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It was cricket lovely cricket for President Ranil Wickremesinghe and his Royal College mates as the College team moves towards a massive victory against their traditional rival S. Thomas in the Battle of the Blues at the SSC Grounds last evening. The President wearing a hat and sporting a hearty laugh was in a delightful [...]
Dollar crisis is over: Central Bank
Governor says IMF bailout package will be approved tomorrow, and first tranche coming on Tuesday By Bandula Sirimanna “The dollar crisis is over,” insists Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, following a bouncy ride for the Sri Lanka rupee, gaining and then easing against the US dollar during the past two weeks. In an exclusive interview [...]
Foreign travel allowance to be slashed from tomorrow
By Damith Wickremasekara The overseas allowance for ministers, parliamentarians and senior officials will be slashed from tomorrow on a directive from the President’s Office. The Finance Ministry has been directed by the President’s Office to reduce the payment of allowance and the number of days they would be entitled to claim the allowance. All travel [...]
Meta permits medicine appeal for Lanka despite violation of rules
A decision by Meta to leave a Facebook post asking for donations of pharmaceutical drugs to Sri Lanka during the economic crisis last year has been upheld by an independent oversight body despite the violation of Meta’s community standard that prohibits content asking for medication. The ‘Oversight Board’ makes content-moderation decisions related to Meta’s social [...]
All tax payments go electronic from April 1
By Senuka Jayakody Electronic methods are to be made compulsory for the payment of personal taxes to the Inland Revenue Department from April 1. To give effect to the decision, an amendment to the Inland Revenue Act has been introduced by the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies. According to the amendment, a [...]
Fertiliser distribution: World Bank’s digital oversight process undermined by sluggish officers
By Namini Wijedasa A digital tool introduced by the World Bank (WB) to strengthen accountability in fertiliser distribution after it allocated US$ 110mn to buy emergency stocks last year has got off to a patchy start with Agrarian Service (Govijan Seva) Centres being sluggish to adopt the technology. By December 2022, the WB had disbursed [...]
All set to start ferry service between KKS and Tamil Nadu, says minister
By Chris Kamalendran A passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai (KKS), Jaffna and Tamil Nadu in India will be launched by the end of next month, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Sunday Times. He said that Sri Lanka would only be facilitating the ferry service and it would be handled [...]
CEB restructuring lacks transparency, unions allege
Govt. proposals include selling shares, PPP and privatisation By Niranjala Ariyawansha As part of its plans to restructure the Ceylon Electricity Board, the Government is studying several proposals ranging from selling shares of more than 18 institutions in the stock market and forging public-private partnerships (PPP) to converting them to private limited companies, trade unions [...]
Cabinet approves CEB tender bid to provide uninterrupted electricity to south
By Namini Wijedasa Cabinet granted approval for the Ceylon Electricity Board to call tenders for 100mw of emergency power from independent producers to ensure uninterrupted supply to the southern region. CEB General Manager Rohan Seneviratne said the contract would be for just four months and that emergency power might not even be needed if the [...]
EC writes to President; seeks funds to pay OT, holiday payments and salaries for pensioners
The Election Commission has sought Rs 60 million for overtime payment for its employees who were involved in preparations for the local council elections, which are now set to be further postponed. In addition to OT payments, the EC has requested funds for holiday payments for staff officers (Rs 12.8 million), salaries for pensioners who [...]
Zahran’s widow released on bail two days after court order
Fathima Hadiya, the widow of Easter Sunday terror attack mastermind Zahran Hashim, was granted bail by the Kalumai High court on Wedneday, after nearly four years in custody, abut she was released only on Friday after a battle by her legal team. Kalmunai High Court Judge Jayaram Trotsky released the suspect on a cash bail [...]
New circular spells out expenditure cuts for SOEs
In a further tightening of state finances, the Finance Ministry has issued a fresh circular to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) which are not financed through the Government Budget, to cut down recurrent expenditure by 6% in the approved annual Budget 2023. The circular will apply to commercial corporations, statutory boards, and government-owned companies. The cuts to [...]
Clinical training for private students: Committee meets tomorrow to identify state hospitals
By Nadia Fazlulhaq The Committee appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to identify suitable government hospitals which could provide clinical training for medical students of the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Lyceum Campus and other private universities will meet for the first time tomorrow. Committee Chairperson and Health State Minister Dr. Seetha Arambepola told the Sunday Timesthat [...]
Sri Lanka Air Force flies high with CSR initiatives for 72nd anniversary
By our Seeduwa correspondent A string of community service projects was implemented by the Sri Lanka Air Force to mark its 72nd anniversary. The projects were launched on the instructions of Air Force Commander Sudarshana Pathirana, and Community Service Responsibility (CSR) projects were implemented by all Air Force bases and stations in the country, with labour [...]
Pera University willing to help develop Kandy town
By L.B. Senaratne The University of Peradeniya does not come under the purview of the Kandy Municipal Council, said the university’s vice chancellor Prof. M. D. Lamawansa. He made this statement recently at a meeting with local authorities who sought his advice on how the university could contribute to the development of the Kandy area. [...]
