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Born free in post-independence Lanka, as free as the wind blows; as free as the grass grows: After the parade and the pageantry of Sri Lanka’s 77th Independence Day, commandos of the Special Task Force, which played a crucial role in ending the 30-year civil war, celebrate February 4th—freedom day—in their own way at Independence [...]
Local council polls further delayed
The local council elections can be held only after the April National New Year, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Rathnayake said yesterday. He said this was because the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill was expected to be passed by Parliament only after the month-long budget debate, which begins on February 18. The Supreme Court’s [...]
Lasantha murder probe: AG to issue fresh directive to CID
The Attorney General is to give a fresh directive to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in the probe on the murder of Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge. The AG’s Department has taken the decision following strong public criticism regarding the department’s recommendation to release three suspects who were arrested on suspicion of abducting Mr. Wickremetunge’s [...]
4,500 passports to be issued daily, 24 hours a day
The government is planning to increase the number of new passports issued daily to 4,500 starting from mid-month. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala expressed confidence that the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) would be able to start issuing 4,500 passports on a daily basis from the week beginning February 17. Preparations are being made [...]
Govt. in bid to bring down Sampur power plant tariff
The Energy Ministry will seek Cabinet approval next week for a new negotiated tariff of US cents 5.97 payable by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) for each kilowatt hour of energy sold to the national grid by the 135 MW Sampur solar power plant proposed to be built by India’s NTPC Ltd. Negotiations had started [...]
China’s ethnic affairs minister to visit Sri Lanka
A top-level Chinese delegation led by China’s minister in charge of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission will visit Sri Lanka from February 19 to 23. The delegation head, Minister Pan Yue, will hold talks with Sri Lankan counterparts on topics related to ethnic harmony and reconciliation efforts, Foreign Ministry sources said. A key member of [...]
Retired military personnel seeking employment in Russia and adjoining countries to be vetted
Retired military personnel seeking employment in Russia or adjoining countries will be subject to thorough background checks to detect those attempting to engage in military activity in Russia in the guise of seeking other forms of employment. This comes amidst reports that former military personnel are being lured by lucrative offers to fight with Russian [...]
MAS Holdings wins Exporter of the Year award
The 26th Presidential Export Awards Ceremony was held on Friday with President Anura Dissanayake as chief guest. MAS Holdings won the Exporter of the Year award. MAS Holdings CEO Suren Fernando and JCC Unichela Panadura President D Ishika Rasani Peiris accepted the award.
Major changes in police reshuffle
The National Police Commission has approved the transfer of several high-ranking police officers, including Senior Deputy Inspectors General (SDIG) and Deputy Inspectors General (DIG), with the changes set to take effect from February 12. Among the key transfers, SDIG Waruna Jayasundara, who previously served as the Commandant of the Police Special Task Force (STF), has [...]
SJB-UNP unity talks focus shifts to contesting local council elections together
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP), currently engaged in unification talks, yesterday declared that their immediate priority would be contesting the upcoming local council elections together. Officials of the two parties said unity talks were progressing positively, and they were looking forward to another round of talks. UNP General Secretary [...]
Theft of valuables during flight: Chinese passenger escapes legal action
A Chinese passenger who allegedly stole branded wristwatches and other valuables from the luggage of another passenger on a SriLankan Airlines flight from Dubai to Colombo this week escaped legal action, as the victim did not wish to pursue his complaint, the Sunday Times learns. Upon finding several items had gone missing from his hand [...]
Auctioned Indian trawler, equipment fetch Rs. 2mn
An Indian bottom trawler and fishing equipment seized from Indian fishermen engaging in illegal bottom trawling in Sri Lankan territorial waters were sold for Rs 2 million at a public auction held at the Point Pedro Magistrate Court premises yesterday. On December 29, 2022, four Indian fishermen were taken into naval custody along with fishing [...]
Beach cleaning under ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ begins today at Crow Island
The Government initiated the first phase of the “Sundara weralak – Akarshaniya sancharaka gamananthayak” programme under its Clean Sri Lanka campaign today at Crow Island, Mattakkuliya under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Marine Environment Protection Authority Director General Jagath Gunasekara explained that parallel to the main event at Crow Island, a coast cleaning [...]
Ven Wathawana Sirisumana Nayake Thera conferred Deputy Chief Sangha Nayake
Ven Wathawana Sirisumana Nayake Thera was conferred the title Deputy Chief Sangha Nayake of the Kotte Raja Maha Vihara Chapter of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dharma Maha Sangh Sabha of the Siam Sect yesterday at the Siam Royal Temple. Born on April 15, 1958 in Imaduwa, Galle, he was ordained at the age of [...]
No foreign visits during Budget debates, President’s Office instructs ministers and state officials
By Chandani Kirinde The President’s Office has instructed ministers and senior state sector officials not to undertake foreign visits during the month- long Budget debate period in Parliament commencing on February 17. A circular has been sent by President’s Secretary N S Kumanayake to all secretaries of ministries and relevant officials. President Anura Dissanayake who [...]
Sri Lanka in talks with Italy to reinstate subordinate work visa: FM
By Damith Wickremasekera The Government is in talks with Italian authorities to get the suspension of the subordinate work visa for Lankan nationals lifted. The temporary suspension was put in place for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka nationals last November and left many locals who had got job offers in Italy in limbo. Foreign Minister [...]
Aren’t you also responsible for plight of country, Judge Yasantha Kodagoda asks business community
Government officials are not the only group responsible for what has happened to Sri Lanka as regards the prevalence of corruption—the business community is also responsible for the country’s plight, said Supreme Court Judge Yasantha Kodagoda, PC, this week. “Can anyone in the officialdom accept a bribe, unless there are ready givers of bribes?” he [...]
