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With the President away in Germany, his secretary, Saman Ekanayake, found the time to visit the Colombo International Book Fair being held at the BMICH. The fair is drawing a large crowd and its print media sponsor is Wijeya Newspapers Ltd., the publisher of the Sunday Times, other weeklies and dailies.
Rs. 11 billion for EC to conduct presidential poll next year
Appropriation Bill 2024 to be presented this month in Parliament;Rs. 203 billion rise in state expenditure With presidential elections expected next year, the Election Commission has been allocated Rs. 11 billion through the 2024 Appropriation Bill that is due to be presented to Parliament this month. Constitutionally, the presidential election must be concluded by October [...]
Tender for digital ID: Two Indian firms disqualified
By Sandun Jayawardana The controversial tender to build the platform for Sri Lanka’s digital national identity card project will be refloated after the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAPC) disqualified the two Indian companies that had submitted bids. Technology State Minister Kanaka Herath confirmed yesterday that the CAPC had notified both bidders that they had been [...]
Health Ministry in moves to purchase antibiotic despite ample stocks
By Namini Wijedasa The Medical Supplies Division (MSD) has moved to requisition a large consignment of over-priced, unregistered Meropenem antibiotic injections on an “emergency” basis from an Indian manufacturer despite having over half a million vials in storage and still more registered stocks on the way. The total targeted order of 900,000 vials is valued [...]
Good news: Animal lovers can now insure their pets
Animal lovers are in for some good news with a comprehensive pet insurance scheme to be launched next Wednesday, coinciding with World Animal Day, by the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC). The insurance cover, “Petsurance”, in the initial stage will focus on pet dogs. It is expected to be extended to other animals if the [...]
Wide range of powers for new Reconciliation Office to bring about national unity
By S. Rubathesen A new state entity called the Reconciliation Office is to be set up and will be armed with a wide range of powers, including immunity from prosecution and the ability to raise funds locally and abroad as gifts. Under the Bill, already gazetted, those who disobey its directives are liable to punishment [...]
New policy demands healthy food at school canteens to prevent NCDs
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Following a Health Ministry directive, the Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union, in collaboration with the Education Ministry, has taken measures to prevent the spread of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)among schoolchildren. PHI Union president Upul Rohana said they were working towards implementing a “school canteen policy.” He said that in terms of the policy, [...]
Ananda, Ladies excel at Shakespeare drama contest
The finals of the 48th All-Island Shakespeare Competition, an initiative of the Rotaract Club of Colombo in partnership with the Colombo YMCA, took place at the Bishops College Auditorium on the 27th and yesterday. Schools taking part delivered nothing less than stellar performances, keeping the ongoing tradition alive. The girls’ finals were held first on [...]
Rs. 1000 minimum allowance for public sector employees, wider tax net on the cards for Budget 2024
By Damith Wickramasekara A minimum allowance of Rs. 1000 for public sector employees, a provision to allow employees in certain sectors to be given service extensions beyond 60 years and a further widening of the tax net are among some of the proposals that will likely feature in Budget 2024, senior Finance Ministry officials told [...]
Beware, quack physios on the loose
Urgent warning by Sri Lanka Society for Physiotherapy over mushrooming substandard institutes and accreditation issues By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Quack physiotherapists who would do irreparable harm than good to patients are giving major pains to the Sri Lanka Society of Physiotherapy. While like all health sector related fields, physiotherapy an allied health profession, is facing unprecedented challenges [...]
More voices of concern join chorus condemning Online Safety Bill
As the government prepares to table the draft Online Safety Bill in Parliament on Tuesday, there are growing calls for it to be either amended significantly or withdrawn altogether. The bill has been described as Orwellian in nature, with particular concern at moves to set up a highly powerful Online Safety Commission whose members are [...]
Senior journalist and Editor Edmund Ranasinghe to be felicitated
A felicitation ceremony for senior journalist and Editor Edmund Ranasinghe will be held on Tuesday, October 3, at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The launch of the book Edmundge Paththara Viplawaya (Edmund’s Newspaper Revolution) will also take place. The keynote address will be delivered by senior journalist and former Editor [...]
Judge denounces disgraceful conduct of SDIG, hands him five-year jail term
Ratnapura High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratna on Monday passed a five-year jail term on former Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Sabaragamuwa province, Lalith Jayasinghe, finding him guilty of influencing the police not to arrest a former State Minister, Premalal Jayasekera, over a murder at a presidential election rally of then-candidate Maithripala Sirisena [...]
