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Home » NewsYoshitha arrested under money laundering law
Yoshitha Rajapaksa, the second son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested yesterday on money laundering charges. The arrest took place while he was on his way to Beliatte to attend a wedding ceremony. Our picture shows Rajapaksa being taken to the residence of a magistrate. He was remanded until tomorrow. Please see Page 6 [...]
Public servants to get pay hike in budget
Fertiliser subsidy, Aswesuma benefits are to be increased; no hike in pension By Damith Wickremasekara An increase in the basic salary or allowances of public sector employees is under consideration by the government as it prepares to present its maiden budget next month. According to Treasury officials, the possibility of salary increments up to Rs [...]
Trump’s aid freeze affects Lanka
Sri Lanka will be among the countries that will be affected by the new Donald Trump administration’s decision to freeze all existing foreign assistance and halt new aid. The newly appointed United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, sent a cable to all US diplomatic missions, outlining the move, which threatens billions of dollars of [...]
Judges and state counsel misusing police officers, says JSC notice
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has brought to the attention of judges and judicial officers the contents of an anonymous petition that alleges the misuse and harassment of police personnel assigned for judicial officers’ security. Having considered the ‘anonymous petition’,the JSC shared with judges a letter titled ‘Judges’ security’. The Sunday Times learns the petition [...]
Rice shipped in low volumes to dozens of countries
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka shipped rice processed in different forms worth millions of rupees to dozens of countries in 2023, a period when paddy production exceeded 4.5 million metric tonnes, estimated to be enough to meet local demand for some 13 months. Export volumes of milled, semi-milled, and ‘broken rice’ are generally in the [...]
Debt management: Govt. distances itself from deals state entities sign without finance minister’s nod
By S. Rubatheesan The government will not be bound by any finance- or debt-related agreement entered into by state entities without the approval of the finance minister under the newly enacted Public Debt Management Act (PDMA), according to a Treasury circular. “The government will not be bound by any agreement, finance lease agreement, supplier’s credit [...]
Yoshitha arrested under Money Laundering Act; remanded till tomorrow
By Ranjith Padmasiri Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, was remanded till tomorrow after being produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Pavithra Sanjeevani Pathirana last evening. Mr. Rajapaksa was arrested in Beliatta last morning by the CID and brought [...]
Steady rise in tourist arrivals: 175,000 in the first three weeks of Jan
More than 175,000 tourist arrivals have been recorded in the first three weeks of this month showing a steady increase. The highest number of tourist arrivals were from India, 30,000, amounting to about 17 per cent of the total arrivals while the second highest number was from Russia. 25,000, according to the Sri Lanka Tourism [...]
Pahala Bambawa villagers in dire straits due to Wayamba canal project
By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa in Dambulla Due to the ongoing work on the Wayamba canal project to carry water from the Wemadilla reservoir in Matale to Wayamba, villagers in the Pahala Bambawa in Galewala are facing immense hardships. Even though the Mahaweli Authority constructed a temporary road for the villagers to travel since the work [...]
Govt revokes Adani wind power decision; minister denies cancellation
By Namini Wijedasa The Government has revoked a May 2024 Cabinet decision pertaining to the Adani Green Energy Sri Lanka Ltd (AGESLL) initiative to develop wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn. A new Project Committee (PC) and a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) are to be appointed to re-evaluate the terms of the proposal. [...]
3,915 dengue cases for this month while 19 MOH areas flagged as high risk
The number of suspected dengue cases reported for this month, up to last Friday, has risen to 3,915, the National Dengue Control Unit of the Health Ministry said. In the third week, 1,158 cases were reported as against 1,249 in the previous week. Of the reported cases, 46.8 percent were from the Western province, with [...]
Overseas travel ban, sign-in at CID on final Sunday of every month for Yapa
By Ranjith Padmasiri Four suspects including former minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and his wife were released on bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekulawala on Thursday (23) after being arrested and produced in court on charges of misappropriating over Rs 6.1 million in public funds given as flood relief in 2014. The suspects, Mr Yapa, [...]
Judicial officers overseas and not reporting to duty required to file declaration of assets and liabilities
All judges and judicial officers who are overseas and those who are not reporting to duty based on a decision by the Judicial Service Commission are required to file their declaration of assets and liabilities under the provisions of Anti Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023. Following up with the written communique sent by the [...]
Bad weather in north and east a harbinger of bad news for harvesting farmers
By S. Rubatheesan The heavy downpours in the North, North-Central, and Eastern provinces throughout the week disrupted the ongoing paddy harvest and cultivation of grains. Farmers in Ampara, Batticaloa, and Kilinochchi had to put their harvest operations on hold due to the sudden heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday. Eight sluice gates of the Iranaimadhu [...]
