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Home » NewsThanthirimale Viharaya shines in Poson glow
A spark of light illuminated Mihintale over two millennia ago when Arahat Mahinda from India introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. To commemorate this dawn, which symbolises freedom from darkness, ignorance, and attachment, the country comes alive with aloka poojas on Poson Poya Day. In keeping with tradition, Wijeya Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Sunday [...]
Regulator refuses approval for Adani wind power project
The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has refused approval to award procurement of the 484 MW wind power plant in Mannar and Pooneryn to Adani Green Energy SL Ltd. (AGESL), saying the information submitted to it by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) was not adequate to assess least cost and technical compatibility. A [...]
People smuggling: Long jail terms and fines for offenders
Any person found guilty of having engaged in human smuggling faces prison terms ranging from five to ten years and a fine of up to two million rupees under a new Immigration Bill gazetted by the government. The bill imposes tough penalties for those smuggling people, both into and from Sri Lanka. Penalties apply to [...]
Asylum seekers left in lurch in Sri Lanka as UN abandons them
World Refugee Day fell on June 20, but this year celebrations were subdued as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees has decided to phase down its operations in Sri Lanka, leaving the 500 or so refugees and asylum seekers in the lurch. Sri Lanka is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, [...]
Bohra spiritual convention shifted to Karachi, but some visitors likely to come here
The ‘Ashara Mubaraka’, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s spiritual convention that attracts visitors from several countries, has been shifted from Sri Lanka to Karachi in Pakistan, prompting some of those due in as visitors to cancel their trip to Colombo. But the Bohra community here is preparing to co-host the event by having live satellite streams [...]
IRD withdraws temporary VAT number scheme due to large-scale abuse
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has decided to withdraw the facility of providing temporary VAT (Value-Added Tax) numbers for imports for commercial purposes in view of the misuse of the system. The move follows revelations that some businessmen, including those involved in the import of commodity items, were misusing the facility by obtaining temporary numbers [...]
Public servant has “no absolute right” to pension, CA rules
The Court of Appeal (CA) has ruled that a public servant has “no absolute right” to any pension or allowances, reaffirming an earlier determination on the matter. Accordingly, the CA has stressed that petitioners cannot request a judicial order to obtain a pension. The CA gave the ruling after considering a writ petition filed by [...]
UK ban on LTTE stays; pro-Eelam group’s appeal fails
The UK Proscribed Organisations Appeals Commission on Friday rejected an appeal by the TGTE (Transitional Government of Tamil Eelam) to lift the proscription on the LTTE in Britain as a terrorist organisation. The Commission gave its ruling on Friday in an appeal by Arumugam and Others vs. the Secretary of State for the Home Department. [...]
Ports unions oppose purchase of diesel cranes; push for hybrid machines
Trade unions have expressed opposition to the proposed purchase of diesel-operated Straddle carrier cranes for the East Container Terminal, claiming that hybrid cranes are more cost effective and technologically more advanced. The Port Join Trade Union Alliance said that the Technical Evaluation Committee, from the beginning of the process, has favoured diesel-operated machines. The tender [...]
AG to retire on June 26
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam is due to retire from his post on June 26 upon reaching the retirement age of 60. It is understood that he has already submitted all relevant documents in preparation for his impending retirement. Mr. Rajaratnam’s retirement comes after the Constitutional Council voted to reject a proposal by President Ranil Wickremesinghe [...]
Election buzz begins with pocket meetings, alliance talks in the offing
By Kasun Warakapitiya With less than a month to go for the Election Commission’s announcement of the dates for the presidential elections, political parties and alliances are stepping up their campaign activities. Although some parties are yet undecided on their candidates, they are engaged in activities such as internal party discussions and pocket meetings to [...]
Foreign job scams: People falling prey to fraudsters despite warnings, says SLBFE
Despite repeated warnings by authorities, many people continue to fall prey to fraudsters running fake foreign job scams. While dozens of arrests have been made, it remains an uphill battle. Earlier this month, police sought public assistance to arrest an alleged fraudster accused of defrauding over Rs. 17.5 million from individuals in various parts of [...]
Port City duty-free shopping: Revised gazette gets oversight committee green light
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) has approved the gazette notification outlining the regulations on items that Sri Lankan passport holders can purchase at the Colombo Port City duty-free mall, along with the permitted quantities. Following the approval, the regulations will come into force once Parliament approves them. CoPF’s chairman, Dr. Harsha de Silva, [...]
MRCC, housing projects launched during Indian Minister’s visit
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during his official visit to Sri Lanka on Thursday, along with President Ranil Wickremesinghe launched the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), a nerve centre for search and rescue operations at sea. The centre that was established with an Indian grant of USD 6 million was jointly commissioned in [...]
Beware of stones
Sri Lanka is well and truly in the ‘Stone Belt’ cutting across the countries in Southeast Asia going up to South Africa. This is why Consultant Urologist Dr. K. Sutharshan attached to the Army Hospital in Narahenpita, who rose to fame by setting a new Guinness Record last year for removing the “largest and heaviest” [...]
Census seeks more data on population characteristics
Waste segregation methods, lack of access to water in months of drought, and whether births and deaths have been registered are among some of the new questions that will be posed during the National Census due to take place later this year. These questions will be asked along with information on the interior structures of [...]
