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As Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila’s regular statements on the need for an oil price increase add fuel to the fire, some filling stations are reported to be hoarding fuel anticipating a price hike. Consumer Affairs Authority officials are seen inspecting this shed to check whether fuel is being hoarded. Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
UN Human Rights Chief’s report questions PTA; Easter bombing probe
The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner’s 17-page report which makes further indictments on Sri Lanka, will be debated at the Human Rights Council’s 49th sessions on March 3. This report, which was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo, through UN channels last Monday, was studied by officials. Thereafter, they have sent to [...]
New state company to handle oil and gas exploration and production
The Energy Ministry is awaiting Finance Ministry approval to register a new entity named Lanka National Petroleum Company (LNPC) to handle the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry which includes exploration, geological surveys and production. “As the word ‘national’ is involved, the Registrar of Companies requires the go-ahead of the line ministry which, [...]
Questions over integrity of proposed company chief
A proposed key appointment to the new Lanka National Petroleum Company (LNPC) could run into controversy and raise questions of due diligence. The oil and gas industry practitioner picked by the Energy Minister to be its Chairman was investigated by Britain’s official Insolvency Service which found he had failed to maintain and preserve adequate accounting [...]
Highways Ministry won’t reconsider Chinese firm’s bid
The Highways Ministry has ruled out reconsidering a bid offered by a Chinese Company for the construction of part of the Central Expressway project, despite an appeal to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (Please see Political Commentary on Pages 14 and 15 for details of its complaint). A senior Highways Ministry official said the bid had come [...]
Shani makes bombshell claims on Easter attacks in FR case filed to prevent arrest
Former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director and retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shani Abeysekara filed a Fundamental Rights petition with the Supreme Court on Friday (18) seeking an order to prevent his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). In his petition, the former CID Director claims that an attempt is [...]
High insurance rates strangle local flights
Despite renewed growth in tourism, prohibitive insurance liability limits–now over US$ 180,000 a passenger–is strangling growth in domestic aviation and have grounded aircraft that can otherwise ferry people around the country, local operators have warned. The Civil Aviation Act of Sri Lanka recognises that any aircraft that carries passengers, baggage or cargo must be covered [...]
Easter Sunday attacks: AG to study court order before any appeal
The Attorney General’s Department (AG) will study the judgment on the acquittal and release of former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando and former Inspector General of Police Pujith Jayasundara over the Easter Sunday attacks to see if there are grounds for appeal. AG’s Department sources said once copies of the judgment were obtained, officers would study [...]
Sarath Jayamanne PC to contest BASL presidency next year
Former Bribery Commission Director General and longtime state prosecutor Sarath Jayamanne, PC has declared that he will contest for the post of president of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka for 2023/24. The election is due in February next year. Having graduated with a BA in Applied Science (biology, mathematics and physics) from the University [...]
Swarnavahini rape allegations: Former judge’s delayed appeal to be heard on June 29
An appeal by former District Judge Lenin Ratnayake in the the Western Province Civil Appellate High Court against the dismissal of his damages claim against EAP Network (Private) Ltd., and a journalist 14 months later has been fixed for inquiry on June 29. The former Judge has filed an “Appeal Notwithstanding Lapse of Time” under [...]
Ella bustles again
Ella town and surrounding areas are once again teeming with foreign tourists. The return of tourists is a welcome sight to the region, after the tourism industry here collapsed due to the pandemic. Pix by Palitha Ariyawansa
Audit report reveals losses in road rehabilitation work
Twelve contractors who secured government tenders worth Rs 2.99 billion (Rs 2,994 million) for rural road rehabilitation work had abandoned the projects and the funds were not recovered by November 30, 2019, an audit report revealed. The audit report titled “Performance Report on Improving Road Accessibility between Rural Community and Socio-Economic Centres under the Integrated [...]
SLPI denounces attacks on journalists, calls for safe environment
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI) has denounced recent attacks on journalists. The Sri Lanka Press Insitute, a professional collective body representing the media community, advocates of media freedom and the news industry, condemns any attacks or threats that prevent journalists from executing their duties, a statement from the SLPI said. The SLPI is concerned [...]
Traffic blocks as Anamaduwa villagers protest over quarries
Residents of several villages in Anamaduwa on Thursday carried out protests against five stone quarries near their villages. More than 200 residents of Rambawewa, Siyambalawewa, Ampitigama, Nambawewa and Koralayagama participated. They had gone to the five quarries, carrying placards and banners, and had protested for more than three hours. At first the protestors blocked the [...]
Fertiliser crisis: Maha season farmers’ long wait to get compensation
The Government is still undecided on a compensation package for farmers who suffered crop losses during the current Maha season due to the fertiliser crisis, while the affected farmers are demanding that they be paid at the rate of Rs. 100,000 an acre. However, Agriculture Insurance Board General Manager Panduka Weerasinghe said Rs. 1.28 billion [...]
