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The main Independence Day ceremony was held at Independence Square on Friday with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa presiding . One of the highlights was the parade of the war veterans. Pic by Eshan Fernando
CPC to buy crude from Cypriot firm on unsolicited tender
Cabinet has approved the procurement of 450,000 barrels of Omani light crude oil for the Sapugaskanda oil refinery from a Cypriot commodity trading firm on an unsolicited tender because the company had offered the dollar-strapped Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) six-months of credit. The uninvited proposal came from the Terra Navis group in Cyprus, said Energy [...]
No access to public places, if you are not fully vaccinated
Those who failed to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19 will not be allowed to access public places including public transport from April 30 onwards, the Health Ministry said in a gazette notification. The Government in a separate circular has given the definition of “fully vaccinated persons”. Accordingly, if the booster dose is not taken after [...]
Covid cases and deaths on the rise; get your booster
The number of COVID19 cases and related deaths are on the rise with health authorities making a fresh appeal for people to receive the booster vaccine. This week 151 COVID-19 related deaths along with another 6,855 COVID 19 positive cases have been reported. Throughout the week the daily death toll fluctuated between 20 and 30 [...]
G.L goes to India, seeks meeting with Modi
Foreign Minister, G.L. Peiris, who leaves on a two day visit to India has sought a meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Diplomatic sources in New Delhi said yesterday that no confirmation of the event had been received until last night. The only two scheduled engagements for Prof. Peiris are meetings with External Affairs [...]
SLPA quotes in US dollars for information
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is quoting in US dollars for information from it, contrary to the Right to Information law, prompting those seeking the information to convert and pay in rupees.. Currently, the Authority provides certified copies of documents up to four pages free of charge and thereafter, USD 2 is charged for [...]
Lanka seeks 2 credit lines from India, Australia to buy essentials for Avurudu
Sri Lanka will pursue two credit lines – one from India for US $ one billion and another from Australia for US $ 200 million to buy essential food items to ensure availability of supplies for the upcoming National New Year and the following months, a Cabinet Minister said. Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the [...]
Finance Ministry hits out at Power Ministry
The Power Ministry has been strongly criticised by the Finance Ministry over delays in implementing renewable energy projects and dire financial management in the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). In a stinging letter sent yesterday by Finance Ministry Secretary S. R.Attygalle to Power Ministry Secretary Wasantha Perera, he says, despite Government policy to achieve the target [...]
Govt. suffers huge revenue losses as stone quarries are exploited
Stone quarries in the key mining districts of Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Vavuniya are being heavily exploited at “huge loss of revenue” to the Government, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found. Demand for construction material, primarily stone, has intensified in recent years. The NAO has identified serious issues in quarrying including widespread non-adherence to [...]
Parliament sittings likely to be curtailed
As the number of COVID-19 infected MPs and Parliament staff continues to rise, the Committee on Parliamentary Business will meet at 3 pm tomorrow (7) to decide on the sittings scheduled for next week. Parliament is currently scheduled to sit for four days next week from February 8 to 11. Given the significant increase in [...]
Goodbye Haren: Our hearts will miss you
For almost 30 years, the hardworking and fun loving Haren Wijeratne served the Sunday Times with determination and dedication despite a physical handicap and other health problems. He retired about two years ago and worked as a freelance journalist and supplement coordinator. A few days ago, Haren was taken ill and warded at a Colombo [...]
Three drown in Ellawala water fall
Three people drowned in the Ellawala Water fall in Wellawaya yesterday. They were residence of Matara who were on a trip to Nuwara Eliya. They had stopped for a dip at the water fall.
Kandy hotel and environmental laws – Right of Reply
Hotel Grand Serandib (Pvt) Ltd Chairman and Managing Director of Dilip Herath has drawn attention to two news reports in the Sunday Times regarding the construction of a hotel in Kandy. Mr Herath said that the project is subject to all the environmental laws and regulations and has acquired the required consent by law. Reporter’s [...]
X-Press pearl insurers pay US$ 1.75mn interim compensation to fishing community
The Treasury has received a further sum of USD 1.75 million from the insurers of stricken vessel X-Press Pearl as part of an interim payment to help the fishing community affected by the disaster. The interim payment was made following discussions between two representatives of P&I Club, the insurers of X-Press Pearl, who visited the [...]
Pomp and pageantry amidst call by President to overcome difficulties
No show by SJB, JVP and Catholic clergy at official celebration 74th Independence Day celebrations Overcoming challenges with a positive mindset was the dominating theme as the country celebrated its 74th Independence Day on Friday. The main celebration was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Independence Square in Colombo. This year’s [...]
Army engineers build Lanka’s first mine resistance and bomb proof troop carrier
The first Mine Resistance Ambush Protected Vehicle (Unicob-MRAPV), manufactured by the Sri Lanka Electromechanical and Engineering (SLEME) Regiment, was on display at the independence day parade on Friday. On Monday at Sri Lanka Army Headquarters, the new vehicle was unveiled and inspected by Army Commander Shavendra Silva. Vehicles of this nature were used during the [...]
Gerandi Ella tragedy brings to surface rules for bathing in unknown waterbodies
Listen to area people, look for warning signs, and avoid getting into unknown waters, experts warn in the aftermath of the Gerandi Ella tragedy that claimed five young lives. Gerandi Ella is a local tourist hotspot, but on January 29, it turned out to be a watery grave for 23-year-old David Kumar, 21-year-old Jeyaram Kanchanapriya, [...]