Strict leave rules for lower court judges
Any acting arrangements among Additional Magistrates or Additional District Judges of lower courts on “mutual arrangement” to cover the leave period of judicial officers is barred with immediate effect, according to a new circular issued by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). The circular which was issued to address concerns raised regarding obtaining leave by judicial [...]
Pick of the Pix
From our readers Shutterbugs out there, we would once again appreciate your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph, to: pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk. We would also appreciate if you mention the camera or cellphone that was used.
Abandoned exotic pets endanger native animals
By Kasun Warakapitiya The small and colourful exotic turtles sold in aquariums invade natural waterways posing a threat to endemic fishes when released into the wild after pet owners fail to care for them, a senior wildlife official said. The official said that non-native species compete for the same resources and could even prey on [...]
Motor Traders want to ask President to reconsider zero tariff on EVs
The Ceylon Motor Traders Association (CMTA) has sought a meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe to raise concerns on a proposal to permit a zero customs tariff on the CIF value to import electric vehicles with power up to 500 kW, or plugin hybrid electric vehicles (PEHV) up to 3,000CC, in semi-knockdown (SKD) form for local [...]
Tea Board machine inoperable; Bribery Commission initiates inquiry
Questions raised in Parliament and answers given by MPs A machine to analyse the chemical composition of pesticides purchased by the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) at a cost of Rs 32.13 million in 2009 has proved useless. This was revealed during the questions for oral answers session in Parliament last week. Samagi Jana Balawegaya [...]
How Sri Lanka can uncover its mysterious legal adversary
Two Virginia Law School lecturers, who are closely following the Saint Kitts-and-Nevis-based Hamilton Reserve Bank’s litigation against Sri Lanka believe there have been a lot of intriguing developments in the case and Sri Lanka can ask the bank to reveal the real identities of the people behind the litigation by resorting to an old legal [...]
Perahera elephant seriously injured after civil defence guard fires shots
A civil defence guard has been arrested for firing and causing injuries to a tame elephant brought for a temple procession in Mahiyanganaya, in the early hours of yesterday. Mahiyanganaya police Chief Inspector A.N Wijeratne said that the incident occurred after people who had come to the temple to witness the procession of the Mahiyagana [...]
Lanka’s spas to be regulated to draw overseas visitors
The Presidential Secretariat will coordinate with relevant government institutions to introduce a regulatory mechanism for spas around the country by the end of this year, a top state official said. Presidential Secretariat Public Relations Director Thusith Halloluwa said President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed him to coordinate with the Ministries of Health and Local Government and the [...]
Don’t be alarmed if you suspect leprosy, seek treatment: Expert
More than 500 leprosy cases have been reported in recent months with a majority of the patients from the Colombo district, Anti- Leprosy Unit director Dr. Prasaad Ranaweera said. He said 200 patients were reported from the Colombo district, 102 from the Gampaha district and 78 from Kalutara district. Fifty six patients were reported from [...]
More rains expected in rain-battered areas
By Jayanie Madawala The Meteorological Department has warned of more rains and thundershowers in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and North-Western provinces and in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. The maximum rainfall of 138.5mm was recorded in Colombo Fort area. Meanwhile water levels of Nilwala ganga Kalu ganga and Gin ganga have risen, and people [...]
Multiple paths explored to reduce road crash deaths and injuries
By Nathara Abeywickrema The government is giving priority to prevention and management of road accidents and injuries, as it affects the country’s economic and social development. Road accidents and injuries have been growing at an alarming rate over the past few weeks. Chair Professor of Community Medicine of University of Peradeniya Prof. Samath Dharmarathne said [...]
Single-use plastic ban comes into effect today
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The ban on the manufacture and sale of certain single-use plastic products within the country comes into force today. “From October 1, nobody can do it legally, so we can raid them, and if somebody is selling, we can take legal action,” said Central Environment Authority Director General Hemantha Jayasinghe. The items [...]
Health Minister sacks SLMC Vice President in controversial move
SLMC president says no to other board members’ request to hold special meeting By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella this week terminated Prof. Jayantha Jayawardana, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), on the pretext that “the decision has been taken to reconstitute the Board of the SLMC”. His removal was the only [...]