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Home » NewsRed alert for new strain of dengue
Sri Lanka is on red alert with up to 90,000 dengue cases being reported this year and The National Dengue Control Unit is warning that a dangerous new strain is also spreading and people should take a test even after one day of fever. Our picture shows the scene at the Puttalam Hospital where a [...]
Ten days before polls CEB took initiative for huge coal power plant
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) issued a letter of intent (LoI), just 10 days before the Presidential election, to the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) to build a 300mw extension to the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant in Norochcholai. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) was not informed of the LoI despite the regulator’s [...]
Finance Ministry bans recruitment of minor staff, no jobs for supporters
The Finance Ministry has banned all ministers from recruiting minor staff for their ministries and departments under them – a practice which has helped them to provide jobs for their supporters. The categories include labour, minor staff, office assistants and watchers. It has been found that the recruitment has not been controlled or in keeping [...]
Strict measures to reduce and control rice prices
District Secretaries have been directed to give priority to releasing paddy stocks to small and medium scale millers and keep watch on large scale millers who may manipulate markets, thus preventing a reduction of rice prices. The directive was given this week at a meeting presided over by Agriculture Minister Chamal Rajapaksa with District Secretaries [...]
Dengue cases soar, officials warn of new strain
Suspected dengue patients have been advised to seek treatment even after a day of fever, in view of the identification of a new strain of dengue, a senior health official said. National Dengue Control Unit’s Director, Dr Anura Jayasekara told the Sunday Times that the strain which was spreading this year was different from the [...]
Easter Sunday bombings: Suspect dies in Welikada Prison
A suspect who was arrested for his alleged links with Easter Sunday attack mastermind Zahran Hashim has died from an illness while in remand custody at the Welikada Prison on Friday (Dec13), Prison officials confirmed. The suspect identified as 19-year old, Zainul Abdeen Jaseel Mohammed was a resident of Kattankudy. He had been arrested along [...]
Marking Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera’s birthday
Pix by Indika Handuwala A special religious programme was held yesterday (14) to mark the 77th birthday of the Chief Sanganayake of the Colombo New Korale, Ven. Galaboda Gnanissara Thera. As part of the commemoration events, alms were offered to 250 student monks from rural temples across the country at the Gangaramaya temple.
Sri Lanka, Japan look to expedite existing projects and start new ones
Japan and Sri Lanka have discussed expediting existing projects funded by the Japanese government while looking at involvement in other projects including the construction of a section of the Central expressway. Japanese delegation Spokesman and Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Media Secretary, Atsushi Kaifu, told journalists that the visiting Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu had conveyed the [...]
CID wants to further question Swiss Embassy staffer
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate that it needs to record further statements from local Swiss Embassy staffer Garnier Banister Francis as it has found no evidence to corroborate her claims that she was abducted. Reporting its investigation into the incident, the CID informed Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that [...]
35 navy personnel complete first US Expert Exchange Programme
The ‘Naval Special Warfare Maritime Security Course 2019′ which was conducted under the Expert Exchange Programme by the United States Navy and 4th Fast Attack Flotilla and the Special Boat Squadron of Sri Lanka Navy, was concluded on Friday with a certificate awarding ceremony. The course which began on December 2, lasted 12 days. Deputy [...]
Artificial toddy racket sweeps western, southwestern coastal areas
A thriving ‘artificial’ toddy racket continues to result in the government losing millions of rupees in tax revenue while also seriously endangering public health. By mixing a small quantity of natural coconut toddy with water, sugar, yeast, ammonia and salt, the racketeers produce a large quantity of artificial toddy. The racket is widely prevalent in [...]
I know who my attackers are says journalist
The provincial journalist who was brutally assaulted allegedly by a gang engaged in the artificial toddy racket says he was targetted for his reporting on the issue. The attackers first struck the home of journalist Thusitha Kumara De Silva on the evening of December 6. At the time, he had gone to pick up his [...]
Rain damage likely to make veggies, rice costlier
Farmers and agricultural officials warn that prices of rice and vegetables may rise further if the heavy downpours continue. Namal Karunaratne, the president of All Island Farmers Association said the flood has caused crop losses and damaged 75,000 acres of paddy fields, mainly in Batticaloa, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Mannar, and Kilinochchi in the past two weeks. [...]
Nuwara Eliya drenched in rain
Heavy rains in the hill country have affected many people. Areas of Nuwara Eliya are inundated in rain water and water logged areas are visible. The main bus terminal is full of water logged potholes. Residents are hoping that authorities will assess the situation and redo the drainage system.
