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Home » NewsPalestinian Keffiyeh holds Baby Jesus
Pope Francis prays before the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024” during its inauguration in the Vatican. The picture shows the “Christ Child” displayed on a keffiyeh scarf gifted by the Palestinian Higher Committee of Churches Affairs, as part of the “Nativity of Bethlehem 2024.” It drew worldwide attention in the context of the ongoing war in [...]
e-passports: NPC reveals Govt. could have avoided delays and extra costs
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Public Security Ministry and the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) could have avoided unnecessary delays and additional costs if they had initiated the procurement of a personalisation system for e-passports in parallel with the tender to procure five million such passports, the National Procurement Commission (NPC) has informed the Court [...]
Rohingya boat people detained, provided food and other facilities after 16-day ordeal
By Amadoru Amarajeewa in Trincomalee A boat carrying more than one hundred Rohingya refugees and crew members was taken into custody by Sri Lankan maritime border authorities off the Mullivaikkal coast in the Northeast on Friday after enduring days of hardships at sea, including deaths and illnesses. The hungry and weary men, women, and children [...]
Lanka officially out of sovereign default
Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena yesterday declared that Sri Lanka had officially exited sovereign default, and it marked a major milestone in the country’s economic recovery process. “This has been a long and difficult journey, comprising painful reforms and a very complex debt restructuring,” Mr. Siriwardena posted a message on his ‘X’ account. The comments came [...]
Lanka joins more than 100 petitioners in ICJ case, seeking climate justice
Sri Lanka joined more than 100 countries and international organisations at what was described as a ‘historic hearing’ by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague on who should be largely held responsible for the deteriorating climate crisis. Attorney General Parindra Ranasinghe, representing Sri Lanka, following up on the country’s written statement and [...]
Canada Post brings glad tidings
By Dilushi Wijesinghe There’s good news for the season for many here who have loved ones overseas, as Canada Post announced that it will resume its air mail services from tomorrow, Monday, December 23. However, Superintendent of International Postal Services Samanmalie Perera said that they anticipate some disruption in services due to a backlog of [...]
Pay up VAT arrears or face decisions regarding operations: IRD tells companies
By Damith Wickremasekara The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has given notice to companies that have defaulted Value Added Tax (VAT) to make payments by next week or face conditions regarding their operations. The deadline to make VAT payments officially ends on Thursday, December 27. IRD Commissioner General Sepalika Chandrasekara told the Sunday Times that the [...]
Digital ID project starts next month
Indian delegation coming to sign MOU; first investment after new Govt. takes office By Damith Wickramasekera Sri Lanka and India will jointly collaborate to expedite the implementation of the Sri Lanka Unique Digital Identification (SLUDI) project to aid the country in its efforts to improve the delivery of state services to the people. A memorandum [...]
Jackson Anthony’s son-in-law complains of police harassment; probe underway
A police probe is underway to find out whether popular author Kasun Mahendra Heenatigala was allegedly mistreated by the Athurugiriya Police after his arrest. Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya ordered the probe headed by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of the Colombo-South Police Division, Police Spokesman K.B. Manathunga said yesterday. [...]
A special crime investigation division for each province
By Damith Wickramasekara A new special crime investigation division is to be set up at provincial level to minimise crime in the provinces. The nine police divisions – one for each province, will be modelled along the lines of the Colombo Crime Division and will be tasked with probing grave crimes and conducting special investigations [...]
Chinese naval ship offers medical services
The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark on Mission Harmony-2024 arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a seven-day friendly visit, during which it will provide medical services to Sri Lankan people. This is the second visit to Sri Lanka, the first being in 2017. The Chinese Embassy said the vessel, berthed in Colombo, would also [...]
A walk to remember
The Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemens’ Assocaition held a walk yesterday to comemmorate Poppy day. The march was held from Galle Face to the Viharamahadevi park war memorial. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Petitions to remove Upali Pannilage, Ramanathan Archchuna as MPs
By Ranjith Padmasiri Two writ petitions have been filed in the Court of Appeal requesting the court issue an order disqualifying Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment Dr Upali Pannilage and Jaffna District Independent MP Dr Ramanathan Archchuna as MPs. The petitions have been filed by Abhinawa Niwahal Peramuna Chairman Oshala Herath, [...]
SC verdict on Grade 5 paper on Dec 31
The Supreme Court’s verdict regarding four fundamental rights petitions requesting an order cancelling Paper I of the recently held Grade 5 scholarship exam and ordering the Commissioner General of Examinations to re-conduct the examination will be delivered on December 31. The SC concluded its hearing into the case after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submitted [...]
Supreme Court rejects AG’s request for a Full Bench
A request by the Attorney General to hear the petition filed by the Captain of stricken container vessel MV X-Press Pearl and the directors of the ship’s local agent before a full bench has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The petitioners had petitioned the Supreme Court requesting an order dismissing the case filed against [...]
Bus steers off Hatton-Kandy Road claiming three lives
Three people were killed and 28 others were injured in a bus accident in the Malliappuwa area of Hatton yesterday. The bus was travelling from Hatton to Kandy when it steered off the road. The deceased are a woman, a man, and a child according to hospital authorities. An officer from the District Base Hospital [...]
Nine injured in bus accident near Dawson’s Tower
Nine people were injured in a bus accident near Dawson’s Tower in Kadugannawa yesterday afternoon. The vehicle veered off the road and collided with a tree. The police suspect that the accident was caused by brake failure. All nine injured individuals were hospitalised following the incident. The bus, travelling from Colombo to Kandy, is operated [...]
