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While the Government is challenged by food security issues for increasing numbers of the population, it has also to cater to the cuisine of tourists bringing in the foreign exchange. President Ranil Wickremesinghe who faces the twin dilemmas is seen at the Culinary Art Food Expo (CAFÉ) at the BMICH on Friday. It showcased the [...]
Supreme Court to take tough action against ragging
Vice chancellors and Police Chief directed to submit reports on ragging incidents during the past three years By Ranjith Padmasiri the Supreme Court has directed universities and the Inspector General of Police to submit separate reports on incidents of ragging and investigations into reported cases in the past three years. The directive was given during the [...]
Import restrictions lifted on 243 items
Import restrictions have been lifted with immediate effect on a range of construction industry products, ceramic and bathroom items, non-alcoholic beverages, materials used for carpentry, digital storage disks, wristwatches, and plastic furniture. Accordingly, import restrictions imposed earlier this year on some 243 varieties of items which also include kitchenware products were reversed in keeping up [...]
President’s House, office, and Temple Trees to be moved out to Kotte
Other Colombo buildings to be leased out to investors By Damith Wickremasekara The President’s House, the Secretariat, and the Prime Minister’s official residence Temple Trees have been earmarked to be moved out of Colombo city to Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and may be kept open only as a tourist attraction. Urban Development Authority (UDA) Director General [...]
Colossal increase in public debt
During the first three months of this year, the country’s total public debt increased by USD 6.853 billion due to domestic borrowing by the government compared to the end of last year, an analysis report from the Treasury said. According to the Quarterly Debt Bulletin report issued by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and [...]
Long-running dispute behind attack on student at top Kandy school
By Shane Seneviratne A long-standing dispute between two factions of students of a leading school in Kandy had been the reason behind the inhuman assault on a student within the school premises during the G.C.E ordinary level examination this week, police investigations have revealed. The student who was sitting the exam at St Anthony’s College [...]
Navy marks World Ocean day with mangrove project
Coinciding with the World Oceans Day, the Sri Lanka Navy this week, launched a mangrove planting initiative in the lagoon area of Panama. The event was held under the patronage of Deputy Area Commander, Southeastern Naval Commodore Ruwan Rupasena. The World Oceans Day (June of this year was celebrated under the theme ‘Planet Ocean: Tides [...]
An infant, 17-year-old boy die in two separate accidents, 29 injured
An infant and a 17-year-old boy were killed in two separate bus accidents on the Mahiyanganaya – Kandy road and in Badureliya yesterday while at least 29 persons were injured, police said. A private bus which was returning with a group of pilgrims from the Bibile area ran off the road as the driver lost [...]
Reception to mark Israel at 75
Israel’s ambassador Naor Gilon held a reception in Colombo on Monday to mark his country’s 75th anniversary of independence. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is seen having a conversation with Mr. Gilon (right). Pic by Indika Handuwala
“Wan shang hao”: Big shock awaited Li as he was wheeled into SriLankan flight
The passengers due to board a SriLankan Airlines UL 884 flight from Colombo to Guangzhou were being readied. Those with disabilities had been moved into the aircraft. One of them was in a wheelchair and wore sunglasses. As he was wheeled in, he was taken into custody. The passenger was Li Pan. Those who arrested [...]
SACTD: Education Minister assures steps being taken to retain UNESCO recognistion
By Nadia Fazulhaq The Education Ministry has sent proposals to funding agencies to provide monetary support to a UNESCO-recognised institution here to avoid losing that recognition, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said. Earlier, The Sunday Times revealed that the South Asian Centre for Teacher Development (SACTD) established in Meepe nine years ago was at risk of [...]
CEB revises tariffs to give leeway to groups that consume less electricity
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) electricity tariff revision proposed for the July to December period of this year has suggested reductions for hotels, and the three lower consumption blocks of the domestic sector and religious institutions. The proposed tariff revision is currently under review. According to a CEB spokesperson, the revisions were suggested in anticipation [...]
President will be brought within scope of new law: 74-page SC determination on the draft Anti-Corruption Bill
By Namini Wijedasa The President will be brought within the scope of a sweeping new anti-corruption law under an amendment that the Attorney General’s Department undertook to the Supreme Court (SC) to include in the committee stage. This was revealed in the 74-page SC determination on the draft Anti-Corruption Bill delivered this week by a [...]
