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On an official visit to Sri Lanka to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Britain’s Princess Anne visited the Dalada Maligawa and the Jaffna Public Library on Thursday in keeping with a skillfully crafted itinerary on the advice of Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth. Please see Page 6 for a related [...]
President promises school for Gaza in talks with West Asian envoys
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has told West Asian envoys that Sri Lanka will build a school in Gaza once the conflict ends and reconstruction begins, the Sunday Times learns. This was one of the takeaways from the highly reported meeting the President convened on Thursday, probably to clear confusion in the Arab and Islamic diplomatic missions [...]
SLAF helicopter crash-lands in Central African Republic; crew safe
The Sri Lanka Air Force MI-17 helicopter on a routine cargo flight during a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic on January 12 crash-landed at Sam-Oundja during the landing phase due to rotor brownout (RWB) resulting from extreme dusty and sand conditions, the SLAF said yesterday, citing investigations. The five-member crew was [...]
Electricity rates to be reduced by 3.34 percent from next month
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has proposed to reduce the electricity tariff by 3.34 percent from February 1 after it recorded a profit last year following a long lapse of nine years. In its quarterly Electricity Tariff Revision (January–March) proposal addressed to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) on Friday, it sought regulatory [...]
Labour Ministry gets approval to import SUV
While a general ban on vehicle imports continues, the Labour and Foreign Employment Ministry is to import a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) under the amended Imports and Exports (Control) Act after it secured Cabinet approval, according to a gazette notification. According to this notification issued to amend the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 [...]
NPC urges action after Police Yukthiya operations come under fire
The National Police Commission (NPC) has written to Acting Inspector General Deshabandu Tennakoon, raising concern over the “Yukthiya” (Justice) anti-narcotics police operation countrywide. The NPC’s letter to the Acting IGP has drawn his attention to media reports and social media posts regarding the way the operation is being conducted and complaints from the people. Accordingly, [...]
Sellers misleading customers: Concern over what is happening over VAT
By Natara Abeywickrema The trend of adding Value-Added Tax (VAT) to the tag price is rampant in Sri Lanka, as most sellers fleece gullible customers, heaping an additional tax burden on them. Traders have been reportedly misleading customers by tacking on VAT to the tag price of both VAT-inclusive and exclusive goods or services, forcing [...]
Kandakadu: Overcrowding leads to clashes as new patients fail to adjust
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Kandakadu rehabilitation centre clashes erupted due to newly admitted drug addicts experiencing violent episodes stemming from drug withdrawal syndrome, Commissioner General Rehabilitation Major General Dharshana Hettirachachi said yesterday. He said the first incident on Friday, January 12, occurred as drug addicts who came from different areas formed gangs and clashed with [...]
Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthavanathan’s final rites today
Air Vice Marshal Ravi Arunthavanathan, former Director Administration and Deputy Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Air Force passed away on Friday. He was a former Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence. Educated at Richmond College, Galle he had a Master’s degree (MSc) in Defence Studies and Management. He was renowned as an outstanding [...]
Circular issued curtailing government expenses
By Damith Wickremasekara With national elections due to be held this year, all ministry secretaries, department and other State-run organisation heads have been cautioned to follow government guidelines on expenses, and refrain from engaging in additional expenses. A senior Treasury official said a fresh circular was issued in view of the upcoming elections where officials [...]
Badulla-Colombo Road still obstructed
Clearing operations after the landslide at Uduwara on the Badulla-Colombo Road continued yesterday and may take 3-4 days more, officials said. Motorists have been requested to use alternative routes. Officials were looking at the possibility of clearing a path so people can walk through, and take a bus thereafter. Pix by Nayanananda Buweneka
Five houses completely buried in Passara landslide, 178 people displaced
Twelve houses were destroyed or damaged in a landslide in Waradola estate, Passara displacing 178 people from 45 families yesterday, officials said. The families have been moved to a school in the area. Five houses were completely buried in the landslide while other houses were damaged and were deemed unsafe. Due to heavy rains about [...]
Insulting Buddhism: Court orders CB to submit report on self-styled godman’s bank accounts
By Ranjith Padmasiri Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage has directed the Central Bank to submit a report on bank accounts maintained by Mahinda Kodithuwakku, the self-proclaimed “Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,” who is accused of insulting Buddhism. A travel ban was also imposed on him. The Magistrate gave the order after Senior Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) Dileepa Peiris [...]
Presidential pardon for two LTTE prisoners serving life terms
By Ranjith Padmasiri President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pardoned two prisoners who had been serving life sentences for LTTE activities after being convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and Emergency Regulations. The prisoners, Nagalingam Madansekar and Selvathurai Kirubakaran, have been pardoned following Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s recommendation, backed by a Prison Department report that [...]
Secret filming of doctors’ changing room: Kandy hospital worker arrested
By Shane Seneviratne A minor employee who allegedly used his mobile phone to record videos of a changing room used by doctors before they entered the operating theatres at the Kandy hospital, was arrested by police. The employee had put the phone on recording mode and hidden it in the room. A doctor had spotted [...]
Kelaniya alumni present coffee table book to Mahanayake
By L.B.Senarartne A coffee table book on the University of Kelaniya was presented to the Malwatte Chapter Mahanayake, the Venerable Tibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, recently by Professor Amal Vadysinghe on behalf of the university’s alumni. The Mahnayake showed a great interest in the book and the University of Kelaniya, said Professor Vadasinghe, who is now [...]
