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Forest reserves and wetlands are recognised as international and national treasures. Following national outrage over destruction to Sri Lanka’s world renowned Sinharaja Forest reserve and the internatioally recognised Anawilundawa wetlands, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited the Sinharaja Forest Reserve yesterday to inspect the site after which he gave conditional approval to go ahead with the road. [...]
Bonanza for Cabinet and State Ministry secretaries
Cabinet and State Ministry secretaries who were deprived of their jobs due to the change of government in November last year are in for a bonanza with the Government deciding to offer an alternative package including a first class duty-free vehicle import permit if they decide to revert to previous service. Previously the officers had [...]
Constitutional provisions cited by AG say Jayasekera can’t become MP
The Attorney General’s Department has written to the Justice Ministry citing Constitutional provisions dealing with disqualifications to be an elector and an MP, after the Ministry sought its opinion on the status of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MP-elect Premalal Jayasekara, a murder convict. Mr Jayasekara, who has been sentenced to death for a 2015 murder, [...]
UDA plans to take over Otter and other defaulting sports clubs in Colombo
The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has planned to take over management of Colombo city sports clubs which have failed to pay their lease rent or provide adequate facilities to those patronising the clubs, a senior UDA official said. UDA Director General Prasad Ranaweera told the Sunday Times three of the major clubs had defaulted in [...]
US imposes sanctions on Colombo Port City builders and other Chinese companies
The US has imposed sanctions on 24 Chinese companies–including the builders of Colombo Port City–making it illegal for American companies to export products to these entities without a Government licence. In Colombo, the Chinese Embassy hit back at the latest move which also affects China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the parent company of China Harbour [...]
Global Park bonded warehouse sealed amid probe on whiskey racket
The Global Park bonded warehouse run by Global Transportation and Logistics (Pvt) Ltd has been sealed by the Customs Department amidst a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the collusion of Customs officers in leaking imported bottles of whiskey meant for re-export to the local market. Cases of Johnnie Walker Black Label were being taken [...]
Minor tremor felt in some areas off Kandy
A minor tremor was felt in some areas surrounding Kandy last night, but no damages were reported, a senior officer at the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. DMC Director General Major General (Retd.) Sudantha Ranasinghe said the tremors were reported around 8.35 p.m. from the areas of Thalathuoya, Haragama and Gurudeniya off Kandy. Geological Survey [...]
The all-girl quintuplet birth a first for Lanka
A first in the country – five baby-girls born in a rare quintuplet delivery to a 29-year-old mother from Gampaha around 10 a.m. on Friday, August 28, at the De Soysa Hospital for Women, down Kynsey Road in Colombo. “This is the first all-girl quintuplet birth but we believe it’s the fourth time five babies [...]
Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya Perahera
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa places the casket on tusker ‘Kotte Raja’ shortly before the final night of the Randoli Perahera of the Kotte Rajamaha Viharya , yesterday. The Chief incumbent of the temple Aluth Nuwara Anuruddha Thera is also in the picture. Pic by Amila Gamage
Lawyers argue whether SC has right to hear Ranjan’s contempt of court case
The submissions in the contempt of court case against MP Ranjan Ramanayake were concluded this week with arguments over whether the Supreme Court had the power to hear the case. The landmark case was heard before a three-member bench comprising Justices Sisira de Abrew (presiding), Vijith Malalgoda and Padman Surasena. Appearing for Mr Ramanayake, M.A. [...]
BOI approves deal with investor despite probe
The Board of Investment (BOI) has approved a deal backed by a Saudi Arabian investor who is also the director of a company that bought the Edirisinghe Group businesses — a transaction now being investigated by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry. The reportedly US$ 97.2mn agreement to set up a floating liquefied natural gas storage [...]
August 17 power blackout: Initial report slams CEB for ignoring recommendations by experts in the past
An independent committee that investigated the August 17 electricity blackout has slammed the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), saying its failure to avoid the mishap points to “significant lapses” in implementing critical recommendations made by experts in the past. The CEB must introduce “standard, compliant, systematic, foolproof, safe procedures and maintenance protocols” during operation and maintenance, [...]
Sports compulsory in new draft education policy
The National Institute of Education (NIE) is due to present a new Draft Policy for Secondary Education Reforms — with 50 percent of the curriculum dedicated to core subjects like math and languages and 10-15 percent to physical education, health and sports. The draft policy is to be presented to the NIE Council and its [...]
Colombo Fire Chief says Liberty Plaza management was informed of poor fire fighting equipment in building prior to fire on August 17
A routine inspection by the Colombo Fire Brigade, several weeks prior to a major fire at the Liberty Plaza shopping and residence complex, found that firefighting equipment in the building was not being properly maintained, a senior Fire Brigade officer said. Colombo Fire Chief P. D. K. Wilson said his officers had conducted the inspection [...]
