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Home » NewsRamya Wanigasekara’s funeral at Borella, respects to be paid at SLBC
Veteran television and radio news presenter and actress Ramya Wanigasekara’s funeral will take place today at the Borella General Cemetery Crematorium. Remains of the late actress are at the A F Raymond Funeral Parlour till 12 noon, and thereafter will be taken to the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). The funeral procession will leave the [...]
IORA Day at Galle Face today
Preparations are underway at the Galle Face Green to mark Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Day today under Sri Lanka’s chairmanship of the grouping. Hundreds of schoolchildren will be participating in the event jointly organised by the Foreign and Education Ministries with the support of the diplomatic community from member states of IORA. President Ranil [...]
Air Tattoo goes to Jaffna
Many people flocked to the ‘Air Tattoo’ Educational and Technical exhibition underway in Jaffna to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force. State Minister of Defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon who was chief guest and Air Force Chief Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa are seen here witnessing a parachute jump. Pix by Pradeep Pathirana [...]
Lanka explains its case to UNHRC
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Himalee Arunatilaka speaking at the ongoing 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. She was responding to allegations by Human Rights High Commissioner Volter Turk not only regarding war-time excesses by Sri Lankan security forces, but also new laws the present government has passed or proposed, in addition [...]
IRD warns nearly 1,000 companies: Pay up or face property seizures
Six-month deadline given to settle Rs. 160bn in arrears By Damith Wickremasekara Nearly 1,000 companies have been issued notice by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to pay up their tax arrears amounting to more than Rs 160 billion in six months or face seizure of bank accounts and property, Commissioner General Sepalika Chandrasekara said. She [...]
SJB, NPP to boycott President’s meeting with IMF delegation
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National Peoples’ Power (NPP) have opted to stay away from tomorrow’s meeting, which President Ranil Wickremesinghe has arranged with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Both the SJB and the NPP yesterday declared that they were not interested in taking part in [...]
Chilli crab: New laws to protect world famous delicacy
The main ingredient in Singapore’s signature chilli crab is the Sri Lankan mud crab—a delicacy exported and valued worldwide. Now, the Fisheries Ministry has stepped in with regulations to curb the over-harvesting of these crustaceans from the wild. Titled “Mud Crab Fishery Management Regulations, 2024”, the regulations apply to the fishing of wild mud crabs [...]
Seven-member national commission for women’s protection rights
A National Commission on Women is to be set up to ensure the rights of women and protect women from discrimination based on gender and violence against them, according to a new bill. The bill published by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as subject Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment, seeks to [...]
Health Ministry tells public hospitals to use huge quantities of drugs about to expire
The Health Ministry’s Medical Supplies Division (MSD) has issued several circulars alerting hospitals to a large number of medications—including donations—that are about to expire, urging that they be used “as much as possible prior to expiry” to minimise wastage. The Sunday Times has reported that Sri Lanka, during the economic crisis, received large quantities of [...]
Police overrun Havies to clinch K/O title
What started off as a dream run, clipping off the defending champions from a double title from the semi-final, Police Sports Club continued their similar clinical pattern to overrun Havelock Sports Club 19-12 and claim the coveted SLR Nippon Paint Clifford Cup Knockout Championship at the Racecourse ground yesterday. After thrashing league champions and title [...]
Numerous costs still bite, despite slightly lower fuel and power bills
By Kasun Warakapitiya Despite reductions in fuel and electricity prices, merchants, eatery operators, and service providers said they cannot lower prices as their other costs remain high. They said the government reduced the electricity charges only by a small amount after a bigger increase. The government is making people feel the cost of living [...]
Employees’ Trust Fund assets swell to Rs 464.9bn in 2022
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka’s biggest social security net for private sector workers, and public sector workers not eligible for the state pension, the Employees’ Trust Fund, gorged itself on unprecedented interest rates on Government securities in 2022 to report Rs 464.99 billion assets, compared with 419.12bn the year before. The annual report for 2022, [...]
Power sector structural, tariff, and renewables overhaul crosses red lines
By Niranjala Ariyawansha The Power Sector Reforms Secretariat has added new controversial amendments to the electricity draft bill, drawing criticism from stakeholders, the Sunday Times learns. These amendments have been recently discussed under the theme, ‘How the proposed power sector reforms can address the persistent issues in the Sri Lanka power sector’. The Secretariat head, [...]
Safeguarding the kidneys
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Many do not give a thought to these two bean-shaped organs, each the size of a fist, nestling on either side of the spine, just below the rib cage. The realization of their value dawns only when they are in trouble, as the kidneys perform the important task of removing waste from [...]
A sense of humour: President thanks cartoonists
A compilation of political cartoons titled ‘Press vs Prez’ published by Wajira Abeywardena was launched on Thursday (7) at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo. “These cartoons symbolise the freedom and vibrancy of our democracy. As we approach the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, I anticipate an increase in such cartoons, showcasing [...]
