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People from all walks of life, some with their families, gathered outside the President’s office overlooking the Galle Face Green yesterday marking their attendance at the mass movement calling for the ouster of the executive president. They vowed to continue the protest today demanding the President’s resignation and measures to end the hardships caused by [...]
Cabinet secretaries call for sweeping reforms to revive economy
Cabinet ministry secretaries have proposed to the Government that it should cut down the number of ministers, reduce their perks, drastically curb the number of state ministers or scrap the positions and temporarily stop recruitment to the public sector. Public Administration Ministry Secretary J.J. Ratnasiri told the Sunday Times the proposals were among 33 recommendations [...]
New CB Governor asks people to brace for more hardships; says economy can be “turned around”
The newly appointed Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe issued a strong new policy directive, saying the Central Bank (CB) would curb excessive money printing, reduce rampant inflation, reduce commercial borrowings and keep the runaway US dollar in check. On Wednesday, hours before the new Governor assumed duties, Rs. 119.08 billion of new money was printed [...]
Drug firms receive 20% price jump for non price-controlled medicines
Around 40 types of essential drugs and ten life saving drugs in short supply Doctors and pharmacists warn of patient deaths due to drug shortage The Government has granted a 20 percent increase on pharmaceutical drugs that were not gazetted for price control earlier. Accordingly, all drugs not price controlled will take a [...]
Excessive sugar imports caused dollar drain, consumers did not receive benefit of tax cuts
Pyramid Wilmar (Pvt) Ltd–the private company accused of profiteering from the Government’s massive sugar tax cut–imported 1,222 percent more sugar than usual between October 2020 and February 2021, but did not pass the advantage to consumers, the National Audit Office (NAO) states. The NAO calls on the Government to recover its lost revenue by correctly [...]
Treasury orders takeover of vehicles, houses of ministers who resigned
The Treasury has directed Ministry Secretaries to take over vehicles, houses furniture and office equipment of all ministers who have tendered their resignations. The circular was issued after the resignation of 26 ministers by the Treasury. It was signed by the then Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle before he stepped down from office. The circular was [...]
Sabry seeks $3 billion in external assitance to stave off crisis at least for six months
Sri Lanka will need about $3 billion in external assistance over the next six months to help restore supplies of essential items including fuel and medicine, Finance Minister Ali Sabry told Reuters yesterday. “It’s a Herculean task,” said Mr. Sabry in his first interview since taking office this week, referring to finding $3 billion in [...]
LCC scrambling to find dollars to avert arbitration
Amidst a dire foreign exchange shortage, Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) is scrambling to find US dollars to settle the payments for six shipments from the Swiss Singapore Overseas Enterprise (Pte) Ltd to avert facing costly arbitration, officials said. Swiss Singapore was owed US$ 94mn by LCC. The six shipments of coal have already [...]
Banks will be open for business on April 11 and 12
All licenced banks will be open for normal banking business on April 11 and 12, the Central Bank said yesterday. The Central Bank’s notice was issued to clear any confusion that banks will be closed on Monday and Tuesday after the Government’s declaration of the two days as holidays ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil [...]
A five-point plan to address critical medicinal shortage from health experts
A strong call went out from the health sector this week to take stock of the critical medicinal shortages and provide plans for urgent action to meet this crisis gripping the country. Having brainstormed over the crisis, health experts reiterated that the dire need is a five-point plan to manage it. They suggested the following: [...]
Photo of alleged arsonist released
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has released a photo and a portrait of the person who allegedly set fire to the Army bus in Mirihana, near President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence, on March 31, and the suspect is yet to be identified. The police arrested 45 persons who engaged in the protest in Mirihana, Nugegoda, [...]
The youth are marching on
It started with about 20 people on Green Path on Monday morning. Fresh off the fiery protests that defied the controversial curfew over the last weekend, people began to gather yet again with placards and national flags. The crowd grew; so did the sound of chants and the songs they had composed. The crowd eventually [...]
Onto the Green they came to voice their protest
People from all walks of life flocked to Galle Face Green yesterday for the largest gathering yet, against the Government. Artists, students, professionals, were among those who joined the protest from morning with the crowd increasing towards evening. The crowd consisted of people from different parts of Sri Lanka, with some carrying boards with the [...]
Protest march from Katuwapitiya to Kochchikade for Easter attack victims
A protest march was held yesterday to commemorate the Easter Sunday attacks which took place three years ago. The march included people from St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, St. Peter and Paul’s Church in Katunayake and St. Mary’s Mother of Refuge Church in Tudella. The protest began with prayers at Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian’s church, the [...]
Teacher transfers to resume after a two year lapse
The transfer of teachers will shortly resume after a lapse of two years, an Education Ministry official said. The annual transfer scheme for staff who have completed the maximum number of years in the same school and additional staff above the required numbers was suspended mainly due to the COVID-19 situation. Once transfers resumed, an [...]
Teachers and principals want Gota’s govt. to go home
The Teachers-Principals trade union alliance held a protest at Lipton circle on April 6. Pic by Akila Jayawardana
Moratuwa Uni. teachers urge Govt. to step down
The current administration needs to step down from office and allow a competent set of people to assume office in line with the Constitution, the University of Moratuwa Teachers Association (UMTA) said. In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the UMTA said the current administration has demonstrated that it is incompetent in handling the current [...]
