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Home » NewsUp, up and away: Monitoring future weather patterns by future generation
As 2021 approaches and important issues like climate change and weather patterns become crucial for future generations, students from 18 universities and higher education institutes yesterday launched from Dambulla a balloon fitted with equipment capable of collecting such data and information on atmospheric conditions. The hi-tech equipment was imported from the United States and the [...]
State officers to take oath to President’s manifesto
When state employees begin their work on January 1, 2021 (next Friday), they will be taking a fresh oath not only vowing to serve the public but also to implement President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto — “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour “. This will be a new inclusion to the affirmation of the public service. [...]
Explosives go missing from Mawanella quarry; multi-pronged probe
A multi-pronged law enforcement investigation has been launched to trace the whereabouts of a large stock of explosives believed to have been stolen from a rock quarry in Mawanella. The owner of the quarry at Molliyagoda in Mawanella had complained to the Mawanella police on December 22 about the alleged theft of the explosives. The [...]
Central Bank likely to pump dollars in the market
The Central Bank is likely to aggressively intervene in the money markets and pump US dollars this week to reduce pressure on the rupee which surged to Rs. 192.50 (per US dollar) last week. “Since the Central Bank has said it would take ‘appropriate action’ to stem the fall of the rupee, there is a [...]
Some 500 foreign tourists coming next week; strict health guidelines
Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena has given the green light for tourists to come to the country from next week and visit 12 destinations under a pilot project effective till January 19. Under this project, about 500 tourists aday from Russia and Eastern European countries will be allowed to fly in to Sri [...]
Finance Ministry rejects power ministry’s plans to extend deals with three companies
The Finance Ministry has rejected the extension of agreements with three furnace-oil fuelled private power plants based on a Power Ministry Cabinet paper that had inflated the price per kilowatt hour. The relevant Cabinet paper has also wrongly called the three plants–Ace Power Embilipitiya, Ace Power Matara and Asia Power–“auto-diesel fired” when they run on [...]
SLFP leader warns party may be forced to go it alone
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party will be forced to contest the impending Provincial Council elections separately “if our quota of candidates” is not given by the ruling alliance, former President and party leader Maithripala Sirisena warned yesterday. Pointing out that “we faced huge injustice during the parliamentary election,” Mr Sirisena told the Sunday Times, “if [...]
Former President Sirisena addresses symposium with Japanese PM
Former President Maithripala Sirisena participated in a virtual symposium along with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the subject “Shared values and Democracy in Asia”. Following are extracts from his speech. “I am reminded of the San Francisco Conference after the Second World War, where His Excellency J R [...]
Another round of talks next Wednesday to stop illegal Indian fishing
An official-level discussion of the Indo-Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries is fixed for Wednesday (Dec 30) to discuss the ongoing illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in Lankan territorial waters, a senior official from the Fisheries Ministry said. Fisheries Ministry Secretary R M I Rathnayake told the Sunday Times that the virtual talks [...]
‘Dhammika paniya’ : Expert warns against unethical research under the guise of scientific benefit
As the controversy around the ‘Dhammika paniya’ concoction that took the country by storm recently does the rounds across the country, there were strong protests from experts about the events surrounding the issue. The Commissioner of Ayurveda, Chatura Kumaratunga, told the Sunday Times that tests were being carried out on COVID-19 patients in a government [...]
Seasonal monsoons make 38,000 suffer
More than 38,000 Sri Lankans have been badly affected and one has died in seasonal rains that began to drench Sri Lanka this month. The northeast monsoon has damaged three houses completely and partially wrecked 66 homes of 12,100 people in the Northern, Eastern, North Central, Uva and Central provinces, the Disaster Management Centre reported. [...]
A sombre commemoration made even more sombre due to COVID
Strong winds and grey skies hovered over many religious observances held to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the 2004 tsunami disaster that killed over 30,000 people in the coastal districts of Ampara, Batticaloa, Galle, Hambantota, Jaffna, Matara, Mullativu and Trincomalee. This year observances had to follow strict health guidelines due to the threat of COVID-19. [...]
e-filing of bail applications now a reality; virtual hearings expected to pick up
Aimed at expediting cases clogged up due to COVID-19 and the closure of several courts around the country, electronic filing or e-filing of bail applications got off the ground this week. The first case taken up was of a woman suspect in a drug possession case. (please see box story). The COVID-19 outbreak early this [...]
First E-applicant gets Bail
A 56 year old woman from Maligawatta, Colombo who has been in remand jail for two years on charges of possessing Heroin was the first to get the benefit of a virtual hearing on her bail application conducted by the Colombo High Court this week. High Court Judge Adhithya Patabendi sitting in his chambers took [...]
Proposed elevated highway: Residents urge bypass to prevent wetland’s downfall
Around 200 residents, including farmers who will be affected by the proposed four-lane elevated highway from Rajagiriya to Athurugiriya, have directly appealed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to consider a different route. The 10.4km highway stretch is the second phase of a 17.3km project from the New Kelani Bridge in Orugodawatte to Athurugiriya. Contentiously, 3.15kms of [...]