Only critical repairs, despite multibillion-rupee damage to roads from rain
The estimated damage to roads due to unfavourable weather in the latter half of last year was Rs. 13 billion, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was told. According to Ranjith Rubasinghe, secretary, Ministry of Highways, Rs. 2.1 billion has been budgeted to rebuild roads severely damaged during recent downpours. The COPE session was presided [...]
Judicial Services Association decides to condemn Justice Minister’s statement
The Judicial Services Association (JSA), which represents district judges and magistrates, has decided to strongly condemn Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s statement, in which he levelled serious allegations of misconduct against several serving judicial officers. The decision was made when the JSC’s special executive committee convened for a meeting on Thursday (20). It was also decided [...]
India eyeing cobalt-rich underwater mountain in sea area claimed by Lanka: Al Jazeera report
India is scrambling to secure rights to explore a cobalt-rich underwater mountain in the middle of the Indian Ocean but its bid has come up against competing claims at a time when Sri Lanka, too, is looking to mine the region for precious minerals according to an Al Jazeera report on Wednesday. The urgency behind [...]
X-Press Pearl disaster: More than 64,000 emails deleted; CID launches forensic probe
Some 64,706 emails from a total of 75,927 emails that had been exchanged between the container vessel X-Press Pearl, the Colombo Port, and the vessel’s local agent from the time the devastating fire broke out on board the ship had been deleted, according to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The CID told the Colombo Chief [...]
President promotes strong partnership with India to achieve Lanka’s development goals
President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed yesterday his commitment to maintaining a strong partnership with India to achieve Sri Lanka’s development goals. Emphasising the urgency to expedite joint initiatives, the President highlighted a comprehensive agenda for transformative bilateral projects. The President stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the energy sector, aiming [...]
‘Healthy Canteen Project’ launched as Colombo city joins prestigious global network
From the word go, the intention was to show that it was all about healthy diets. The breakfast was a lavariya, manioc cutlet and banana served on a kenda-kola wattiya and plain tea in a coconut shell with kitul jiggery! It set the tone for the ‘Healthy Canteen Project’ launched in early June by the [...]
Tea estates condemn workers to sub-human lives, tribunal testimonies show
“I wanted to express my struggles somewhere,” said a plantation worker who testified at a workers’ tribunal on exploitation in the sector. “There has been no solution for years.” The tribunal is a symbolic one, organised by the Ceylon Workers Red Flag Union and presided over by three retired justices from Sri Lanka, India, and [...]
Generosity abounds at Poson
Thousands of pilgrims flocked to Anuradhapura on Friday to observe Poson, while several religious events were held across the country to mark the day on which Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mahinda some 2,300 years ago. A record 4600 dansals were held islandwide. Devotees visited Mihinthalaya, Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya, Atamasthana (the [...]
Uni non-academic staff stick to salary demand despite rejection
The government has ruled out a salary increase for university non-academic staff, but the union has vowed to continue to press for their demands. The strike has gone on for more than 50 days, with union members resorting to protests and even a ‘Satyagraha.’ “They seek a 25% salary increase, which the Treasury cannot afford, [...]
Sand mining eroding Dambulu Oya banks
A sand mining racket taking place in Galkiriyagama and Madatugama has destroyed the Kirawala Bridge along with the banks of the Dambulu Oya, alleyways and caused the uprooting of significant trees, residents claim. Residents said that the criminal masterminds behind the large scale racket were dominant in the area, and that officials responsible for their [...]
Indian Coast Guard Ship Sachet delivers spare parts for Sri Lanka counterpart Suraksha
The Indian Coast Guard Ship Sachet, an offshore patrol vessel, arrived in Colombo on June 19 for a two-day visit. The ship brought essential spare parts worth USD 1.2 million on gratis for Sri Lanka Coast Guard Ship Suraksha. On arrival, the Commanding Officer of the vessel, Deputy Inspector General R Rajesh Nambiraj, TM [...]
Construction on Apeksha paediatric ward, children’s park ongoing: SLAF
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa on Thursday provided an update to Senior Adviser to the President on National Security and Chief of the Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake on the progress of the construction of the four-storey paediatric ward at the Apeksha Hospital, in Maharagama. The ward funded by the Ruhunu [...]
Miller provides rice unfit for consumption
More than 30,000 kgs of rice due to be distributed among low income group families in Karuwalagaswewa in the Puttalam District has been turned down due to poor quality, officials said. The rice was due to be distributed among 7,881 families under the programme to provide 10kgs of rice to each of the families. The [...]
NHDA housing project in Ampara abandoned
A National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) in the Hingurana Divisional Secretariat area in the Ampara District launched in 2018 has been abandoned despite millions spent on the scheme. The project known as Ilukpitiya I and and Ilukpitiya II were to have a total 62 houses, but so far only 12 houses have been completed. Ilukpitiya [...]
Dwindling donkeys
The number of donkeys, an attraction in Kalpitiya, are dropping with many obstacles for their survival. They were spotted among the sand dunes and the mangroves in the past, but not many of them are seen these days, according to residents. The animals were first brought in to transport goods and salt produced in the [...]