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A child in Dambulla is seen ticking off a macaque in his form for the first-ever census on selected animals causing problems to agriculture crops conducted yesterday from 8 to 8.05am. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
Foreign consultant hired to fix anti-money laundering failures
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka has hired a foreign consultant to prepare for regional scrutiny of its regime against the economic crime of money laundering and terrorism financing after repeated failures to fully comply with global standards. It has negotiated breathing space until next year for the purpose. Dr. Gordon Hook, a barrister and the [...]
Dehiwala land case: Minister gives statement
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Fraud Investigation Bureau (FIB) informed the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court that a statement had been recorded from Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe regarding investigations into the alleged use of a forged deed to lease a plot of land with a two-storey building in Dehiwala. The court also was informed that they had [...]
Lankan team going to US for tariff talks
A Sri Lanka delegation that will travel to the United States next month plans to discuss with the US Trade Office how it can avoid reciprocal tariffs that will come into effect from April 2, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. He said Sri Lanka would be unable to bear such tariffs on exports when the [...]
Hospital projects in Lanka: Corruption probe in the Netherlands over fund transfer to Lankan businessman
By Namini Wijedasa Dutch authorities are investigating deposits made by a Netherlands-based healthcare firm involved in two Sri Lankan hospital projects into the offshore account of a British Virgin Islands-registered company whose beneficial owner is a prominent Sri Lankan businessman. The Dutch Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) carried out searches “in an investigation into [...]
CEB gives mini hydropower plants Sunday shut down orders
By Namini Wijedasa The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has started ordering mini hydropower plants to curtail output on Sundays—when electricity consumption is low—in addition to solar power producers who have had to slash production on low-peak days since last month, companies confirmed this week. Thirty mini hydro plants were requested to be shut down from [...]
US sends questionnaire to screen UN agencies, NGOs for alignment with American interests
The US government has sent a questionnaire to UN agencies, NGOs and other entities that received US funding, including those in Sri Lanka, to determine whether the US foreign aid industry is “aligned with American interests”. Among the questions asked are: Can you confirm that this is not a DEI [diversity, equity, inclusion] project and [...]
Tough stand against Indian bottom trawling in Lankan waters; Vicar of Jaffna rings in warning
By S. Rubatheesan Navy Commander Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda yesterday reiterated that the government’s stand was that those who enter into the country’s territorial waters will be dealt with as per the country’s law. Addressing the media following the feast of St Anthony’s in the uninhabited island of Kachchatheevu yesterday, Vice Admiral Banagoda said the [...]
Accountability issues can be handled under new govt., no international mechanism needed: Vijitha Herath
By Chandani Kirinde The government yesterday ruled out an international mechanism to address accountability issues in Sri Lanka saying that the fostering of an independent judiciary and police under the new government would enable a due process to address such issues. “The international community’s confidence is growing in our ability to address these issues in [...]
Indian PM to sign several MoUs during visit in April
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make an official visit to Sri Lanka in early April during which several MoUs will be signed between the two countries, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told Parliament yesterday. “We will sign several new MoUs during Prime Minister Modi’s visit,” Mr Herath said during the debate on the budget vote [...]
Crop damaging animal census yields scattered, sporadic results
By Kasun Warakapitiya Residents and farmers across the country responded to a government call to conduct an Islandwide census of macaques, langur monkeys, giant squirrels and peacocks between 8 to 8.05 am yesterday. Some took to their gardens with their family members to gaze up at treetops, electricity wires and walls to spot the animals [...]
Serious security and safety issues for healers in state hospitals
With feminisation of the medical force, AMS calls for hospitals to be places without fear and GMOA begins audit of facilities and quarters By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The strident wake-up call in Sri Lanka’s state hospitals has regrettably followed a heinous crime, even though security and safety issues have been dogging the state health sector for [...]
Unsafe conditions for working women under the spotlight
By Tharushi Weerasinghe For Sri Lankan women going to work holds risks to their lives and dignity regardless of the type or class of work they engage in. Making up 35% of the workforce, with unpaid domestic labour unaccounted for, these dangers are propped up by failing systems and repressive beliefs. “No one cares if [...]
Tamil Nadu Govt.’s duplicity in illegal fishing exposed
By Steve Creech The JVP/NPP government’s recent forthright support for the rights of small-scale fishermen and the defence of Sri Lankan maritime sovereignty off the northwest and northern coast (Opinion, March 9, 2025) will have come as no surprise to anyone who has followed this issue since the end of the civil conflict in 2009. [...]
