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Home » NewsDiplomats on catwalk for a cause
The Sri Lanka Foreign Service Association, together with Colombo-based diplomatic missions, held a ‘International Bazaar’ yesterday in Colombo to raise funds for the neurosurgical project of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital. The highlight of the event was the foreign diplomats taking part in a fashion show. Please see more pictures on Page 20. Pic by [...]
Govt. simplifies visa policy to attract investors, tourists
Port City staff, online workers, foreign relatives and students will also benefit By Damith Wickremasekara The Government will introduce a visa policy this month in a fresh bid to attract investors, tourists, and online workers operating from Sri Lanka. Among the categories to be introduced are investment visas, digital Nomad residence visas for foreign online [...]
In landmark ruling, CA says overseas divorces valid here
By Namini Wijedasa The Court of Appeal in a landmark judgment this week ruled that there cannot be any restrictions for a marriage entered into in Sri Lanka to be dissolved in a competent court in a foreign country if such court opines that such dissolution could be permitted under its laws. Till now, divorces [...]
Counterfeit drug racket in operation from Sept. last year
By Namini Wijedasa More documentary evidence has emerged on the Health Ministry’s disastrous “fast-track” emergency procurement scheme that led to counterfeit drugs entering public sector hospitals. Letters between key officials show the plan was in place as early as September last year. That month, a Health Ministry Additional Secretary wrote to the Deputy Director General [...]
Lanka unveils Climate Justice Forum for justice and equity
From Tharushi Weerasinghe in Dubai Sri Lanka yesterday unveiled its Climate Justice Forum (CJF) initiative, aimed at addressing climate issues with a sense of justice and equity. The CJF is one of three key concepts presented by Sri Lanka as part of its “Global Climate Solutions” to tackle the climate crisis. The other concepts are [...]
President takes up climate justice cause at COP28
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged world leaders to “think outside the box” on Climate Justice for developing countries. Speaking during the 28th session of the Conference of Parties (CoP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai, UAE on Friday (1), Mr. Wickremesinghe noted that the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) [...]
Aragalaya killings Trial-at-Bar: Facial recognition technology for first time
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General has made arrangements to adopt facial recognition identification technology into the country’s justice system for the first time during the Trial-at-Bar on the killings of Polonnaruwa District parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his bodyguard. The technology will be used to positively identify the accused who have been indicted before the [...]
Mindanao quake and tsunami: No impact on Lanka
The earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 that struck yesterday off the coast of the southern Philippines island of Mindanao had no impact on Sri Lanka, the Disaster Management Centre in Colombo said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said last night that based on the magnitude and location, it expected tsunami waves to hit [...]
Demolition of historic building: SC blocks suspects’ second bid to avoid arrest
The Supreme Court (SC) has prevented former Kurunegala mayor and four other suspects from obtaining a second ruling from the Court of Appeal (CA) preventing their arrest after the SC had vacated an earlier such order issued by the CA. Having considered submissions made by Deputy Solicitor General Madhawa Tennakoon over the case regarding the [...]
Man sentenced to death for beheading mother-in-law; 10 years for attempted murder of wife
An accused who was found guilty of beheading his mother-in-law and causing serious cut injuries to his wife was sentenced to death by Ratnapura High Court Judge Nayana Seneviratne. The verdict was given after a trial held without a jury, with the accused, Kasun Warnaka Kahangama, a resident of Kotugodella, Balangoda, being found guilty of [...]
Fashion diplomacy for children’s project
The Sri Lanka Foreign Service Association together with Colombo-based diplomatic missions and International Organisations held a “Diplomatic Bazaar” yesterday at the ‘Good Market’ premises next to the Sports Ministry in Colombo 7 to raise funds for the Neurosurgical Project of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital. Adding more colour to the event were songs and cultural [...]
Colombo comes alive for Christmas
Come December, Colombo and its suburbs come alive with Christmas decorations fit for the season. Star-class hotels and shopping malls have already put on display the best of Christmas decorations. These pictures were taken at Colombo Hilton.
US House ousts ‘crook’ congressman in historic vote
Washington (AFP) – US lawmakers voted Friday to expel George Santos, the scandal-plagued politician who lied his way into Congress and has been indicted on charges of bankrolling his lavish lifestyle with stolen donor cash. Earning a rebuke previously reserved for traitors and convicted criminals, the New York Republican is only the third person to [...]
Cyclone churning over Sri Lanka’s northern shores
By Jayani Madawala A low pressure that formed over the Bay of Bengal may turn into a deep depression and further into a cyclonic storm by today, about 490 kilometres northeast of Trincomalee, the Meteorology Department has forecast. The deep depression is likely to develop into a cyclonic storm in the next two days and [...]
Drug purchases: Fresh evidence reveals more details about Health Ministry’s fast-track deals
By Namini Wijedasa Fresh documentary evidence on the Sri Lanka Health Ministry’s disastrous “fast-track” emergency procurement scheme that led to counterfeit drugs entering public sector hospitals shows that the plan was set in motion as early as September 2022. It also reveals that decisions were made to buy medicines (bypassing registration) on the basis of [...]
