News
Home » NewsThe last hours of the present Parliament
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa having a lively conversation with Speaker Karu Jayasuriya at a ceremony held at the Parliament Complex on Friday to present awards to state-owned enterprises which had made profits. During the ceremony, the Speaker told the gathering that there were only 60 hours to go for Parliament to be dissolved. Pic by Indika [...]
Election Com. permits jobs during campaign
The National Election Commission has given the green light for the Public Administration Ministry to go ahead with a programme to provide jobs to more than 40,000 graduates even if it runs into a period of elections. Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi said they were planning to expedite the delivery of appointment letters and hoped to [...]
‘Santa Fresh’ narcotic toffees force-fed to young students
An alleged racket at the Peradeniya Madya Maha Vidyalaya, where senior students are distributing narcotic toffees to Grade six, seven and eight students, is being investigated by the Police. Both police and the school disciplinary committee are investigating reports that outsiders were giving these toffees to senior students to distribute to younger students. Their apparent [...]
Central Expressway: Govt. looks for foreign investor
The Government is to raise more than Rs 600 billion by way of foreign loans, Treasury Bonds or debentures for the completion of the Central Expressway project after deciding to leave out Japan and China — countries which initially negotiated to fund parts of the project. Despite the adverse economic situation which has prompted the [...]
About 6,000 police personnel to be reinstated to overcome cadre shortage
To overcome problems caused by the shortage of police personnel, the Government is likely to waive off disciplinary action against police personnel who have committed minor offences and bring back as many as 6,000 to the service. Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the Sunday Times the decision had been taken in view of the shortage of [...]
COVID-19: Tough measures on the cards; Italy returnees tested negative
Two Sri Lankans who returned from Italy, now at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), have tested negative for COVID-19 as fears mounted with more countries across the world falling under the onslaught of the new coronavirus. Passengers on direct flights from China and now also from South Korea and Italy to Sri Lanka [...]
Military DG only for two years, President assures Customs unions, but SLASA disagrees
Customs trade unions say President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has assured them the new Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, Major General (Rtd.) Vijitha Ravipriya, will only remain at the post for a maximum of two years, after which it will go to a Customs officer. At a meeting held with union leaders this week, the President [...]
Woman killed while crossing road in Nawala
A 38-year-old woman was killed while crossing the road in Nawala, on Wednesday when she was hit by a petrol bowser, a cooner’s court inquiry was told this week. The victim was identified as R.m. Kusumawathi of Obeysekarapura, Rajagiriya. She worked at a food outlet. The victim’s sister Anthitha Perera said Kusumawathi was hit by [...]
SLPI-UNESCO workshop addresses challenges faced by women in media
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) in collaboration with the UNESCO New Delhi office held a two-day workshop, “Women in Media and Safety” with the aim of promoting the safety of women journalists in the country. Held on February 26 and 27 at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in Colombo, the workshop was designed to build the [...]
Ministry committee faults CEB for arbitrary power disruption on February 3
A six-member committee of the Ministry of Power and Energy (MoPE) has faulted the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for the near seven-hour power cut it imposed on February 3 this year, saying it had been neither an emergency nor necessary. The committee reinforces a report earlier in the week by the regulator, the Public Utilities [...]
Police Reward Fund: As FDs soar over Rs. 9bn, officers are short-changed
The Police Reward Fund held fixed deposits worth Rs 9.6bn at the end of 2018 and has invested more than it should while paying out fewer incentives than prescribed, the National Audit Office (NAO) says. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) decreed in 2016 that 70 percent of the Fund must be used annually as [...]
UNHRC resolution: Mangala says co-sponsorship saved Lanka from international war crimes probe
Former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday defended his role in piloting the United National Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka as a co-sponsor saying the country was on the verge of an international investigation by 2014 and the Yahapalana Government managed to avoid it by negotiations he conducted on the telephone from New [...]
UNHRC Core Group urges Sri Lanka to uphold Resolution 30/1
The Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council said they were “deeply disappointed and concerned” that the Government of Sri Lanka has changed its approach to UNHRC Resolution 30/1. The Core Group, which comprises Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the UK, also insisted they remain “profoundly committed to resolution 30/1 [...]
270,000 new voters at general elections in April
There will be more than 270,000 new voters at the parliamentary election to be held on April 25 compared to the presidential election in November last year. Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said there would be 16, 263,885 eligible voters for the parliamentary elections compared to the 15,992,096 voters in the last presidential election. [...]
Water, water everywhere but not for those pushed out of dam’s way
The most ambitious dam project since the Mahaweli programmes of the last century will provide water for drinking, farming and industry across a huge swathe of country including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and parts of the Central Province – yet those who live closest to it and were displaced to make way for it have no [...]
Prevailing heat creates tinder dry conditions, sparking forest fires
The prevailing dry weather is aiding forest fires to spread as the arid atmosphere has dried most plant matter. Fire fighters are on standby to put out forest fires and save reserves from being burned down. A forest fire was averted by the Puttalam fire brigade as they controlled the fire which erupted on a [...]