Coordinated police raids launched after data analysis lead to arrests of suspected underworld members
In a string of coordinated raids, police have arrested several associates of underworld gang lords, including gunmen involved in shooting incidents, and detected large quantities of drugs, a senior police officer said. Deputy Inspector General Priyantha Jayakody, who is in charge of the Crimes Record Division, said the raids were launched simultaneously to track down [...]
Medical Council ordered to allow foreign grads to sit registration exam
The Supreme Court has held that the fundamental rights of three people had been violated by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) by not allowing them to sit for the local examination that would make them eligible to become medical practitioners in Sri Lanka. The council was ordered to allow the petitioners to sit the [...]
2-in-1 complex keyhole surgery pulls patient away from danger
Not just one but two, dealing a double whammy to 56-year-old Jayanthi Silva from Mutwal, Colombo 15. Then major and complex keyhole surgery lasting seven hours – a bilateral adrenalectomy to deal with life-threatening Cushing Syndrome! Two tumours, non-cancerous neoplasms, which usually are a rarity, were affecting both Jayanthi’s adrenal glands causing Cushing Syndrome and [...]
Authorities should not view Human Rights Commission as an adversary but as a partner in reform: Dr. Udagama
When her resignation as Human Rights Commission (HRC) Chair became public two days before the August 5 Parliamentary election, it was speculated that Deepika Udagama had quit under pressure. “I want to say upfront that, when people ask me whether I was leaving because I succumbed to intimidation or threat, I feel personally insulted because [...]
Wetlands again ravaged for illegal prawn farming
The wildlife department has instructed its office in Puttalam to once again restore almost two acres of mangroves in the Anawilundawa sanctuary that had been illegally cleared overnight on Tuesday to make way for a prawn farm. Anawilundawa is a Ramsar wetland falling deemed of international importance under the UNESCO Ramsar Convention. Six out of [...]
Case against suspected bio-pirates continues
Nuwara Eliya Magistrate Pamoda Jayasekara ordered that the case against the three Russian suspects responsible for the country’s largest ever bio-piracy be called on October 10, 2020. The three Russians were arrested while trying to steal a large number of plant species removed from the Horton Plains National Park in February. Range Officer at Giritale [...]
Inclement weather in Mullaitivu results in fatal accident
One person was killed and another critically injured in the Mullaitivu area today afternoon, when a tree collapsed on the motor cycle they were travelling on, a Police spokesperson said. The tree had collapsed due to the heavy rain and strong winds in the area, at the time of the incident. The injured person was [...]
J’pura’s Dengue Centre secures major grant to study arboviruses
Tiny Sri Lanka has been sky-rocketed to the world stage in the sphere of arboviruses to help combat diseases caused by such viruses. Securing a US$ 1.15 million grant, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura’s Centre for Dengue Research has become a strong part of the global ‘Asian and American Center for Arbovirus Research and Enhanced [...]
Decision on airport opening under discussion
No moves are underway to open the entry points to Sri Lanka just yet as the new coronavirus has not abated around the world, while all measures are being taken to safeguard the country from a community spread of COVID-19, the Sunday Times learns. Explaining that anybody coming from overseas could bring COVID-19 into the [...]
Schools resume on familiar schedule
State schools and semi government schools will resume classes from this week. Grades six to 13 will have classes from 7. 30 a.m. to 1. 30 p.m. from September 2. Primary grades will begin as usual from September 8. Reverting to the 7. 30 a.m.-1.30 p.m. timetable considered convenience, Education Ministry officials said. Previously, the [...]
Treasure hunters have a field day as law remains antiquated
“Treasure hunting” — the digging up of archaeological sites in search of historical artefacts which can then be hawked locally and internationally for a price — continues to be rampant in Sri Lanka and is aided by a lack of political will to put an end to it, officials said this week. “He told me [...]
Animals die while DWC’s 16 vets try to cover the country
It took time for wildlife rangers in Nuwara Eliya, 65km away, to come to Gampola and capture a roaming leopard that had sent the area into panic; by the time the rangers arrived, someone else had acted and the leopard was dead, illegally trapped in a snare. The Assistant Principal of Zahira College in Gampola, [...]
Roadside fare
The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a crippling blow to the livelihoods of people. Many have lost their jobs and businesses due to the devastating economic impact brought on by the pandemic. Driven by desperation to feed their families and themselves, these people have taken to other trades in a bid to survive. Quite a few [...]
Merciless heat
The hot weather will continue until mid-September, driven by the sun now positioned directly above Sri Lanka and a drop in winds, the Department of Meteorology said. Limited cloud cover is causing the ground to heat up to high levels, and any breezes that blow are also laden with heat, the department’s Deputy Director of [...]