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Home » NewsInternational fraud: 39 Chinese suspects held
Police yesterday took into custody 39 Chinese on charges of hacking the bank accounts of several people around the world and embezzling money. They were arrested after a raid on a tourist resort in Aluthgama. See story on Page 6. Pic by Thusitha Kumara de Silva
US$ 750mn World Bank loan delayed: Samurdhi recipient list not verified
Government hopes to complete document by April 10 By Damith Wickremasekara A US$ 750 million loan from the World Bank has been delayed as verification of welfare beneficiaries has not been completed, among other pre-requisites, the Sunday Times learns. The verification of the beneficiaries was due to be completed by Friday, March 31, but has [...]
Cabinet approval sought to suspend land acquisition for elevated expressway
The Highways Ministry is to seek Cabinet approval next week to suspend land acquisition for the proposed elevated expressway from New Kelani Bridge (NKB) to Athurugiriya—a project for which China Habour Engineering Company Ltd (CHEC) had been identified—as it starts pulling out of high-cost infrastructure construction citing lack of funds. While the proposed roadway was [...]
Black-flag ban in hospitals
By Senuka Jayakody The Ministry of Health has banned the display of black flags in state hospitals and medical institutions. In a circular, the ministry has said the display of black flags can endanger the mental condition of patients and the staff. The ministry points out that it has been observed that some trade union [...]
Female judges and lawyers can now come to court in skirts and trousers
Female judges and lawyers will be permitted to wear skirts and blouses or trousers to court in the future. The new dress attire has been put in place with the amendments to the Supreme Court rules gazetted this week. Accordingly, black trousers with a white blouse and black coat and shoes or a black skirt [...]
In response to SC order, Police Chief issues guidelines to prevent encounter deaths
By Ranjith Padmasiri Police Chief Chandana Wickramaratne has issued a circular, giving guidelines for police to avoid so-called “encounter deaths” of suspects while in police custody. Among the new guidelines is a requirement that a police officer be assigned to video record any instance where a suspect in custody is taken out of a police [...]
Roadside vendors are back for Avurudu season
Permission has been granted by the Transport and Highways Ministry for roadside sellers to sell their wares on either side of the roads from yesterday in lieu of the upcoming season. This will be in effect until April 18 on roads that come under the Highway Development Authority as long as it does not inconvenience [...]
Ferry service on course to begin, once Indian Shipping Ministry clearance is given
By Chris Kamalendran The ferry service between Kankesanthurai Port and Karaikal Port in Tamil Nadu will start as scheduled on April 29. The groundwork for the project had been laid and was now near completion, Niranjan Nandakopan, Chairperson of the Indsri Ferry Service Pvt. Ltd. told the Sunday Times. The Sri Lanka Navy is currently [...]
Anyone can protest, but not disrupt law an order: President tells security forces
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday declared that no one is entitled to engage in violent protests on the streets, but all political parties and people have the right to express their opinions or criticise him in a peaceful manner. The president in a special address to the security forces at the Air Force base in Anuradhapura [...]
39 Chinese arrested for allegedly embezzling money; bank accounts hacked
By Thusitha Kumara de Silva Thirty-nine Chinese were arrested yesterday by the Aluthgama Police on allegations of embezzling money from the bank accounts of people living in different countries. The raid came after several embassies tipped off the police that a group suspected of embezzling money by hacking their bank accounts were staying at a tourist [...]
Deaths of notable personalities this week
Veteran musician Prof Sanath Nandasiri leaves life’s stage The funeral of veteran musician and Chancellor of the University of Visual and Performing Arts, Emeritus Professor Sanath Nandasiri took place yesterday (April 1) at the General Cemetery in Borella. The remains were first taken to the University of Visual and Performing Arts last morning from his [...]
Former Speaker Joseph Michael’s funeral today
The funeral of former Speaker of Parliament Joseph Michael Perera takes place this evening (Sunday) at the Ekala Cemetery. Cortege leaves residence at Gama Meda Road, Tudella at 3 pm and will be at the Roman Catholic Church at Tudella before being taken for burial. Born on September 15, 1941, Joseph Michael Perera was the [...]
Irreplaceable Kalansuriya bids farewell
Veteran film actor Amarasiri Kalansuriya passed away last morning (April 1) at his residence in Ja-Ela at the age of 82. Popularly known as Kalan, he appeared in Lankan cinema, theatre and television. He made his film debut alongside Vijaya Kumaratunga in Sugathapala Senarath Yapa’s Hanthane Kathawa. He was awarded the Sarasaviya Award for Best [...]
The National Hydrographic Bill to be presented in Parliament to earn revenue from sale of maps
By Damith Wickramasekara A new bill which will pave the way for Sri Lanka to earn at least Rs.1 billion a year from the sale of hydrographic maps to ships entering Sri Lankan waters is to be presented to Parliament next month. The National Hydrographic Bill that will be presented to Parliament in May will [...]