Potato growers want payout for organic disaster
Welimada farmers, most of whom grow on small plots, and who had been compelled to use substandard organic fertiliser made available by the government are demanding financial compensation for crop losses from their vegetable and potato fields. The Welimada divisional secretariat area is the biggest potato producing area in the Badulla District. Experienced farmers and [...]
Police record statements from Ape Jana Bala leader and more than 25 others
Three teams led by an Assistant Superintendent of Police are investigating the attack on the house of prominent television and social media journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrema, however, the suspects are yet to be identified. Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Talduwa told the Sunday Times they had recorded more than 25 statements regarding the attack, the most [...]
X-Press Pearl insurers seek time till April to work out final compensation payment for fishermen
The insurers of stricken container vessel X-Press Pearl have asked the Government to give them time till April to complete a full assessment of damage claims for the fisheries sector. The initial damage assessment made by the vessel’s insurers involved only a small sample of those who were affected in the three districts of the [...]
Bottom trawling ban produces good catch for fishermen in Puttalam and Kalpitiya lagoons
A temporary ban on bottom trawling in the Puttalam and Kalpitiya lagoons from December 31 has resulted in a good catch of prawns, fish and shrimp after years for local fishermen who use traditional fishing methods. At least 3,000 fisher families from 23 fishermen federations in the district depend on fishing as their sole livlihood [...]
Patients rush to state hospitals as strikers take a short break
Hundreds worried about further disruption have been pouring into public hospitals just after the nursing and supplementary health staff decided to call off their strike. Long queues and fully occupied seating areas were seen in outpatient departments and clinics with the return of most patients who had been turned away due to last week’s strike [...]
Kandy’s old buses to be given new life as boutiques near jogging paths
Old buses that are no longer good enough to be used for public transport, should be converted into boutiques and placed near the jogging tracks in Kandy, District Coordinating Committee Chairman Wasanatha Yapa Bandara said recently. This will benefit the people Mr. Bandara said, adding that he has already made arrangements for 20 dilapidated buses [...]
Bentota residents ring alarm bells over selfie craze on railtrack
“No photograph is worth the risk to you or the consequences to your family,” says Chamath Suranimala, from Bentota, echoing the sentiments of other area residents who point to the craze of taking selfies on the track near the Bentota railway station. Ajith Samaraweera, engaged in the tourism sector said, whether on the railway track [...]
Weekly dengue infections drop, but risks high in some areas
Over 9,000 dengue infections have been reported across the country so far this year as of February 17. Most infections, or 51%, are in the Western Province. In January, there were 7,702 infected people, while there are 1,801 infections so far this month. “There is a drop in the amount of dengue cases being reported [...]
The perahera prevails
The Navam Maha Perahera of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple has a distinct place among the Buddhist festivals in the country. The Gangaramaya Raja Maha Viharaya in Colombo holds the Navam Maha Perahera as a two-day event every February to commemorate one of Buddhism’s most prestigious historical events. The Buddha’s first sermon, Dhamma Chakka Pavattana Sutta, [...]
Pick of the Pix
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Take the jabs to ward off death
The tragic picture is clear. There are no grey areas, it’s black and white – many of those who are dying these days of COVID-19 are those who are not fully vaccinated and who are in the high-risk category of over 60 years. “Get the jab, especially the booster and safeguard your lives. The vaccines [...]
Media briefing highlights
The highlights of Friday’s media briefing at the Health Promotion Bureau chaired by Director Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawe. Specialist in Emergency Medicine Dr. Ganaja Samarajeewa attached to the Kalutara General Hospital said: Most COVID-19 patients come to hospital with other conditions and are diagnosed after a Rapid Antigen Test or RT-PCR. Others have classic symptoms such [...]
Lingering illness after COVID
While stressing the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent severe disease and death, four Consultant Respiratory Physicians of the Sri Lanka College of Pulmonologists look at Post-COVID where illness lingers long after the acute phase is over and also the things those who have got COVID-19 should heed. The eminent doctors who have a strong [...]
Power struggle frustrates homes and business
Rolling power cuts at various times of the day and night, ranging from an hour to 45 minutes, adding up to a total of seven hours a day, will bring most economic activity to a halt, while households will struggle to cope. Despite strong assurances by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) that [...]
Disappearing reservoir water heightens power uncertainty
Water levels in many reservoirs have dropped sharply due to the dry weather, likely reducing hydropower generation capacity. The water level of the Randenigala reservoir has dropped to nearly 69.8 percent of its total capacity, while at Victoria, it has dropped to 45.8 percent and Kotmale to 49.1 percent. At Samanalawewa the water level has [...]