Dalada Maligawa celebrates World Environment Day
An event for World Environment Day on June 5, was organised by the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Schoolchildren, parents and other invitees such as Dambana tribe chief Uruwarige Wannila Aththo attended the event. The celebrations were held at the Maligawa’s Maha Maluwa, and were organised by Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela and the temple’s Media and [...]
Open day at Pera University on July 1
The Peradeniya University has declared the first of next month as an “Open Day”. Accordingly the university has issued an open invitation to anyone interested to visit the campus to get to know about the workings of the university’s various faculties, departments and laboratories. The guests are also invited to take part in the activities [...]
11 students at Peradeniya university suspended over ragging incident
The Board of Discipline of the University of Peradeniya has suspended 11 undergraduates of the university in connection with the ragging of freshers of the Faculty of Management. In the course of the investigation it was alleged that the freshers were taken to a hall of residence and forced to eat rice, that was not [...]
Ponnambalam awaits probe outcome before he takes legal action against his arrest
After raising a breach of Parliamentary privilege in the House this week, Jaffna district Parliamentarian Gejendrakumar Ponnamablam is awaiting three separate bodies to conclude their probes into an incident involving two police officers in civvies, before he considers further legal action against his arrest which he claims is “illegal and arbitrary”. A Magisterial inquiry, a [...]
Police preemptive action is jammed as gun violence soars
Questions over poor crime intelligence gathering by law enforcement authorities Rivalry among drug gangs a prime reason for alarming rise in shooting incidents Widespread availability of firearms a major concern; Public Security Minister questioned in Parliament By Sandun Jayawardana A spate of deadly shootings over the past few months has claimed 19 lives and [...]
Drownings take a toll on lifesavers and rescuers
Drowning deaths are preventable and plenty of efforts are made to raise awareness and warn people, but the deaths are rising while law-and-order bodies and volunteers of international and local non-profit groups that intervene are feeling the strain. In the year to May, 148 bodies of people who drowned have been recovered, according to Sri [...]
Burglars are watching your house, preying on possessions
By Nadia Fazlulhaq K. N. Deen and his family are still in shock after a break-in at their home while they slept in their residence on Schofield Place, Colombo 03, despite a burglar alarm. They lost valuables including expensive watches, a diamond studded ring, and cash left in an almirah. A week has passed and [...]
Two youngsters face tragic deaths from unfortunate accidents
Two young girls faced untimely deaths this week from head injuries due to freak accidents. One of the deaths took place on Monday, when a three-year-old girl who was playing with two others, was critically injured after a bed railing which was slanted over a wall, fell on top of her and injured her head. [...]
Plastic pollution: YZA hits out at lip service by authorities and green washing by corporates
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi and Dilushi Wijesinghe Plastic was the critical focus of the Young Zoologists’ Association (YZA) this week as Sri Lanka paid lip service to World Environment Day on June 5 and World Ocean Day on June 8. Four critical areas where Sri Lanka could have made major inroads to doing away with plastic [...]
Bread to be the consumer watchdog’s responsibility
By Kasun Warakapitiya Laws related to bread are to be brought under the consumer products and services regulator. The Trade Ministry said the archaic Bread Ordinance will be cancelled and laws and regulations related to the quality of bread will be brought under the Consumer Affairs Authority. Trade Ministry Secretary, A.M.P.B Atapattu told the Sunday [...]
Single-use plastic ban: Implementation delayed, net to be widened
By Ryan Casiechetty The implementation of the ban on single use plastic will be delayed by a week or two, Central Environment Authority (CEA) Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe said. The government earlier this year announced the ban on the import, production, sale and local use of seven single-use plastic/polythene products from June 1. This included [...]
Pearl Protectors invite you to a magical oceanic world
World Oceans Day is celebrated globally on June 8 and in Sri Lanka. The Pearl Protectors, a youth led marine conservation organisation is celebrating the event through education, art and by calling to action towards conserving the ocean. Over the month of May, participants of all ages submitted artwork for a competition themed “World Ocean [...]
