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Home » NewsGotabaya’s first birthday as President
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa celebrated his 71st birthday yesterday with religious observations at the historic Ruwanwelimahaseya in Anuradhapura. He was accompanied by all his immediate Rajapaksa family members, including his wife Anoma, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife, brothers Chamal and Basil Rajapaksa.
No US dollars to fund Central expressway
The failure to raise US$ 86 million (Rs 31.7 billion) in foreign currency has further delayed government plans to resume the first phase of the Central Expressway project between Mirigama and Kadwatha. Plans were underway to resume the project this month after a lapse of five years. A senior Treasury official said that under the [...]
Shipping agents object to monopoly to Avant Garde and Rakna Arakshaka Lanka
A joint venture between Avant Garde Maritime Services (AGMS) and the Defence Ministry’s Rakna Arakshaka Lanka Ltd (RALL), promoted by the President’s office to monopolise a lucrative business — the transfer of seafarers between vessels, hotels, ports and airports — met with stiff objection from the country’s shipping agents who handled the business all these [...]
Light rail project: Govt. shifts track from JICA to unnamed entity
Following the decision by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to suspend its financial support for a 220 kilovolt underground cable project from Kerawalapitiya to the Colombo port, a new controversy has arisen over the Government’s intention to abandon Japanese funding for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in favour of a public-private partnership (PPP) [...]
Court restrains SLTDA from cancelling deal with resort company
The Colombo District Court has issued an enjoining order against the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), preventing it from cancelling a lease agreement with a company that has accused the Authority’s chairperson of Conflict of Interest in taking the decision. Lanka Reality Leisure (Pvt) Ltd., in its petition to court, claimed that a company [...]
Foreigners to be charged US$ 65 for PCR tests at airport from August 1
From August 1, foreigners will be required to pay US$ 65 as charges for PCR tests to determine if they are free of COVID-19 before they are allowed into the country, the Tourism Ministry Secretary S. Hettiaarachchi said. He said under new health guidelines, foreigners would be required to stay on for 24 hours in [...]
UN Security Council vote: Sri Lanka sends message to Western nations
In a hard-hitting message, Sri Lanka this week abstained from voting for any candidate–Canada, Ireland or Norway–from the Western European and Other States Group (WEOG) in a contest for the UN Security Council’s (UNSC) non-permanent seats. The basis for the decision was conveyed to all three countries. They were made to understand that “they also [...]
Bohra leader’s visit suddenly shrouded in secrecy
The Bohra chief expected to retreat to the luxurious Anasa Wellness Resort in Bandarawela to escape the ravages of COVID-19 in Mumbai, India The entourage was to arrive today on a chartered aircraft, but officials now say date of arrival ‘uncertain’ PHIs say they have received no official instructions to carry out inspections or any [...]
Lankan sentenced to prison in Singapore for overstaying visa tests positive for COVID-19
A 21 year old Sri Lankan who recently visited Singapore and was sentenced for overstaying his visa has tested positive for COVID -19 while in prison, a foreign media reported. The youth who had arrived on January 10 had been found guilty for overstaying his visa on June 12 and was sentenced to prison for [...]
Thummulla fatal accident: Law student granted bail
The law student remanded for Monday’s Thummulla fatal accident in which a police officer was killed was granted bail on Friday and ordered to appear in court on June 29. Tharinda Ratwatte (24) was released on two surety bails of Rs 500,000 each. On Thursday, June 11, around 11 pm, he was driving a Defender [...]
Highways Ministry seen keen to award expressway building to CHEC
The Roads and Highways Ministry is “bending backwards” to award the elevated expressway from Athurugiriya to New Kelani Bridge via Rajagiriya to China Habour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC), despite there being at least five other proposals on the cards, authoritative sources said. Talks between CHEC and handpicked Ministry officials continued even during the all-day curfews [...]
AG on prison inspection tour
Attorney General Dappula de Livera slammed prison officials for allowing criminal activities to breed within the prisons when he visited the Welikada prison on Friday. Here he is seen with officials on a walkabout of the premises
PHIs urge strict adherence to rules on social gatherings
Health officials tasked with curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic warn there will be strict monitoring of social gatherings to ensure that restrictions on serving liquor, group photographs and playing fast-beat pop songs are followed to the letter. The Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union said the ban on serving liquor at social gatherings and wedding [...]
Bankers say overnight CBSL measures after president’s outburst may not be helpful
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) should set up a committee to grant approvals for faster implementation of post-pandemic financial relief, bankers said this week. They said overnight measures taken by the regulator after a tongue-lashing by the President were unlikely to help in this instant. On Tuesday, the Monetary Board reduced the statutory [...]
CEB hires external lawyer for Rs. 18mn to expedite Lakvijaya extension project
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has hired an external lawyer for nearly Rs 18mn to draft agreements related to the formation of a joint venture with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for a 300MW extension to the Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant at Norochcholai. Cabinet recently instructed the Power and Energy Ministry to direct the CEB [...]