‘I resigned from the presidency to give the people of Sri Lanka some respite’
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this week released his book titled “The Conspiracy: How Internationally Sponsored Regime Change Made a Mockery of Democracy in Sri Lanka”. Excerpts: On opposition to his election: –“The only reason I won the 2019 presidential election with over 52% of the vote was because of the Sinhala vote.” –“From the time [...]
Survivor father of slain family had walked in on Canada murder-accused
By Kasun Warakapitiya Dhanushka Maduranaga Wickramasinghe, 38, who recently started a cleaning company, returned to his residence in the Ottawa suburban area of Barrhaven, where he was confronted by a 19-year-old youth, for whom the family had provided accommodation. The youth was armed with a club and a knife. “Did you harm my family?” was [...]
SL Navy’s joint operation with CMF useful for the country, says Navy
Sri Lanka’s naval involvement in the joint operation with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in the Red Sea and adjacent areas will be useful in many ways to the country, besides its contribution to its obligation of freedom of navigation protection, Navy Spokesman Captain Gayan Wickramasuriya said. He said that the three week operation involving [...]
Veggie prices come down, Nuwara Eliya farmers, traders upbeat
Expert says high crop yield will see further price drops By Minaza Hassan Vegetable prices appear to be dropping in the past few weeks, contrary to predictions that normalcy in prices would only return by mid April. “The climate has improved since the beginning of 2024, so farmers in Nuwara Eliya are planting again. Traders [...]
Uda Walawe Information Centre now an Elephant Knowledge Walk
The Elephant Information Centre at Uda Walawe that has been transformed into the Elephant Knowledge Walk providing visitors with a more visually engaging and comprehensive experience was relaunched this week by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Dilmah Tea and Dilmah Conservation. Here, visitors can go on an informative journey, exploring elephant evolution, anatomy, ecology and [...]
Martin Air crash site to become tourist attraction
By L. B. Senaratne Central Province Governor Lalith U Gamage plans to establish a “Seven Virgins Range” tourist attraction at Maskeliya where the tragic “Martin Air” passenger aircraft disaster took place in 1974 killing 191 passengers and 9 crew members. Last week, the Governor and Indonesia Ambassador Dewi Gustina Tobing visited the renovated memorial to [...]
Sri Lanka Telecom annual loss Rs 3.9bn, mobile business in the red
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka Telecom Plc., which is to be offloaded by the Government of Sri Lanka, has reported a net loss of Rs 3.92 billion for the group in 2023, compared with Rs 4.76bn profit the year before. Last year, Sri Lanka offered to sell 50.23% held by the Treasury (the Government) in [...]
Thousands of students in anxiety over exam paper leaks in two provinces
CID called in to investigate who did what to disclose the papers By Nathara Abeywickrema Recent concerns about term exam paper leaks in two provinces have left students in despair, anxiety, frustration and uncertainty. Educationists and parents say exam paper leaks are an unethical practice with dire repercussions that compromise exam integrity and put many [...]
Gems in the business
Pix and text by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa Groups of women in the Laggala area in Matale are mining for gems, same as the men. The women brave the inhospitable conditions in mines and spend hours submerged to their waist in water searching for gemstones. With bruised hands and muddy outfits, they spend hours trying to [...]
International Women’s Day events held around Colombo
A series of events was held in Colombo and suburban areas to mark International Women’s Day. President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday said that he plans to introduce two bills aimed at advancing gender equality and empowering women. Another Women’s Day event organised by the Police was held at Malalasekara Auditorium, Nalanda College. The event was [...]
ECTA to open opportunities for trade and economic cooperation: Indian High Commissioner
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The proposed Economic and Technical Co-operation Agreement (ECTA) benefits both countries, particularly Sri Lanka, India’s High Commissioner Santosh Jha said. “Sri Lanka was the first to sign a free trade agreement in 1998. That was a first for Sri Lanka but also for India,” he said. He was speaking at an interactive [...]
Stamps designed using AI issued to mark 10th National Scout Jamboree
February 21 will go into the record books of the Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau as stamps designed with the use of AI were issued to commemorate the 10th National Scout Jamboree. The bureau’s publicity officer, Uthpala Vithanage, said: “Most collectors usually prefer to collect under specific themes. Scouting is a world-wide theme, and most importantly, [...]
Wattala Pritipura beach in minister’s neighbourhood lacks facilities: Residents
Pritipura Beach in Hendala, Wattala is a tourist attraction close to Colombo that draws many local and foreign tourists. However, this spot sorely lacks public facilities. In particular, there are no public toilet facilities and drinking water facilities. There is no place to safely store beachgoers’ clothing for bathing. There are no play facilities for [...]
Good water levels in tanks, say officials but people facing drinking water issues
By Nathara Abeywickrema People in some parts of the country are already facing issues with potable water, although officials say that the prevailing hot weather condition will only have a minimal impact on agriculture and drinking water due to the showers that were experienced in recent months. Seventy three of the major water tanks that [...]