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Home » NewsQuiet beginning for Nov. 14 polls
Amid signs of little public interest in the election campaign for the November 14 general election, postal voting began on Wednesday and some armed services personnel are seen at a polling booth set up at the BMICH in Colombo. Pic by Eshan Fernando
President to present Vote on Account this month
Public sector salary increase of up to Rs. 7,500 in Budget 2025 with IMF approval By Damith Wickramasekara President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will present a Vote on Account (VoA) in his capacity as Minister of Finance during the first sitting week of the new Parliament this month. The VoA will ensure the continuation of government [...]
Govt. to buy 300,000 tonnes of rice to control prices
By S. Rubathessan The government has decided to maintain its own buffer stocks of paddy as a countermeasure against large-scale mill owners who are holding back stocks, resulting in a shortage of rice and an increase in prices. Agriculture Ministry Secretary M.P.N.M. Wickremasinghe told the Sunday Times the current fluctuation of rice prices was because [...]
16 diplomats to be recalled
The Presidential Secretariat has decided to terminate the appointments of 16 Consuls General and diplomatic officers with immediate effect. Accordingly, Presidential Secretary N.S. Kumanayake has sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a list of names of those to be recalled. He said the decision to recall them was taken on the instructions of President [...]
CIABOC to issue warrants on politicians and officials dodging statements
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is to issue summons on politicians and officials who have avoided appearing before the Commission to provide statements over ongoing investigations. The summons will be issued under powers vested with the CIABOC. The commission will take steps to notify courts regarding those [...]
Ayurveda a healthy bridge connecting Lanka and India, says India’s envoy
The Indian High Commission’s cultural arm, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, celebrated the Ninth Ayurveda Day in Colombo on Friday. High Commissioner Santosh Jha inaugurated the 9th Ayurveda Day events at the New Arts Theatre of the Colombo University together with the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. H.D. Karunaratne. The event was organised by the Centre [...]
Govt. committed to renewable energy targets, but priority is to make tariffs affordable
No EOIs from next year; only open competitive bidding and e-bidding for power sector contracts By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka will honour its commitments under the Paris Agreement—to generate 70 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050—but will change the process by which this is [...]
CEB flouts Electricity Act deadline; employees in the dark over placements in new companies
The Ceylon Electricity Board management has failed to inform its employees before a legally mandated deadline which of the 12 companies they would be assigned to when the utility is unbundled under the new Sri Lanka Electricity Act. The law says that the management must give all CEB employees this information within four months of [...]
WhatsApp scams; you could be the next victim
By Tharushi Weerasinghe A sudden surge in WhatsApp money-swindling scams has prompted warning alerts from regulatory authorities in Sri Lanka, following complaints from several people that their accounts have been hacked. The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) sent out warning alerts regarding a money swindling scheme taking over WhatsApp after Samagi Jana Balawegaya [...]
Tourism industry says normalcy has returned
By Minaza Hassan Following the series of travel advisories which raised concerns about future bookings, the Sri Lankan tourism industry is confident of the return of normalcy. “There is actually no major situation as such. It was only a kind of advisory and we didn’t face any real threat. So subsequently everything is normal [...]
Death of former local council member: Statements recorded from 10 people
By L. B. Senaratne Kegalle Police have recorded statements from ten people regarding the death of 75-year-old former school teacher Krishantha Pulasthi Marapane of Kempitiya Walawwe, Buruluppe, in the Kegalle District. Inspector S. Pushpakumara who is heading investigations said that there is no concrete evidence of the alleged murder, though it may possibly have been [...]
Sri Lanka showcases heritage and tourism at fair in Türkiye
The Sri Lanka embassy in Türkiye participated in the Antalya Tourism Fair 2024, held from October 23 to 25 promoting Sri Lanka’s heritage and vibrant tourism offerings to a global audience. The event, renowned as one of the most productive and innovative tourism fairs in the Mediterranean region, drew more than 40,000 visitors and over [...]
11 incidents of violence and 1104 violations so far in runup to General Elections
By- Ishu Bandara Police until yesterday reported 33 incidents of violence and 155 violations related to the upcoming General Elections since September 24. A total of 207 individuals have been arrested, including 6 candidates and 201 supporters. Additionally, 49 private vehicles have been seized for violating election laws and being used in unlawful activities. Among [...]
Parties, candidates agree to EC’s campaign finance limits
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Parties, candidates, and independent groups contesting the November 14 parliamentary elections have agreed to stick by the campaign expenditure limits set by the Election Commission in consultation with stakeholders, officials said. In a circular released last week, the Election Commission set out the regulations governing the spending, recording and reporting of campaign [...]
Passport woes continue despite Govt. assurances
By Sandun Jayawardana Despite government assurances that it would be able to end the long queues for passports by mid-October, massive queues have been observed at the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) over the past week, as many who hope to go abroad continue to face severe inconveniences owing to backlog of prospective passports [...]
