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Home » NewsProtesters shoot themselves
Protesting university students appeared to be having a fun time by taking selfies and photographs, perhaps to share them on the social media. The pictures were taken while an armoured water cannon riot control truck stands by to control any unlawful or unruly behaviour. Pic by Akila Jayawardena
New local council polls date also in balance
EC chairman says fresh dates for postal votes need to be announced if Treasury does not give Rs 500mn by Wednesday Government Printer also has no money for polls-related printing jobs By Damith Wickremasekara The new date of April 25 announced by the Elections Commission for the local council elections is again in the balance [...]
Central Bank to auction Rs. 300bn in Treasury bills and bonds from tomorrow
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), amidst lower tax revenue and rising government spending, is offering an unusually large sum of Rs 300 billion in both Treasury bills and bonds at two auctions next week. The record amount of raising funds through the issuance of both Treasury bills and bonds came in the wake [...]
No sense in maintaining ‘cents’, so out they may go
The Government tabled a new Central Bank Act in Parliament this week to make it more independent and one of the provisions in the proposed law is an option to do away with cents as a currency unit. The draft bill states that the country’s currency will be the Sri Lanka rupee, which shall be [...]
Public servants may get extra allowance
The Government will consider providing an additional allowance for public sector employees in the fourth quarter of this year following an assessment of the economic situation in consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the Sunday Times. He said that after six months, with the restructuring program also in [...]
Govt. vows to maintain essential services during strikes
By Senuka Jayakody A string of strikes by trade unions have been organised for the coming week, but the government has vowed it will maintain essential services during those days. Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said their Central Committee held a meeting on Friday and decided to launch a strike tomorrow [...]
Twin evils of poverty and poor health
Chilling disclosure of ‘health following a social gradient’ by expert at CSTH’s Clinical Society sessions By Kumudini Hettiarachchi It was a home and home event within the busy Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH), Kalubowila, on Friday, with a few experts drawn from outside. What the hundreds of people seeking treatment and care here did not [...]
Ban pushes cosmetics trade into the shadows
By Nadia Fazlulhaq A severe shortage of cosmetics caused by months-long import restrictions has opened the door to informal and illegal channels for these products. This week the navy seized 680 packs of cosmetic products and 2,930 bars of soaps inside two dinghies in an operation in the coastal waters of Mohoththuwaram, Kalpitiya. The cosmetics [...]
Standard of care suffers from choosing to prioritise surgeries
By Nathara Abeywickrema Following the directive from Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella that non-essential and non-urgent surgeries in hospitals be delayed amid the lack of thousands of surgical items and hundreds of essential medicines, doctors are at cross-purposes about the directive. Sri Lanka imports about 80 percent of its medical supplies and it does not have [...]
Bar expresses “grave concern” over critical statements on ongoing SC case
The Executive Committee of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday expressed its “grave concern” at the recent statements made referring to an ongoing case in the Supreme Court pertaining to the local councils elections. The Committee states that BASL is of the view that recent statements made critical of an interim order of [...]
SC interim order: Privilege question referred to Speaker
The question of privilege raised by SLPP MP Premanath C. Dolawatte regarding the Supreme Court’s interim order on the Treasury Secretary has been referred by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to Parliament’s Committee on Ethics and Privileges. Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapake confirmed yesterday that the matter has been referred to the Committee. Former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa [...]
CAA officials, police probe mystery of smelly broken eggs in reserve
By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Over hundred thousand broken, spoiled eggs dumped into a Walapalawa forest reserve had been detected by the Puttalam District office of the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA). CAA officials said that they searched the area within the reserve after residents complained that a large number of eggs had been dumped there. The [...]
New offences and higher fines to be included in Animal Welfare Bill
Abandoning animals and willfully depriving them of food and water are some of the proposed new offences By Nathara Abeywickrema New offences and enhanced fines are to be included in the Animal Welfare Bill, which is yet to be introduced replacing a century-old law. The draft bill has been delayed for a number of reasons even though [...]