CMC says probe underway into bird deaths in the Beira
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Colombo Municipal Council is carrying out a probe on the multiple deaths of ducks in Beira Lake, on Navam Mawatha. CMC Chief Veterinary Surgeon Dr. M. Ijas said that claims that the ducks had died from a substance added to the Beira by the CMC cannot be confirmed until postmortem investigations [...]
Lack of coordinated checks hamper cargo clearing efficiency
By Kasun Warakapitiya The reputation of Colombo port as “the major shipping hub in Asia” as well as the good image is at risk, due to knee-jerk reactions on port congestion in Colombo. Delays are not unusual, but this week, suspicions were raised about hundreds of unchecked containers that were released amid the congestion. Roshan [...]
Drastic drop in wild elephant numbers at Uda Walawe National Park
Conservation Biologist Dr. Ashoka Ranjeewa zeroes in on the cause as lack of grasslands and suggests solutions to make them thrive again By Kumudini Hettiarachchi There has been a drastic drop in wild elephant numbers in the Uda Walawe National Park in a short span of 10 years, an extensive research has found. The [...]
Pahala Bambawa villagers in dire straits due to Wayamba canal project
By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa in Dambulla Due to the ongoing work on the Wayamba canal project to carry water from the Wemadilla reservoir in Matale to Wayamba, villagers in the Pahala Bambawa in Galewala are facing immense hardships. Even though the Mahaweli Authority constructed a temporary road for the villagers to travel since the work [...]
Diyakepilla Primary School threatened with closure
By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa The Diyakepilla Primary School, located in close proximity to the world heritage site of Sigiriya, is facing closure due to a shortfall in the number of students enrolling in the school. This has prompted parents to request the government to intervene to protect the school and provide transport facilities for children [...]
Polonnaruwa army camp missing weapons only the tip of the iceberg
By Sandun Jayawardana A multi-pronged investigation is ongoing to both trace the T-56 assault rifles that have gone missing from the armoury of an army camp in Polonnaruwa and to determine who was responsible. A total of 73 T-56 firearms were confirmed to have gone missing from the armoury. As of Friday (23), authorities have [...]
Steps to ease maternal distress when newborns are in NICU
Groundbreaking study by EPiNICU Group SL shows need to bring about effective and sustainable solutions to improve well-being of mothers By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Within the very heart of the bustling De Soysa Maternity Hospital (DMH) down Kynsey Road, Colombo 8, where numerous babies are born and families leave with big smiles, intense and earnest [...]
Population and housing census dragging slowly to a belated close
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The long overdue enumeration process of the Census of Population and Housing (CPH) is yet to see its completion. The process was expected to be completed by December 19, the official “Census Date”. “We planned to carry out the census in 2021, but despite challenges like Covid, the economic collapse, cyclone Fengal, [...]
Morawala, Negombo beach in need of Clean Sri Lanka
Negombo, a top tourist destination in Sri Lanka, is renowned for its sunny beaches, luxury hotels, and landmarks like the colonial-era Hamilton Canal (Dutch Canal). Adding to its appeal is Morawala, a serene spot near the famous Duwa Church, known for its Passion Play — second only to Oberammergau in Germany. Historically significant during the [...]
Riverbed ravaged by reckless sand miners leaves Kalutara to confront fallout
By Tharushi Weerasinghe and Mimi Alphonsus Government agencies submitted a joint report to the Kalutara District Coordination Committee (DCC) last evening, addressing the issuance of sand mining permits along the Kalu Ganga Basin. With environmental concerns prompting some agencies to push for a total ban, the DCC, chaired by legislator Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, is set to [...]
Pets or pests: Our arboreal acrobats have their day
By Malaka Rodrigo With their cuddly, baby-like faces, energetic dashes through tree branches, and sharp calls, palm squirrels are among the friendliest members of urban wildlife, often seen in home gardens. These charming creatures, however, have lesser-known relatives that inhabit forested or densely wooded areas. To celebrate and appreciate these fascinating animals, Squirrel Appreciation Day [...]
New SC judges touch on delicate ties between Bench and Bar and justice to all with favour to none
By Ranjith Padmasiri It is the collective duty of the Bench and the Bar to ensure that the relationship between them remains intact, unblemished by personal agendas or external forces that might seek to undermine the integrity of the judicial process, Supreme Court Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna stressed. Speaking during the ceremonial sitting held on Wednesday [...]
Lower consumer prices a long shot despite power tariff cut
By Nathara Abeywickrema Despite the electricity tariff reduction of 20% on average being aimed at easing financial burdens and stimulating economic activity, some sectors are yet to pass on these savings through price reductions. All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association president N.K. Jaywardena, acknowledged the relief from reduced electricity costs but said the prices of key [...]