News
Home » NewsIndia’s Buddhist heritage on display
It was on a Poya day like yesterday that Arhath Sangamitta Theri arrived in Sri Lanka from India more than two millennia ago, carrying a Bo sapling, which today stands in Anuradhapura as the oldest historical tree in the world and a sacred symbol of Buddhists. To coincide with this event, the Indian High Commission [...]
All NGOs and INGOs to come under National Secretariat
Documents must be cleared by Defence, Foreign and other relevant ministries The Government has made it compulsory for all local and foreign non-governmental orgaisations operating in Sri Lanka, including those that have registered under the Companies Act, to register with the National Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organisations. The registrations have been made mandatory under the [...]
President leaves today for India, wide-ranging talks scheduled
President Anura Kumara Disanayake leaves today on a three-day state visit to India with a 10-member delegation. He will be the guest of Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath and Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando will be part of the delegation. Two Foreign Ministry officials—Director General [...]
Govt. faces another passport crisis; sets up advisory committee
By Namini Wijedasa With Sri Lanka’s current batch of 750,000 passports due to run out between July and September next year, depending on the daily issuance rate, the Public Security Ministry will seek Cabinet approval to allow an expert committee to propose how best to replenish stocks. The issue was now “a real tangle” which [...]
Expat Lankans’ Treasury Bill and Treasury Bond interests exempted from taxes
Sri Lankans who reside abroad and have subscribed to the country’s Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds by remitting funds back home are exempted from paying income tax on the interest derived from those investments, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) said yesterday. The announcement came a day after the government announced the conclusion of its international [...]
Sri Lanka completes landmark sovereign debt restructuring
By Bandula Sirimanna Sri Lanka has completed the more complicated part of its international bond restructuring agreement, a milestone toward recovering from bankruptcy. “We are very pleased to see this vote of confidence from our international and local bondholders,” President Anura Kumara Disanayake said in a statement. “The past few years have been challenging for [...]
World Press photo exhibition to be held in Colombo, Jaffna and Galle
The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, in collaboration with Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), has announced the arrival of the prestigious World Press Photo Exhibition (WPP) 2024 in Sri Lanka. The exhibition, running from January 10 to February 2, presents a curated selection of the best and most impactful photojournalism and documentary photography from [...]
Woman shot at outside court
A 40-year-old woman was shot at near the Maligakanda Magistrate courts yesterday, police said. The woman was returning home after paying the bail money for her husband’s release in a heroin case. The gunman and his accomplice had fled the scene. The woman was admitted to the National Hospital and is receiving treatment at the [...]
Security details to be reviewed soon
By Damith Wickremasekara Security provided by armed forces to VIPs, retired military officers and ex-politicians is to be reviewed shortly. Following a threat assessment, a decision will be taken about the strength of security to be provided, a senior official said. He said some VIPs currently have more than 100 security personnel deployed. The deployment [...]
Shortest-serving Speaker quits, new Speaker on Tuesday
A new Speaker will be announced on Tuesday following the resignation of the recently elected Speaker, Asoka Ranwala. His resignation follows criticism regarding the authenticity of his educational qualifications. The Secretary to the President officially informed the Secretary General of Parliament, Kushani Rohanadeera in writing, that the President had accepted the resignation of the Speaker. [...]
LNG switch: Cabinet paper contains flawed projected savings
By Namini Wijedasa A Cabinet paper presented by Energy Minister Kumar Jayakodi to promote the use of liquefied natural gas in the electricity sector has projected a US$ 711 million saving over ten years starting from 2028—but that figure appears to be the result of a flawed calculation published in an “expert” committee report on [...]
Greater electoral accessibility promised for people with disabilities; EC marks global day
Following recent discussions on improving electoral accessibility, key recommendations have emerged to enhance the voting experience for persons with disabilities (PWDs). Under the theme “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future,” the Election Commission hosted on December 3 at its Rajagiriya head office an event to mark the International [...]
Superior courts vacancies to be filled soon
By Ranjith Padmasiri Six Superior Court vacancies—four in the Supreme Court and two in the Court of Appeal—are due to be filled shortly, the Sunday Times learns. Justices Sobitha Rajakaruna, Menaka Wijesundara, Mohammed Laffar, and Sampath B. Abeykoon are the most senior justices in the Court of Appeal. The Sunday Times learns that the Supreme [...]
Hard won battles may soon be lost for policewomen
Although the appointment of a woman as the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been heralded as a progressive step in a male-dominated Sri Lanka Police, there is fear that policewomen will “get lost in a sea of men” due to moves to amalgamate the police force’s female and male cadre By Namini [...]
Generation costs, forecast demand a drag on power tariffs cut decision
By Nathara Abeywickrema The delay in reducing electricity tariffs is being attributed to the compound impact of a growing energy demand and years of underinvestment in low-cost power generation, a senior official said. The additional demand of one billion electricity units projected for 2025, coupled with heavy reliance on expensive energy sources, has created significant [...]