Illegal sandminers rampant in north after licences scrapped
Illegal sandmining has rapidly increased in the north on state and private land following the new government’s decision to suspend the licence system for sand transport, prompting a violent reaction from frustrated locals and a warning of public protests. In all the five districts of the north, illegal sandmining is being carried out in broad [...]
10 killed, 16 injured in road accidents last week
At least 10 people were killed and 16 injured in a string of accidents reported this week in different parts of the country, Police said. In the latest incident, three motorcycle riders were injured when their motorcycles collided along the Batticaloa, Kalmunai road. The injured were admitted to the Batticaloa Hospital. A collision between a [...]
Domestic purchases to help ease pharma deficit
Hospitals have been instructed to buy pharmaceuticals locally to overcome the islandwide shortage, an official of the Ministry of Health (MoH) said. Rs.1 billion has been allocated by the Treasury for this month to buy drugs needed at the Apeksha Hospital (Maharagama Cancer Hospital). “We are hoping to import the essential drugs in about two [...]
‘Don’t suffer in silence’
They have played a major role in society as wives, mothers and grandmothers. With Sri Lanka having to grapple with a rapidly-ageing population, there are serious concerns that older women may fall through the system. The Menopause Society of Sri Lanka, however, has taken up their cause and is striving to better their lot. [...]
Certified top tour guides squeezed out of jobs
Licensed tourist guides say they are being driven out of work because tour operators are hiring unregistered guides, in one case a foreign national found spouting nonsense about a treasured piece of Sri Lankan history. A union representing the top tier of tourist guides in Sri Lanka accused tour operators of employing unlicensed tourist guides [...]
Civil defence troops bolster elephant project
The government has commenced deploying large numbers of Civil Defence Force officials to work with wildlife department officers on maintaining electrified anti-elephant fences erected around villages. The Minister of Environment and Wildlife Resources, S. M. Chandrasena, said the government had also begun to restore six tanks in Lunugamwehera to generate better water and food supplies [...]
Dispute over fund for cancer hospital equipment continues
The two parties at the centre of a bitter dispute over a fund set up to buy equipment for the Maharagama Apeksha Cancer Hospital, continue to point fingers at each other. Apeksha Hospital Director Dr Wasantha Dissanayake claimed the fund that was set up to buy and donate a Tomotherapy machine and a Linear Accelerator [...]
Matale boy scouts celebrate International Mountain Day with jamboree
International Mountain Day was celebrated in Panvila, Matale on December 11 (Wednesday). This day is commemorated to spread awareness on the usefulness of hills and mountains. The protection of the environment and jungle sanctuaries near mountains have been emphasised in programmes by UN agencies. The boy scouts of Matale organised a jamboree to celebrate International [...]
You better watch out – Antarctic seal in town
It seems the giant elephant seal from the Antarctic might be here for Christmas, continuing to attract crowds and cause traffic jams in Colombo. The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) that was first spotted on November 20 off Unawatuna has been resting on rocks off Wellawatte and Kollupitiya in Colombo, creating traffic congestion along the [...]
Tourism is making a come back
The tourist trade which hit rock-bottom in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings, is limping back to normalcy. The travel warnings against visiting Sri Lanka have been withdrawn. And, the tourists are returning as our photographs reveal. With tourism bringing in much needed foreign exchange it is necessary to ensure the protection of [...]
Dairy industry under threat from fast-spreading Foot and Mouth disease in NW Province
Cattle in the North Western Province have been hit by the fast-spreading foot and mouth disease posing a threat to the dairy industry. The North Western Province, Animal husbandry Additional Director Dr B.C.S Perea said that at least 14,000 cattle have been affected and that the disease had spread to the boarders of the province. [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Nilan Maligaspe M.A.Pushpa Kumara and Ishanka Sunimal
Worsening sea erosion on Kalpitiya beach could hit tourism
A scenic stretch of the Kalpitiya beach– about two km long and 70m wide- lined with cyprus trees, is being destroyed by sea erosion. According to Kalpitiya Tourist Development Society president Kirthi Nixon the erosion is affecting about 15 tourist resorts. The worst affected is the Iththadiya beach. He said already a 50 m [...]
Annular solar eclipse visible in the morning sky of northern Sri Lanka
An annular solar eclipse forming a ring of light around the darkened moon will be visible in the Northern part of Sri Lanka on December 26. Well-known astronomer Anura C. Perera says the eclipse will be visible in Jaffna and is expected to move in a northerly direction. But those who live in the southern [...]