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A Buddhist monk was among hundreds of people who visited the Trincomalee residence of Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan to pay their last respects to him. The veteran politician, regarded as the moderate and pragmatic voice of the Tamil community, died this week and was given a state funeral. The cremation takes place today. [...]
China-led container terminal company makes US$ 30mn cut in investment pledged
By Namini Wijedasa Colombo International Container Terminals Ltd. (CICT), whose controlling stake is held by China Merchants Port, has cut the investment it pledged to expand its terminal capacity from US$ 90 million to US$ 60 million. This came after the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said it could not offer space to extend the [...]
CIABOC to probe assets of Keheliya’s relatives, employees
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided to expand the inquiry into the assets of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella by looking into the earnings of his close relatives and employees. A senior CIABOC official said the required action would be taken in the next few days. He [...]
Two Lankans among 22 Indian poachers
Among the 22 Indian fishermen who were taken into custody recently for engaging in illegal fishing in northern waters, two Sri Lankan-origin individuals are facing separate legal charges. When the case came up before the Kayts Magistrate on Friday, the Court was told that the two Sri Lankan nationals left the country during the height [...]
Expressways: Finance Ministry asks Highways Ministry to get donor concurrence
By Namini Wijedasa The Finance Ministry has urged the Highways Ministry to get the concurrence of lending agencies that had funded road construction before devising plans to transfer the management and assets of Sri Lanka’s expressways from the Road Development Authority (RDA) to the new State-owned company named Sahasya Investments Ltd (SIL), the Sunday Times [...]
Dayasiri vows to take Siripala group to court over Friday’s incident at Darley Road
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara has decided to seek the court’s intervention to enable him to assume duties at the party headquarters at Darley Road in Colombo. Mr. Jayasekara told the Sunday Times that he would also be filing contempt of court cases against all who obstructed him from entering the [...]
Law College at 150: CJ hails its role in preserving people’s judicial power
By Ranjith Padmasiri Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya yesterday hailed the Law College as an institution that had continued to play a major role in the people’s judicial power. “The silent service this institution has rendered over the past 150 years deserves rejoicing and celebration,” said the Chief Justice while addressing ‘a Back-to-Law College’ event coinciding [...]
Veteran leader Sampanthan makes his final journey
By S. Rubathesan Tamil people across the Northern and Eastern provinces mourned the death of veteran Tamil leader R. Sampanthan this week, marking his decades-long active political life and his role for the Tamil cause. His party, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi, organised pocket meetings in its offices and civil society outfits to remember his role [...]
Exiting default status next for Sri Lanka, CB Governor says
Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said the next priority is for the country to exit its restrictive default and selective default status, which Sri Lanka has been placed in for not fulfilling its debt obligations, and make progress in its credit ratings. “The initial priority is to resolve this situation and complete the restructuring [...]
Audit shows state pharma, Litro Gas among others caused Rs 200m loss
By Mimi Alphonsus Whether purchasing gunny sacks or constructing buildings, public entities are required to follow strict procedures to ensure taxpayer money is not wasted. But recklessness and mismanagement have resulted in a loss of almost Rs. 200 million, according to a recently-released audit report for 2021. The State Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company purchased unusable medical [...]
Imported inputs eat up US$ 1bn of apparel trade export income of US$ 1.9bn
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka’s apparel trade has spent more than US$1 billion in foreign exchange to bring in intermediate goods up to May this year, compared with earnings of US$1.96 billion from exports. The net earnings from these exports amount to less than US$1 billion. Data from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka show [...]
NAO exposes tender fraud at KMC car park developed with World bank funds
By L. B. Senaatne The National Audit Office (NAO) has highlighted fraud in the tender for the Kandy Municipal Council car park ‘Sasa Uyana’, which was built with World Bank funds of Rs 513 million. In a report, the NAO sought answers to questions raised regarding the tenders within seven days of their letter dated [...]
Campaign finance laws will be enforced for presidential election: EC
By Anthony David The Election Commission will enforce laws governing campaign finance at the upcoming presidential election, its Chairman R. M. A. L. Ratnayake said yesterday. “We are studying some guidelines. The amounts (ceiling) will be agreed upon after discussions with political parties fielding candidates,” he told the Sunday Times. That would be done within [...]