Campaigning continues for control of local councils irrespective of uncertainty of polls date
EC announces April 25 as election day, but parties and candidates say a lot can change between now and then By Sandun Jayawardana Amidst uncertainty over the fate of the local council elections, political parties and candidates say they are continuing with their electoral campaigns, though they concede that the failure to hold the polls [...]
Jaffna Uni action contrary to law: University Services Appeals Board rules
The decision by the University of Jaffna to issue a “severe warning” to a senior academic for complaining to the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding alleged irregularities in the process of promoting another academic to the post of Professor was contrary to law and should be withdrawn, the University Services Appeals Board (USAB) ruled. The [...]
EIA green light for Adani wind power plants
India’s Adani Green Energy Limited, which secured approval recently to set up two wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn at a total investment of USD 442 million, was given the green light with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) clearing it of “any significant adverse environmental impacts of marine resources.” The EIA report compiled by [...]
Royal, Thurstan school boys caught up in battle between Police and protesters
Teacher unions condemn Police violence, and complain to the Human Rights Commission By Kasun Warakapitiya Protest campaigns during busy hours on streets, including areas near schools and other populated places, have left children and others in a vulnerable position. This week, a string of protests in populated areas such as Reid Avenue near Colombo University [...]
Rs. 27m spent for teargas to quell Aragalaya and other protesters in 3 months last year
Victims say they have suffered long-term coughs, phlegm, irritation of the throat, and in some cases, asthma By Tharushi Weerasinghe “It feels like fire is crawling inside your throat and eyes, seeping into your skin with a sting that can’t be wiped away because your hands are burning, too. If there’s a crowd, running isn’t an [...]
Mother and father of abandoned train baby arrested, baby in good health, says hospital director
By Palitha Ariyawansha An unmarried couple who had abandoned a 13-day-old infant in the toilet of an express train was arrested by police yesterday. Police said they used CCTV footage at the Fort railway station to locate the couple who had left the infant in the“Meenagaya” train bound to Batticaloa. Police said the 25-year-old father [...]
More family tragedies arising from desperate struggle to live
By Senuka Jayakody Desperate mothers pushed to the edge due to household and personal pressures, trying to take their own lives and that of their children over the past few weeks has been causing concern. A sociologist has suggested community-based monitoring. There is no support from the state to intervene or to prevent possible tragedies. [...]
Samurdhi runs into survey hurdle
By Kasun Warakapitiya Collecting information related to Samurdhi recipients has been delayed because some public sector employees have refused to do a survey citing legislation they say will hold them responsible for inaccurate data that people may give. About 15,000 Samurdhi Development Officers, Grama Sevakas, economic development officers and management assistants, have backed out. However, [...]
SL police team head to Madagascar to bring back Harak Kata and others
A Police team left Sri Lanka yesterday to Madagascar to bring back five wanted underworld gangsters. The five including Harak Kata, Kudu Salindu and Tharindu, were arrested by Madagascar police earlier this week. The police team included two Assistant Superintendents and two Chief Inspectors, police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa told the Sunday Times. Nandun Chintaka alias [...]
Former Maharagama UC Chair threatens to hold protest over unusable public toilets
Despite being opened more than four months ago, the toilet complex still has no water supply A row has broken out over the failure of the Maharagama Urban Council to provide water for the Maharagama town’s rebuilt public toilet complex. The complex continues to remain without water more than four months after being opened to the [...]
Five gold smugglers detained at BIA
Five people, including an Indian, were detected trying to smuggle gold to Mumbai, a spokesman for Customs said yesterday. Customs officials detained the suspects while they were attempting to smuggle 10.5 kgs of gold through the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Gold prices go down, but not many have been rushing to buy
By Chris Kamalendran Despite a slump in gold prices, people have not been rushing to buy jewellery items, gold traders said yesterday. After reaching a peak early this month, prices started to drop this week with a sovereign (22 carats) selling at Rs 142,000. According to the available statistics, from August 2019 onwards, prices began [...]
