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With police using water cannons to disperse protesters across the country, a newly imported armoured water-cannon truck that was transported to Colombo on the Southern Expressway on Friday under heavy security after it was cleared from the Hambantota harbour sparked fears that the Government was taking tough measures under the emergency regulations. However, Special Task [...]
Protesters face arrest if they disrupt normalcy
People engaging in protests in a manner that disrupts normalcy or turns violent will face arrest under the state of emergency declared by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Public Security Ministry Secretary Major General (retd) Jagath Alwis told the Sunday Times. He said incidents where protesters block main roads for several hours, as had been seen in [...]
SJB and partners to support national programme based on BASL proposals
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and its coalition partners have said they were prepared to extend support for a national programme to resolve the prevailing crisis. The SJB said that based on the series of proposals presented by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) they would support the national progamme. SJB General Secretary Ranjith [...]
Govt. to use Indian credit line to buy gas
The Government is planning to import domestic gas from India for the first time in an attempt to end the prevailing shortage. Trade Minister Shehan Semasinghe called a meeting with the chairpersons and senior officials of Litro and Laugfs Gas this week to discuss the gas shortage. The Sunday Times learns that Litro officials told [...]
Premier Rajapaksa to meet SLPP MPs, local councillors tomorrow
Prime Minster Mahinda Rajapaksa will meet Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MPs and local council members tomorrow to announce the party’s position on the call for him to step down from the Prime Minister’s post, party sources said. Party General Secretary Sagala Kariyawasam confirmed that a meeting was scheduled to discuss the future action of [...]
Open Accounts Payment methods suspended; importers in quandary
Importing goods under credit through an existing mechanism called Open Account Payment Terms is to be put on hold until further notice to ensure payment settlements are made via legal channels, according to a new circular issued by the General Treasury. Under the new system, importers need to obtain an endorsement on the Commercial Invoice [...]
Protests erupt in several places after gas supplies failed to arrive
Fuel and gas shortages have triggered several protests in Colombo and outstation ciites yesterday, holding up traffic for several hours. At Armour Street in Colombo, one such protest was continuing past midnight blocking the Colombo-Negombo route and forcing motorists to use other routes. The protesters said they resorted to such action after they had waited [...]
Middle Eastern couple remanded over jewellery theft in Kegalle
Officers of the Kegalle Police crimes division took quick actions to arrest a foreign couple of Jordanian and Egyptian origin on a complaint from a jewellery shop Kegalle about the loss of gold jewellery from their establishment. Kegalle Crimes Division Chief Inspector Bandara and a team of officers arrested the couple while they were staying [...]
Gang attacks jeep of Mahason Balakaya leader and family in Lewella
A jeep similar to that used by the Police was damaged while the head of the controversial ‘Mahason Balakaya’ Amith Weerasinghe and his family members were travelling near Kandy. The vehicle was reportedly attacked by a gang who had given chase to the jeep following a dispute which occurred in the Kandy town last Thursday. [...]
Fort Police apply for court order to clear access to Presidential Secretariat
The Fort Police on Friday filed an application at the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court seeking an order for protesters at Galle Face Green to clear the access to the Presidential Secretariat and keep it free of obstruction. The police report filed with the application emphasises the right of citizens to freedom of speech, expression, peaceful [...]
Presidential powers to be curbed under 21st Amendment
Under the 21st Amendment, Presidential powers will be stripped off significantly, he/she will be held accountable to the Parliament, and made to act based on the advice of the Prime Minister, according to the Private Member bill submitted by Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara. “The President shall always, except as otherwise [...]
India, Pakistan must brace for even worse heatwaves
PARIS, May 7, (AFP) – The devastating heatwave that gripped India and Pakistan over the last two months is unprecedented, but worse — perhaps far worse — is on the horizon as climate change continues apace, top climate scientists told AFP. Even without additional global warming South Asia is, statistically speaking, ripe for a “big [...]
The sordid story of Krrish case; Hambantota Hospital, Airbus deals and a ghost Italian
Why did a Singapore-based company registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) collect millions of Euros and hundreds of thousands of dollars between August and October 2012 from three foreign entities and how did these payments get channeled into Sri Lanka? Who did they go to? These questions were raised anew this week in Sri [...]
Street anger boils, unions and the West denounce emergency
Unionists condemned police violence against peaceful protesters near the Parliament complex and the late night emergency proclamation, and vowed to continue their struggle to free the country from Rajapaksa rule, following the success of the country-wide hartal on Friday, which drew widespread support from the masses. Large-scale protests involving the masses, and state and private [...]
Changing landscape of protest sites adds more muscle to protests
The anti-government protest at Galle Face has been going on for a month and protestors still crowd the now-infamous “GotaGo Gama” on a daily basis. Donations are still flowing in and people were seen lining up for food. The barricade in front of the Presidential Secretariat has now become a makeshift stage for impassioned speakers [...]
