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Home » NewsTemples come alive for Poson
Poson Poya, the day that marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka was observed on Friday under an unprecedented all-island curfew to prevent large gatherings due to COVID-19 virus from spreading to the community. Most temples around the country, like the one in the picture at Piliyandala, were lit up for the occasion devoid, [...]
Parliamentary elections likely in early August
The Election Commission (EC) is considering conducting parliamentary elections in early August, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times. He said the final decision on the date of the elections would be taken when the Commission met on Monday. “We will also decide on releasing the preference numbers of candidates on Monday,” he [...]
Bohra chief and 200 followers coming here for retreat
The Government is to grant clearance for a special flight carrying the Head of the Dawoodi Bohra community and 200 followers who wish to spend time at a retreat in Bandarawela till the COVID-19 pandemic in India eases, authoritative sources said. The aircraft is to arrive in the next few days from Mumbai, they added, [...]
With backlog of 400,000 letters and parcels, postal unions plan go-slow
With postal workers planning to begin an island-wide go-slow campaign from Monday over a decision to scrap overtime payments, the Government has invited postal trade unions for talks to resolve the issue that could affect the upcoming parliamentary election. Postal unions are planning to launch trade union action over the Postal Department’s move to close [...]
Mandatory tests for diplomats after row over US official’s refusal to undergo check
The refusal of a US official possibly with diplomatic status to give a sample for COVID-19 testing on arrival at the airport this week has resulted in revised instructions being issued by the Ministry of Foreign Relations to all foreign diplomats arriving in the country. The US Embassy quoted the Vienna Convention on the movement [...]
Sri Lanka to use US$ 1bn from foreign reserves to pay loans
Sri Lanka will use US$ one billion from its foreign reserves to pay foreign debts later this year amidst the growing financial crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Treasury has decided. A senior Treasury official said that in the wake of reduction in revenue, foreign remittances and issues in obtaining foreign loans, the funds [...]
Controversy over SriLankan crew’s testing samples at Asiri
A new controversy has emerged over the decision by the airport authorities to send samples taken from airline crew members to the private Asiri Group of Hospital laboratories for testing on a payment-per-sample basis, sources told the Sunday Times. This was as health authorities were channelling the samples of arrivals only to designated state laboratories [...]
Govt.’s unpaid bills mounting, Fin. Min. annual report reveals
The Government’s unpaid bills now amount to 2.2 percent of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and include claims worth Rs 1.8bn incurred in the conduct of last year’s Presidential election, the Finance Ministry’s 2019 Annual Report released a few days ago reveals. The Treasury also owed commercial banks Rs 45.8bn in reimbursement for higher [...]
N’ Eliya journalists slam inaccurate story of journalist stricken with COVID-19
The Nuwara Eliya District Journalists’ Association has raised concerns over a story that was circulating in the media stating that a provincial journalist who covered the funeral of the late Minister Arumugam Thondaman had exhibited symptoms of COVID-19. The association’s President Douglas Nanayakkara raised these concerns during a discussion on Friday with the Nuwara Eliya [...]
Rains and end of curfew signal rise in dengue
Officials are preparing for a rise in dengue cases caused by rains and the resumption of normal life following the lifting of curfew. A three-day control programme organised by the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) will commence from June 11-13, with schools, government institutions, quarantine camps and hospitals the main focus. NCDU Director Dr. Aruna [...]
Cattle import: Concerns have been addressed, say project officials
The Government is facing harsh criticism over fresh plans to bring cattle from Australia after hundreds perished the last time they were imported in 2017. But the proposal has been widely rehashed to reflect concerns and correct mistakes, authorities insisted this week. It is now hoped to bring in Australian cattle for breeding and not [...]
Serenity of Poson
Poson Full Moon Poya Day, which marks the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, is traditionally celebrated with much veneration as well as festivity. However, as with Vesak last month, most Buddhists in the country marked the day by observing sil or engaging in religious observances in their homes due to restrictions imposed by the [...]
Less dazzle, but Thantrimale lights up
Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. provided the lighting for the historic Thantrimale Raja Maha Vihara near Anuradhapura for the 17th consecutive year to celebrate Poson Poya. On a request by local health authorities, the lighting was kept to a minimum to ensure it did not attract the customary crowds that attend religious programmes at the temple on [...]
Dalada Maligawa Poson Perahera takes place with masks
The traditional Poson Perahera of the Sri Dalada Maligawa circled the temple Square with participating drummers and dancers wearing masks as advised by Health authorities. Pix L B Senaratne and Shane Seneviratne.
Lankan judge appointed as head of Seychelles’ judiciary
Justice Anthony Francis Tissa Fernando, who holds both Sri Lankan and Seychellois citizenship, was sworn in on June 1, as the President of the Court of Appeal of Seychelles by the President of the Republic of Seychelles, a Foreign Relations Ministry statement said. The President of the Court of Appeal is the head of the [...]