Rupee to rue: Is Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin rooting for a separate Dravidian nation?
By Kumar Chellappan The ruling DMK and its allies have set in motion the process of Tamil Nadu’s secession from the Union of India. Thursday’s announcement by the state government led by M.K. Stalin that hereafter the symbol of (representing Rupee, the Indian currency) would be replaced by the Tamil letter Ru (the Tamil for [...]
Nuwara Eliya all set for a blooming April
Weeks ahead of the seasonal celebrations in Nuwara Eliya next month, preparations are underway to welcome visitors. Employees of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council have been preparing flower beds from January to so that they blossom in time for the festival when visitors from all parts of the country flock to the city. The area [...]
Farmers face jumbo threat night and day in Ampara
Pix and Text by Ganasiri Hettiaarachchige Villages in Ampara district including Gonagala, Mayadunna, Senagama, Bandaraduwa, Galapitagala, Sinnawatta, Suhadhagama and Weeragoda settlements have been facing repeated threats from elephants recently, both in the daytime and at night. Farmers are forced to spend sleepless nights to protect their farmland and homes. At least three houses were destroyed [...]
In capital contest, some well-worn upper case names
By Ishu Bandara The battle for the mayor’s seat in Colombo is expected to be highly competitive, with several well-known figures in the fray at the local government election. Former mayors, key political figures, and even individuals completely outside of politics are set to contest under big political parties, the Sunday Times learns. JVP General [...]
Handicapped legal aid unable to deliver what it promises
By Mimi Alphonsus Sri Lanka’s legal aid mechanism helps hundreds of thousands of low-income citizens get access to justice. However, the system is held together by a thread, as a lack of funds and ad hoc implementation leaves many slipping through the cracks straight into prison. The Legal Aid Commission is the main provider of [...]
Indian, Lankan pilgrims unite at St Anthony’s feast in Kachchativu
By S Rubatheesan from Kachchativu Island Over 9,000 Catholic faithfuls across the Indo-Lanka Palk Straits gathered at the uninhabited island of Kachchativu on Friday (14) and Saturday (15) to mark the annual feast of St Anthony – the guardian of fisherfolk communities across the strait. Since Friday, hundreds of Indian and Lankan devotees arrived on the [...]
The Prisons Department has too many jailbirds, not enough jail guards
Overcrowding of prisons and staff shortages in jails are among the key issues faced by the Prisons Department, the Parliament was told this week. Prisons across the country are overcrowded by more than 20,000 beyond the capacity while the department is short of nearly 850 male and female jail guards, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told [...]
How to protect your kidneys
Chronic Kidney Disease, a time bomb waiting to explode, cautions Dr. Vindya Gunasekara, urging prevention as the “best” remedy By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The chat between ‘Podi Malli’, ‘Chuti Malli’ and experts is meant to “catch” them young and promote kidney health through YouTube. The carefully-thought-out video featuring trending actors Gaminda Priyaviraj and Suneth Chithrananda launched [...]
PM highlights double burden of unpaid labour at Women Scientists’ forum
By D. Thiviyatharshini One of the most challenging issues facing female scientists is the double burden of unpaid labour, which requires support and remedial measures, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said. Speaking at the “Women Scientists’ Forum 2025,” organised by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science [...]
Report proposes tougher laws against drivers to stem second largest cause of deaths
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Road crash fatalities are now the second leading cause of death in Sri Lanka, according to a World Bank report seen by the Sunday Times. The report on Road Safety in Sri Lanka which is due to be published, says with the highest per capita fatality rate in the region, the country [...]
Road deaths continue to pile up
A spate of road traffic accidents were reported this week, adding to the number of deaths. One was a fatal accident at Madampe, Galahitiyawa where a three-wheeler travelling from Chilaw to Colombo crashed into a bus on Monday. The three-wheeler was carrying nine including two women, two men, two boys and two girls. They had [...]
New laws this year to steer in clarity to modification of buses
By Sandun Jayawardana The government hopes to finalise and pass legislation pertaining to design and modification of buses this year, Transport and Highways Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena told the Sunday Times. Cabinet this week approved a proposal by Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake to appoint a committee representing relevant institutions to submit a report with recommendations [...]
Pera Uni goes green with solar power
By L. B. Senaratne Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Professor Terrence Madhujith inaugurated a massive network of solar energy panels at the university as part of the Green University initative commenced to upgrade the universities in the country. An important milestone in the creation of a green university, the inauguration of solar power [...]