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Home » NewsGrand welcome for Thai PM; close ties with Lanka
Sri Lanka and Thailand yesterday established close and wide-ranging economic ties through the signing of a free trade agreement after extensive talks at the Presidential Secretariat. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin are seen being given a guard of honour and a 19-gun-salute. The visiting Thai leader will be the guest of [...]
Minister Rambukwella remanded, admitted to prison hospital
Magistrate orders full probe on one of the biggest scandals in health sector By Manrpriya Gunasekara Former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, currently Environment Minister, was yesterday remanded until February 15 over his alleged involvement in the procurement of counterfeit intravenous human immunoglobulin, as the magistrate ordered a string of investigations into the scandal. Soon after [...]
Changes to TIN system; IRD complains of practical issues
By Damith Wickremasekara The Finance Ministry is to introduce a string of amendments to the recently introduced system for all citizens above the age of 18 to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) for the payment of tax. The move comes following complaints from Inland Revenue Department (IRD) officials over the practical difficulties in implementing [...]
Rapid project to uplift rural economy and eradicate poverty in ten districts
The government has launched an ambitious rapid rural development scheme with Rs 10 billion allocated for the first phase, covering Central and Sabragamuwa provinces, to uplift the rural economy and eradicate poverty in the ten districts of the hill country region for the next ten years, the President’s Office said. The programme named “Kandukara Dashakaya [...]
Lanka, Thailand sign FTA with facility for visa-free travel
Thailand and Sri Lanka have agreed in principle to provide visa-free travel arrangements on a reciprocal basis to their citizens under the new Sri Lanka-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) that was signed yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat. Addressing a joint media briefing after signing the agreement, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said both parties discussed, in particular, [...]
Recipient of Kadirgamar scholarship off to MASCOM
Tharushi Weerasinghe of the Sunday Times left this week to follow an advanced study course at MASCOM (Malayala School of Communications) as the recipient of the annual Lakshman Kadirgamar scholarship. The scholarship is offered by the Lakshman Kadirgamar Foundation together with the Malayala Manorama Group of Newspapers in memory of the late Sri Lankan Foreign [...]
Final deadline for Veteran journalist Mahindapala
Veteran journalist H.L.D. Mahindapala, former editor of Sunday and (daily) Observer, passed away on Tuesday, January 30. The late Mr. Mahindapala became the editor in chief of the Sunday Observer in 1990. He was also a well-respected columnist and leader writer. He was honoured by the Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka with a Lifetime Achievement [...]
SLN’s traditional welcome for Indian sub at Colombo Port
An Indian submarine, INS ‘Karanj’, arrived at Colombo port on a goodwill visit yesterday ahead of Sri Lanka’s 76th Independence celebrations today. The submarine was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy according to naval traditions at the port. INS Karanj, the Indian Navy’s third stealth Scorpene-class submarine, was commissioned in 2021 after being built in [...]
Cost of dying up: Ex-CMC member appeals to President
A former municipal council member has sought the president’s intervention to reduce crematorium charges, which the council raised recently. In his appeal to the President, Alfred Sampath urged him to suspend the Colombo Municipal Council’s decision to increase the charges by tenfold, from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 15,000 for Colombo residents and from Rs. 5,000 [...]
SC upholds termination of SriLankan Airlines senior flight steward for sexual misconduct
Says as a state-owned enterprise, the airline must adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual harassment The Supreme Court this week set aside a judgment of the Negombo High Court and a Labour Tribunal and upheld the termination of services of a male SriLankan Airlines senior flight steward after finding him responsible for [...]
Consumers in soup over high and varying Vege prices
Spinning in a whirlpool of fluctuating vegetable prices, consumers are being forced to pay varying prices on a daily basis. A notable price difference was seen in the past weeks where vegetables cost varied in prices, depending on the location. For instance, the retail price of a kilo of lime cost 140 rupees in Dambulla, [...]