Go Home, I have work to do”
Pic by Eshan Fernando
Skyrocketing prices dampen festive air; small businesses face grim avurudu season
With the forex crisis and fuel price increases sending festive goods and essential commodity prices sky high, there is little festive air this Avurudu season. The Pamunuwa and Pettah markets last year saw a sea of avurudu shoppers when there was a relative lull in the COVID pandemic, but this year, traders say, they are [...]
Doom and gloom foreshadow avurudu
Lengthy power cuts, fuel shortages and street protests have dampened the Sinhala and Tamil New Year atmosphere as lesser people engaged in shopping while the youth and the elderly were taking part in protests. People expressed distaste over the current situation as most were forced to wait in queues. People have had to focus on [...]
Global wheat price leaps higher, sugar rebounds
Wheat, an essential commodity for many Sri Lanka households, is galloping to new highs in global markets. The latest Food Price Index of the World Food and Agriculture Organisation, shows that the price of wheat in world markets shot up sharply by 19.7% in March. The global index measures monthly change in international prices of [...]
Sacked zoo head changes course after much controversy
The ex-National Zoological Gardens Chief who had resisted pressure to step down but was eventually removed, says she will become an animal rights activist. Shermila Rajapaksha, who had generated controversy since her appointment, was replaced by Dr Thilak Premakantha, a deputy director of the Forestry Department. “They implied that I could work as the director [...]
Welfare group wants freedom for zoo animals
Animal welfare activists have written to wildlife Minister C.B. Ratnayake raising concern about the well being of the animals at the zoo. The letter signed by Justice for Animals and Nature president Dr Omalpe Sobhitha Thera says steps should be taken to improve the quality of life of the animals giving them the freedom to [...]
Returnee refugees start trickling to TN in search of food security
Northern based Sri Lankans numbering around 20 from four families who voluntarily returned from Tamil Nadu after decades of languishing in shelter camps in the south Indian state due to the northern insurgency are considering a return passage as they could not bear the skyrocketing cost of living coupled with surging inflation from the unprecedented [...]
People’s contempt for MPs grows as protests continue on Parliament access road
The growing public anger at their elected representatives filled the air at multiple protests at the entry points to the Parliament complex, while parliament gathered this week to discuss the economic crisis that has heaped untold hardships on the people. On Friday, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse Kelaniya University students who, [...]
No additional security for MPs say police; IGP not doing enough to quell voilence say some Govt. MPs
Police say no additional security has been provided for MPs unless threat assessments have indicated they face specific threats. Security for MPs is provided by the Ministerial Security Division (MSD) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has so far not issued a special circular ordering for the security of MPs to be strengthened, a [...]
Overseas warnings intensify tourism agony in economic calamity
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry is facing a crisis yet again due to economic, political, and social issues that have gained wide attention overseas. Countries have issued advisories requesting travellers to reconsider trips. Australia, Canada, the USA, UK and New Zealand have issued advisories so far, while Singapore and China have urged citizens to exercise caution [...]
Urgent need to look at ‘availability, accessibility and affordability’ of essential drugs
Essential medicines – the shortages and their disastrous repercussions are the focus of the Sunday Times this week even as the COVID-19 pandemic is still around and Sri Lanka does not know what awaits at the next corner with regard to the new coronavirus. “Availability, accessibility and affordability, are the very basics that we need [...]
SLMA on food safety and food security during power outages
Crucially relevant was a recent webinar organised by the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), for it dealt with a searing issue faced by people – food safety and food security when there are power outages. Food safety is the handling, storing and preparation of food to prevent infection and making sure that food has enough [...]
Symptoms of XE recombinant variant
Omicron BA.1 and Omicron BA.2 have got mixed to form the XE recombinant virus variant which has been detected in Mumbai, India, across the Palk Straits. Some of the symptoms of XE include fever, sore throat, scratchy throat, cough and cold, skin irritation and discolouration, gastrointestinal distress etc. In severe cases there could be a [...]
Combing through
With the cost of living high, and people of all walks of life affected, garbage collectors too have been hit hard. The workers say they have resorted to rummaging through the waste, and collecting more recyclable materials to find extra means of income. They rummage through plastic, metal waste, discarded items in search of items [...]
Forest land cleared for papaya plantation, temple claims ownership
Environmental activists allege that over 50 acres of forest land in Paramakanda Reserve has been cleared using backhoes and dozers. The activists alleged that the chief incumbent of the Paramakanda Vihara is engaging in the deforestation activity without approval from the relevant government institutes. Residents of the area also alleged the forest clearing is taking [...]
Life sucked out of aquarium trade
Lengthy power cuts have delivered a death sentence to the aquarium trade, while people who keep ornamental fish as pets in their home tanks for their children have suffered losses, too. Filtration systems and air pumps that are used to oxygenate the water cannot be operated without electricity. Fish need oxygen rich water as well [...]
New Year treats pose possible health risk
Food poisoning could be caused by contaminated food that Sri Lankans buy for the Sinhala-Hindu New Year. Often, infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, cause food poisoning. The risk is greater because shops do not have electricity to safely stock food in freezers. There is also the risk of traditional New Year sweets [...]