Sri Lanka robbed of Rs 350 million worth of fisheries resources daily due to Indian bottom trawling
By S. Rubathesan Sri Lanka loses Rs 350 million worth of its rich fisheries resources on a daily basis in the northern territorial waters due to the entry of at least 500 illegal mechanised bottom trawlers operated by Indian fishermen, according to a Cabinet note prepared by the Fisheries Ministry. The note pointed out that [...]
Drug war resumes with more vigour; STF and armed forces called in
By Damith Wickremasekara The second phase of the government’s anti-drug war, officially known as ‘Yukthiya’ (Justice), got underway this week with new strategies being employed to combat narcotic-related crimes. The operation, jointly carried out by the Police, Special Task Force (STF), and armed forces, primarily targets the Western and Southern Provinces, where the narcotic trade [...]
Wide array of state worker grievances continues to simmer
By Ishu Bandara A number of state worker protests, involving thousands of dairy farmers, teachers and principals, university staff, health workers, admin officers, Grama Niladharis, targeting a range of demands including solutions to salary anomalies and higher allowances, were held last week. Some unions have continued to press their long-standing, unmet demands for months. But, [...]
Three-wheelers cite high operating costs for not cutting fares
By Nathara Abeywickrema Three-wheeler drivers are demanding a further reduction in fuel prices if they are to pass on the benefits of the reductions to users. The All-Island Three Wheeler Drivers and Owners Association says if the government lowers the petrol price to at least Rs. 300, operators will lower the fare to Rs. 80 [...]
Roadworks resume, outstanding bills for projects being settled
By Minaza Hassan A midst outstanding bills, suspended projects, and skilled and accomplished industry personnel leaving, steps have been taken to revive the construction industry with the report of a settlement this week of an outstanding bill of Rs 200 billion owed to contractors according to Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga. “Projects that [...]
Dengue danger shows no sign of easing; tally exceeds 28,800 and 11 deaths
By: Nathara Abeywickrema The National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) of the Health Ministry has raised the alarm that there will be an increase in cases in coming weeks, because people are less concerned about the prevention of dengue fever given the wet weather. The Western Province accounts for almost half of all dengue cases across [...]
Several accidents during the week, 7 deaths and many injured
A series of accidents took place this week killing at least seven and causing injuries to many. In the latest incident, five people were injured in an accident on the Badulla-Bandarawela main road . The incident occurred when an SLTB bus playing from Badewella to Bandarawela veered off the road near a fuel station and [...]
15-year-old village hero in brave act saves four-year-old from unprotected well
The story of a teenage boy saving a four-year-old relative from certain death after he fell into a 36-foot unprotected well was reported from the village of Mahakumbukkadawala in Puttalam. Four-year-old Akash would often come over to 15-year-old Nimsara’s house to play. On that fateful day after playing together, Mimsara said he had even fed [...]
A decrepit, smelly zoo holds underfed animals in appalling conditions
By Kasun Warakapitiya Visitors to the Dehiwala zoo are far from happy by the management of the zoo and the treatment of its animals. They said that the zoo, which was celebrating its 88th anniversary, was not maintained properly, and visitor interest had declined. They feel the animals are neglected and have little freedom of [...]
Ingrin Academy honours Wijeya Newspapers Chairman
Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Chairman Ranjit Wijewardene was hounred as a pioneer of the Sri Lanka printing industry at an award ceremony organised by the Ingrin Academy of Printing and Graphics at the BMICH recently. Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. Deputy Chairman Sujan Wijewardene accepted the award on behalf of the Chairman from Buddha Sasana and Cultural Affairs [...]
Lenawa says he acted alone in filing FR petition on presidential term
By Ranjith Padmasiri Businessman C.D. Lenawa, who has sought an interim order from the Supreme Court to prevent the Election Commission from holding the presidential election as scheduled until the Court provides an interpretation regarding the end date of the President’s term, declared yesterday that he filed the petition on his own volition. In a [...]