Rs 75 Sathosa nuts promise rings hollow amid runaway prices, shortages
Prices that Sri Lankans pay at grocery stores and wet markets for their essentials such as rice, lentils, vegetables, and milk powder are galloping away every week. In January, consumer prices jumped by a double-digit rate, following a heady rise in December and in November. Inflation accelerated to 14.2% in January from 12.1% in December [...]
Stalin seeks Jaishankar’s help to send pilgrims to Kachchativu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar requesting him to urge the Sri Lankan Government to allow Tamil Nadu fishermen to take part in the annual feast of St. Anthony’s Church at Kachchativu. The Sri Lankan authorities are not allowing Tamil Nadu fishermen to take part in [...]
Price slide puts Kalpitiya farmers in hot water
For Kalpitiya’s radish farmers, a bumper harvest is no good news this time as prices have begun to plummet after peaking in recent months. They said they began radish cultivation in the hope that they could make a good profit due to the rising vegetable prices in the market. But when they started harvesting, radish [...]
Thalangama wetland under double threat
World wetland day was celebrated on February 2 in many places in Sri Lanka with volunteers focusing on cleaning of wetlands and educating the public. Most of these activities are usually limited to the day, but everyday is a wetland day for a group of volunteers near Thalangama lake. For the last five years, this [...]
A reservoir in disrepair starves farmers
Farmers who cultivate thousands of hectares of agricultural land in the Kokatiyamaluwa Divisional Secretariat area have been deprived of water from a reservoir located in Hali Ela for more than 40 years due to want of repairs to the sluice gate. These sluice gates were set up to ensure storage and distribution of rainwater in [...]
Murder at mid-sea: Northern fisherfolk reach breaking point over Indian raiders blamed for deaths
A northern fisherman set fire to his boat and fishing gear on Thursday, in a protest that highlighted the escalation of the anger against Indian vessels that enter illegally into Sri Lankan waters. There were multiple protests by fishermen this week condemning the deaths of two young fishermen and illegal fishing by Indians. The fisherman [...]
Student teachers demand payout for belongings pillaged in trashed hostels
Students of Colleges of Education who have returned to their studies after a long absence say they are appalled that personal lockers have been broken, and books, belongings and mattresses torn and destroyed. They have returned after more than a year’s leave due to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Colleges of Education were used as treatment [...]
No boxes for exports
The dollar crunch has placed Sri Lanka’s packaging industries in a crisis that also affects the forex-earning export sector. Industry sources said the country could face a shortage of flexible wrapping materials and corrugated cartons used in the packaging of merchandise for export market. The 29-member Association of Laminated Flexible Packaging Manufacturers said several of [...]
Importer says CID probe going nowhere
Investigations into the Rs. 7.4 million Sathosa garlic scam appear to be going nowhere amid attempts to close the case, a company which made the complaint has said. Enriched investment Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said that concerned parties had shown interest in the petitioner withdrawing the complaint made against Lanka Sathosa over illegally clearing two container [...]
Don’t get complacent because Omicron is less virulent, says DG Health
The positive numbers are on the rise because the Omicron variant is highly transmissible. If one person in a family catches COVID-19, there is a high probability that all other family members will get it, said a top health official on Wednesday. However, due to the fact that people are fully-vaccinated which means two doses [...]
Take your booster, take safety measures
The strong but simple message from the Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena is loud and clear: Take your booster You can be relaxed – but take safety measures. Wear your face-mask when leaving home; think of hand hygiene; keep your distance from others; avoid large gatherings; and stay at home unless you really [...]
Vaccination trend for booster: Central Province leads the way
Zeroing on vaccination trends, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that the best trend for the booster is being seen in the Central Province, with the Colombo district in the Western Province, the Eastern Province and the Northern Province lagging behind as also Kegalle district. When asked why, he said they “can’t really say why” Colombo has [...]
Hospital admissions up, but no overflow
Hospital admissions have increased but there is no overflow. With a downward trend in numbers at the end of last year, the extra COVID-19 wards had been closed gradually. Now steps are being taken to empty them by transferring other patients to other wards and open up more wards for virus-affected patients, said Dr. Asela [...]
Infection in schools: Vaccinate your child if eligible for the jab
Regarding the spread of the infection in schools, Dr. Asela Gunawardena said that this may be due to a two-way process. One reason could be that adults who go out to work or to do other stuff are taking the virus back home. The other possibility is that a child could get infected from a [...]
We need to ride out Omicron with booster and preventive measures
The Omicron variant is highly transmissible, even more transmissible than Delta that preceded it. It also has the capacity to partially evade immunity from past infection and from two doses of a vaccine, although some protection from severe disease can be expected, reiterated an expert this week. Three doses of the vaccine, especially a booster [...]
Brief look around the world
A look around the world shows that Omicron has filled up hospitals in the United States of America with more COVID-19 patients than any other surge. However, they are milder and quicker to treat. It had been noted that certain factors also contribute to the effects of Omicron on a patient, such as age. Hospital [...]
Turmeric will remain pricey despite grow local campaign
Turmeric farmers say they will not sell their produce for less than the cost of production, despite a good harvest expected this season. Imports of the spice was banned in December 2019, along with ginger and nutmeg with claims by the government of the need support local growers. An underground market and smuggling from India [...]