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Home » NewsThree days in fuel queue with baby in pram
As the Government grapples with the problems the people undergo due to the country’s worst-ever fuel crisis, this picture brings out one of the many heart-rending stories around the country. A young mother who was taking turns with her husband, an Army doctor, in a Colombo fuel queue for three days had to bring her [...]
Western embassies face closure without fuel
Foreign Ministry blamed for violating Vienna Convention By Raj Moorthy While Sri Lanka is facing its worst-ever fuel crisis, one Western mission in Colombo has warned of a closure in a week due to the shortage of fuel, while others are cutting back on their consular services. A high-ranking diplomat at this Western mission stressed [...]
CPC to receive only three fuel shipments this month
By Damith Wickremasekara The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) will receive only three shipments during this month forcing the government to maintain a tight control of fuel distribution with focus on providing supplies for essential services, a senior official said. A diesel consignment of 40,000MT due between July 11 and15, a crude oil shipment of 35,000MT [...]
Massive stocks of chemical fertiliser coming
Govt. price Rs. 15,000 for 50kg bag, but black market price Rs. 43,000 A 50 kilogram bag of chemical fertiliser is selling at about Rs. 43,000 in the black market. The Agriculture Ministry had earlier proposed to sell the fertiliser at the subsidised price of Rs. 15,000 but farmers’ associations had stated that they would [...]
Jet fuel issue far from being solved; suppliers demand LCs confirmed by international banks
By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka’s jet fuel crisis is still weeks away from a solution despite the Government inviting private sector bunkering companies to import and supply the country’s airports. While the bunkering industry is “trying hard” to procure jet fuel, suppliers demand letters of credit confirmed by first-class international banks. These are not forthcoming, [...]
Fiscal deficit widens; expenditure exceeds revenue by 83% in first four months of this year
In the first four months since January, the government expenditure surpassed government revenue by 83 percent resulting in a fiscal deficit of Rs. 524.1 billion. This is 0.7 percent higher than the Rs. 520.5 billion budget deficit in the same period last year, a Treasury report revealed. The government expenditure increased by 15.2 percent to [...]
PSC backdated Foreign Service minute without legal basis, SC rules
By Namini Wijedasa The Public Service Commission (PSC) had acted without legal basis when it gave retrospective effect to the current service minute of the Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS), published in the Government gazette of December 2016 but backdated to October 2015, the Supreme Court (SC) has observed. But the Court withheld making an [...]
It’s 19A minus minus: Opposition slams 22A as a sham
By Sandun Jayawardana Opposition parties have labelled the draft 22nd Constitutional Amendment as a sham, stating that it does not significantly curtail the powers of the President and is a drastic dilution of the 19th Amendment. Opposition politicians told the Sunday Times that the draft amendment fell far short of what the government had initially [...]
Over 40 vital renewable energy projects held up
The progress of 47 pending renewable energy projects that can add a vital 177MW to the national grid have been held up pending the calculation and review of a guaranteed tariff for the producers, by a committee appointed by the Power and Energy Ministry. A feed-in tariff is designed to support renewable energy development by [...]
US offers Rs 7b more to feed 800,000 children for 15 months
By Kapila Bandara More than 800,000 children and 27,000 pregnant and lactating women in Sri Lanka will get essential nutrition over the next 15 months through US$20 million (Rs 7.16 billion) more funding announced by the United States this week. The funds will go to support a school nutrition program. Farmers are also being supported [...]
Tense situation at fuel station; airman accused of selling tokens
Police, Airforce deny charge, say argument broke out between people in CPC and LIOC queues By Yoshitha Perera An airman overseeing token distribution at an LIOC filling station in Piliyandala had reportedly collected Rs.500 for each token and started a new queue ignoring those who had been waiting in line for days, creating a tense [...]
One of Lanka’s leading legal eagles bids adieu; final rites held yesterday
The final rites of senior President’s counsel Gomin Dayasiri were conducted last evening at the Borella Cemetery in Colombo. Mr Dayasiri passed away on Friday night at the age of 76. A close legal adviser to former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, he appeared in many cases of national significance throughout his lengthy legal career. Notable [...]
CEB’s breakdown services break down
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) authorities have instructed Area Engendering Offices and Breakdown Services Depots to stop services due to lack of fuel to report to work. The move comes after the Government failed to declare providing uninterrupted power as an essential service and fuel station owners and personnel refusing to give fuel to the [...]
50-member Lankan Navy squad take part in mega US military exercise
A 50-member Sri Lanka Navy contingent is taking part in the ‘Rim of the Pacific’ 2022 (RIMPAC 2022) naval exercises in and around Hawaii and Southern California, USA. Navies of 26 countries are also participating in the world’s largest international martime warfare exercises. The largest contingent is from the Republic of Korea (ROK), which sent [...]
The rise of dengue: Public need to keep environment clean
Nearly 36,000 dengue cases have been reported islandwide until June 30. The data available is collected from in – ward patients. “The true numbers may be higher because there are undiagnosed patients,” Dr Anoja Dheerasinghe, Consultant Community Physician of the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) of the Ministry of Health said. A shocking 11, 218 [...]
Peradeniya Uni’s new laboratory to study genetically modified produce
By L B Senaratne A national referral laboratory costing USD 250,000 was opened by Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Professor M. D. Lamawansa. The national referral laboratory is for the study and identification of genetically modified organisms. Professor Lamawansa said that this laboratory would serve the country by educating people on genetically modified [...]
