News
Home » NewsLocal council polls: To be or not to be
Most people are wondering whether the elections for local councils will be held, though the nominations ended yesterday and the Election Commission announced it had fixed the polls date for March 9. Our picture shows candidates checking their name lists at the Puttalam District Secretariat where they handed over their nominations. (Pic by Hiran Priyankara [...]
China offers Sri Lanka support with two-year moratorium on debts
President gets Exim Bank’s letter supporting IMF’s loan programme China yesterday responded to Sri Lanka’s long-standing request for a commitment on rescheduling its debts as a prelude to a bailout by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with an offer for a two-year moratorium, the Sunday Times learns. In a letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe in [...]
Chinese company pushes for elevated highway project, but Ministry Secretary expresses reservations
The Chinese company selected for the construction of the proposed elevated highway from New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya has notified Highways Minister Bandula Gunawardena that it had allocated “substantial resources to get to the current level” and wishes to swiftly implement the project in accordance with its agreement with the Government of Sri Lanka. But [...]
Election Commission fixes March 9 for local polls
The 2023 local government election will take place on Thursday March 9, the Election Commission announced last evening. More than 16.6 million people are eligible to vote at the elections, which are being held to elect 8,711 members to 340 local bodies comprising 24 Municipal Councils, 41 Urban Councils and 275 Pradeshiya Sabhas. The Supreme [...]
Medical bodies say Health Ministry’s new Indian purchases could endanger lives
By Namini Wijedasa Four of Sri Lanka’s most influential medical bodies have sent strong letters of protest against Health Ministry moves to import drugs from locally-unregistered Indian suppliers, saying it violates due legal process and endangers the lives of patients. The Cabinet recently sanctioned a proposal by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to use the Indian [...]
Treasury orders ministries to further reduce budget allocations
By Damith Wickramasekara The Finance Ministry has issued a fresh circular, directing ministries to further slash their budgets by six percent. It was earlier announced that President Ranil Wickremesinghe had directed ministries to reduce their budgetary allocations by five percent. The Treasury, however, has now directed this cut to be increased to six percent. The [...]
China Harbour eyes BIA terminal project abandoned by Japan
By Damith Wickramasekara China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) has expressed interest in completing work on the new passenger terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) after the Japanese pulled out of funding it. The US$ 1bn (Rs 366bn) project, known as the BIA Development Project Phase II Stage 2 (BIADP PII S2), has been suspended [...]
Spotlight on mental health in wake of Racecourse killing
By Nadia Fazlulhaq The murder of a young female undergraduate in broad daylight this week at the Colombo Racecourse premises highlights the alarming increase in homicides in the country and the negative effects of stigmatising mental health illnesses. Suspect Pasindu Chathuranga, a third-year university student was remanded following the killing of the woman, 27, said [...]
Campaign Finance Bill violated RTI Act, Supreme Court rules
The Supreme Court in its ruling on the first-ever Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill criticised a clause that provided for the Elections Commission to preserve returns and declarations on expenditure only for six months and ruled that it was contrary to the Right to Information Act. Further observing that ‘introducing legislation only to regulate the [...]
New regulations rev up oil and gas exploration; four EOIs to be processed
Long-overdue regulations promulgated for oil and gas exploration off Sri Lanka’s shores will allow the Petroleum Development Authority (PDA) to process four pending expressions of interest (EoIs) from international oil companies. Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera this month published regulations to facilitate the invitation of EoIs from investors for joint oil and gas exploration. [...]
ACJU marks 100th anniversary
The All Ceylon Jamiyyath ul-Ulama celebrated its 100th anniversary at the BMICH on Thursday, with its President Ash-Shaikh Mufti M.I.M. Rizvi presiding. The organisation was established to cater to the religious needs of Sri Lankan Muslims. Incorporated in Sri Lanka in 2000 as a civil organisation, it now has 165 branches. President Ranil Wickremesinghe was [...]
Nominations end on peaceful note; battle begins for mini-polls
By Sandun Jayawardana Nominations for this year’s local council elections closed at noon yesterday, with many major political parties coming forward to contest in all or most of the country’s 25 districts. On January 4, the Election Commission called for nominations to elect 8,711 local council members to 340 local bodies comprising 24 Municipal Councils, [...]
Three children killed, bus driver arrested after Radella crash
Forty-two students of Thurstan College, Colombo, were admitted to the Nuwara Eliya Base Hospital after Friday night’s bus-van-three-wheeler collision which also left seven–including three children under the age of 14–dead. Of the students in the hospital, 38 were discharged yesterday as their conditions were not serious, Thurstan College Principal Pramuditha Wickremasinghe told the media. He [...]
Vision of ‘humane healthcare’ for SLMA
Fervent promise from 129th President Dr Vinya Ariyaratne who takes over in turbulent times By Kumudini Hettiarachchi He has taken on the mantle of the oldest medical professional body in Asia and Australasia at a time when multiple crises are impacting not only the health sector but also Sri Lanka. The vision for the 136-year-old [...]