Badulla bus tragedy: Condition of injured students improving, say health officials
Mother of one of the dead students recalls last conversation with daughter Initial probe reveals accident occured due to a mechanical problem Pix and text by Palitha Ariywansha and Prasad Rukmal The condition of the injured persons – most of them students of the Kotelawala Defense University (KDU) in the bus accident at Ambagahaoya, [...]
1500 families affected by the flooding of Kadupitiya Oya
Text and pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe More than 2,000 acres of paddyland in the Mahawewa Divisional Secretariat are under threat of floods due to the breaching of the Kadupitiya Oya bund following the heavy rains. Residents in the areas of Kudawewa, Mahawewa, and Gal Amuna are also under threat. The waters overflowing from Deduru [...]
India and Sri Lanka to conduct joint study on marine resources in Palk Strait strip
Agreement reached at meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries where Sri Lanka emphasises the dangers of bottom- trawling By S. Rubatheesan Both Sri Lanka and India have agreed to carry out a joint research study in the narrow strip of Palk Strait that divides the two nations to protect the [...]
SC judge reminds new attorneys: Legal profession’s dignity depends on lawyers’ conduct
The following is the text of Supreme Court Justice P. Padman Surasena’s address at the oath-taking ceremony for new attorneys-at-law. Those whose names were just read out by the registrar of this court, now stand enrolled as attorneys at law of the Supreme Court. We, on behalf of the judiciary, congratulate each one of [...]
Court rejects FR petition seeking the rejection of Ramanayake’s nomination
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Supreme Court this week dismissed the fundamental rights petition seeking an order to reject the nomination of former MP and United Democratic Voice (UDV) leader Ranjan Ramanayake to contest from the Gampaha district at the 2024 general election. The SC bench comprising Justices Preethi Padman Surasena, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe and Achala Wengappuli [...]
Decent work, stable family a dream for many in precarious trade zone jobs
By Ishu Bandara Sri Lanka’s manpower workers face job uncertainty, which has also caused instability for their families. Many people from rural areas, drawn to Free Trade Zones and other sectors out of financial necessity, suffer from inadequate wages, lack job security, and have limited access to essential facilities. Most critically, they are often left [...]
Montero with false number plates not Lohan Ratwatte’s
By Shane Seneviratne A jeep taken into custody by the Theldeniya Police, on suspicion that it was a vehicle used by former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte was found to have been owned by a close relative of a well-known kapuwa operating a devale in Galtenna. Following information received by the Theldeniya Crime Division, the Mitsubishi [...]
Sri Lanka’s pathology success story under threat due to brain drain
CPSL President gives multi-faceted strategy as way forward to ensure sustainability of service Addressing a matter of “profound” significance that affects the future of healthcare, the President of the College of Pathologists of Sri Lanka (CPSL), Dr. Priyanka Abeygunasekara urged “collective action”. ‘Breaking the Chain: Battling Brain Drain in Histopathology in Sri Lanka’ she had [...]
Devastating pig disease triggers tighter vigilance advice
By Nathara Abeywickrema State veterinarians are advising pig farms to be vigilant about a highly contagious viral disease ahead of the festive season. Infections of African Swine Fever (ASF) and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) have been recorded in some pig farms. ASF is particularly notorious for causing high mortality rates. However, while these [...]
Court orders report from Wildlife Dept. after CEJ takes issue over elephant trenches
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) Director General to submit a comprehensive report on the current situation of the trenches that had been dug as part of the project undertaken to mitigate the human-elephant conflict. The bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Achala Wengappuli and Arjuna Obeyesekere gave [...]
No quick fix for price of staple amid claims of artificial shortage
By Kasun Warakapitiya and S. Rubatheesan The Government is battling to control the escalating price of rice as traders overlook the maximum retail price. According to the weekly food commodities bulletin published by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) for October 18-24, rice varieties are being sold above the maximum retail price. After [...]
Tongue-twister toxin triggers tainted Thriposha debate
Kapila Bandara A Government official heading the state-run Thriposha nutrition packs producer admitted this week that some samples had contained liver cancer-causing aflatoxins, a viral disease that infects corn, a main ingredient in the supplement given to the most needy Sri Lankan children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. “There was a small amount with a [...]
Deepavali celebrations draw together all faiths at Walpola Rahula Institute
By Malaka Rodrigo The Hindus of Sri Lanka and around the world celebrated the Deepavali festival a few days ago, on October 31. In line with Deepavali, a group of Hindu followers gathered to celebrate the festival that welcomed participants from various religions, primarily Buddhists. The event took place on October 25 at the Walpola [...]
Stormy weather inland but calm seas, Met. Department forecasts
The Meteorological Department issued a warning that heavy showers exceeding 100 mm are likely in certain areas of the Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and North-central provinces. Throughout the day, showers or thundershowers are anticipated in most parts of the island, particularly along the coastal regions of the Western, Southern, North-western, and Northern provinces. The Met. Department [...]