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The hustle for passports continues. A lost-and-found counter has now been opened near the security station of the Passport Office to help people reclaim items lost in the chaos. A visitor is seen poring over a board with lost National Identity Cards, keys and bank debit/credit cards pinned on it. Pic by Eshan Fernando
Appeal Court President to resign amid Govt’s move to impeach him
Attorney General agrees to fast-track 11 high profile cases after meeting President By Ranjith Padmasiri Court of Appeal (CA) President Nissanka Bandula Karunarathna is to step down from his position, the Sunday Times learns. The decision comes in the wake of plans by the National People’s Power (NPP) Government to move an impeachment motion against [...]
Excise duties, taxes revised: Higher prices for vehicles, cigarettes and sugary drinks
By Tharushi Weerasinghe The government yesterday increased the excise duties and taxes on a range of items, including vehicles, electronics, beverages, and cigarettes. A gazette notification to this effect was issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Minister of Finance. Accordingly, new import taxes on vehicles will range between 200 and [...]
7 MoUs to be signed with China during President’s visit
By Damith Wickremasekara Seven memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering, among others, investment, the power sector, fisheries, and the economy will be signed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s four-day official visit to China beginning on Tuesday, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times that, in addition to the MOUs, the [...]
Yahapalana-era FCID to be revived as CID unit
The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), set up during the Yahapalana government in 2015 to investigate serious financial crime, is to be revived by bringing it under the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told the Sunday Times that though the FCID would be brought under the CID, a separate Deputy Inspector [...]
Central Expressway: Lanka builders urge President to revoke deal with China’s MCC
By Namini Wijedasa Five of Sri Lanka’s largest construction companies have urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to cancel a 2015-16 direct contract granted to the Metallurgical Corporation of China (Ltd) (MCC) for the much-delayed Section 1 of the Central Expressway Project (CEP) and to call for fresh tenders under an open, transparent bidding process. The [...]
Govt. seeks to generate revenue from ministerial bungalows
The Government has decided that 50 “luxury” official residences set aside for cabinet ministers will be utilised for other purposes that will bring revenue to the state. No minister in the current government would move into the luxury residences, Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala told the Sunday Times. Instead, they would be [...]
100 days no benchmark, Govt. on track to bring about change, says Public Security Minister
By Sandun Jayawardana and Damith Wickramasekara As the subject minister holding the portfolio of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala plays a key role in the implementation of the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s ambitious agenda for the country. A close confidant of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Mr. Wijepala has served previously as his private [...]
NPP Govt. risks losing public trust if promises and expectations are not met
Is it possible for a government that won an election with overwhelming popularity—especially one that captivated the younger generation—to become so unpopular that it loses power just two years after securing a landslide victory? The answer is yes, and there are political lessons to be learned in recent history. Despite promising wealth redistribution, the nationalisation [...]
2025 Appropriation Bill: Largest allocation for Finance Ministry; defence budget up by Rs. 19 billion
By Chandani Kirinde The 2025 Appropriation Bill sets government expenditure at Rs. 4,616 billion, with defence sector allocations remaining high as in previous years. The Bill was presented to Parliament on Thursday by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. The largest allocation for 2025 is for the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, which comes under [...]
Civil Aviation DG wants to put to rest “once and for all” issue of Ratmalana airport wall with risk assessment report
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has instructed officials at the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) to submit a report on whether the concrete perimeter wall at the end of the Ratmalana airport runway poses a danger to airplane safety. The report will include a threat assessment from the Defence Ministry and [...]
Cops hold course despite whining from operators of unsafe private buses
By Nathara Abeywickrema The ongoing campaign to remove unauthorised modifications from private buses and three-wheelers has led to significant dissatisfaction among private bus owners, who argue that livelihoods are at stake. Inter-Provincial Private Bus Owners Association chairman Sarath Vijitha Kumara said livelihoods are at risk. “These businesses used to have a few buses parked on [...]
Sri Lanka has had HMPV for a long while now
‘Don’t panic, urges expert, assuring there would not be a sudden pandemic from this virus By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was identified as circulating in Sri Lanka back in December 2023 and there is no need to panic about it or be misled by social media posts, an expert assured this week. “We [...]
Ocean acidification a murky phenomenon with little research done, say scientists
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Ocean acidification—a critical yet understudied issue in Sri Lanka—results from increased atmospheric CO2 levels dissolving into the ocean, altering its chemistry. This phenomenon poses significant threats to marine biodiversity and ecosystems, yet research efforts remain constrained by limited data, coordination, and resources. “Four years ago, NARA established two permanent stations to measure [...]
