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Home » NewsFormer megapolis minister surrounded by mega police force
Amid the presence of supporters taken by surprise, former minister Patali Champika Ranawaka is seen being taken to remand prison after he was produced before a magistrate on Wednesday night in connection with a 2016 traffic offence. The former minister has been remanded till December 24. Mr. Ranawaka played a powerful role in the former [...]
President bans direct deals between state bodies and foreign agencies
Government ministers and state institutions, including Provincial Councils, have been banned from entering into direct agreements or memoranda of understanding with foreign investors, lending agencies, international non-governmental organisations and embassies. The ban was imposed by the President’s office with immediate effect. All concerned have been directed to follow “due process” in entering into such agreements [...]
Govt. to break monopoly of big paddy millers
The Government will introduce a quota system to issue paddy to small and medium scale rice millers to end the monopoly by large scale millers, a state minister said. Development Banking State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the Sunday Times the decision was taken at a meeting to discuss the current issue over the increasing rice [...]
Samba, Nadu at record Rs. 98; action against errant traders
Police assistance has been sought by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to carry out raids on retail markets selling rice above the stipulated price, a senior official said. CAA Director General Mohamed Fowzer told the Sunday Times raids had already started to ensure that retail prices were maintained. The maximum retail price for White and [...]
High-powered bureau to achieve Gota’s economic targets
A National Policy and Plan Implementation Bureau is to be set up to achieve the targets of the economic policies spelt out in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto. The bureau will be established under the guidance of the President together with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who is also the Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and [...]
Tight security for Christmas midnight services
Catholic and Christian churches will go ahead with their usual midnight masses for Christmas day following assurances from the Defence authorities that adequate security will be provided. The Catholic Church’s communication division spokesman said throughout the country, they were planning to hold midnight masses as usual on the 24th night. He said Cardinal Malcom Ranjith [...]
St Anthony’s church carol service
St. Anthony’s church, Kollupitiya held its carol service yesterday. Pic by Ranjith Perera.
Air Force carols at Attidiya
The Sri Lanka Air Force held an evening of carols at the Eagles’ Lakeside banquet and convention hall at Attidiya on Friday. SLAF Seva Vanitha unit chairperson Mayuri Prabhavi Dias and Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sumangala Dias welcomed the chief guests the Defence Ministry’s Seva Vanitha unit chairperson Chithrani Gunaratne and Defence Secretary Kamal [...]
Army and private donors building homes for low income families in Jaffna
The Sri Lanka army and private donors are engaged in a joint effort to build houses to low income families in Jaffna. As part of this programme two houses that were completed were handed over on December 17, at an event held at Point Pedro. Major General Ruwan Wanigasuriya, who is in command of the [...]
PM chief guest at passing out parade
A passing out parade of 321 cadet officers including 32 females took place at the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) at Diyatalawa with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as chief guest. Army commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva also attended the event. Pic by Amila Gamage
Immunity for public official duties who act in good faith
The Government is set to introduce sweeping reforms in the public sector updating existing rules and regulations while providing legal provisions to grant immunity to officials who carry out their duties in good faith. This is one of the several far reaching measures that will be implemented to improve and make efficient the public service [...]
Christmas spirit not dampened by bad weather condition
With three more days for Christmas under a new government that is rushing to reduce taxes and give relief, there is much enthusiasm to celebrate the season in grand style. The adverse weather notwithstanding, roundabouts are decorated, buildings and business premises are illuminated while shopping centres are full of customers. The Met Department has warned [...]
Bishops seek fair economic structures to alleviate poverty
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in a Christmas message has urged the people to take part in spiritual activities, while paying attention to the poor and being sensitive to the needs of those who are suffering. “The birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem is a universal call towards a conversion so we can be [...]
Champika saga: How it unfolded
It was nightfall on Wednesday (18) when some 50 armed policemen swooped down on a house at Jayanthipura, Battaramulla in what seemed a major operation. Whilst the constables surrounded the house, others blocked the road. An officer urged the watcher to open the gate. He did and the group entered the new home of [...]
Heavy rain continues; disaster warning issued in several areas
Parts of Sri Lanka will be hit by heavy showers in the next two days as floods claimed the lives of threepeople and left around 30,000 displaced. The Meteorology Department predicted that North, East, Central, North Central, Uva provinces and Hambantota could be hit by thunder showers at any time of the day. Duty Forecaster [...]
Foot and mouth wanes in Kurunegala but waxes in Puttalam
Assuring that strong measures are being taken to contain and prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease which has hit cattle in the North Western Province (NWP), a high level official urged that all transport of cattle should be carried out only after stringent checks to ensure that the animals are not ill. Charitable [...]
