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Home » NewsNo poaching but peace for Kachchativu feast
This is not Indian fishermen poaching or bottom-trawling in Sri Lanka’s waters but joining Sri Lankan fishermen and Catholic devotees to take part in the Kachchativu feast of St. Anthony’s. They are seen leaving the island after the Holy Mass and other festivities ended yesterday. Pic by Eshan Fernando (See story inside and Editorial)
All clear for IMF bailout package
First tranche by end March or early April after President’s talks with IMF chief By Damith Wickremasekara The Government is on the cusp of clinching a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), senior officials said yesterday expecting a US dollars 300 million first tranche by the end of the month, or at least reaching [...]
Local council polls delay leaves more than 3,000 public servants jobless
The Election Commission (EC) is unable to offer relief to more than 3000 public servants contesting the local council elections and who are now in severe financial distress owing to uncertainty over the polls date. In line with the election law, the employees have taken no-pay leave from their workplaces to contest the upcoming election [...]
More than 100 state bodies to be closed down
The Government will be winding up or transferring the powers of more than 100 commissions, agencies and advisory boards, after revelations that their services were not needed or could be performed by existing institutions. The Salaries and Cadres Commission among them would be closed down from March 31 and its functions taken over by the [...]
President supports Russia’s ‘unsolicited’ 100Mw nuclear power plant
By Senuka Jayakody President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given advice to collaborate with India to set up a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka following an “unsolicited” proposal from Russia. The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, chairman Prof. S. R. D. Rosa, told the Sunday Times Russia had presented a proposal to the previous Government. The [...]
Police find stolen iPhone using app
By Shane Seneviratne A three-wheel driver who stole an iPhone from an Italian tourist was sentenced to two years imprisonment suspended for ten years and fined Rs. 1,500 by Kandy’s Chief Magistrate Srinith Wijesekera. The mobile phone was recovered from the driver and handed over to the foreigner. The court was told the tourist and [...]
Lankan institutions trade in Indian rupees
Sri Lankan banks and institutions have begun trading in Indian currencies, according to a recent seminar hosted by the Indian High Commission in Colombo. The seminar was organised to discuss the use of Indian Rupee (INR) for economic transactions between India and Sri Lanka. Representatives from the Bank of Ceylon, State Bank of India and [...]
NJC says implementing 13A will open “Pandora’s Box”
The National Joint Committee (NJC) has written to President Ranil Wickremesinghe voicing concern over his intention to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. In its letter to Mr. Wickremesinghe, the NJC cautioned him against implementing such a decision, which would amount to opening a “Pandora’s Box.” It also pointed out that the mahanayake [...]
Feeding dogs within Vihara Maha Devi Park to be banned
By Tharushi Weerasinghe The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will be going ahead with the decision to ban feeding of dogs inside the Vihara Maha Devi Park. Despite suggestions by experts within the CMC, the Park management will begin implementing a complete ban on feeding within any part of the park with verbal warnings being given [...]
Woman allegedly throws infant in shrimp tank after argument with husband
By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe A mother had reportedly thrown her one-and- a-half year-old child into a shrimp tank in the Udappuwa area to take revenge on her husband following a dispute. A worker, however, managed to rescue the child, police said. The wife of a labourer working in the shrimp farm in Kattakaduwa, Uduppuwa, had [...]
Wildlife day marked with turtles
To mark World Wildlife day on Friday, the Wildlife Department released turtle hatchlings at Galle Face. Earlier in the day a seminar on turtle conservation was also held. Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
All state institutions are mandated by Constitution to facilitate election work: SJB counsel
SC issues interim orders directing Finance Ministry and AG not to withhold funds to EC and Govt. Printer By Ranjith Padmasiri The Supreme Court on Friday issued an interim order preventing the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General from withholding funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the local government elections. [...]
MPs’ assets declarations: Release the list of names, Court of Appeal orders Parliament
Bench affirms priority of RTI Act over Declaration of Assets and Liability Law By Ranjith Padmasiri Emphasising the constitutional nature of the Right to Information introduced by the 19th Amendment, the Court of Appeal held on Tuesday that the Right to Information Law (2016) prevails over the Declarations of Assets and Liabilities Law (1975), affirming [...]
5 more SC petitions against move to buy medicine directly from Indian firms
By Namini Wijedasa Five people have petitioned the Supreme Court against Health Ministry moves to procure medicines from private Indian companies through unsolicited proposals, bypassing regulatory oversight. This is the second case filed in the public interest before the apex Court on the same subject. Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has also challenged the role [...]
Court orders army to produce three former LTTE cadres who surrendered in Mullaitivu
The Sri Lanka Army has been ordered to produce in court before March 22 three former LTTE cadres who had surrendered to the Mullaitivu army camp in the last stages of the war in May 2009. The order was delivered by the High Court of Vavuniya following three writs of habeas corpus (you have the [...]
Prayers and friendships renewed as pilgrims from here and across the Straits come to Kachchativu
S. Rubatheesan reporting from Kachchativu The island is an uninhabited one located just a few nautical miles away from the International Marine Boundary Line (IMBL) of Sri Lanka’s territorial waters. Facing the Indian Ocean from the coast is the statue of St Anthony’s holding a cross. Behind the statue is the newly built shrine that [...]