Money laundering inquiry against Jerome Fernando
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has opened a separate inquiry under money laundering charges against controversial ‘pastor’ Jerome Fernando on his financial transactions and the flow of funds to his church from abroad. A Police spokesperson said investigations are focused on the source of origin for funds that were channelled into the country to maintain [...]
Tough tax-clearance condition for issue of liquor licences
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will send Tax Clearance Certificates for the renewal of liquor licences next year directly to the Excise Department after licence holders clear all pending taxes. “The Excise Department introduced a new system this time where the Inland Revenue Department will send the Tax Clearance Certificates directly to the department after [...]
Last-day system failure at IRD, deadline extended
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) encountered a systems failure in e-filing of returns on Thursday November 30, the last date to submit tax returns for 2022-23. “There was chaos at the department,” said one taxpayer who had gone there to file his returns. The crisis applied to only e-filing of returns as the IRD computer [...]
Borrowing specialists from one to run another hospital, with no permanent solution in sight
Urgent call to provide incentives to retain doctors and prevent state health sector collapse By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Slowly but surely Sri Lanka’s health sector is beset by malaise due to the severe brain drain of medical specialists, the non-return of post-graduate specialist trainees, the potential retirement of specialists who turn 60+ and those who join [...]
Ramzy sought police protection but instead went through months of persecution
By Mimi Alphonsus In April 2020, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Mohamed Razeek Mohamed Ramzy at his home in Katugastota for violating the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), among other charges. His crime was to have written a Facebook post urging Muslims to counter alleged racist attacks against their community through [...]
Fishermen across the country fear new Fisheries Act will sink their livelihoods
By S. Rubatheesan Fisherfolk cooperative communities are up in arms over the proposed new Fisheries Act, alleging that if the legislation is enacted in its current form, it might pave the way for more privatisation of the sector. They reiterated that their concerns and suggestions should be accommodated before it is finalised. More than 20 [...]
Galle Fort ramparts will remain a ticket-free zone, minister assures
Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, who represents the Galle district, has told the Galle Fort Civil Protection Committee that he has been assured by Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickremanayake that foreigners will not be asked to purchase a ticket for US$15 to visit the Galle Fort ramparts. Concerns had been raised by residents, businessmen, and [...]
Keeri samba shortage prompts raids and rice imports from India
By Minaza Hassan A shortage of Keeri Samba rice has pushed the prices of other rice varieties up, prompting the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to carry out more than 400 raids in the past four months. The raids led to the detection of 137 cases where rice had been sold above the maximum retail price [...]
Sri Lankans with disabilities waiting decades for rights recognition
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Sixteen years after the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), Sri Lanka still lags behind on rights and facilities. groups representing these citizens complain. They say the contribution of the state has been limited to an allowance and all the hype in November and [...]
Across the bridge a dangerous path
Story and pix by Sarath Siriwardena Residents of Panadura say that the authorities have neglected to repair the pedestrian path along the railway bridge built over the Bolgoda River near the Panadura Railway Station. A few days ago one person had fallen off the decayed planks making up the bridge, and died. Thousands of school [...]
Humans have gunned down 84 elephants, so far this year
By Reka Tharagani Fonseka The number of elephant deaths remains as high as last year, and 166 human deaths have occurred due to the human-elephant conflict by the end of November, a senior official of the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said. Of the 440 elephant deaths reported so far, one more than last year, [...]
Mali’s suffering in Manila until death complicates elephant exchange
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Department of National Zoological Gardens is yet to receive an official request from the Philippines for a replacement for Wishwa Mali (Mali), the elephant that died recently in Manila, said acting director general Ranjan Marasinghe. The elephant was a diplomatic gift to then-first lady Imelda Marcos by the Sri Lankan government [...]
Acting IGP meets prelates
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshbandu Tennakoon took part in religious observances at the Dalada Maligawa and obtained blessings of the mahanayaka theras of the Malwathu and Asgiri Chapters. He was appointed as the Acting IGP on Wednesday for a three-month period. IGP Tennakoon said that combating drug trade and criminal activity would be [...]
CEB employees voice concerns about new bill
Concerns have been expressed by Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) employees including engineers and other organisations on the proposed electricity reforms bill and the lack of transparency in finalising the bill. Engineers and employees have voiced their concerns on the drafts of the proposed bill, while calling the ministry to officially release the proposed bill. Engineers [...]
Crackdown on traders selling banned plastic items
Raids continue regularly to crack down on traders and manufacturers who violate the plastic ban, a top official of the Central Environment Authority said. “Since the ban came into force on October 1, we have been conducting raids, but the issue is that within this short period, we were not successful in managing it totally,” [...]
Colombo council to chop down 214 of 550 trees posing risks
More than 550 trees were identified as posing a danger to lives in Colombo city after five people were killed in October when a large tree on Duplication Road in Kollupitiya crashed onto a Sri Lanka Transport Board Deniyaya bound bus, but only 214 of them were to be removed by the Colombo Municipal Council. [...]