Peraliya train tragedy memorial a distant memory
A proposed museum and cultural centre in Telwatte in Peraliya where the Samudradevi with its eight passenger cars and locomotive, was engulfed by a tsunami wave killing more than 1,200 passengers on December 26, 2004, is yet to see the light of day. Three of eight compartments of the train was to be displayed in [...]
“Oh! tsunami please don’t ever come again’’
Many who suffered from the tsunami 15 years ago on December 26, or witnessed the unprecedented devastation, continue to be haunted by terrifying memories. Gathmini Vihanga Vithanage, who was seven years old when the wall of water rolled in, managed to escape by hanging on to a rail. Currently, Gathmini is studying at the Vitebsk [...]
Residents bemoan Borella’s descent into decay
Borella is in a sorry state. It has no wet market and the one built several decades ago is dysfunctional except for a few tailoring shops, communications outlets and the like. Not to forget the suspected nefarious activities. The only ones doing brisk business are the butchers. Long time Borella residents know the supermarket built [...]
Veggie plots in hills suffer deluge damage
Heavy rains in the central hills, including Nuwara Eliya, have damaged vegetable cultivations and triggered price increases of some vegetables often sought by households. Hundreds of vegetable plots have been washed away or are inundated. Aruna Shantha Hettiaarachchi, president of the association representing the All Island Economic Centres, who is also the secretary of the [...]
Hambantota: From ‘promised’ land to fast becoming wasteland
Hambantota is a curious place. Its population is sparse and deeply agricultural. Its quaint, leafy villages and ancient Buddhist temples form the backbone of its farming communities. There are miles of scrub-land with no human habitation. But, suddenly—rising randomly out of the wilderness—are gleaming pieces of barely-used, expensive new infrastructure. The China-funded cricket stadium in [...]
Dengue infections could surpass 90,000
Health officials have warned that if the rains continue in the coming weeks, the number of dengue cases may rise if immediate medical attention is not sought by those infected. According to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) the most prevalent strain is the type 3 dengue virus and it is known to be more [...]
Colombo smartens up under keen eye of cops
Colombo residents have reportedly smartened up their garbage practices knowing there’s a beefed-up pack of environmental police ready to take them to court for any failings. The Colombo Municipal Council is to put city beautification and waste management programmes into high gear, bringing in mechanised systems to replace the current manual street cleaning process. “We [...]
Champika’s arrest- a clear question of the Rule of Law
The 19th Amendment enacted by the previous Government created and provided a framework for the AG, Judiciary and Police to act independently. But a framework will not help unless those who man these institutions assert and exercise their independendence and professionalism The circumstances that led to the arrest of former Minister Champika Ranawaka last week [...]
Biggest bribery case: Court justifies harsh punishment on convicts
Harsh punishments and heavy fines imposed on two former senior state officers were necessary to highlight the gravity of the offence of bribery and to act as a deterrent, according to the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar. Former president Maithripala Sirisena’s Chief of Staff Kusumapala Mahanama and Chandrika Bandaranaike’s Chief of staff Piyasena Dissanayake were charged [...]
Judges must be extra sensitive when resolving complex human issues: New CA Judge
New Appeal Court Judge Devika Sarojini Abeyratne on Friday, addressing the ceremonial sittings, said that a topic that is discussed often is Laws’ delays caused due to many reasons. “The delay in resolving matters swiftly has the most profound effect, in my opinion, when there are children involved. Custody disputes, matrimonial issues and matters relating [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, Indika Handuwala,Ishanka Sunimal, Priyantha Wickramarachchi and Shelton Hettiarachchi.
Plea for troops to carry fight to illegal sand miners
Illegal sand miners desecrating riverbanks and beaches might soon be facing tougher custodians of the environment if the government throws the armed services into the fight against them. The mines bureau will ask the Defence Ministry to send in the navy, air force and the Special Task Force to assist in raids against gangs taking [...]
Student waivers for job-oriented courses
The Government is planning to introduce a system of paying part of the fees of students offering job-oriented courses at higher education institutes. Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said this will take place to promote job-oriented courses. The Minister also said students with high Z-score marks from the GCE Advanced Level exams will be selected [...]
Galle Heritage site: Things fall apart
Barely two months ago, the Sunday Timeswarned, that Galle’s Dutch fort heritage site was crumbling. As predicted, parts of the site have come crashing down. The Fort is recognized as one of seven ‘living fortresses’ in the world. It was rated 38th among heritage sites by UNESCO in 1988. Seventeen buildings belonging to the Dutch [...]