Freedom day pardon for 754 prisoners
The Prisons Department will release 754 prisoners today in view of Independence Day, Prisons commissioner and media spokesman Gamini Bandara Dissanayake said. He said in accordance with the powers vested in the President 729 male inmates and 25 female prisoners would be released from prisons, islandwide. He also said the Prison Department had made special [...]
All’s not sunny in booming foreign-run businesses
Foreign bank accounts, foreign credit card machines, foreign currency cash payments and, now, even PayPal transfers—the informal foreign-owned business sector is thriving in some of Sri Lanka’s busiest tourism hotspots. But where do their revenues go? Emotive problem The Sunday Times delved into the increasingly emotive issue of foreigners operating untaxed, unregulated ventures around the [...]
‘Catalysts Sri Lanka’ launches programme aimed at promoting diversity, inclusion in corporate sector
The launch of Ignite Inclusion Initiative (III) aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the corporate sector in Sri Lanka and organised by ‘Catalysts Sri Lanka’ took place this week. With the intention of the making the corporate sector to rethink, revisit, evolve and reinforce established processes addressing diversity and inclusion within their organisations, Professor [...]
Alleged corruption by Weerawansa: AG submits 16 more documents as evidence
The prosecution has amended the indictment filed against National Freedom Front Leader Wimal Weerawansa over his failure to explain assets acquired during the five years he was a minister. The indictment has been amended by adding a further 16 documents to the evidence as court productions. The Attorney General hopes to lead four of the [...]
All eyes will be on Galle Face today as 6000 go marching by
Over 6000 security personnel, police, Civil defence Forces and National Cadet Corps are to take part in the 76th Independence Day clebrations at Galle Face today. The final rehearsal was held yesterday. Home Affairs Ministry secretary, Prdeep Yasaratne said that there are many events scheduled to mark the Independence Day in outstation areas too apart [...]
Concessionary loans for paddy millers and warehouse owners
Small and medium-scale (SMS) paddy millers and warehouse owners are eligible to get loans of Rs 50 million and Rs 25 million, respectively, under a concessionary pledge loan scheme to buy paddy for the 2023–2024 Maha season, the General Treasury said. Under the concessionary loan scheme, which came into effect on Thursday, paddy millers whose [...]
Thai-Lanka rift over two elephants gifted to Dalada Maligawa and Kelaniya Viharaya
A controversy has arisen between Sri Lankan temples and Thai animal rights activists over the two Thai elephants gifted to Sri Lanka. In Bangkok, animal rights activists have renewed their campaign to get back the two elephants. But the Dalada Mailigawa says the elephants are well cared for and are used only for Peraheras. The [...]
Let us all come together for the noble mission of rebuilding our nation: President
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that though Sri Lanka was labelled a financially bankrupt as the 76th Independence Day dawned, the country has effectively navigated through challenges. While extending his well wishes for Independence Day, the president pointed out that the economy was being steered toward stability despite numerous impediments and challenges. Following is the President’s [...]
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Earnest call to anaesthetists to stay and serve the country
COAISL President Dr. Vinodini Wanigasekera seeks collective attention to stem critical brain drain as patient safety is in jeopardy By Kumudini Hettiarachchi They keep the patients alive, calm and pain-free during surgery, while monitoring vital functions including the heart rate and breathing. Numerous have been the successes of the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri [...]
Patients punished, but unions threaten to resume strike from Wednesday
By Nathara Abeywickrema A 48-hour strike by healthcare workers, other than doctors, this week severely disrupted services at government hospitals nationwide and caused inconvenience to patients, but unions threaten to resume the strike action if their demands are not met before Wednesday. Thousands of patients could not attend regular clinics and collect medicines, while indoor [...]