Motorcyclist killed in Army shooting
A motorcyclist was killed last evening at Pallai in Jaffna after soldiers opened fire when he defied orders to stop, police said. They said the soldiers felt he was going to knock them down and ordered him to stop. They then opened fire when he tried to flee. Residents said the man was linked to [...]
Carriage limits for student vans; public transport cranking up
Several thousand operators of Sri Lanka’s school transport services have been told they can only carry students according to the number of seats in a vehicle when schools reopen next month. This is part of guidelines given to them on Tuesday to help prevent overcrowding and to stem the highly infectious coronavirus from spreading. Students [...]
Consumers hit hard by price hikes amidst pay cuts, job losses
Food and other essential items have skyrocketed in price amidst falling income–and one reason, vendors say, is the Special Commodity Levy (SCL) the Government introduced in May. Consumers uniformly complained of high prices which have hit them hard at a time when the pandemic has caused pay cuts and job losses. Organisation members were reporting [...]
President’s Counsel, Saliya Peiris and Kuvera de Zoysa to vie for BASL presidency
Two President’s Counsel, Saliya Peiris and Kuvera de Zoysa, have declared their candidature for the Presidency of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) in 2021. Elections for the next office-bearers of the association of members of the country’s legal fraternity is expected to be held in February or March next year. Mr. Pieris, PC [...]
Lankan doc in UK plays key role in life-saving robotic surgery on cancer patient
A minimally-invasive surgical feat spanning the Atlantic Ocean giving a new lease of life to a young man stricken by cancer! A specialist in scrubs and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the United Kingdom (UK) skilfully manoeuvring ‘da Vinci’ for this keyhole procedure, while another specialist in his pyjamas across the seas in America watching [...]
Freed from shackles many are boozing and drowning in holiday spots
Post-curfew gatherings and outings are increasing, so are an alarming number of drowning related deaths, life savers warn. Whether it is a boat ride, a family trip with a dip in a nearby tank, lake, river or canal, or having a booze party followed by a swim, or boat ride, drowning in inland waterways are [...]
Drug authority questions pharmaceutical companies on drug price increase
The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) has issued show cause letters to the Sri Lanka Chambers of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI) and seven leading pharmaceutical companies for the unauthorised increase in the price of medicinal drugs in the market. The letters dated May 29, 2020 stated that the companies have arbitrarily increased the prices of drugs [...]
Bond scam probe: Police to record statements from ex-President, ex-Premier
The Attorney General has directed the Acting Police Chief to record statements from former President Maithripala Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in connection with the Central Ban bond scam probe. The AG also has directed the Acting Inspector General to record statements from M. S. Paskaralingam, who was an advisor to former Prime [...]
Dispute over Dharisha’s laptop: Court calls for Govt. Analyst’s report
The Government Analyst’s Department has been directed to submit a report on the contents of journalist Dharisha Bastians’s laptop seized by detectives probing the case against Swiss embassy employee Garnier Banister Francis who is accused of making false allegations against the government. The order was given this week by Colombo’s Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratna. The [...]
Jayaweera’s death: Police seek court order for further probe
Police will seek a court order to obtain more CCTV footage and phone details pertaining to investigations into the death of former SriLankan Airlines Country Manager in Europe Rajeewa Jayaweera, whose body was found near Colombo’s Independence Square last week, a police officer said. Officer-in-Charge, Cinnamon Gardens Police, Aloka Bandara said that though initial findings [...]
Lankan sentenced to prison in Singapore for overstaying visa tests positive for COVID-19
A 21 year old Sri Lankan who recently visited Singapore and was sentenced for overstaying his visa has tested positive for COVID -19 while in prison, a foreign media reported. The youth who had arrived on January 10 had been found guilty for overstaying his visa on June 12 and was sentenced to prison for [...]
Be responsible and take precautions: DG urges public
An urgent call went out from a top health official seeking the people’s support to closely protect the gains Sri Lanka has made against the new coronavirus. With lots of countries falling like dominoes under the inexorable onslaught of SARS-CoV-2 which spreads COVID-19 like wildfire, the Director-General (DG) of Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe urged [...]
Poll trial irons out health and voting wrinkles
At least 15 mock- elections involving about 200 volunteer voters in each instance have been held across Sri Lanka to identify shortcomings in implementing the health advice to keep the coronavirus at bay, the time it takes to vote, and other precautions the Election Commission would have to take for the August 5 parliamentary poll. [...]
Alternative income during a pandemic
Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy, many people have to face the challenge of reduced income or no income at all. Business establishments are trying to adjust to the situation, and many of those affected are finding ways to raise their income. Some of them are currently employing alternative solutions [...]
Varying immune response to COVID-19: J’Pura and Oxford universities in joint study
Vital research for the betterment of humankind is what has been strengthening the bonds between two centres half-a-world between them. On cue in keeping with the urgent needs of these troubled times and as a natural progression of the 12-year bond, these respected institutions are now looking closely to find out how the scourge of [...]
Pick of the pix
Galle Face: Say cheese! Kohuwala: Rain or shine Pettah bus stand: Dead screens Mt Lavinia: Selfie-less work Pettah: The timekeeper’s table Rathgama: Thirst quencher Mannar: In dignified silence