Verification, one way to defend against WhatsApp hackers
By Dilushi Wijesinghe A concerning surge in scams involving hacking, particularly on the Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp, has raised alarm in recent months in Sri Lanka. Despite risks to personal security and privacy, authorities appear to be largely silent. As cybercriminals become more sophisticated, a diverse array of users of social media have become increasingly [...]
Parliamentary poll expenditure reports to be publicised
By Ishu Bandara The election campaign income and expenditure reports submitted by candidates and political parties who participated in the November 14, parliamentary election will be accessible to the public starting December 17. Citizens will also have 30 days from that date to file complaints regarding these reports. These reports are going to be published [...]
Softlogic Holdings weighs offloading of hotels to trim debt, books Rs 15.2b group loss
By Kapila Bandara Conglomerate Softlogic Holdings Plc, which has been dealing with heavy debt challenges and multi-billion rupee accumulated financial losses, is seeking buyers for its hotel assets. Asoka Kariyawasam Pathirage who heads the laregly-retail driven conglomerate, says in annual filings for 2023-2024 that the group is, “actively seeking buyers for our hotel sector, with [...]
Systemic problems hobble supplies of hundreds of medicines
By Nathara Abeywickrema Sri Lanka’s public health sector is grappling with a shortage of essential medicines, attributed to both local and global factors, with concerns about potential future shortages. While authorities have acknowledged some improvements, critical gaps in supply persist. Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, president of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association, highlights some critical [...]
Govt. optimistic of solving rice scarcity, but retailers see it differently
By Kasun Warakapitiya The government says it has put into operation a multi-prong approach to maintain the availability of rice, but retail market traders say they are yet to receive sufficient stocks. Retailers say they are finding it difficult to maintain profit margins as they can only make a five-rupee profit with the newly gazetted [...]
NMRA defends its chief executive over social allegations on social media
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) yesterday defended its chief executive officer Saveen Semage against allegations of impropriety levelled by a social media activist against whom the regulator has already lodged a Police complaint. NMRA chairman Ananda Wijewickrama defended Dr Semage against what he said were false claims made by Sanjaya Mahawatte [...]
Jaffna battles rat fever outbreak after 6 deaths reported and more than 50 cases
Urgent precautionary measures in operation, say regional health authorities By S. Rubatheesan With six deaths reported and 58 more patients identified with leptospirosis disease, commonly known as ‘rat fever’ in Jaffna district alone, regional health authorities have stepped up urgent precautionary measures to control the outbreak. The disease that spread in the district in the [...]
Polythene and plastic to profit
A youth has turned plastic waste into a foreign revenue earning business by manufacturing bags used in the textile industry. Sulalitha Perera collects plastic from garbage dumps at Bandaragama, Panadura and purchases plastic waste disposed from seven local government institutes and recycles them to manufacture the textile bags. Bag manufacturing has also given job opportunities [...]
Follow the science to wrestle with crop pests, experts advise
By Kasun Warakapitiya Researchers, conservationists, and officials of the Department Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said that a solution to the pest animals issue cannot be devised overnight. Instead, a scientific approach is needed to provide a sustainable solution, they say. DWC Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara told the Sunday Times that solutions for certain environmental problems cannot [...]
Pilgrims in god’s hands
Seenigama Maha Devalaya, a sacred site revered by people from several ethnic groups across Sri Lanka, is located near the Devol Devalaya, also known as the Diyamba Devol Devalaya. The site draws a large number of devotees who seek spiritual blessings. Pilgrims who come to worship at the Seenigama Maha Devalaya often make their way [...]
New CJ says Judiciary is the army that defends the fortress of democracy from the assault of injustice
By Ranjith Padmasiri Chief Justice Murdu Fernando this week said that an effective Judiciary is one that is cognisant of the importance of constitutionalism, which by design, is intended for the protection of human dignity. The Chief Justice made the comments at the ceremonial proceedings to welcome her. Excerpts of her speech: “Today marks not [...]
Puttalam’s salt industry drowning in rain, threatening country’s supply
Bitter truth behind Puttalam’s salt production drop Salt production in the Puttalam district has been hindered by incessant rains in the area. Puttalam district supplies 45 per cent of the market share. The salterns are spread over an area of about 4,000 Ha in Kalpiiya, Wanthavilluwa, Mundalam and Puttalam Divisional Secretary areas. More than 2,000 [...]
Alert raised for thunderstorms yet again
By Jayanie Madawala The low pressure condition brewing in the Bay of Bengal has now weakened, the Department of Meteorology said. This is the second time that the country has experienced a period of heavy rainfall, particularly in the northeast following the impact of cyclone Fengal last month which also claimed lives across the country. [...]
The Sripada season begins
The Sripada season began yesterday on Uduvap fullmoon Poya day. Religious observances were held on Friday as the statue of God Saman and the casket of relics of the Buddha were taken from the Sri Pada Rajamaha viharaya in Galpottawala via Pelmadulla to Sripada. Sripada Chief Incumbent Ven Bengamuwe Dhammadinna Thera presided over the religious [...]