Informal talks on fishing dispute end inconclusively
Informal talks held in Kachchativu on illegal bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in Sri Lanka’s waters ended inconclusively on Friday with Sri Lanka’s northern fishermen sticking to their position that they would not agree with illegal fishing that threatened their livelihood. The talks chaired by Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda on the sidelines of the annual [...]
Ayurveda Dept. raises alarm over cannabis-infused chocolate in the market
By Jayani Madawala The detection of a cannabis-infused chocolate product touted as an aphrodisiac among young couples ahead of Valentine’s Day last month has prompted the Ayurveda Department to raise an alarm. The Ayurveda Department’s Supervision Chief Dr. P. Tharanga said the cannabis-infused chocolate had been produced by a local ayurvedic drug manufacturing company targeting [...]
Uma Oya Project to open soon; around 120Mw of electricity for National Grid
The Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is nearing completion and there is a possibility the project will be opened in June, Irrigation State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said. State Minister Ranasinghe accompanied by project officials visited the project sites recently. According to officials, 97 per cent of the project has now been completed and in the [...]
CodeGen Innovations becomes the First Offshore Registered Office in Sri Lanka’s Port City Colombo
CodeGen Innovations, part of the CodeGen Group, a leading technology solutions provider, with offices spanning Europe, Asia and the Middle East has achieved a noteworthy milestone by registering an office in the Port City Colombo, making it the first Sri Lankan offshore company with a global reach to establish itself in the country’s most exclusive [...]
Better after-care for cancer patients
Text and Pix By L.B. Senaratne Dr. Shiamala Nadesan Cancer Welfare Foundation was launched recently. This cancer welfare foundation was launched by professionals for patients to have proper after care during their recovery process. Deans of the medicine, dental sciences and veterinary medicine faculties, professors who are in active service or retired from the Peradeniya [...]
New cost-efficient and eco-friendly method for road construction
By Senuka jayakody A pilot project to introduce a low-cost road construction method will begin soon. Road Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Chaminda Athuluwage said they are searching for a low-cost method to maintain Sri Lanka’s existing road system. Accordingly, they have considered a proposal to use a special powder instead of an ABC base–which is [...]
High profile speakers, experts to attend National Law Conference
The National Law Conference 2023 on the theme “Navigating through Crisis: The Law’s Role” is set to take place on March 12 and 13 at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo. The conference will feature several high-profile speakers, including Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya and United States Ambassador Julie Chung. The conference is being chaired by [...]
Unions ready for intense protests on taxes and livelihood issues
By Kasun Warakapitiya Trade unions will meet in the next few days to decide on extending their protest campaigns amid mixed reactions among its membership and calls by the Government not to disrupt services. Trade unions this week held a string of protests campaigns including at lunch hour. Some stayed away from work. Some wore [...]
Reforming unsustainable pension set to raise heat
By Nadia Fazlulhaq A proposed contributory pension scheme could revolutionise the state sector, experts say. But, strong opposition has already emerged from unions. This week, the Cabinet approved the “national contributory pension fund” for new state-sector workers and those who have been recruited after January 2016. “The legal draftsman has been asked to prepare the [...]
Bird flu scrambles egg imports from India
Strict checks to be conducted in India and Sri Lanka; Poultry Farmers Association leader says Sri Lanka could export poultry products By Senuka Jayakody There will be a further delay in importing eggs from India as the eggs are being subjected to micro-biological tests to prevent the spread of bird flu. A State Trading Corporation senior [...]
After three days, lost leopard cub reunites with mother
By Malaka Rodrigo February 26 was just another day in Yullifield Estate in Hatton, when a worker in the Erroll division stepped into the toilet in his small backyard. He got the shock of his life on seeing a leopard cub inside. The estate management informed the Department of Wildlife Conservation’s (DWC) regional office of [...]
Moves to protect wild animals while preventing crop damage
Farmers Association chief calls for enrichment of forest areas so animals will stay and look for food there By Kasun Warakapitiya Amid a growing dispute involving wildlife conservation, the cultivation rights and lives of people, the Presidential Secretariat called a meeting between the Wildlife and Agriculture Ministries on Tuesday, to discuss agricultural damage caused by [...]
Botanical garden draws visitors
Pix and text by Indika Handuwala With tourist arrivals on the increase, some of locations have been drawing visitors in large numbers in recent weeks. The overall revenue figures too have been increasing with tourism earnings surging to US$ 162 million in January 2023 – an increase of 28 per cent from December 2022. The [...]
All important, but little-known seagrass get their Day
By Malaka Rodrigo The world marked the first Seagrass Day on March 1, following Sri Lanka’s proposal at the |UN last year, to declare a special day to raise awareness about this little recognised but important coastal habitat. The main event in Sri Lanka was organised by the Environment Ministry followed by a workshop on [...]
Friend-in-Need Society gets new limb manufacturing workshop
The artificial modular limb manufacturing workshop of the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society (CFINS) was declared open by High Commissioner of Canada in Sri Lanka Eric Walsh on Friday. Ms Valerie Oullette, Second Secretary (Political), in-charge of the Canadian Funds for Local Initiatives (CFLI) for Sri Lanka was also present. The CFLI has provided funds to purchase [...]
Remembering Wariyapola Sumangala thera
Text and pix by L. B. Senaratne Students of Wariyapola Sumangala College in Kandy did not forget to offer alms at the Sri Dalada Maligawa, in memory of Wariyapola Sumangala thera–in whose name their school was established. Wariyapola Sumangala thera was one of the freedom fighters who tried to hide the Sacred Tooth Relic, to [...]