Two soldiers, two airmen arrested over Kandakadu death
By Niranjala Ariyawansha As investigations were underway into the death of a young inmate at the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center at Kandakadu in Polonnaruwa, four persons– two Army sergeants and two Air Force sergeants were arrested over the death, police said. The suspects were due to be produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate yesterday. The Commissioner [...]
Dysfunctional ‘tokens’ for non-existent fuel stirs fury
By Kasun Warakapitiya A dysfunctional ‘token’ idea introduced by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara to provide non-existent diesel and petrol has further raised tensions and caused fights and chaos day and night at filling stations across Sri Lanka. After announcing tokens, Mr Wijesekera flew to Qatar, shopping for fuel, having failed to secure an [...]
Bus and train rides more dangerous and pricey
A double-digit fare increase for public and private buses this week amid the diesel scarcity is making life more perilous for the majority of Sri Lankans. There are fewer and fewer buses and trains. On Friday, 22 trains had been halted. School children have been seen climbing onto the rooftop luggage racks of buses and [...]
CEB’s breakdown services break down
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) authorities have instructed Area Engendering Offices and Breakdown Services Depots to stop services due to lack of fuel to report to work. The move comes after the Government failed to declare providing uninterrupted power as an essential service and fuel station owners and personnel refusing to give fuel to the [...]
Doctors at Badulla hospital find perfect thirst quencher, coconut water
After a tired ward round or an exhausting long surgery, doctors at the Badulla General Hospital have found the perfect thirst quencher, coconut water! Daily, coconut water is collected from the hospital’s kitchen and filled in a clay pot (guruleththuwa) in the doctor’s cafeteria. “Initially about 30 litres of coconut water collected were just discarded. [...]
Tourists endure challenges amid testing time for industry
By Renishka Fernando A trickle of tourists visited Sri Lanka in the first half of the year amid lingering concerns among those in the trade about the economic collapse. Despite the difficulties, some tourists have managed to travel around. Among them was Ms Petty, 49, from Luxembourg. She has marked her 10th visit to Sri [...]
Stocking fuel at home an invitation for a tragedy
By Nadia Fazlulhaq A four-year-old girl lies in a hospital bed at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital with minor burn injuries, unaware that her parents and only sister who she was sleeping with a few days ago are no longer alive. Police suspect the house fire which claimed the lives of three family members in [...]
Diesel, petrol seized by the barrel from shady traders
Scarce fuel is being found stocked illegally by the barrel by opportunists at various locations in the country. The demand for fuel is insatiable and some Sri Lankans are willing to pay asking prices. This has given rise to the underground trade. “The increasing demand for petrol and diesel has resulted in large stocks of [...]
Vegetables and fruits rot at collection points; markets see few customers, vendors
By Sohan Vipulananda The fuel crisis has aggravated the food shortages, with vegetables, fruits, and fish rotting at collection points and economic centres. At the country’s main wholesale and retail vegetable and fruit market, the Manning Market in Peliyagoda, traders said they experienced a drastic drop in the supplies and there were not many vendors [...]
‘Bring in meds needed against heroin dependence’
Strong plea from Psychiatrists & NSACP By Kumudini Hettiarachchi With heroin-dependence among Sri Lankans showing an upward trend due to added external stressors in these troubled times, grave concern is being expressed by doctors that the import of an essential medicine in the management of these patients has been halted. Reiterating that the treatment of [...]
New constitution needed with strong provisions to eradicate corruption and ensure good governance
The Buddhasasana Karyasadhaka Mandalaya writes to President and party leaders The Buddhasasana Karyasadhaka Mandalaya made up of monks and eminent persons has submitted its proposals to the Government and party leaders to be considered in proposed constitutional changes. The Mandalaya noted it is undeniable that the root cause of the present crisis is corruption and [...]
Mirihana protest case: AG now decides to pursue charges against Satha Nalaka
Magistrates remands suspect, says appalled by State’s earlier decision to withdraw charges The Attorney General’s (AG) Department on Friday told the Gangodawila Magistrate’s Court that there was sufficient evidence to pursue investigations against Asantha Nalaka Wijesinghe alias Satha Nalaka alias Arabi Wasantha under the Public Property Act, when the case regarding protests in front of [...]
Red alert weather warning: Heavy monsoon rains and strong winds in several areas
The South West Monsoon is gradually establishing over the country, bringing in its wake heavy winds on the western slope of the island, prompting the Meteorological Department to put some areas under red and amber alerts. The Western, Sabaragamuwa, and Central provinces would experience strong winds of about 50-60kmph while showers or thundershowers may occur [...]
Path to school is paved with perils; chaos in rural areas
By Chrishanthi Christopher The Government’s fuel-saving plan to keep rural schools open while shutting down schools in Colombo and main towns has turned out to be a bad lesson in crisis management, parents and union leaders charge. In rural areas, teachers and children underwent untold hardship trying to get to school on time, with only [...]
Online freelancers shift to safer options due to economic calamity
By Yoshitha Perera Nuwan Amaranath, 31, a designer, has begun freelancing as a photo retoucher online. He is attempting to find more online clients as Sri Lanka’s economy shrinks. More people are reverting to working from home as the government declared a national lockdown. An economic collapse, the fuel scarcity, and crippled public transport have [...]