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Home » NewsInstead of the dark, people will now fear the light
With electricity tariffs being hiked to unprecedented levels this month, consumers who will find it difficult to bear the burden have switched to using less electricity. This photograph was captured on Friday evening at a Colombo hair salon, where the proprietor was cutting a customer’s hair with the aid of a single light bulb, having [...]
New date on the cards for local council polls
EC chairman says he will be compelled to reschedule polls if funds don’t come By Damith Wickramasekara The Election Commission will be compelled to reconsider a new date for scheduled local council elections by next week if a solution is not found to the issue of funding, EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa told the Sunday Times. [...]
President tells youth: This is the worst period; but be positive
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said this week that this was the “worst period” the country was coming into but expressed cautious optimism that by mid-year the economic crisis could be stabilised. He said the Government was looking at cushioning the blows of rising food and other prices on the poorer segment of the population with a [...]
No business class travel for top govt. officials
The Presidential Secretariat will shortly issue a circular restricting senior state officials, including the President’s and the Prime Minister’s Secretaries from using business class travel on overseas official trips. Accordingly, several officials who enjoyed the facility so far will have to travel on economy class. Among those who were entitled to the facility were judges [...]
Fishing row: Minister proposes permits for small Indian boats
By S. Rubatheesan A proposal to issue permits for Tamil Nadu-based boats with limited engine capacity for fishing activities in the Palk Strait has been put forward to resolve the longstanding Indo-Lanka fishing dispute, a senior Cabinet minister said. Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda told the Sunday Times that modalities with regard to the proposals such [...]
In the jungle, the mighty jungle, music festival put to sleep
By Tharushi Weerasinghe The Deep Jungle Music Festival, set for this weekend, was cancelled yesterday morning following widespread outcry from activists and people. The controversial music festival was set to feature more than 57 artistes on four stages over the span of 100 hours in an elephant-inhabited forest reserve and buffer zone in Habarana. While [...]
Petition against Health Ministry move to procure meds from private firms
By Namini Wijedasa Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) this week petitioned the Supreme Court against the Health Ministry moves to procure medicines from private companies through unsolicited proposals, bypassing regulatory oversight. The case was filed in the public interest. It names 47 respondents in relation to steps taken by Cabinet, the Health Minister and Ministry [...]
Kumar Nadesan felicitated
The ‘Imagine’ 32nd Rotary District Conference was held yesterday at the Taj Samudra in Colombo under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Photograph shows the President felicitating the Managing Director of Express Newspapers and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Press Institute, Kumar Nadesan, who was recently conferred the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), 2023 [...]
Devotees mark Maha Shivarathri
Hindu devotees are seen last night observing Maha Shivarathri at the Sri Ponnambalam Varnesar Temple at Kotahena. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
Attempts to prevent polls is an unprecedented attack on democracy and the rule of law: BASL
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has expressed deep concern over what it says are recent attempts by State authorities to disrupt the local council elections, which are mandated by law to be held prior to March 19 this year. A statement issued by the BASL emphasised that “elections are a vital part of [...]
Parliament to take up privilege motion against EC
14 SLPP MPs sign motion By Sandun Jayawardana A motion calling for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the Election Commission (EC) over the “incidents of infringement of privileges of the Members of Parliament and of Parliament and to make suitable recommendations in that regard” has been added to Parliament’s order [...]
Selected professionals to pay 5% withholding tax on income earned as service providers
Selected professionals, including doctors, engineers, accountants and lawyers, who provide services as “Independent Service Providers” will have to pay a five percent Withholding Tax (WHT), according to the new tax system now in operation. Issuing a note on the calculation of WHT and Advanced Income Tax (AIT), the Inland Revenue Department categorised the professionals who [...]
President gives ear to ‘voice of youth’ quoted in ST Independence supplement
By Anoushka Jayasuriya and Shannon Salgadoe It was for a frank discussion that President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited a group of young people whose views the Sunday Times had highlighted in its 75th Independence anniversary supplement to meet him at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting at the Presidential Secretariat followed the President quoting [...]
German companies running out of patience, warns German Ambassador
By Namini Wijedasa Two years after restrictions were introduced German companies in Sri Lanka are feeling the pinch of continuing import bans and could consider shifting out, a diplomat warned this week. Sri Lanka has vowed that the prohibitions–meant to stem the outflow of foreign currency amidst an economic crisis and sovereign debt default–are “temporary”. [...]
Beware! A potential criminal could respond to your sale ad
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Do not invite strangers into your homes without verifying their identities first. This is the advice being given to those who advertise their homes or cars for sale or rent. This follows the arrest of a 27-year-old who stole a car after locking up the owner, a magistrate. The owner had advertised [...]
EU supports 41,000 small-scale paddy farmers to adopt sustainable ways
By Kapila Bandara In keeping with EU’s development cooperation, the EU has allocated 4 million euros (Rs 1.5bn) in grants for fertilisers, seeds, and training for 41,000 farmers in the Polonnaruwa, Badulla, Ampara, and Hambantota districts. The grant will support the most vulnerable farmers, in particular, those cultivating lands of up to 0.5 hectares. The [...]
Need to move from ‘best care’ to ‘best possible care’
Newly-inducted CCP President urges physicians Sri Lanka’s health system is in dire crisis and this is what got the full attention of the doctors serving the masses across the country. Setting the right tone recently, the newly-inducted President of the Ceylon College of Physicians (CCP), Dr. Duminda Munidasa told the eminent gathering that “our dedicated [...]
Assaulted tuition master dies of injuries and aggravated heart condition
By Jayanie Madawala A young tuition master beaten up by three teenagers, after he offered advice to them, passed away due to the assault and an aggravated heart condition, a postmortem has revealed. He was a resident of the Welipenna Police area of the Kalutara district. The deceased was identified as Ranga Viraj Jayasinghe, who [...]
Prices tick higher after yet another power bill revision
By Kasun Warakapitiya The second electricity tariff increase in six months has set off price increases in food and beverage and services. Within hours of the revision, eateries raised the price of a packet of rice and curry by Rs 50, and kottu by Rs 30. Snacks and iced drinks now cost more. Operators [...]
Public bodies try pruning costs to remain viable
By Senuka Jayakody State institutions are cutting back on day-to-day expenditure, projects and services in line with a directive from the Finance Ministry. A circular issued on January 27 by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies, demanded that recurrent provisions appropriated for 2023 be reduced by a minimum of 6%. The Minister [...]
Applause for new police guidelines on trans people
But prominent same-sex rights activist says other sexual minorities left out of Police circular By Nadia Fazlulhaq The recent move by the Police to introduce guidelines when dealing with transgender people is a positive step say experts, while urging authorities to expedite laws that decriminalise same-sex relationships. “Opinions have been expressed that the Police, have, [...]
People need to have total confidence in the judiciary, says new SC Judge
By Ranjith Padmasiri It is imperative not only to hold judicial office with high integrity, but to encourage people to believe it is a judiciary in which they can have total confidence, said newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Fernando, at the ceremonial sitting held to welcome him this week. Speaking from his experience as [...]
Gampola bank ATM raid key player nabbed
By Chris Kamalendran A suspect, who masterminded 27 robberies including that of jewellery shops, pawning centres, and rural banks, has been arrested after he had led a team to remove an ATM machine from a private bank in Gampola. The breakthrough came less than a month after tracking telephone calls between the suspects and a [...]
New circular on admissions to intermediary classes
A new circular on admissions to intermediary classes in schools will be issued before the commencement of the next school term on March 27, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said. He added that under the new circular, students will be enlisted consistent with the number of vacancies in the respective schools. The admission of students to [...]