Legal institution to handle investment matters could improve ‘Ease of Doing Business’: SC Justice Jayawardena
The establishment of an institution by law to handle matters relating to investments, and which is directly responsible to Parliament, could greatly improve Sri Lanka’s standing in the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ index, opined Supreme Court Justice Priyantha Jayawardena, PC. He made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the National [...]
Environment Minister seeks to amend gazette on Thalangama wetland to legalise temple
The Environment Minister has instructed the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) to amend a 2007 gazette that declares the Thalangama wetland to be an environmentally protected area (EPA) in order to legalise the presence of an unauthorised Buddhist temple within the zone, documents show. The proposal has led to concerns that it will open the floodgates [...]
Police need “reasonable grounds” to arrest someone, suspicion not enough: SC
By Ranjith Padmasiri When arresting a person, police must always have “reasonable grounds” and cannot arrest someone on vague suspicion, the Supreme Court (SC) has ruled. A three-judge bench of the SC comprising Justices Vijith Malalgoda, Shiran Gooneratne and Priyantha Fernando made the observation while delivering a judgment over a fundamental rights petition filed by [...]
University of Colombo advances in THE Impact Rankings 2023
The University of Colombo moved up to secure a place between 401st-600th in the fifth edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings in June 2023. THE Impact Rankings serves as a global benchmark for universities, evaluating their performance in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The University of Colombo has [...]
Khavan Perera claims damages from Lalith Kotalawela
Khavan Michael Perera, former Deputy Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Golden Key Credit Card Company Limited (GKCCC) and Golden Key Group has filed legal action in the District Court of Colombo seeking Rs 5 billion in damages from former Chairman of Ceylinco Consolidated Lalith Kotalawela. Mr Perera was among the Directors of GKCCC who had [...]
Sri Lanka gets dubious honour for sadness
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Last year Sri Lanka was one step away from entering the top 10 ‘most miserable countries in the world’, with the high inflation being one main reason, a study reveals. Sri Lanka was ranked 11th with a Misery Index Score of 99.634 in Hanke’s Annual Misery Index (HAMI) 2022 by economist Steve [...]
Fragrant new bloom
Story and pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe A white flower variety is being cultivated widely in the Kalpitiya area drawing good business from places of religious worship. Ms A M A Karunawathi, known as ‘Malrani’ in the area, believes that she has developed a new variety of the traditional ‘idda’ flower, adapting it to [...]
The dimmed and dented street lamps of Colombo
Story and pix by Nilan Maligaspe The illumination of Colombo city has been affected by some street lights becoming dilapidated due to a lack of maintenance. In some street lights the wires have become exposed, while power cabins erected by the street are broken and exposed too, which could be potentially dangerous as pedestrians who [...]
How Pera Uni’s Dental Faculty & Hospital cut its teeth and went on to make great strides
Japanese aid supported a high-end facility for the poorest of the poor By Kumudini Hettiarachchi It was back in the 1950s that the boy was taken every week from his home far away to Peradeniya. Now in his 70s, his smile is perfect – the teeth are well-aligned. With his teeth growing crooked during his [...]
Arabian Sea cyclone to dump more rain
The public have been asked to stay alert for heavy showers throughout the weekend, while flood waters caused by monsoon rains are receding in some areas. The Department of Meteorology said a low-pressure system in the Arabian Sea and cyclonic circulation may obstruct the movement of the southwest monsoon. The department warns that the very [...]
‘Sak Surin’ : Thai team preparing for elephant airlift
By Kasun Warakapitiya Thai wildlife officials have arrived in Sri Lanka to make pre-flight preparations to repatriate the emaciated elephant ‘Sak Surin’ (named Muthu Raja in Sri Lanka) to an elephant conservation centre. The team includes officials from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, representatives of the Convention on International Trade in [...]
GSMB licences: Probe by COPE sub-committee into alleged irregularities
By Senuka Jayakody The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) is to appoint a sub-committee to probe the conduct of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) in issuing licences. When GSMB officials appeared before the COPE on Tuesday, they were questioned as to why they sought the minister’s approval to issue licences. In response, [...]