Sri Lankans told to exercise their power on electricity charges
Views on what Sri Lankans will have to pay, or not pay, for electricity in the first half of next year will be heard until early January, the regulator said. The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) announced public consultations on both the proposed electricity tariff revision and the counterproposal by the PUCSL for [...]
Tri-forces personnel protection withdrawn from ex-presidents
Tri-forces personnel assigned for the protection of former Presidents are due to be removed effective from tomorrow (23). The government’s decision to remove tri-forces personnel assigned for the protection of ex-presidents was announced by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala in Parliament on Tuesday (17). The minister said that more than Rs. 1.4 billion in taxpayer [...]
Step on the law to ensure every candidate submits income and expenses report, says PAFFREL
Points to the need for a more efficient system to monitor election expenditure By Ishu Bandara In the records of the Election Income and Expenses reports for the recently concluded parliamentary elections in the Colombo District, 882 out of 966 candidates successfully submitted their reports. Of these, 842 reports were physically handed in at the [...]
President ends first overseas state visit with commitment to enhance mutually beneficial Indo-Lanka relations
President Anura Kumara Disanayake’s first state visit to India this week concluded with leaders of the two countries making a strong commitment to enhance Indo-Sri Lanka relations for a mutually beneficial partnership. The visit was also President Disanayake’s first overseas state visit since being elected head of state in September. President Disanayake undertook the three-day [...]
Railway and police go undercover to derail thieves who target tourists
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Railways Department’s protection force and police have launched a special joint undercover operation to ensure the safety of foreign tourists travelling on trains. The move follows a request of the Tourist Development Board in anticipation of an influx of seasonal visitors. The Railways Department is using its security division, the Railway [...]
Weather vagaries, pest infestations and lack of proper fertilisation impacting nut harvest
By Jayanie Madawala Since October, the price of coconut nuts has been skyrocketing due to a market shortage. “Higher-than-normal rainfall and temperature variations have significantly impacted the harvest,” stated Coconut Development Authority Chairman Shantha Ranathunga, adding that pest infestations and plant diseases have also contributed to the decline in production. To mitigate the impact on [...]
Small-scale retailers and millers say rice business is no business
By Kasun Warakapitiya Small-scale retailers say they are withdrawing from selling rice as they hardly make any profit. They say the five-rupee profit margin was insufficient, as around three rupees is spent on the bag they offer customers to take home the rice they buy from them. The Consumer Affairs Authority’s ongoing raids are acting [...]
Thousands in remand tormented in deplorable jails bursting at the seams
By Mimi Alphonsus Sri Lanka’s prisons are holding more than double the number of prisoners they have capacity for and as a result prisoners are suffering under atrocious conditions. The vast majority are remand prisoners, also known as pre-trial detainees. They are unconvicted, not yet found guilty, but forced to live in the squalor and [...]
Littering humans invite monkeys to their doorstep
By Kasun Warakapitiya A reputed primatologist and a senior official in wildlife said that reducing the availability of food and water would be a viable solution to the human-monkey conflict Well known primatologist, Professor Wolfgang Dittus, who lives in Sri Lanka, told the Sunday Times that purposeful feeding of monkeys at religious and tourist sites [...]
Sigiriya’s truant elephants destroy coconut plantation in Dambulla
By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa in Dambulla A herd of wild elephants has invaded a thirty-acre coconut grove in the Wewalawewa Alakolawewa area of Dambulla and uprooted and destroyed over a hundred fruit-bearing coconut trees. In the past few days alone, more than a hundred coconut trees have been uprooted, their branches eaten, the trunk trampled, [...]
Pachyderm dead in perilous pond
A 35-year-old elephant fell into Erenawilluwa Pond in the Karaitivu area of Vanathavilluwa two days ago and died while struggling to escape, according to wildlife authorities. The Erenawilluwa area is considered dangerous, and locals typically avoid it, especially during the rainy season. Reports indicate that the elephant fell into the pond while walking through the [...]
Birds come for the paddy
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe An influx of small birds into the paddy fields in Aanthikulama in the Ananmaduwa area is causing massive damage to their paddy crop, farmers in the area said. They say much of their time is spent chasing away the birds in a bid to safeguard the tender paddy [...]
Brick producers in woes due to scanty material at high prices
Pix and text by K.L. Walter Perera Thousands of persons engaged in the brick producing industry are facing a crisis with the increase of cost of production and lack of raw material. Along the Maha oya river, specially in areas like Kochchikade,Madampella,Badalgama and Divulapitiya, the production of bricks is a major source of self-employment. Many [...]
Memories of that fateful day are still vivid to many
Twenty years after the deadly tsunami of December 26, 2004 brought death and destruction to the country, Tharushi Weerasinghe visits the southern coast “I felt utterly betrayed by the ocean—it gave me palpitations just to look at it, which felt wrong, as though a lifelong friend, integral to my identity, had suddenly turned on me and [...]
Tinsel, baubles and decorated trees spread festive cheer
By Nathara Abeywickrema As Christmas approaches, the streets are illuminated and homes are in the mood to celebrate the season of joy, love, and giving. From decorating Christmas trees to preparing festive performances and community events, the festive atmosphere is heavy with anticipation. Christmas day promises a host of events designed to spread festive cheer [...]
J’Pura uni, Anti-Doping Agency to collaborate on raising awareness
The Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Sri Jayewardenepura has initiated a collaboration with the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The main objective of the MoU is to share expert knowledge and resources between the two parties to promote fair play among the sports community [...]