Civil servants, doctors denounce salary delay decision
By Senuli Abeywickrema Two leading public sector professional organisations are up in arms over the decision by the Government to delay the salaries of staff grade workers, citing inadequate revenue to meet expenses. The Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SLASA) and Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) have called for talks with the Government of President [...]
Minister assures rehab law targets only drug offenders, but use of force and militarisation raise alarms
By Tharushi Weerasinghe The Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill that was passed in Parliament earlier this week will be strictly applied to drug offenders only, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. The Bill, originally introduced in September last year, was met with loud public resistance as activists, lawyers, and other stakeholders claimed that the vagueness in its [...]
Vets express concern over dangerous contraceptive for stray dogs
By Kasun Warakapitiya Sri Lanka’s veterinarians have raised concerns over a plan by the Ministry of Health to use a contraceptive recommended for women to control the stray dog population, rather than through sterilisations. The ministry’s Public Health Veterinary Services has requested 50,000 doses of the Depo-Provera contraceptive from the World Health Organization (WHO) to [...]
Face a fine, if you feed elephants on Buttala-Sella Kataragama Road: Officials
Those who feed wild elephants on the Buttala-Sella Kataragama Road will be arrested and fined by courts, officials warn, amidst concern over an increasing number of attacks on vehicles. By Nadia Fazlul-Haq The warning came after social media video clips showed several vehicles on the Buttala-Sella Kataragama Road coming under attack from elephants looking for [...]
‘Don’t drink untested home remedies for dengue, as it leads to unwanted complications’
Doctors decry gulping of papaya-leaf juice, jak water or monara-kudumbiya By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Do not resort to so-called untested solutions to battle dengue, when infected by this mosquito-borne disease, as these could lead to unnecessary complications. These were the strong words of caution from senior doctors treating dengue patients, as case numbers kept rising. “Dengue [...]
Import eggs only from bird-flu-free countries: Experts
By Yoshitha Perera The Animal Production and Health Department is yet to approve the import of eggs from India or Pakistan as both countries have had bird-flu outbreaks in the past six months. While there are no restrictions on egg imports, the supplying country must be free of bird flu for at least six months, [...]
Misdirected funds, misjudged needs
Story and pix by M A Pushpa Kumara State authorities in Sri Lanka love to spend huge sums of money on various projects without even so much as a basic feasibility study. Many of these projects are supposed to help the public in their day-to-day lives and are often declared open with much fanfare once completed. [...]
Workers face severe delays from 30 train suspensions
By Sohan Vipulananda Railway authorities say the lack of staff is the main reason for the suspensions of 30 more services this year causing distress to working people in particular. Locomotive drivers of long-distance trains have been asked to operate trains serving office commuters. Long-distance trains were suspended when the arrival of tourists resumed in [...]
Chinese lunar festival a distant memory in adopted ‘home’
By Senuka Jayakody Some Chinese living in Sri Lanka have scaled down their Lunar New Year celebrations, while others pass up on the festivities. There are others who have returned to China in time for the festival. The chairman of the Lanka China Study in Sri Lanka Abroad Service Centre, Huang Mingjian, also known as [...]
AG raises issue over Additional Magistrate providing food to suspect
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General has requested the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to initiate an inquiry and take appropriate action against Colombo Additional Magistrate Tharanga Mahawatta over her alleged treatment of Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation (IUBF) Convener Galwewa SiridhammaThera. The AG’s letter comes after four senior Police officers provided sworn affidavits to Inspector General of [...]
Uncertainty over power, polls campaigns hover over exams
By Senuka Jayakody Exams authorities are to discuss with the District Secretariats about measures to limit election campaigning during the Advanced Level examinations which begin tomorrow. Commissioner General of the Department of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara, said he had been informed that elections would not be held during the exams. He said he had specially requested [...]
Rice plant diseases likely to destroy 10 percent of Maha harvest
By Yoshitha Perera The Maha paddy harvest could drop by 10 percent due to the yellowing disease affecting rice plants, a senior official from the Department of Agriculture said. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture are now focusing on diseases affecting paddy cultivations, including the yellowing of plants, yellow spot disease, insect [...]
Millers, cultivators oppose paddy purchasing by district and divisional officers
By Senuka Jayakody Rice millers and cultivators, although at odds with each other over the paddy purchase price for Maha season, opposed moves to hand over the paddy purchasing programme to district and divisional secretaries. They insisted it should stay with the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB). Moreover, the Government has said it wants to maintain [...]
Special exam centres for the imprisoned, sick and impaired
Four special examination centres will be set up for the GCE Advanced Level examinations, Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara said. Accordingly, one centre will be set up at the Magazine Prison premises in Colombo for prison candidates, two examination centres in Ratmalana and Tangalle for those with special needs, and another one at the [...]
Farewell Sumitra, icon of Lanka’s silver screen
The funeral of veteran filmmaker Sumitra Peries took place last evening with full state honours at Independence Square in Colombo. She passed away on Thursday at the age of 88. She was the wife of legendary filmmaker Dr. Lester James Peries. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake and [...]