Fast-tracked talks to slow down expressway accidents
New measures to be taken include minimum speed limit, more rest areas and rapid-response ambulance service By Kasun Warakapitiya Implementing a minimum speed limit, setting up more rest areas, and providing a special rapid-response ambulance service were among the measures being studied to improve expressway safety. The measures were discussed on Monday at the Transport Ministry [...]
Draft Anti-Terrorism Bill challenged on grounds of severely curtailing people’s fundamental rights
Supreme Court concludes hearing 31 petitions against the bill Additional Solicitor General says SC must determine whether bill is contrary to any provisions of the Constitution, rather than basing determination on surmise and conjecture as advocated by petitioners By Ranjith Padmasiri Provisions of the draft Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB) can be used to severely curtail people’s [...]
Europe can learn from Sri Lanka in the arena of dermatology training
German Professor praises the MD programme as thorough, efficient & excellent By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The general belief in Sri Lanka is that most of our doctors head either to the United Kingdom or Australia for their specialist training, but in mid-January this is debunked effectively. In Colombo was Professor/Dr. Peter Elsner from Germany as an [...]
Fines, prison terms increased for 68 offences
By Ranjith Padmasiri The government has decided to increase fines and prison terms for 68 offences listed under the Penal Code. Accordingly, the Rs100 fine that had earlier been imposed for some offences has been increased to above Rs1,000. The Cabinet approved a draft amendment submitted by Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe to increase fines and [...]
Gone with the wind: Mannar fisherfolk fear of being blown away by turbine project
Govt. and EIA give assurances of compensation and alternatives, but fisherfolk and residents say they face drowning By S. Rubathesan from Mannar When the country’s largest wind farm was declared open in December 2020 on a key Asian bird migration path in Mannar despite vehement protests from fisherfolk communities and residents, many of them were [...]
Prisons swell amid law reforms and Yukthiya; activists raise concerns over rights
By Minaza Hassan Sri Lanka’s prison cells that are already bursting at the seams are experiencing a new surge in prison population, with justice minister attributing it to the recent amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance Act, while others point to the ongoing Yukthiya anti-narcotic operations and many underlying causes. Sri Lanka’s prisons have been [...]
Subtle destruction of Puttalam mangroves: Alleged involvement of salt industry and officials
Text and pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Environmental groups claim that a cluster of mangroves in the Puttalam Lagoon’s Palaviya area close to the Old Hamilton Canal has been subtly destroyed. Authorities are to blame for not doing more to stop the destruction of the Puttalam lagoon’s mangroves over the past 20 years, despite their [...]
Somali pirates threat may affect fishing industry, says owner of ‘Lorenzo Putha 4′
Appeals to Govt. to help him financially to bring back his vessel Navy says the six Sri Lankan fishermen who were rescued by Seychelles authorities will soon be home Pix and Text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Sri Lankan fishermen venturing into the Arabian Sea are facing a major threat from Somali pirates, who are increasingly [...]
Residents assured that Rs. 40m allocated for removal of salinity barrier across Nilwala river
Protestors withdraw following written assurance given just 10 minutes before President’s visit to the area Issue taken up for discussion by the Committee of Ways and Means in Parliament By Priyantha Dassanayake and Ryan Casiechetty Farmers and villages protesting over the salinity barrier constructed across the Nilwala river in Matara have been assured that Rs [...]
7 Sabaragamuwa Uni students to be charged under anti-ragging law, say police
University VC says committee to look into what course of action to be taken against them By Dilushi Wijesinghe Seven Sabaragamua University students who were arrested over a ragging incident complaint will be charged under the anti-ragging law (Prohibition of ragging and other forms of violence in educational institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998), the [...]
Non-functional traffic lights at crucial point adds to traffic woes in Kandy town
By L.B.Senaratne The government has apparently allocated Rs. 15 million for a multi-modal traffic hub to ease the traffic congestion in Kandy. However, the Sunday Times learns this would take more than three years, and in the meantime, day-to-day traffic problems only seem to get worse with little being done to ease the situation. A [...]