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On nomination day last Thursday, the area around the Election Commission was filled with flags of political parties and independent candidates contesting the September 21 presidential election. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
President’s office order stops Rishad’s projects in six districts
ACMC leader warns he will petition EC, urges President to revoke directive More than Rs 200 million worth ongoing development projects secured by All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen in six districts have been put on hold with immediate effect following directives issued by the Presidential Secretariat. Earlier, the ACMC leader [...]
Passport stocks fast deplete; available only for 43 days
Minister explains efforts to bring new books by October 27 from Finland company By Namini Wijedasa Amidst a continuing delay in implementing a proposed e-passport project, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration was by Friday left with around 44,200 ordinary passports in stock and is issuing them to the applicants at a tightly controlled [...]
Treasury to allocate Rs. 185 billion in 2025 budget for public sector pay hike
By Damith Wickremasekara The Treasury is to set aside Rs 185 billion required for a proposed salary increase for public sector employees and payment of anomalies through the next year’s budget, a senior official said. He said the Treasury was making provisions for the allocations, which would be included in the budget proposals. The proposed [...]
Political activist arrested for alleged misconduct at EC office gets bail
A Ruhunu Janatha Party member arrested for allegedly interrupting the duties of Election Commission officials was released on bail by Colombo’s Additional Magistrate Bandara Illangasinghe. The suspect, Chathuranga Chandimal, was released on Rs 7,500 cash bail and a surety bail of Rs 500,000.His lawyer told the court that he had a pass to enter the [...]
Lankan officer missing after Sandhurst passing-out parade
The Sri Lankan cadet officer, who passed out from Britain’s prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy last week, has gone missing, according to Defence Ministry sources. Mohammed Aneek was among 209 officers who passed out after 44 weeks of intense training. He was scheduled to return home this week after the passing out parade but missed the [...]
Heavy rains in past 48 hours affect more than 20,000
By Jayanie Madawala Around 27, 000 people belonging to 8,522 families have been impacted by the heavy rainfall received in the past 48 hours. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said people in areas of Ratnapura, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Ampara, Galle, and Badulla were facing hardships, while one person is reported missing from the Ampara district. The [...]
Sri Lanka to host AIA international conference 2025
Sri Lanka has been selected to host the 2025 AIA International conference. AIA International President Yew Kee Cheong has officially informed the AIA International Country Representative in Sri Lanka Nela de Zoysa about the decision taken by the AIA International Board. Ms Zoysa had submitted a proposal that Sri Lanka hosts the 2025 AIA International [...]
AG to file motion in SC to explain issues in Immigration Department reverting to SLTMobitel ETA system
By Namini Wijedasa The Attorney General will file a motion in the Supreme Court requesting a date to explain matters that hinder the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) from reverting to the SLTMobitel-run electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system that was in operation before a disputed e-visa mechanism was introduced on April 16, said Public [...]
Fewer Indian bottom trawlers after stricter laws by Sri Lanka, and increased Navy action
By S Rubatheesan With the tough implementation of recently amended fisheries regulations and continuing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen engaged in bottom trawling in Lankan territorial waters, the number of bottom trawlers venturing into the waters reduced significantly in recent months, Northern fishermen observed. Annalingam Annarasa, Secretary of Kayts Fishermen Cooperative Society is of the [...]
Lankan diplomat’s maid served full term before absconding, says Foreign Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) yesterday said a domestic assistant who on Thursday was ordered by the Federal Court in Australia to be paid AUD 543,000 (Rs. 107.78mn) in unpaid wages and interest by Sri Lanka’s former Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, Himalee Arunatilaka, had served a full three-year term before absconding from the [...]
EC formula to check on election expenses of candidates
After presidential candidates proposed various amounts ranging from ten cents to one thousand rupees as per-voter electioneering expense, the Election Commission (EC) is to decide on the per-head ceiling rate based on a formula, a senior official from the Commission said. Following a discussion with political parties on Friday, Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake told the Sunday [...]
The race is on
Nomination day on August 15, for the upcoming presidential election saw a record number of candidates arriving at the Election Commission office in Rajagiriya. In the run-up to nominations day and on the days following it, two of the main candidates, President Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB’s Sajith Premadasa signed electoral pacts with parties and others [...]
New Sri Lanka Foreign Service recruits share their vision for the country
By Mimi Alphonsus The Sri Lanka Foreign Service (SLFS) has 19 new recruits—the first to be recruited in six years. They were recruited following two examinations and an interview. The Sunday Times spoke to some of them—Bamini Sellathurai, Manduli Katugampola, Raveen Ubeysekera, and Thilina Galappatti—to learn about the job and their vision for the service. [...]
Pakistan and India High Commissions in Sri Lanka mark Independence Day celebrations
The High Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistani community in Sri Lanka celebrated the 78th Independence Day of Pakistan recently. High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Sri Lanka, Major General (Retd) Faheem-Ul-Aziz HI (M) hoisted the national flag in a ceremony at the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo. Messages of the President [...]
Candidates step up presidential campaign with rallies and blessings
By Kasun Warakapitiya The main contenders contesting to be elected as the ninth executive president intensified their campaign activities hours after nominations were handed over on Thursday. Thirty-nine candidates handed over nominations on Thursday—22 political party candidates and 17 independents. With 33 days remaining for the election on September 21, the candidates have started their [...]
