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Although there is no declaration of a final victory over COVID-19 and health officials have warned of a surge in the number of cases, this picture captured at the Galle Face Green yesterday confirms that most Sri Lankans appear to have ditched health guidelines and dropped their guard against the deadly virus which has claimed [...]
No retirement parties at state expense for public-sector officials
By Damith Wickremasekara The Treasury has banned the conduct of parties and functions at state expenses to mark the retirement of public sector officials. The move came after reports that some of the senior public sector employees including secretaries and heads of state-owned enterprises were planning to have functions, some of them at five-star hotels [...]
Increase in covid cases, but no plans to impose restrictions
By Nadia fazlulhaq The COVID-19 virus has made a resurgence in recent weeks claiming eight lives this week amidst a fast-spreading influenza virus. But health authorities will not impose any preventive regulations, including moves to restrict the arrival of foreigners in view of much-anticipated tourist arrivals in the coming weeks, officials said. Health Services Deputy [...]
CC may begin work with minimum quorum
Delays in appointing remaining five positions By Damith Wickramasekara The Government is considering beginning functions of the Constitutional Council (CC) with the minimum quorum of five members amid delays in filling the remaining five positions. The Speaker, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are ex-officio members of the CC. President Ranil Wickremesinghe [...]
Marked surge in visit-visa human trafficking to Oman, UAE
By Namini Wijedasa “Visit visa trafficking or smuggling” of Sri Lankans to West Asia has exploded in numbers, with around 95 percent of aspiring women migrant workers now travelling under that visa category to Oman alone. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat, the Omani capital, is among the missions that have urgently flagged the [...]
Teachers’ saree storm forces Govt. to revoke dress circular
The Government has decided to revoke the circular allowing public officers to report to work wearing “appropriate and modest attire”, following the controversy over some teachers coming to school in casual attire. Speaking during yesterday’s budget debate, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said a decision had been taken to revoke the Public Administration Ministry circular issued [...]
COP27: Loss-and-damage fund victory undermined by fossil-fuel omission
Tharushi Weerasinghe reporting from Sharm El-Sheikh After 30 years of negotiations, and a close call at being a failed summit, countries gathered at the COP27 climate conference reached a compromise on a loss and damage fund. The final draft sent negotiators into overtime with developed countries resisting the establishment of the fund while developing [...]
231,982 first time O/L students qualify to follow A/L; no plans to identify top 10
By Yoshitha Perera Almost 75 percent of students who sat the GCE Ordinary Level examination for the first time this year have qualified to follow the GCE Advanced Level and those who have a minimum of five passes can join A/L classes even if they have failed in mathematics, Examinations Commissioner General L.M.D. Dharmasena said. [...]
SC instructs IGP to form committee to create guidelines on inquiries
The Supreme Court (SC) issued an interim order directing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to establish a committee to formulate a regulatory framework regarding the conduct of inquiries into disputes. A two-judge bench comprising Justices Yasantha Kodagoda PC and Shiran Gooneratne ordered the IGP that the committee should comprise senior Police officers, nominees of [...]
Magistrate dismisses private plaint against top police officers
Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage gave an order on Friday, dismissing a private plaint filed against Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Roshan Dias and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nalin Diruk over the disruption of a protest march in Colombo. On November 8, State Counsel Shaminda Wickrema appearing for the Attorney General (AG) strongly objected to [...]
X-Press Pearl disaster: Blame-game rages over delay in rapid response
MEPA rebuffs vessel reps’ allegation that Lankan authorities were too slow to tackle the disaster Distribution of third round of compensation completed, but questions over rupee payment instead of dollars By Sandun Jayawardana Delays by the port authorities in taking action during the five-day window between the start of the fire onboard the X-Press Pearl [...]
So far only 2 cases of monkeypox detected
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Of 15 samples tested for monkeypox in the past three months, only two have been positive, a Medical Virologist told the Sunday Times this week. Consultant Medical Virologist Dr. Jude Jayamaha of the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo, said that a majority of the suspect samples were from the Western Province. They [...]
Spotlight on the need for compassionate surgeons
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Those who wield the scalpels moved away from their operating theatres to gather in their numbers at their elegant ‘home’ in the heart of Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7. While other professional medical associations hold their academic sessions in hotels, the members of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka (CSSL) packed into [...]