SLSI: Locally canned fish being sold without certification
The Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) has stressed the importance of carrying the SLS certification on locally manufactured canned fish products. In a media release the SLSI said it has been brought to their attention that many locally-canned fish products were being sold without SLS certification. The public are asked to complain to the Consumer [...]
Let the peaceful crocs be, say wildlife conservation officials
Senior Wildlife Conservation Department officials say there is no need to remove crocodiles residing in Colombo city. They said this at the Colombo district environmental meeting held on Wednesday. One senior official who attended the meeting said if no problems were caused by the reptiles, there was no need to remove them from their natural [...]
Northern fishermen denounce baits that promote mid-sea violence
Say India and Sri Lanka should hold immediate talks to find lasting solution to longstanding fishing dispute By S. Rubatheesan Rather than issuing statements that instigate violence at mid-sea between fisher folks across the Palk Strait, both India and Sri Lanka should intervene immediately to resolve the longstanding fishing dispute considering the livelihood of fishermen, say [...]
Indians and locals gather for St Anthony’s feast on Kachchativu Island
After three years, St Anthony’s feast was held at Kachchativu Island with the participation of 5,000 devotees from both India and Sri Lanka. The feast, usually held annually, was halted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. This year it was held with full splendour and the increased participation of both locals and Indians. Last [...]
Chugging along memory track as he hits the rails for one last time
Pix and text by Palitha Ariyawansha It was an emotional moment for locomotive driver Cyril Sugathadasa as he did his last trip after 38 years of chugging along. As Badulla Station Master Nivanga Weligama and his staff looked on Mr Sugathadasa, bowed down in respect before the engine of the goods train from Badulla to [...]
Turtles return to nest on Colombo’s shores in rare event
By Kasun Warakapitiya Olive Ridley turtles have been coming ashore at a stretch of naturally formed beach near Galle Face to lay eggs. The Open University’s senior zoology lecturer, Dr Saminda Fernando, said the sighting of the species, Lepidochelys olivacea, had dropped during the construction of the port city when sand was dredged. But now [...]
Lanka hails historic UN deal to protect high seas resources
Benefits to be shared in a free and equitable manner By Malaka Rodrigo The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and each country is given the right to manage an area of oceans extending 200 nautical miles (about 370km) from the shore which is known as the ‘Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)’. [...]
Swarms of butterflies bring a flutter to the hearts of nature lovers
Butterfly enthusiasts were in for a treat recently when kaleidoscope of butterflies were witnessed in several parts of the country. In the past it was quite common to see swarms of butterfly traversing in one direction and people would look at this phenomenon and say they were heading on a pilgrimage to Sri Pada (Adam’s [...]
Taking care of Ella’s pooches
Story and Pix by Prasad Rukmal Two foreigners – one from Hong Kong and another from the UK – who fell in love with Ella after several visits to the country, have now stepped in to take care of its stray dogs. Dharithi Doyel Dawson (28), born in Sri Lanka and currently residing in Hong [...]
Multi-storey building unstable: Court orders tenants to vacate immediately
The Fort Magistrate Court has issued an order to the tenants of a multi-storey building in the Fort area to vacate the premises as it was unstable. The order follows a request by the Police. The Police had cited reports from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) and the Civil Engineering Department of the Moratuwa [...]
Carpenters see electricity tariff hike as nail in furniture industry’s coffin
By Rekaha Tharanagani Fonseka Sri Lanka’s carpenters say the recent electricity tariff hike is like a nail in the coffin of the country’s furniture industry, and call on the government to provide them with some relief. Carpenters in Sri Lanka’s furniture capital, Moratuwa, say their craft is no more hand-tool-driven. They use electric tools to make [...]
Neglected art
Residents of Alawatura village in Bulathkohupitiya raise concerns over the preservation of the Alawatura Ganegoda Viharaya, as the temple, and its wall paintings, are under threat of being destroyed. They say that the temple, which is not inhabited by any monk, has become a den for treasure hunters and has not been subjected to preservation [...]