Negative travel advisories give wrong impression to Germans
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) is carrying out programmes to attract more German tourists in the wake of adverse advisories and negative reports about the country. There is a probability of getting more tourists from Germany, SLTDA Chairman Priyantha Fernando said. He said even if a demand was created, they had identified a [...]
Two students killed after jeep topples during big match vehicle parade
Pix and text by Palitha Ariyawansha Two students of Dharmadutha College in Badulla were killed and eight others were injured when their jeep toppled during a vehicle parade yesterday, Badulla Police officers said. Two of the injured students are in a critical condition. The vehicle parade was being held on the second day of the [...]
With the reduction of fuel prices people hope costs of essential goods and services will fall
Dambulla Economic Centre Trade Association Chief says when demand for vegetables increase, prices also will increase Three wheel drivers reduce fares, but appeal for fuel quota to be increased to more than five litres for a week By Senuka Jayakody With the reduction of fuel prices, peoples’ expectations are running high that benefits will come [...]
Wake up call for importance of safety gear as 2 CMC workers die working on sewer line
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Health and safety experts have stressed the importance of using safety gear during any work related to sewage/drain lines and any other underground maintenance work. This week, two Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) workers died after they were involved in work related to connecting a new sewerage line in Kotahena area. One worker [...]
Agri tourism blooms in Sigiriya village
The new addition to Sri Lanka’s accelerated tourism drive is agriculture tourism. Tourists are now can see, feel and taste Sri Lankan agriculture under the theme “Agri Tours and Safari”. The pilot project, launched in collaboration with the Central Province Tourism Ministry, is being tried out in Sigiriya. It includes one or two-day-long tours during [...]
Non-explosive times
Story and pix by M A Pushpa Kumara Kimbulapitiya village is 27km from Colombo. The village has been famous for decades for manufacturing fireworks, or crackers. There are some big cracker manufacturing companies in this village, and every single house in the area makes crackers for a living. In these houses the whole family gets [...]
Alarm over surge in homicides; experts call for crime-control measures
By Chris Kamalendran A young hotelier was outside his establishment at Midigama in Ahangama on Wednesday night. A group arrived in a mini-van and one of them opened fire. Hotel owner Pasindu Sandaruwan, 32, was seriously injured and rushed to Matara Hospital. He succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. The Special Task Force (STF) team [...]
200 die in 2022: Railways run out of steam to stop track tragedies
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Failure in the strict implementation of trespass laws, faulty signals, unmanned level crossings, an unnecessarily high number of level crossings, and public negligence led to about 200 train-accident-related deaths last year, according to officials. However, recent tragedies on tracks indicate that very few corrective measures are being taken. This week, a 16-year-old [...]
Authorities sniff victory in war against drug mafia
Say close coordination and intel sharing among local and foreign agencies yield results By Sandun Jayawardana Better intelligence sharing and coordination among local and foreign agencies have helped law enforcement authorities to gain the upper hand in recent times against narcotics smugglers and traffickers, claim agencies involved in drug busts. Given that most of the narcotics [...]
Lanka’s first heart-lung transplant: 18-hour surgical marathon and trailblazing mission
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The nail-biting tension had been palpable within Colombo’s premier National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). Now the trailblazing mission is done and the recipient of the first heart-lung transplant is in recovery. It was an 18-hour surgical marathon by a joint Indian-Sri Lankan team begun at 8.30 a.m. on March 23 (Thursday) [...]
No-go zone within Yala to protect its first black beauty
Safari drivers demand access to the spot where black leopard cub was spotted, says their presence protects animals from poachers By Kasun Warakapitiya A special security arrangement is being implemented to protect the juvenile black leopard spotted in Yala National Park, a senior Wildlife Department official said. He said a wildlife team would head to the location [...]
Asela trees in full bloom at Peradeniya university
It is a sight to behold and the time of year that these trees are in full bloom at the University of Peradeniya. Pix by L.B. Senaratne
Nuwara Eliya Spring Festival in full swing
Pix and text by Shelton Hettiarachchi The 2023 Nuwara Eliya Spring Festival (Wasantha Uthsawaya) was launched yesterday. The event was launched at the Gregory Lake Park in Nuwara Eliya, with musical performances by school children and members of the armed forces. Central Province Chief Secretary Gamini Rajaratne was the event’s chief guest. Nuwara Eliya District [...]
If you see a fluffy ball of feathers fallen somewhere, give it some TLC
By Malaka Rodrigo Monday, March 27, was the first day of a brand new school term for 5-A students of Sujatha Vidyalaya, in Matara and students rushed early to school But they were not the first to step into the freshly painted classroom. A pair of fluffy baby birds who were in a nest on [...]