Batticaloa’s post-Pararajasingham politics remains volatile as ever, 15 years after his murder
Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam was fifteen when he saw the breaking news on TV announcing the gruesome assassination of former Parliamentarian of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Joseph Pararajasingham during midnight mass held at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Batticaloa in 2005. Today after fifteen years, as a sitting MP representing the district once late [...]
Revised schedule for stop-go schools resumption
A new timetable is being drawn up for schools resuming classes for all grades next month. The Education Ministry said this is being done in view of health protocols that have to be followed when schools reopen on January 11. Ministry Secretary, Prof Kapila Perera, said the new schedule will be sent to all schools [...]
Siripada pilgrims urged not to use Nallateniya entrance
As part of measured to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Siripada pilgrims have been advised not to use the most-preferred Hatton-Nallateniya entrance until February next year to climb the sacred mountain. The pilgrimage season ceremonially begins on Tuesday December 29, Unduvap Poya Day. In a statement, Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage urged [...]
Textbooks to stores: Union says school authorities in confusion
The Education Ministry has failed to issue a clear directive with regard to the distribution of school textbooks for next year and as a result the books are being kept in stores, a teacher union has charged. The Ceylon Teachers Union said the school authorities had held back the distribution of the books as it [...]
Moratuwa medical faculty: First students intake next year
The Faculty of Medicine, set up at the University of Moratuwa, will admit its first intake of students next year, it is learnt. It is the 12th medical faculty set up in a state university.
Low-key Christmas sails through pandemic’s silent night; Cardinal delivers strong social justice message
It was indeed a silent night with crackers lighted here and there as the country’s Christian community sought safety and joy inside their homes as they celebrated the holy night amidst a pandemic. Conspicuous by their absence were large-scale Christmas street decorations, outdoor parties, gala dinners and big family get-togethers this year. Yet in Colombo [...]
A long hard road
Amidst ‘development’ processes taking place around the country, residents of Madugastalawa, Perapitiya, Passara have been deprived of many basic facilities including roads. Even though they have made requests from respective authorities, officers have failed to provide for basic amenities, such as asphalted/paved roads, and bridges. To reach this village, one has to take a bus [...]
The ‘face’ of 2004 Boxing Day tsunami ‘boxing on’ with a brave face
He was Sri Lanka’s “face” of the tsunami of 2004. The nine-year-old boy whose tear-streaked face, crumpled up in heartrending agony at his mother’s funeral, was published in hundreds of major newspapers around the world. Today, 25 years old, he is the head of the family providing not only for his wife and two sons [...]
Batticaloa village in struggle to rise from tsunami grave
Sixteen years after the Navalladdy beach front in the Batticaloa city limit was wiped off the map by the devastating Boxing Day tsunami, life is still not the same as it was. Over a thousand houses were completely destroyed and five times that badly damaged. As many as 1,452 lost their lives that fateful day, [...]
Pick of the pix
FROM OUR READERS Shutterbugs out there, we would once again appreciate your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph, to: pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk We would also appreciate if you mention the camera or cellphone that was used.
Fall Armyworm attack: Conflicting claims over damage to maize cultivation
The Agriculture Minister and the Agriculture Department Director General are at variance over the extent of damage caused by the Fall Armyworm (Sena Dalambuwa) which is devastating the maize crop in Sri Lanka. Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the damage was mere three present of the cultivation and it could lead to a loss of [...]
COVID-19: Where Sri Lanka stands in vaccine scenario
Hemas Pharmaceuticals, the local agent of both AstraZeneca and Pfizer, two major anti-COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, has approached the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), the Sunday Times understands. “AstraZeneca and Pfizer are now working directly with the NMRA and are in the process of submitting their dossiers,” said the Group CEO of Hemas Holdings, Kasturi Chellaraja [...]
SLPI, media organisations meet media minister
A delegation from constituent partners and affiliates of the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) met Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella this week to request him to consult stakeholders when drafting media law reforms as had been proposed by the Minister recently. The Minister agreed to do so in the New Year. The delegation comprised representatives of [...]
Police on drug trail connecting the dots to get a bigger picture than Dubai lead
Investigators are trying to ascertain if the heroin racket uncovered last week in the Welivita area is connected to several recent large-scale such detections made by Sri Lankan and Indian authorities during the past few weeks. The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) uncovered 300 grams of heroin and nearly Rs 60 million in cash during raids [...]
Date with dolphins, only if you are healthy
The season has begun for a date with dolphins in Kalpitiya, but tourists can join the journey to the mid sea, only if they have a health certificate and strictly follow COVID-19 health guidelines. Madhu Raj, Kalpitiya Environment Friendly Foundation president, says the season begins this week and will go on till the end of [...]