In bustling Pettah, high prices scare customers away
Despite rupee’s slight appreciation, people see no reduction in prices of most essential items, except for bread But Finance State Minister says cost of living will come down within a month, blames unfair trading for price hikes By Sandun Jayawardana It’s Friday afternoon and Pettah is bustling. There are shoppers around but only one enters K. Pradeepraj’s shop when [...]
Strike makes a dent amid claims and counterclaims
By Senuka Jayakody S. Shyamani, 61, a resident of an elderly home, arrived at Colombo National Hospital at 6. 30 a.m. only to find out that doctors and healthcare workers are on strike. She has an infection in her leg and had to return to Mattakkuliya in a three-wheeler and feared that she may not [...]
Tourism yearns for high-spending visitors
By Renishka Fernando Sunny beaches, lush green forests and mountains offering breathtaking views have long been among the many natural attractions of Sri Lanka. The hospitality of Sri Lankan people, the rich flavour of our food and the timelessness of our art have also been drawcards. too. As of March this year, more than 270,000 [...]
To strike or not to strike, professionals’ decision hinges on outcome of talks with President
By Kasun Warakapitiya Professionals agitating for a reduction of taxes on their salaries say they will decide on whether to continue their strike, depending on the outcome of their talks with President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday or Wednesday. The Professionals’ Trade Union Alliance met with Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake on Friday to discuss the issues [...]
Schoolboy transforms regular mountain bicycle into e-bike
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe A school student has done an amazing job of transforming a mountain bicycle into an electric bicycle. Two years ago, Ayesha Mangala Dissanayake, who studies at Anamaduwa Middle School, modified the mountain bike that was gifted by his parents eight years ago to run on electricity in a creative [...]
Bakers allowed to import liquid eggs
By Senuka Jayakody Sri Lanka will import liquid eggs, while a cargo of eggs from India had been delayed. The Cabinet has approved imports of liquid products by bakery owners. Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation chairman Asiri Walisundara said imports from India have been delayed because Indian Government labs had not done the required tests. [...]
No cause for panic, all health measures in place – DG
Only 1 death from listeriosis confirmed in Sri Pada area; 2 more being investigated but unlikely to be due to same bacterium By Kumudini Hettiarachchi “Do not panic,” a top level health official said, assuring that prompt measures have been taken to investigate all aspects of the three deaths with a link to the Sri [...]
Dengue patients exceed 17,200, containment hampered by lack of resources
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Residents of Gampaha and Colombo districts are being advised to be extra vigilant in the coming weeks as dengue, which claimed about 70 lives last year, is raising its ugly head again. Public health authorities say there is a shortage of chemicals for fogging and that fuel is not available for fogging [...]
Contractors await resumption of long-delayed state projects
By Minaza Hassan Incomplete projects that were abandoned due to the economic crisis’ adverse impact on the construction industry will be reviewed and steps will be taken to complete them, while finding ways to pay outstanding dues, the Construction Industry Revitalisation Committee has decided. The committee held another round of talks on Thursday. The Government [...]
Builders explore ways to keep costs low
“More than 600,000 have lost their jobs and most in the industry do not earn enough to cover their cost of living,” said Supun Abeysekara, secretary of the Labour Community of the Construction Industry. Rising borrowing rates and price fluctuations make it incredibly difficult for contractors to take on projects, or to follow through, he [...]
Turtle boom on the southern coasts
By Malaka Rodrigo This year, the southern coasts of Sri Lanka saw a resurgence of turtles coming to nest. The birth of rare leatherback turtles in a protected area of the Matara beach this week was the high point of this phenomenon. From a clutch of about 80 eggs, 45 baby leatherback hatchlings emerged and [...]
Many a mile to sell their goods
Story and pix by Hiran Priyankara With many people facing economic hardship, some have opted to become mobile vendors. One such group in Puttalam have resorted to selling cane and other handmade items on motor bikes. The merchants said they engaged in the new method of selling as their primary livelihood since they have found a [...]
Risks from crocs higher during mating season
By Malaka Rodrigo Piladuwa is a hamlet in Matara close to where the famous poet ‘Gajaman Nona’ lived. Piladuwa ela flows through the village and crocodiles inhabit this stream. This stream links with the Nilwala River, so occasionally, oversized crocs have been observed. One such giant croc had been seen for several days and the [...]
Human-elephant conflict: Wildlife Dept launches awareness programme
The Wildlife Conservation Department has launched a house-to-house programme to educate villagers and officers of regional government institutions in areas affected by the human-elephant conflict (HEC). The programme is being conducted in the North Central, Central, Uva, North Western and Northern Provinces, according to a statement issued by the department. The awareness programme is being [...]
Saving paddy for a rainy day
Farmers have resorted to drying and storing paddy at their residences expecting to sell it at a later time when paddy prices are high. As paddy cultivated during the Maha season is being harvested, paddy prices have gone down. Farmers complained that a control price of Rs 100 per kilo of paddy is insufficient and [...]