News

The UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Colombo yesterday rejected Government accusations against its head, Sir John Holmes, and declared he had made no frivolous charges.“There is no factual evidence to prove his (Mr. Holmes) statement to be incorrect,” OCHA’s Colombo chief Valentin Gatzinski told The Sunday Times. In an interview with Reuters news agency Sir Holmes, UN’s aid chief, declared that Sri Lanka was among the most dangerous places on earth for humanitarian workers.

Udawalawe set on fire: Project flops

Suspected arsonists set fire to a section of the Udawalawe National park early yesterday for the third time in little over a month destroying about hundred acres before it was brought under complete control by around noon, Park Warden Dhammika Pebotuwa said the fire in the Mau Ara area of the park was detected by a mobile patrol around 3 a.m.

UNP threatens not to repay huge govt. loans

The US$500 million bond issue the Central Bank is raising from commercial banks to fund infrastructure investments for which foreign aid has been already pledged has prompted the United National Party (UNP) to plan an unusual course of action. A party spokesman said they plan to write next week to HSBC, JP Morgan and Barclays, the three joint lead managers of the commercial loan raising, questioning their collusion in corrupt activities of this Government.