All must embark on a journey of economic, socio-cultural liberation: President on Independence Day
By Kasun Warakapitiya The 77th Independence Day was marked sans a display of military vehicles and aircraft flying over but still had flair and colour. A cultural event followed the parade by the tri forces and the day’s events concluded with the National Anthem being sung in Tamil. The theme of the celebrations under the [...]
MEND programme did much more than merely train journalists on gender sensitivity: Sources
By Mimi Alphonsus It was reported this week—and amplified on social media—that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had spent $7.9 million “to teach Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid ‘binary-gendered language’”. Elon Musk, who heads the Trump administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency, is among those who disseminated this information as part [...]
Adani wind power: Project committee decided on lower tariff, report reveals
By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka’s project committee (PC) on the proposed Adani wind power plants in Mannar and Pooneryn had unanimously decided that the tariff for each kilowatt hour of energy generated from the plants should be adjusted to below US cents 5.50 – a stark reduction from the US cents 8.62 that Cabinet approved [...]
With a rich history, MRI looks to the future with commitment
125 years of service not only to Sri Lanka but also South Asia, says Director Dr. Suranga Dolamulla By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Dengue mosquitoes from the past as old as the 1920s, a colony of cockroaches from the present, snow-white rabbits, a flock of sheep ensconced within premises in the very heart of bustling Borella, along [...]
Lime used to purify drinking water will not be released if stock does not meet standards: Minister
By Minaza Hassan The shipment of 550 tonnes of hydrated lime used to purify drinking water will not be released if the stock does not meet the stipulated standards, Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Anura Karunatilaka said. He was responding to concerns raised by SLPP MP D V Chanaka on harmful levels of chemicals [...]
Colombo Air Symposium this week
The Colombo Air Symposium (CAS) 2025, the annual international academic forum of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), will be held on February 10 and 11 at the BMICH in Colombo. It’s the seventh consecutive year of the event, and this year it is being held under the guidance and supervision of the new Commander [...]
Drones to be regulated: New Air Marshal
By Shane Seneviratne Newly appointed Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinge has said that the unregulated flying of drones could have dangerous consequences and that the sector needs to be regulated. The Air Marshal made the comments while speaking to the media after visiting the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and [...]
Hanthana Estate officials and contractor remanded over felled trees
By L B Senaratne The Kandy Additional Magistrate has remanded the superintendent of Hanthana Estate of Udawela Division Sudesh Perera, a field officer and a contractor for the alleged illegal felling of trees in the Hanthana range, which belongs to the JEDB, until February 14 when they will be produced at Kandy Courts. JEDB lodged [...]
Beach cleaning under ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ begins today at Crow Island
The Government initiated the first phase of the “Sundara weralak – Akarshaniya sancharaka gamananthayak” programme under its Clean Sri Lanka campaign today at Crow Island, Mattakkuliya under the patronage of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya. Marine Environment Protection Authority Director General Jagath Gunasekara explained that parallel to the main event at Crow Island, a coast cleaning [...]
Improve facilities to attract tourists, say Negombo residents
Residents of Negombo town have called on government officials to improve infrastructure facilities in to attract more tourists. Negombo area which has several tourist destinations needs an efficient bus service from Negombo to Kochchikade as many hotel employees working in areas such as Wellaweediya Kudapaduwa, Pitipana and Palanga get delayed daily due to the poor [...]
Govt. paddy price fails to help Vavuniya farmers, many forced to sell to private collectors
By S. Rubatheesan On Thursday, a day after the government announced the minimum purchase price for paddy, farmers in Vavuniya contacted the regional office of the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) – only to be told that they could start work only the next day, as they had not received allocated funds. The disappointed farmers were [...]
Crime spree continues despite police making breakthrough with Dubai extraditions
By Sandun Jayawardana and Damith Wickramasekara Incidents of grave crime continue to grab headlines even as police claim they are notching up wins against organised criminal gangs. On Friday (7), a team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers who flew to Dubai brought back three suspects wanted in connection with multiple murders. One of the suspects, [...]
Wheat, sugar, and rice import prices fall, but trader gross profit margins can exceed 100%
By Kapila Bandara Import prices of three food commodities deemed essential for Sri Lankans, rice, sugar and wheat flour, have dropped in US dollar terms and rupee terms, but traders are carving out gross profit margins above 100% from some of them. This means that for a daily-wage plantation worker family, roti and black tea [...]
Railways criticised for sleeping on the job of upgrading sleeping berths
By Kasun Warakapitiya Naysayers and officials with old ideas have thwarted plans to develop Sri Lanka Railways to earn revenue by specialising in tourism. The railways, which has a rich history of 160 years, provided services including sleeping berths from the colonial times, on long distance trains. In colonial times, there were first and second [...]
One way ticket
By Rekha Fonseka Ninety of 100 Chinese railway carriages are idling at railway yards and workshops due to issues in their brake systems. Engine drivers complained that the disc brake system is not suited for the Lankan railway track and refused to operate the trains, resulting in the compartments remaining unattended at yards. A Right [...]
Full scope of improving women’s reproductive health
Dr. Sanath Akmeemana points the way in overcoming challenges while maximising opportunities Covering a wide spectrum of issues impacting on the reproductive health of girls and women, the 39th President of the Sri Lankan College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SLCOG), Dr. Sanath P. Akmeemana, promised an evidence-based approach not only to overcome the challenges but [...]