News
Home » NewsPremier participates at Navam Perahera
The annual Navam Maha Perahera of Colombo’s Gangaramaya Temple was held on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a large crowd, including foreign tourists, lining the streets to view the spectacular procession featuring a variety of traditional items. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is pictured here sprinkling pirith water on the sacred relic-carrying casket atop the caparisoned tusker [...]
Govt’s relief budget within IMF parameters
Pay hike for public sector employees; recruitments only to fill essential vacancies; no new taxes coming By Damith Wickremasekera The National People’s Power Government’s maiden budget, which will be presented to Parliament tomorrow, will offer pay hikes to state sector workers and more government jobs but will be within the parameters identified under the International Monetary [...]
2025 economic growth pace to moderate, while fiscal balances improve
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka’s economic growth for this year has been estimated in low single digits, and forecasts vary ahead of the 2025 Budget tomorrow, while important fiscal balances have improved, narrowing the fiscal gap. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will roll out the National People’s Power Government’s maiden budget amid signs of recovery—5.2% growth [...]
Bid to cut solar power production during low demand; committee studies curtailment mechanism
By Namini Wijedasa The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has appointed a committee to introduce a “curtailment mechanism” for solar power systems to cut production when electricity demand is low. If implemented, the move will be a blow to small-scale power producers who have invested in the hope of both returns and cheaper electricity bills. The [...]
Local council elections likely date at the end of April
By Ishu Bandara As the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill is slated to be approved by Parliament tomorrow, the Election Commission is considering a timeline with a likely polling day in the last week of April. The Supreme Court determination of the bill was announced in Parliament this week. The three-member bench ruled the [...]
Two foreigners die while swimming in Bentota, one of a heart attack
A 56-year-old Ukrainian naval officer drowned in Bentota this week, while he was bathing near the breakwater in front of a well known tourist hotel, a coroner’s court was told. The Ukrainian was identified as Sandsley Marshkovidsky. The naval officer, his wife and two children who arrived in Sri Lanka on January 30 were staying [...]
Letter to CID: AG instructs Police Chief to probe leak
By Ranjith Padmasiri Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has instructed Acting Inspector General Priyantha Weerasooriya to investigate how the letter he sent to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was leaked before it was submitted to court. The letter in question ordered the CID to suspend implementing his earlier instructions to discharge three suspects arrested on charges [...]
Sights and sounds of Gangaramaya perahera
The Colombo Gangaramaya Temple’s annual Navam Perahera paraded the streets on February 11 and 12. A large gathering including foreigners witnessed the colourful event. Here are some of the scenes captured during the two days of the event. Pix by M. A. Pushpa Kumara and Akila Jayawardena
Doctor suspended for posing as consultant radiologist loses appeal
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) and its Professional Conduct Committee’s (PCC) move to impose a suspension on a medical practitioner found to have posed as a consultant radiologist without possessing the necessary qualifications to do so. The medical practitioner filed a writ [...]
51 ASPs to be recruited
By Ishu Bandara Fifty-one Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) are to be recruited to the Police through an open examination conducted by the Examination Department. These appointments are expected to take place shortly, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told the Sunday Times. He said the interviews began on February 5 and are scheduled to conclude [...]
43 renewable energy developers seek the president’s intervention to address delays in projects
A consortium of 43 renewable energy developers has sought President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s intervention to address “critical process delays” holding up their projects which were initiated after expressions of interest (EOIs) were called as long as four years ago, in 2021. The developers have received provisional approval from a committee comprising senior officials from all [...]
Audit report unearths multiple issues that ail the rails
Busting Rs 200m on a vegetable transport experiment that never took off track among other instances By Sandun Jayawardana Despite a proud history of more than 160 years, Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) has been plagued by multiple issues resulting in its inability to deliver a satisfactory service to thousands of daily passengers. The National Audit [...]
Other than tripping over monkey business, report sheds little light on blackout Sunday
A fault in a “busbar”—a metallic strip or bar that conducts electricity and distributes it to electrical devices—at the Panadura grid substation (GSS) last Sunday triggered a system frequency drop and caused Sri Lanka’s entire power system to shut down, the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) preliminary report on last Sunday’s countrywide blackout has held, sources [...]
Education and special children
No words were needed – the emotion and expressions of the mothers with special children said it all. In their battle against many odds to integrate their children as adults with dignity in a sadly discriminatory society, one major factor is education. It is to discuss this burning issue that they gathered recently with hope, [...]
President promotes investing in Sri Lanka on Dubai visit
An agreement on promotion and protection of investment between Sri Lanka and the UAE was signed during President Anura Dissanayake’s four day visit to the Gulf state. The agreement was signed on February 12, by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath and Minister of State for Financial Affairs of the UAE [...]
Ella Rock forest reserve blaze lays 600 acres to waste
The fire engulfing the Ella Rock forest reserve continued yesterday with more than 600 acres of a total extent of 4,447 acres, destroyed so far. The fire had spread towards the Rawana falls on Friday night. Winds and steep inclines are hampering efforts by the army, Forest Conservation and the fire services of the Bandarawela [...]
Dispute over continental shelf claim: Sri Lanka must engage with India, says Law of the Sea expert
By Chandani Kirinde A midst a continuing diplomatic spat over Sri Lanka’s right to claim an extended continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) a local expert has called for a Task Force of knowledgeable persons to make representations on behalf of the country at relevant international forums. Speaking to the [...]
Increasing road traffic accidents: A sinister pattern emerges
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Road traffic accidents in Sri Lanka are increasing at an alarming rate, posing a significant threat to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. Studies have identified several key factors contributing to this crisis, including driver fatigue, reckless driving, poor infrastructure, and inadequate law enforcement. On Thursday (February 14) alone, the media highlighted five [...]
Skyrocketing prices and taxes crash Sri Lankans’ automobile dreams
The high taxes imposed on imported vehicles have dashed the hopes of purchasing a vehicle. While there has been a liberalisation of imports of vehicles, problems in the importation of Japanese vehicles have been brought into focus by the Lanka Vehicle Importers Association. Up to February 2025, the market for secondhand vehicles in Sri Lanka [...]
Madampitiya garbage dump swelling to dangerous proportions
By Ishu Bandara The Madampitiya dump site, with waste piling up to about 15 metres in height, poses a serious threat to nearby residents, a municipal official has warned. Shahina Mysan, director of engineering (solid waste management) at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) said: “The dump site spans two to three acres, with garbage piled [...]
Sightings of elusive golden jackal underline importance of Colombo’s wetlands
By Malaka Rodrigo Recently, the wetlands of Thalangama and Kimbulawela have become the stage for the remarkable sightings of the elusive golden jackal (Canis aureus), a species rarely found in Colombo suburbs. While these sightings in the capital city of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte are exciting, they also serve as a crucial reminder of the vital [...]
Sri Lanka chokes on dirty air from neighbours, but pollution is also at home
By Mimi Alphonsus The greyish white veil covering most of Sri Lanka in recent months is not mist. It’s air pollution. Bits of diesel, wood, water, soil, sulfate, metals and other tiny inhalable particles blow through the island, trapping people indoors and suffocating those who must brave the haze. Sri Lanka has experienced the highest [...]