‘Guard and secure the airports and ports’
Guard and secure Sri Lanka’s gateways, urged a top health expert, as the danger posed by the new coronavirus loomed close to the country, while spreading like wildfire across the world. Originating in Wuhan as the epicentre in the Hubei Province of China, COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, has begun its “cluster-spread”. [...]
Temperature rising to a fainting 41˚C
In view of the prolonged drought the Meteorological department has warned the people to take necessary precautions to protect themselves from the extreme heat prevailing in the country. It forecast the temperature might rise to 41 degrees centigrade. The Met Department’s natural hazards early warning centre warned people working and doing physical activities outdoors to [...]
Heat is driving snakes into homes, experts warn
Arid weather conditions are driving snakes towards human settlements in search of water and shade, prompting health authorities to warn the public to take precautions. “Snakes become very active and prone to biting people when the climate warms up as heat regulates their body temperature,” the National Poison Information Centre’s (NPIC) Toxicologist Dr. Samantha [...]
A two-thirds majority does not bode well for democratic governance
With general elections due to be held shortly, the Government has made no bones about its intention to seek a two thirds majority of seats in Parliament. The explicitly stated purpose of seeking a two third majority is to amend the 19th Amendment while it is also being highlighted as an indication of the strength [...]
Country’s two apex courts urgently need more judges, says newly appointed SC judge Kodagoda
The relevant competent authorities should give serious and responsive consideration to the compelling need to significantly increase the cadre of judges of the two apex courts, newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Yasantha Kodagoda, PC stated. Speaking during the ceremonial welcome accorded to him by the Bar at the Supreme Court on Friday (28), Justice [...]
Udayanga’s reasons for bail rejected; court seeks answers on probe officers’ removal
The reasons former ambassador Udayanga Weeratunga cited this week in support of his bail application in the MiG deal case were rejected by Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake. The counsel appearing for Mr. Weeratunga, one-time Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Russia, told court the certification to confirm that the offence had been committed under the Public [...]
India’s Alliance Air takes northern flyers for a ride
Although the Jaffna International Airport was declared open in October to connect the northern region with South Indian cities, unreasonable airfares, smaller baggage allowance and a lack of airport facilities are forcing locals to travel some 300 kilometres to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake instead. On Wednesday, pensioner Suntharam (not the real name), visited [...]
Gun amnesty haul highlights need to aim higher
Another firearms amnesty has ended with about 200 unlicensed firearms being surrendered, but despite repeated amnesties armed crime is rising, reinforcing the need to move more decisively in controlling the menace. “The amnesty, though only a week long, was effective, and the police received guns that are in service and in good condition,” (Crimes) Prashantha [...]
Visitors warned of death trap on road to World Heritage Site
Visitors to the Dumbara Plains have been warned of a death trap on an access road to the World Heritage Site. In recent weeks, three fatal accidents have occurred at the entrance to the Riverston Road in Rattota. Most of the accidents have taken place on weekends, during which many people visit the area. Officials [...]
Land grabs and land filling sow seeds of environmental damage, say officials
Authorities have found that illegal occupation of land and also landfilling are mostly done by low income families and farmers, and these can have an adverse impact on the environment. The Land Commissioner General’s Department revealed that about 700,000 people have illicitly used plots for cultivation and to build their homes. The head of the [...]
Music on buses still not hitting the right note
Bus drivers are in danger of falling asleep to the olden day movie songs the National Transport Commission (NTC) wants them to play on long-distance trips, several of them said this week. But commuters are divided. Some were relieved at not having to sit through the boisterous music some drivers tended to have on while [...]
Dambulla merry-go-round makes jaws drop on veggie prices
Soaring vegetable prices caught President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s attention this week, following the public outcry against middlemen who are profiting, while consumers and farmers struggle. President Rajapaksa instructed officials of Mahaweli Development and the Ministry of Trade to control the prices. Officials briefed the President that vegetables brought to Dambulla Economic Centre are weighed, priced, and [...]
Jaw-breakers endangering lives of children and pets
Jaw bombs used to harm elephants could also end up being a social issue, activists warn. Children and domestic animals including pets are falling victim to the small explosive devices called ‘hakka patas’. Recently, a four-year-old pet dog suffered fatal injuries. Laura, a playful female German Shephard, owned by Amila Sanjeew who lives in Passara, [...]
Fish, the ignored wildlife on our plates
On World Wildlife Day next Tuesday, charismatic wildlife such as endangered elephants, leopards and the vulnerable sloth bear will take the stage – but one species is routinely ignored, to our peril. There will be protests to protect forests such as Wilpattu, Sinharaja and even mangroves. “But are we concerned enough about the conservation of [...]
Beaten down, tempered by adversity
Blacksmiths lament that they find it difficult to keep their ancient industry alive. They complain that people are more into buying imported knives and metal equipment, as well as going to iron welding shops to repair their broken equipment. They point out that as the country developed the requirements for their services have reduced. In [...]