News
Home » NewsVillagers in valiant attempt to salvage K-8
This villager was among those who tried to extinguish the fire and salvage the Sri Lanka Air Force’s K-8 jet trainer aircraft, when it crashed on Friday in a coconut estate at Wariyapola in Kurunegala during a training mission. The two pilots ejected safely from the ill-fated Chinese-built aircraft and are receiving treatment for injuries [...]
Several non-profit state entities face likely closure
Reform committee recommends liquidation, winding up and amalgamation A Cabinet-appointed committee that looked into reforming state-owned non-commercial institutions has recommended a string of restructuring measures, including winding up some state institutions, ending state intervention with several other institutions and amalgamation of some. The liquidation of 12 non-commercial state entities coming under six ministries has been recommended [...]
Thrice-rejected supplier bids again with exorbitantly high heart medicine price
By Namini Wijedasa The local agent of papaverine hydrochloride—the only registered supplier of this heart medication in Sri Lanka—has placed a bid to supply 1,800 injections of the drug to the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) at Rs. 49,000 per ampule, authoritative sources said. This is the fourth time since last year Yaden International (Pvt) Ltd [...]
CIABOC, CID launch probe on Deshabandu’s assets
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Commission to Investigate Allegation of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has begun a probe on the assets of suspended Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. The investigation began following the discovery of a large stock of foreign liquor, hampers filled with gifts and various food items during a search of Mr [...]
Travel agents question SLFEA about irregular tender periods for foreign worker tickets
By Namini Wijedasa Travel agents registered with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency (SLFEA) have questioned the State-run entity about short, irregular tender periods granted to quote ticket prices for workers leaving to Israel and South Korea under bilateral agreements. The tickets are issued to workers through SLFEA. The Sunday Times was provided with a [...]
Assets declaration: JSC seeks list of non-compliant judicial officers
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sought information regarding the failure of judicial officers, excluding judges, to submit their 2024 annual asset and liability declarations. JSC Secretary H.S. Somaratne issued a circular to all High Court judges, who function as department heads, requesting that they provide details of officers under their supervision without delay. The [...]
Remembering the Father of the nation on his 73rd death anniversary
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The 73rd death anniversary of the country’s first Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake was commemorated yesterday (March 22) at the Independence Square. The event organsied by the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Society brought together relatives, guests and former government officials to honour the leader who played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s independence movement. [...]
Crop pest census: Data collection progressing for islandwide report
By Kasun Warakapitiya Grama Niladharis countrywide are collecting and processing the information gathered from last week’s count of macaques, languor, giant squirrels and peacocks. Agriculture Ministry Director (agriculture technology) Hemantha Amarasinghe, who is also a member of the Special Committee for Reducing Damages Caused by Wild Animals (SCRDCWA), said some of the information had reached [...]
Young boy chokes on deflated balloon and dies
An eleven-year-old boy choked on a deflated balloon, while he was inflating and deflating it, a coroner’s court inquiry was told. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, when the boy identified as Kariyawasam Thirana Gamage was playing with balloons. The boy’s mother, Mallika Arachachige Thanuja told the corner’s court that her son had choked on [...]
Container controversy: Report not yet out six weeks after committee appointed
By Sandun Jayawardana Though it has now been more than six weeks since a committee was appointed by the Finance Ministry to investigate the incident of 323 containers of imported items being released without Customs inspection, the committee is yet to complete its probe and submit a report. A Customs source told the Sunday Times [...]
Hurried Huawei smart board purchase: The ‘why’ and ‘what’ behind a questionable process
Premier Amarasuriya exposes procurement irregularities; formal investigations underway Equipment lying idle; questions raised about compatibility with existing system By Namini Wijedasa A billion-rupee direct purchase contract to buy classroom smartboards from China’s Huawei Technologies was rushed through at “an unusually accelerated pace” last year, with the procurement process being closed within a month, Prime [...]
Safety and security in state hospitals – call for immediate action
Special Committee report on A’pura due tomorrow; AMS suggests steps and SLMA to give Action Plan By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Put in place immediate safety measures for all healthcare staff, was the clarion call from the health sector this week. “Intermediate, long-term and policy changes can come soon after,” many said, cautioning that there is no [...]
Online loans trap borrowers in cycle of unregulated debt
By Mimi Alphonsus and Dilushi Wijesinghe When 32-year-old teacher Sajeewanie (name changed) borrowed Rs. 5,000 from an online quick loan agency for her wedding, she did not expect it to destroy her life. A mere week after she took the loan, she owed the agency Rs. 6,900 (with interest). To pay them back, she started [...]
Temperance Association condemns proposal
The Sri Lanka Temperance Association condemned a proposal by the Excise Department to introduce a low cost alcohol claiming that it would help minmise the issue of illegal alcohol. The Association in a statement, said that it was similar to the situation where some medical experts tried to bring Agricultural related proposals on restricting import [...]
Myths about alcohol price cuts debunked by doctors
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Alcohol – the myths and misconceptions are many, some spread due to ignorance and others propagated wilfully by promoters. These are the myths and misconceptions that two Consultant Psychiatrists are set on debunking with reams of evidence. “A price reduction in alcohol does not bring down but increases consumption across all strata [...]
Also-rans on the sidelines in the local polls ground offensive
By Kasun Warakapitiya Former heavyweights in local councils, youth and female candidates are contesting the local elections in a couple of months. The campaigns kicked off after nominations for 339 councils closed on Thursday, and the election commission fixed May 6 as polling day. The National People’s Power (NPP) has launched its campaign aiming to [...]
SL diplomats’ domestic staff issue unresolved
Sri Lanka pays domestic staff for its ambassadors below the host countries’ minimum wage in at least 15 countries. Responses to a Right to Information request revealed that the salaries for “Service Assistants” approved by the Department of Management Services for January to December 2024, ranged from USD 253 to USD 872 per month depending [...]
Peradeniya Vet Hospital goes hi-tech
By L. B. Senaratne The Veterinary Hospital in Peradeniya has begun maintaining records digitally from this week. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital, ancillary to the University of Peradeniya, celebrated a milestone with new initiatives which will shape the future of veterinary care and education. The hospital launched a comprehensive digital record data recording system which was [...]
Dengue on the wing with steady showers
By Jayani Madawala Health officials warn that continuing showers will likely lead to an increase in the dengue cases. Speaking to the Sunday Times Anoja Dheerasinghe, Consultant Community Physician at the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) said 11,225 cases of dengue infections have been recorded as of March 22. “Among the provinces, the Western Province [...]
AI-powered infrared camera to detect elephants put to test
By D. Thiviyatharshani An infrared camera that uses artificial intelligence is being tested on a train on the Batticaloa railway line to detect elephant intrusions onto tracks in a collaboration between the Railway Department and the University of Peradeniya. A research engineer will handle the equipment throughout the trial run to collect vital data, which [...]
Forget the hornets; Sigiriya needs first aid
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The Sri Lanka Red Cross Society has expressed its willingness to restart first aid services at Sigiriya if they are approached by the relevant authorities. Director General of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Dr. Mahesh Gunasekara stated that while the organisation previously operated a service point at the site under a [...]