Indian fishermen pay the price: Many seized bottom trawlers sent back as scrap metal
More than one hundred Indian bottom trawlers that were auctioned after being seized by the Navy in the past are ready to be shipped back as scrap metal to where they came from – India. In February, around 217 Indian bottom trawlers were auctioned. Among them, 130 trawlers were not in a condition to be [...]
COPE: Attempts to gradually deregulate state-owned Litro Gas failed
The report submitted by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) on the statutory audit conducted by the Auditor General on Litro Gas Lanka Limited (LGLL) and Litro Gas Terminal Lanka (Private) Limited (LGTLL) can be considered as an example of how an attempt to gradually deregulate the control of a state owned enterprise failed, the [...]
Ranil: Govt.’s priority should be resolving economic crisis
Former Prime Minister and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on the Government to place its top priority on resolving the ongoing economic crisis and warned that a delay would make the recovery difficult. “If the issue of resolving the economic crisis is delayed it would take longer time for the recovery,” [...]
Freedoms in peril when journalists are silenced
An event to mark the World Press Freedom Day organized by UNESCO New Delhi and the delegation of European Union (EU) for Sri Lanka and Maldives and Sri Lanka was held in partnership with Sri Lanka Press institute this week in Colombo. The European Union Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, Denis Chaibi; the Director [...]
Baby dreams turn into a nightmare
Many newlyweds are putting off their hopes of having children because baby products have become unaffordable and unavailable. Import restrictions are partly responsible for the shortage of items. Baby soap, cotton balls, disposable nappies, and diapers are among items that have become prohibitively expensive. Those who are preparing for the big day are no longer [...]
Warning of dengue epidemic: Dollar crisis, fuel issues stall control programmes
Sri Lankans are being warned of a dengue epidemic, with prevention work in disarray due to the dollar crisis and fuel shortages, officials said. “The present dollar crisis and fuel shortages have severely affected dengue-control programmes conducted at local government level. Medical officers of health (MOH) do not have sufficient fuel for vehicles and fogging [...]
Constructors’ fear being shaken to the foundation
The Government’s decision last week to halt all ongoing construction projects will result in massive financial losses to the industry, deprivation of tax revenue to the state, and large-scale unemployment, industry sources warned. It is estimated that more than a million working on government projects across the country will lose jobs. The National Construction Association [...]
Thundershowers forecast for late May
Thunderstorms are forecast for the Western and Southwestern parts during the day and evenings. The Department of Meteorology Department said also Sri Lanka will experience westerly winds accompanied by rains. Director General Athula Karunanayake said the prevailing showers are due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the east of Sri Lanka. He said the Southwest [...]
LRH updates list of evolving needs, warns donors of middlemen
An appeal to donors for help to provide assistance to purchase medicines for the Lady Ridgeway Hospital in Colombo has drawn many responses, but they have called to focus more on the essential items. Deputy Director of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Dr Santhusitha Senapathi said that they need more vital items such as specific medicines [...]
EU happy to be a ‘vector of communication’ for people to debate what is good and what is useful for Sri Lankan society
The European Union (EU) feels that a political solution to the prevailing economic crisis is essential for Sri Lanka to bring stability needed for discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and to be credible in the eyes of creditors to ensure efficient debt restructuring, EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Denis Chaibi [...]
Endangered 800kg giant manta ray, worth ‘more alive than dead’
It is a difficult time for everyone, so the fishermen of the boat ‘Sehansa’ that left Mirissa harbour on May 1, prayed for a good catch. The ocean deity Poseidon would have heard their prayers. They hauled in a giant manta ray and sold it for Rs 170,000. To offload the 800 kilogram fish, they [...]
Graphic tales
After a lapse of three years, pandal makers are finally getting an opportunity this Vesak to showcase their creations once more. The past three years have taken a heavy toll on these artistes, with first the Easter Sunday attacks and then the Covid-19 pandemic preventing them from exhibiting their creations. Many have struggled under mountains [...]
Reports of low quality petrol adding to motorists’ woes
The lack of fuel and reports of low quality petrol being pumped at sheds are causing concern among motorists. The damage incurred, allegedly due to the pumping of low quality petrol, has forced vehicle owners to take their vehicles for repairs and replace parts. These issues have increased maintenance costs for vehicles. “We are getting [...]
High risk category people advised to take fourth dose of Covid vaccine
The fourth dose (2nd booster) of the vaccine against COVID-19 will be rolled out next week, the Health Ministry has decided. “The Pfizer 4th dose will be administered at all Medical Officer of Health (MOH) offices and major hospitals,” said the Deputy Director-General (Public Health Services I), Dr. S.M. Arnold. He advised especially those in [...]