News
Home » NewsFree packs of food for worst-affected people
With millions of people being severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a Moratuwa Municipal Council worker clad in protective gear is seen distributing free packs of dry rations to the worst-affected people in the Moratuwa area. Pic by Reka Tharangani
AG objects to President’s nominees to SC and CA
Attorney General Dappula de Livera has raised objections over ignoring senior members of his department for vacancies in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal which are to be expanded in terms of the 20th Amendment. The move came as President Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is now empowered to make appointments to the Superior Courts [...]
Four more COVID patients die; death toll increases to 34
Four more COVID-19 related deaths were reported yesterday, raising the death toll to 34, the Health Ministry said. Two of the deaths were reported form the Maligawatta area, while the other deaths were reported from Wellampitiya and Ganemulla. The deaths from Maligawatta were of two women aged 42 and 69 while the victim from Ganemulla [...]
Govt.’s revenue target tumbles; big companies unable to pay taxes
The Government’s revenue targets for this year have shown further decline with all indications that even the revised targets will not be met, a senior Inland Revenue Department official said. The Government, which started off with a revenue target of Rs 800 billion at the beginning of the year subsequently brought it down to Rs [...]
As pandemic grows, first patient found with both dengue and COVID-19
The first patient possibly confirmed as having both dengue and COVID-19 in the country has been reported from the Negombo Hospital, the Sunday Times learns. The patient is a 29-year-old man who had come into contact with COVID-19 at a fish market, the Head of Negombo’s Dengue Centre, Dr. LakKumar Fernando said. “The patient came [...]
Govt. gazettes fixed rice prices: shortage likely in the coming days, traders warn
Traders have cautioned the Government that they are unable to provide rice at prices stipulated by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and this could result in a shortage of rice in the market in the coming days. The traders said they did not receive rice below the government issued maximum retail prices and therefore were [...]
Fresh proposals, bids called for New Kelani Bridge and Central Expressway
The Presidential Secretariat this week instructed the Highways Ministry and Road Development Authority (RDA) to call for fresh proposals for the New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya and to also accept bids for section III and IV of the Central Expressway. The Government will not encourage debt-funded projects, annuity (a series of payments made at equal [...]
Medical experts oppose countrywide lockdown
A group of medical professionals have declared that they do not support a country-wide lockdown unless there is evidence of uncontrolled community transmission, as this would severely affect the economy and the livelihoods of non-salaried and self-employed people. This was stated in a letter collectively written by Prof. Janaka de Silva of the University of [...]
COID-19 Brandix cluster: Probe delayed
The Attorney General’s ‘s order for the Police to conduct a probe on the Brandix COVID-19 cluster is being delayed for various excuses, the AG’s Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson said that despite three reminders to the Acting Inspector General, C.D. Wickremaratne, no response had been received until Friday. “We have so far not been [...]
Parliamentary Council quorum fixed at 3
The quorum for the five member Parliamentary Council would be three members, it was decided at the inaugural meeting of the council on Thursday. The council’s five members include the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, an MP appointed by the Prime Minister, an MP appointed by the Opposition Leader. It is headed by the Speaker. [...]
Lankan family owes millions to depositors; arrested in TN for illegal entry
A Sri Lankan family of three including a 10-year-old child were taken into custody by Indian Coastguard officials at Vedaranyam in India on Friday. The trio was taking an illegal passage from the northern coast of Sri Lanka. The husband and wife had been identified as Shihab Sheriff and his wife Fathima Farsana Markaar. They [...]
Japanese gov confers honour on Sri Lankan who built ties
The Government of Japan has announced the conferment of “The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays” upon Mr Janak Jeevantha Bandaranayake for his contributions to promoting the cultural exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka. Mr Bandaranayake worked at the Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka over a span of three decades and contributed [...]
Something is definitely rotten: 30 to 40% of our fruits, veggies thrown away annually
Around 30 to 40 percent of all fruits and vegetables harvested in Sri Lanka are thrown away each year—a chronic problem that’s been the subject of at least 82 largely neglected research studies conducted between 2013 and 2018. The studies were done by five public institutions connected with the agriculture sector at a total cost [...]
Country on Alert Level 3
17 deaths in 16 days; some clusters on the wane but others active By Kumudini Hettiarachchi, Ruqyyaha Deane & Meleeza Rathnayake Sri Lanka is at Alert Level 3 (several clusters in different districts) in the COVID-19 response, warned many experts as the Health Ministry issued detailed follow-up guidelines on public activities which could or could [...]
Military op in Bay of Bengal may have disoriented pod of whales
A military exercise in the Bay of Bengal may have caused the mass beaching of more than short-finned pilot whales in Sri Lanka this week, experts suggested. Tissue samples were collected from the dead whales to test for pathology, said A Navaratnerajah, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) Chairman. The disoriented mammals mostly [...]
Dry Puttalam robbed of its green cover
The wanton destruction of the environment, including clearing mangroves and felling large trees, is continuing unabated in the Puttalam District. The most recent damage has been the destruction of the mangroves around the Puttalam lagoon. Several 100-year-old trees have also been cut down in the process. Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has ordered the police to [...]
550 suspected of slipping away ahead of curfew
About 550 people who left the Western Province on October 29 and 30 have been identified and placed in 14-day self-quarantine at their current place of accommodation, the police said. Among them are residents who had come from the Western Province, but travelled after the curfew was declared. Hatton-Dickoya Urban Council Public Health Inspector R.R.S. [...]
Kandy Court complex closed due to COVID threat
The Kandy Court complex was closed on Friday, before Court sittings began, and it was announced that the complex is undergoing a ‘fumigation process’ after a police officer showed symptoms similar to COVID-19. According to lawyers, the police officer had accompanied an acting magistrate for an inquiry. This was reported to the Court, and thereafter [...]
High level meeting held at Jaffna DS inspite of health warnings
Despite Northern health authorities expressing severe concerns over the conducting of a meeting with ministers and officials visiting from Colombo, a high-level meeting was held on Friday at the Jaffna District Secretariat (DS), disregarding COVID-19 health regulations. Following the meeting, where at least 200 people were seated in a packed auditorium, the local Public Health [...]
O/Levels to be held from Jan. 18 onwards; no decision yet on reopening schools
The G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examination will be held from January 18 to 28 next year as planned earlier, Education Minister G. L. Peiris said. The G.C.E A/L examination which began on October 12 ended this Friday amidst curfew imposed in the Western province. Even though Government schools were to begin the third term of [...]
State and private institutes can verify authenticity of NICs through new online facility
The Registration of the Person’s Department will go online to authenticate the national identity cards of the citizens of Sri Lanka. The move that would be operative henceforth will benefit the police, would-be employers and officials of many other institutes to check on the veracity of national identity cards, officials said. The Department’s Commissioner General, [...]