Female domestic workers are ‘Kaeli’ or pieces for labour attachés in Lanka’s West Asian missions
Most SLBFE officers posted abroad are alleged to be hand in glove with agencies and racketeers Repeated recommendations made by missions in labour-receiving countries to MFA fallen on deaf ears, say diplomatic sources By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka’s embassies have repeatedly warned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and other authorities of glaring shortcomings [...]
Human trafficking: US report highlights Lanka’s failures
The Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is the US Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign administrations on human trafficking. This year, Sri Lanka is ranked as Tier 2. It, therefore, shares space with countries that do not fully comply with the minimum standards “but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with [...]
Majority of members didn’t accept payment to draft new Constitution says former Secretary
Right of reply Unfortunate that a ‘holistic’ Constitution has been ignored The Secretary of the Romesh de Silva Committee that was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to draft a new Constitution for Sri Lanka has responded to the Sunday Times news item in its issue of November 13 on the front page titled ‘Millions spent [...]
Estate unions pitch Rs 3,000 daily wage
By Sadisha Saparamadu Amid complaints that the budget has not offered relief to the estate workers, their daily wage issue is yet to be resolved. Beside, the fertiliser crisis, the unbearable cost of living, and malnutrition are also impacting them. Leading trade unions are calling for solutions. The Nuwara Eliya District has the highest rate [...]
Sailors turn protectors of coral reef
The SL Navy is engaged in protecting the coral reef at the Sand Bay Trincomalee. This rehabilitation programme includes replanting coral in an extent of about 500 meters in the sea according to SL Navy Commander Rasika Dissanayake . Under this same programme a fish breeding project started in 2017 with financial assistance from Tokyo [...]
16 Days of Activism against GBV: Urgent need to mitigate issue in online spaces
By Yoshitha Perera One of the most common human rights violations in the world is violence against women and girls, which affects females in all economic, social and national spheres. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence annual international campaign began on November 25, the International Day to End Violence against Women. The United [...]
Bounty hunters causing untold damage
By Senuka Jayakody Treasure hunting, which is shrouded in myth and history, remains widespread in Sri Lanka. The Department of Archaeology Director General Prof. Anura Manatunga blames local exorcists for perpetuating myths about buried treasure. Treasure hunts are also driven by the money to be made from artefacts, he said. “Their religion is money. They [...]
Stationery industry reeling under high costs
Students, parents hit hard by skyrocketting prices of exercise books, ballpoint pens Stationery store owners in a dilemma SPC to print around 11 million exercise books and sell them at subsidised prices next year By Yoshitha Perera As the economic crisis continues to rumble, schoolchildren are currently paying the highest ever prices for exercise books [...]
Protagonists far apart in school dress tussle
By Jayanie Madawala The dispute over dress code for school teachers still remains unresolved and unions insist that teachers should be given the same freedom allowed to other public sector employees. The Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, and the Education Ministry, have so far not resolved the dispute. Both [...]
Habitual offenders face driving bans under ‘demerit’ scheme
By Sohan Vipulananda Drivers of vehicles who regularly break the road rules will face suspensions and the prospect of restarting the lengthy process of getting a licence all over again once ‘demerit points’ are introduced next year. Committing an offence will mean that the driving licence holder will be allocated demerit points for that particular [...]
France offers Rs 190m to fund nutritious food for 9,000 families
By Kapila Bandara About 9,000 Sri Lankan families facing a dramatic increase in food insecurity in the country are expected to benefit from nutritious food for a year in a programme funded by France with a contribution of 500,000 euros (Rs 190.3 million) to the United Nations World Food Programme. A basket of food worth [...]
Pick of the Pix
From our readers Shutterbugs out there, we would once again appreciate your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph, to: pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk. We would also appreciate if you mention the camera or cellphone that was used.
Second-hand bookshops and their pre-loved treasures drawing more people
Skyrocketing prices of printing material and increased prices of newly printed books have come as a blessing in disguise to this handful of businessmen. Second-hand bookshops along former McCallum Road (D R Wijewardene Mawatha) are seeing an increase in customers. “We are getting many customers looking for second-hand international school books, and in general second-hand [...]