They adapted and shared to do their best for patients
Dr. Muditha Lansakara gives the ups and downs of challenging times, while urging for steps to prevent heart disease among the young By Kumudini Hettiarachchi It has been about adapting, sharing, innovating and teamwork, captured succinctly in the very theme of ‘Advancing Equitable Cardiac and Thoracic Surgical Care’ of the 3rd Annual Academic Sessions of [...]
Housing shortage in Colombo makes families endure substandard living
By Mimi Alphonsus Amutha, her husband, and two teenage daughters lived in a tiny studio in Narahenpita until 2021, when the city informed them their home would be demolished due to illegal settlement. Facing the unknown of when the bulldozer might show up and already struggling to raise a family in such cramped quarters, Amutha [...]
HEC: Implement the National Action Plan and don’t re-invent the wheel
NAP has reduced the human-elephant confrontation, says former DWC DG By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Implement the National Action Plan (NAP) for the Mitigation of the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) which is based “purely” on science, for it has worked, without re-inventing the wheel. This is the strong request by the former Director-General of the Department of Wildlife [...]
Sri Lankan-born paediatrician wins Open UK Scrabble competition
Dr. Harshan Lamabadusuriya has won the Open UK Scrabble 2025 competition held from January 3-10, with a rating of 194, earning him widespread recognition in the Scrabble community for his strategic play and impressive vocabulary. The biggest scrabble tournament in Europe, the Open UK Scrabble tournament saw stiff competition with over 100 players ranging in [...]
Chasing away elephant herds gives rise to other complications
By Kasun Warakapitiya The hurried and unplanned elephant drives in North Central province have triggered a series of complications. Wildlife officials said they were given directions to drive elephants into wildlife parks. The latest drives were in Anuradhapura. The drives were to direct elephants in forested areas outside of the protected areas into the Wilpattu [...]
Playing hooky with the law: Kudu Salindu’s case casts limelight on enforcing justice
By Ishu Bandara Salindu Malshika Gunarathne, widely known as “Kudu Salindu” and allegedly linked to organised crime and drug trafficking, failed to appear before the Magistrate’s Court for the fifth consecutive time this week. On January 9, the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court extended his open warrant during the proceedings of cases and accordingly two cases were [...]
Term test paper leak in NCP reignites calls for overhaul of examination system
By Nathara Abeywickrema The recent leak of a term test paper in the North Central Province (NCP) has reignited discussions about restoring trust and confidence in public examinations. North Central Province education secretary Sirimevan Dharmasena said a school teacher from a school in Elayapattuwa in the Anuradhapura Education Zone had been interdicted over the incident. [...]
Headline makers shine at silver jubilee awards
It was a night of pride for print media journalists in the country when the best in the field were feted at the annual Journalism Awards for Excellence (2023), at the Mount Lavinia Hotel on Tuesday. Organised jointly by The Editors’ Guild of Sri Lanka (TEGOSL) and the Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), it was [...]
World Press Photo exhibition on in Colombo
The World Press Photo (WPP) Exhibition 2024 is underway at the Arcade Independence Square in Colombo. The exhibition is open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., until January 20. Veteran photographer Sumedha Liyanage (Former Sunday Times Mirror Mag photographer) is seen here taking a close look at the exhibits. After its initial [...]
Diana Gamage trial to continue, judge rejects objection raised by lawyers
By Ranjith Padmasiri The trial against former MP Diana Gamage, indicted on charges of presenting a forged birth certificate, will continue after Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne accepted evidence presented by the Attorney General and rejected a preliminary objection raised by her lawyers that there was no basis for continuing with the trial. The [...]
Udayanga remanded after reportedly assaulting neighbour over wall dispute
Former Sri Lankan ambassador to Russia, Udayanga Weeratunga, was remanded until January 17 by the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court for allegedly assaulting his 66-year-old neighbour, Sarath Chandrasiri, with a 12-foot plastic pipe. The attack, which resulted in Mr. Chandrasiri requiring five stitches on his face, reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a boundary wall. According to [...]
Kelani Perahera takes to the streets
The annual Kelani Duruthu perahera that began on January 9 concludes today with the Maha Perahera. Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera
Concerns over WAKF Board of Sri Lanka recommendations
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Community members have expressed concerns about recent recommendations to the WAKF Board of Sri Lanka, warning that the process could pave the way for political appointments. This follows reports of seven Muslim MPs submitting name lists of 10-15 candidates each for consideration. The WAKF Board, established under the 1956 Muslim Mosques and [...]