Campaigns told to shed plastic
By Minaza Hassan Political parties are being reminded once again to not use plastic in their presidential election activities. “We have already sent a letter to the Election Commissioner and all parties requesting not to use plastic or polythene in their campaigns,’’ said Central Environment Authority (CEA) Chairman U.D.C. Jayalal. The CEA had previously issued [...]
Chanda Salli Meetare: Campaign cash of candidates go online for voter scrutiny
For the first time in Sri Lanka, six prominent election observers have launched an online tool to track presidential election campaign spending by the candidates. The groups consist of the Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), Centre for Monitoring Election Violence [...]
Misuse of state resources stands out among poll violations
By Ishu Bandara The Election Commission and monitoring groups are continuing to receive complaints on election law violations, along with a few incidents of violence. The Election Commission had received 457 complaints, as of August 15, while PAFFREL (People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections) and the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) [...]
SLMC suspends Ali Zahir Moulana for supporting Ranil
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has suspended its Batticaloa District Parliamentarian Ali Zahir Moulana with immediate effect for breaching party discipline by extending his support to President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the presidential election. In a letter, SLMC Secretary M. Nizam Kariapper told Mr. Moulana that the party’s high command at its August 4 meeting [...]
Election snippets
Same length as 2019 ballot paper The ballot paper for the Presidential Election on September 21 will be almost the same size as the ballot paper used for the 2019 Presidential Election. The length of the ballot paper would be 26 inches while its width would be five inches. EC stops road opening The Election [...]
Independents use everyday objects that connote superficial traits
By Nathara Abeywickrema In the lead-up to the presidential contest, the Election Commission has gazetted various symbols for independent candidates, allowing them to select those that resonate with their values or public image. Independent groups, or the candidates themselves, have picked from among 115 symbols. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, running as an independent candidate, has chosen [...]
‘Evidence-based’ or ‘evidence-biased’ medicine, asks expert
Delivering the SLMA Oration 2024, Prof. Athula Sumathipala spotlights glaring global disparities in research publications & under-representation of LMICs By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Disparity was put under the microscope, especially disparity in research publications, at the inauguration of the 137th Anniversary International Medical Congress 2024 of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) on Friday morning in [...]
Small businesses regain financial strength through ADB lifelines
By Kevin De Alwis Financial lifelines provided by the Asian Development Banks to Sri Lanka’s small businesses, which faced unprecedented challenges due to the coronavirus disease, have helped them recharge and even expand. Businessman Sagara Liyanage navigated through those testing times to turn Earth Bound Creations (Pvt) Ltd. into a successful handicraft enterprise. The business [...]
Sri Lanka College of Cardiology mourns the passing of pioneering Cardiologist Dr. Thenabadu
A well-known heart doctor who had made significant contributions to the advancement of this field in Sri Lanka passed away this week (on Wednesday), with the Sri Lanka College of Cardiology mourning his loss and paying major tribute to him. Pioneering and visionary Cardiologist Dr. Nihal Thenabadu whose contributions revolutionised this field, was appointed to [...]
Documenting the life and times of Sinharaja’s unique elephant brothers
Valuable insights to be gained as Dilmah joins DWC to track and video Loky Aliya & Panu Kota By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Theirs maybe the final trumpet call Sri Lanka would hear from within the Sinharaja Rainforest, as they are a ‘unique pair’ within an already ‘unique’ area. The last of the two Sinharaja elephants, ‘Loku [...]
Twenty Sri Lankans rescued from Myanmar cybercrime camps; 34 still trapped
By Mimi Alphonsus Twenty trafficked Sri Lankans who were forced to work at cybercrime camps in Myanmar have been rescued through collaboration with authorities in Myanmar and Thailand. Thirty-four more Sri Lankans are currently trapped inside these camps, and efforts are underway to free them. Many illegal cybercrime camps are functioning inside Myanmar by trafficking [...]
Esala Perahera concludes this week
The Esala Perahera in Kandy has drawn large crowds over the past few days with the numbers expected to increase for the final Randoli Perahera tomorrow. The Day Perahera will be held on Tuesday. Police have requested persons to arrive early as some of the roads may be closed due to the presence of large [...]
48-hour survey on elephants at waterholes begins
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) yesterday began an elephant survey with the support of officials of state departments, university students and lecturers, officers of the tri forces and the civil defence force. The department’s Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara, said that 95 percent of field staff of the department will participate, in [...]
Vanishing bus routes: Different transport modes and links may ease commuter woes
By Nathara Abeywickrema In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Colombo and the Western Province witnessed a disturbing but little-talked-about trend: the disappearance of several bus routes. Route numbers such as 104 (Wattala to Bambalapitiya), 155 (Mattakkuliya to Soysapura), 140 (Meethotamulla to Kollupitiya), and 168 (Nugegoda to Kotahena) have vanished, are vanishing, or are only [...]
Owl saved from drowning, flies away after TLC
While staying at a tourist bungalow near Wasgamuwa recently, IT professional Niroshan Jayasuriya stepped out of his room one morning around 7 a.m. when he noticed the caretaker trying to console something. On closer inspection, Mr. Jayasuriya saw that it was a little owl struggling in a pool of water trapped in a cement ring. [...]
17 houses destroyed in fire on estate
At least 17 houses were destroyed and 70 people have been affected by a fire in an estate in the the Pundal Oya area on Friday. Police said another 21 houses were also damaged in the fire that lasted over two hours. Pix by G. Krishanthan