My own SJB colleagues betrayed me: Chaminda Wijesiri laments
Former MP explains developments that caused him ‘immense pain’ and finally led to his resignation Says Opposition Leader Premadasa is not a deal maker; dismisses claims he took Rs. 900mn to quit By Sandun Jayawardana On Parliament’s first sitting day on Tuesday, Badulla District Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Chaminda Wijesiri, making a shocking announcement, told the [...]
Nayana fills vacancy
Nayana Wasalathilaka was sworn in as a Member of the 9th Parliament on Friday (12) following the resignation of Badulla District Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Chaminda Wijesiri. Mr Wasalathilaka was educated at St. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela. He pursued a Culinary Arts Degree and Business Management Degree in Switzerland. He has several years of experience [...]
Princess Anne concludes a power-packed visit
Princess Anne, acclaimed as the hardest working member of the British Royal family and Vice Admiral, Sir Timothy Laurence, left Sri Lanka early yesterday (Saturday) ending a three day visit. They visited Colombo, Kandy, and Jaffna. On January 10, the Royal delegation was hosted by President Wickremesinghe for a dinner to mark the 75th anniversary [...]
Japan’s FM visit to strengthen economic relations
Japan’s Finance Minister, Suzuki Shunichi, during a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe . His visit was aimed at deepening economic relations with the Sri Lankan Government. The President expressed profound appreciation for Japan’s lead role in addressing Sri Lanka’s debt issues. The talks encompassed future collaborations, emphasizing areas such [...]
The anatomy of Sri Lanka’s worst ever health scandal
With several officials, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Health under Minister Rambukwella, in remand prison and under investigation over the purchase of outright fake medication for State hospitals, Namini Wijedasa goes back to the very beginning, when the rot started to set in On December 28, 2022, former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella hurriedly [...]
Imported canned fish temporarily suspended after local manufacturers complain of VAT woes
By S. Rubatheesan The Fisheries Ministry has this week decided to temporarily halt importing canned fish until further notice after local manufacturers complained of challenges they are facing in the wake of a zero to eighteen percent hike in the Value Added Tax (VAT) that came into effect this month. The directive came on Thursday [...]
After COP28: What’s next for Sri Lanka?
By Marc-André Franche, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka Against the backdrop of the recent COP28 summit, this article highlights the importance of international collaboration in adapting to urgent climate challenges and underscores the UN’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s journey towards sustainable and resilient development. As an island nation in the [...]
Sri Lanka short of 630 medical specialists this year
State sector peripheral hospitals in grave danger and patients in jeopardy By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Numbers do not lie and these numbers tell a tale of the dire straits the men, women and children of Sri Lanka are in, when considering the state health sector. There is a chilling shortfall of 630 Consultants among 61 specialties [...]
Coral restoration project grows species outside marine habitat
By Kasun Warakapitiya Urgent moves are underway to preserve Sri Lanka’s coral reefs, which are facing the dual threats of climate change and pollution. The National Zoological Gardens Department and a researcher from the Ocean University of Sri Lanka have initiated an ex-situ coral restoration project—a technique for the conservation of biological diversity outside their [...]
Countdown to lion cub’s first milestone
The Dehiwala Zoo is planning to mark the first birthday of Simba the lion cub. National Zoological Gardens Director General Ranjan Marasinghe told the Sunday Times they were discussing how they should celebrate the cub’s first birthday. The lion cub, which will be one on March 17, 2024, was sired by Chandi. Simba’s mother Meera [...]
Locals ignored at Sigiriya
Pix and text by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa Despite Sigiriya being a major local tourist attraction, facilities provided for locals have been poor. The prevailing downpour has caused the national heritage site lose its local tourists as the parking lot reserved for them has become flooded with excrement-mixed water. Washrooms are overflowing, and the water flowing [...]
Torrential rains disrupt lives of 200,000 people in several districts
Heavy rainfall across the country has caused significant disruption to lives and severe damage to property and crops in several districts. According to officials, the number of affected people so far is 178,312. They are from the Badulla, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Mullaitivu, Hambantota, Kurunegala, and Puttalam districts. The intense [...]
Bad weather further burdens fishermen who return with almost empty nets
A shortage of fresh fish is seeing consumers pay high prices for small amounts of fish. Fishermen say they face many hardships going out to see in the prevailing adverse weather conditions. In addition to a poor catch, the high cost of living is hitting them hard. K.A. Mahinda a fisherman from Elakanda, had just [...]
Strong focus on heart and lungs
It is all about the heart and lungs and surgery to save lives, when the Association of Cardiothoracic and Thoracic Surgeons of Sri Lanka (ACTSSL) holds its two-day annual academic sessions this weekend. The inauguration of the sessions on the theme ‘Advancing Cardiac and Thoracic Interventions: Exploring of New Frontiers’ was held on Friday under [...]
Treat without discrimination, whether labelled ‘pauper’ or ‘to pay’
Before delivering the Ravi Pillai Memorial Oration titled ‘Ethics, the Law & Cardiothoracic Surgery’, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Panna A. Gooneratne gave a glimpse as to who Dr. Pillai was. “What I learned from Ravi was not only surgical techniques, but also to think on my feet and deal with unexpected situations skilfully. He used [...]