Storm over sand nourishment
Independent experts have slammed the Coast Conservation Department’s (CCD) hurried “beach nourishment” initiative in Mount Lavinia saying it was ill-planned, unnecessary and ineffective. The CCD claimed this week that the ‘Artificial Soft Beach Nourishment Project’ was a success and will prevent erosion along the coast from Mount Lavinia to Kalutara. A total of 150,000 cubic [...]
Mount Lavinia beach gets a clean up after repeated complaints
The Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council on Friday started removing plastic waste and garbage washed up on Mount Lavinia beach following complaints from area residents, hoteliers and environmental groups. Dehiwala- Mount Lavinia Mayor Stanley Dias said the cleaning of the canal was to follow. “We keep urging people to refrain from dumping garbage into the canal. [...]
A lack of public decorum
With the country reopening in the post-Covid-19 era, the public have been asked to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and practise health guidelines and ‘social distancing’ to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. For most people, this is an entirely new challenge as they must adhere to these guidelines when going about their day-to-day [...]
Pick of the pix
Personal space Madapatha: Watchful eyes Kaduwela: Young fruit Fort: Dates galore Nuwara Eliya: To the moon and back Kelaniya Temple: Taking turns Kalutara: The sands of time Kalido Beach, Kalutara: Peacock parade Slave Island: Poson preparations Kiribathgoda: Food on the go
New levy on essential goods sends prices soaring
Prices of essential items have started rising after the Government imposed taxes on a range of items, claiming the move would boost local cultivation and curb imports. The price of palm oil, margarine, sugar, canned fish, imported chillies, garlic and potatoes increased directly after the imposition of the Special Commodity Levy on such goods. Margarine [...]
Ayurveda ruling at building sites to guard against virus
The Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA) has issued a supplementary health directive to all construction industries to include traditional ayurvedic herbal concoctions and ingredients in food supplied to workers, to aid the fight against COVID-19. The industry, which started work at construction sites early despite the lockdown period, has already been provided with a mandatory [...]
Dispute over polls date and dissolution: Petitions dismissed, Supreme Court restores status-quo-ante
After ten days of hearings, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, has dismissed eight Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions that had challenged the validity of the March 2 Presidential proclamation dissolving Parliament and refused the petitioners leave to proceed. Incidentally, the judgement day, Tuesday, coincided with the end of the three-month period during which a [...]
Locust plague feared as pest reported in new areas
An alarm has been sounded for agriculture over sightings of yellow-spotted locusts in many areas outside their normal habitats of jungles and domestic gardens. “They have not reached any of the main cultivation areas but we’re on alert: farmers have been made aware of this news and have been advised on how the locusts should [...]
Navy cluster expected to subside within about two weeks
The navy cluster is subsiding slowly and many thousands of personnel who were recalled from leave and kept under observation are out of the woods now, a high-level health official assured on Thursday. The Deputy Director-General of Public Health Services, Dr. Paba Palihawadana said that they are hoping that within about two weeks the navy [...]
Strong call to ban tobacco smoking
Ban tobacco smoking in Sri Lanka. This is the strong plea by Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Amila Isuru in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world including Sri Lanka. As a country grappling with COVID-19 and thousands of lives being at stake across the world, we have taken commendable measures including a [...]
Battle to steer Navy away from community spread of COVID-19
In the continuing tale of Sri Lanka’s fight against COVID-19, one factor stands out starkly: its running battle with a Navy cluster that hurls out new cases every day. As at this week, more than 60 percent of COVID-19 positive instances in the country are Navy-related. The first confirmed case was announced on April 22. [...]
SARS-buster on silent spreaders, safeguarding gains and more
As Sri Lanka gradually returns to the new normal with only sporadic full-day curfews being imposed, the Sunday Times interviewed SARS-buster Prof. Malik Peiris, Professor of Virology at the School of Public Health, Hong Kong University, on some of the latest developments. Now that Sri Lanka has eased the lockdown and lifted the curfew, should [...]
Snaring and digital kangaroo courts – experts cry foul
A black beauty is dead – the magnificent black leopard which was captured by camera traps several months ago in the Central Wildlife Region succumbed on May 29 after getting caught in a snare in an estate in Nallathanniya, close to Adam’s Peak. Tranquilizing the growling, struggling and distraught, obviously-in-agony leopard, the Veterinary Surgeons of [...]
MRI hits a high of 20,000 RT-PCR tests
Twenty thousand ‘gold standard’ RT-PCR tests and continuing! This is the “significant” achievement of the Department of Virology, Medical Research Institute (MRI) and is due to major teamwork, all categories including Consultants, Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) and orderlies working night and day, says Consultant Medical Virologist, Dr. Jude Jayamaha. So far Sri Lanka has performed [...]
People concerned over sudden house-to-house police survey; police say fears unfounded
Concerns have been raised regarding a lack of transparency over the survey on households being conducted by police in the Colombo district, with some residents alleging that political activists have accompanied police officers coming to collect personal information. This has also raised privacy concerns over who may have access to personl information. Police though, insist [...]