, candidates come together to answer questions, spell out their visions
For the first time in the country’s history, candidates contesting the upcoming Presidential election were invited to share one stage at a “Public Platform” event organised by the civil society group, March 12 Movement, and Afriel Youth Network at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium last evening. The event that was broadcast live on all major television [...]
5 main political parties contest Elpitiya PS polls on October 11
The five main political parties are contesting the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) elections to be held on Friday (11), with voting taking place across 47 polling centres in the area. Postal voting took place on September 30. Those who failed to cast their postal votes on that day were given another opportunity on October 4. [...]
Stamp of approval by Indian stamp collectors
While India’s celebration to mark the 150th birth anniversary of its Father of Independence, Mahatma Gandhi was marred by miscreants who defaced his portrait and stole his ashes from a memorial in the Rewa district of the Madhya Pradesh state, Indian stamp collectors flocked to buy stamps issued by Sri Lanka to mark the occasion. [...]
Mihintale project: LECO defies pressure to reject PM’s office donation request
The Lanka Electricity Company (Pvt) Ltd (LECO) Board has unanimously rejected the Rs 275mn donation ordered by the Prime Minister’s office for “development” of the sacred site of Mihintale. The decision came despite angry strictures from Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake who has for weeks borne pressure on LECO officials to release the money [...]
SC gives okay for FR case filed by man arrested after Easter Sunday bombings
The Supreme Court this week granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by a resident of Aluthgama over his arrest and detention following the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. Twenty-five-year-old Mohammed Thufail Mohammed Milhan, who owns a jewellery shop in Attidiya, was taken in by the Mt Lavinia police on May 5, after [...]
PAFFREL will take legal action against those who violate polls laws
The People’s Action Front for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has warned it would take legal action against Ministry secretaries involved in giving job appointments and free goods to gain public advantage during the presidential election campaign. PAFFREL’s Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said any complaint received in this regard would be looked at seriously and [...]
Gota vows to defeat opposing conspiracies for Presidency
Those who know they cannot democratically win the upcoming presidential election are attempting to engage in various conspiracies, but will not be able to prevent a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) victory, the party’s presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa said. Speaking during the convention of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya in Kurunegala on Wednesday, Mr Rajapaksa [...]
Presidential poll complaints to Dispute Resolution Centre
The National Election Commission (NEC) has established a Dispute Resolution Centre to receive complaints related to the Presidential Election. The public could lodge complaints via Telephone, Fax, Email, Viber/WhatsApp, Facebook and the NEC website. The contact details are as follows: Telephone- 0112 868 212/560/217. Fax- 0112 868 526/529. Viber/WhatsApp- 0719 160 000. Email- complaint.pre2019@elections.gov.lk Facebook- [...]
New ideologies, national work plan to develop the country- Sajith
The UNP-led New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate, Sajith Premadasa, said his future vision to develop the country would be through new ideologies and a National Work Plan. Mr Premadasa speaking at the special UNP convention to endorse him as the Presidential candidate, said he would create an agenda centred on the people of the country. [...]
Hotly contested arguments, counter arguments end with CA’s unanimous dismissal of case against Gota
A 11th hour legal battle on the citizenship of Sri Lanka Podhujana Peramuna (SLPP) Presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ahead of nominations tomorrow, saw hotly contested arguments and counter arguments on the executive powers of the Presidency, particularly during the intervening period between a President being elected to office and constituting a Cabinet of Ministers. In [...]
Railway Unions continue strike for eleventh day
The Railway unions say their strike will not be called off until the government gives a clear cut answer to their salary and service anomalies. The trade union action has reached its eleventh day today causing a severe breakdown in the railway services and terrible hardships to the people. The decision was taken following a [...]
3D Printing comes alive at the NHSL
In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the premier hospital complex that is the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), a revolution of a different kind is taking place. Deep within the Orthopaedic Building in the Orthopaedic Workshop, a simple black steel and glass box takes pride of place. The 4th Industrial Revolution [...]
National reconciliation and the presidential debate
After the horrendous terrorist attacks of April 21, the issue of national security has come to the forefront in the current discussions around the presidential election scheduled for next month. Those who emphasize that national security must be given priority over everything else, often ignore the fact that sustainable national security can best be achieved [...]
Lightning kills father of two, destroys house and property
Forty-two-year-old A.H.M. Namal Bandara, a father of two living at Siyambalawewa Wadaththa, Anamaduwa, was killed while trying to disconnect a refridgerator in his house during a rainstorm, according to the police. Describing the incident Bandara’s wife said, they were taking a bath when lightning struck a place close to where they were bathing. She said [...]
Crop damage: Navy to import air rifles for farmers
The Agriculture Ministry is drawing up plans to distribute air rifles to farmers in view of the increasing number of reports of damage done by wild animals to agricultural crops. The ministry, following cabinet approval to allow the distribution of air rifles to farmers, is seeking funds from the treasury to import these rifles. According [...]
Aruwakkalu residents horrified by odour from landfill
The Aruwakkalu sanitary landfill was built to comply with modern methods of garbage disposal. This was supposed to bring relief after the tragedy at Meethotamulla – but it has only instilled horrors in the minds of the people of Aruwakkalu. It was revealed to the Sunday Times that villagers are unable to engage in their [...]
Results from several probes awaited as mystery still surrounds death of elephants
Mystery still surrounds the deaths of seven elephants in the Tumbikulam forest reserve at Habarana, as more investigations are being carried to ascertain the cause of their tragic demise. Following preliminary investigations by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) and the post mortem examinations, samples of body parts and stomach content were provided to the [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, Ishanka Sunimal, Shelton Hettiarachchi and Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
Sea level rising is real, Lanka urged to take urgent measures to avert disasters
As new global reports issue fresh warning on the impact of global warming on our oceans, how vulnerable is Sri Lanka, especially in view of it being ranked second among countries facing extreme weather patterns due to climate change? In 2004, the boxing day tsunami killed some 35,000 people in Sri Lanka and caused immense [...]
Where deer roam free
Spotting a deer is not a rare sight. But if you take a walk around the Trincomalee Fort you could not only see them but even pet them. Trincomalee and its environs host a large population of spotted deer who are perfectly comfortable and sociable with humans. Trincomalee is probably one of the few places [...]