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Home » NewsAdios Padre: Final goodbye to people’s Pope
More than 400,000 mourners gathered in Vatican City yesterday to bid farewell to Pope Francis, a champion of the poor who strived to forge a more compassionate Catholic church. Pallbearers are seen carrying his coffin to its final resting place, Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome. (Pic by Stefano Costantino/AFP)
Lanka seeks US plans to defuse tariff crisis
During talks with US trade chief, Govt. delegation pledges to import more US goods, revise tariffs By Damith Wickremasekera Sri Lanka has sought proposals from the United States to be considered to resolve trade issues following the new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration while agreeing to import LNG, petroleum products and vehicles. The move came [...]
President to take part in UN Vesak celebrations in Viet Nam
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is to undertake an official visit to Viet Nam early next month to attend the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak. The main theme for this year’s UN Day of Vesak will be “Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development”. The UN Vesak celebrations [...]
Post-mortem must for all deaths of children under 5
By Tharushi Weerasighe The Ministry of Justice and National Integration has informed coroners that deaths of all children under the age of five will be subject to a mandatory post-mortem examination. In a circular shared with coroners, the ministry highlighted that this was an essential element of child death analysis in Sri Lanka. Senior officials [...]
Trial-at-Bar appointed to hear case against Keheliya and eleven other accused
By Ranjith Padmasiri A three-member High Court Trial-at-Bar headed by Judge Mahesh Weeraman has been appointed to hear the case against 12 accused, including former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, over the importation of allegedly counterfeit human immunoglobulin that was then distributed to hospitals. The two other judges who will be joining Judge Weeraman on the [...]
Kashmir attack: FM says SL ‘neutral’ after President expresses solidarity with India
By our Diplomatic Editor President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday conveyed Sri Lanka’s “solidarity and shared commitment” with India during a telephone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a terrorist attack that killed 26, mostly domestic tourists, earlier this week in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. “We stand with India,” President Dissanayake said. in [...]
EU team here tomorrow: Lanka to seek enhanced quota under GSP+ scheme
By Damith Wickramasekara and Mimi Alphonsus Sri Lanka will request the European Union (EU) to increase the country’s quota granted under the GSP+ scheme during talks with a delegation due to arrive in the country tomorrow, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the Sunday Times. He said that with such an increase the government hoped to [...]
Priests and nuns stood shoulder to shoulder with lay people in respectful silence
Sri Lankans among the crowd gathered at the Vatican for the final farewell to Pope Francis By Dina Mendis reporting from St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican for The Sunday Times Despite the bright skies, a pall of gloom hung over the Vatican City as mourners gathered in their thousands for the funeral of Pope Francis of [...]
Remembering the Pope with special church services and candlelight vigil
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Catholics across the island gathered yesterday to mark a day of mourning declared in remembrance of Pope Francis, who passed away last Monday. A special requiem mass was conducted in St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Kotahena, last evening, celebrated by Apostolic Nuncio to Sri Lanka, the Most Reverend Archbishop Brian Udaigwe. “This mass for [...]
Looking back: When the Pope visited Sri Lanka in 2015
Clockwise: Pope Francis arriving at Galle Face Green in his Popemobile during his Sri Lanka visit in 2015. Conducting mass. Mingling with Sri Lanka’s Cathloic community members. Among them was Sunday Times journalist Hiranthi Fernando and her husband, the late Siri Fernando
The Expressway that’s going nowhere
By Namini Wijedasa This year, the 37-kilometre stretch of road from Kadawatha to Mirigama—called Central Expressway Part I (CEP I)—was to have been ceremoniously opened. But ten whole years after the Road Development Authority (RDA) signed its first project agreement with the Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), the progress of civil works stands at a [...]
Veteran journalist Louis Benedict passes away
Veteran journalist Louis Benedict passed away on April 22 after a brief illness. He was 77. He was a Deputy Editor of the Sunday Times at the time of his passing having begun his career in 1966 at Independent Newspapers Limited. He initially worked as sports reporters for both the Sun and Weekend newspapers. He [...]
Matara DIG provided protection over life threats regarding Deshabandu case
By Ranjith Padmasiri Matara Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Nishantha Soysa has asked for protection to be provided to him as he is facing threats to his life after providing a statement to detectives investigating suspended Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon. The DIG has written to the IGP, the National Authority [...]
Tuition teacher’s swanky entrance to BMICH ‘not permitted’ under law
By Tharushi Weerasinghe The inquiry into the tuition teacher who used a police escort to arrive at an event is underway under the Western Province’s Senior Deputy Inspector General’s Office. Controversy arose when videos of a celebrity tuition teacher, Hayeshika Fernando, using a police vehicle and four police motorcycles to make a fashionable entrance to [...]
IMF holds Sri Lanka to power pricing promise
By Kapila Bandara Just months after electricity tariffs were cut sharply, a short-term relief to households and industry, the IMF has told Sri Lanka that consumers must be asked to pay according to the actual cost of generating and distributing electricity, holding the government to a promise it has made. The IMF declared that “cost-recovery [...]
Sri Lankan relief team returns from Myanmar festooned in glory
By Dilushi Wijesinghe The Sri Lankan Humanitarian Assistance and Relief Team, which was deployed to Myanmar, returned to the island yesterday (April 26). Comprising 26 members from the Sri Lankan tri-services, the team was led by Brigadier Punya Karunathilake and departed for Myanmar on April 5. Speaking upon arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), [...]
An exposition like no other!
Pix and text by L.B.Senartne After witnessing sixteen expositions of the Sacred Tooth Relic, this year’s chaotic special exposition was undeniably the most overwhelming. Before the exposition, discussions on planning such a gigantic task were held in Kandy headed by the Diyawadana Nilame and representatives of the members of the Maha Sangha. The Diyawadana Nilame [...]
Coloured wrist bands for fast-tracked favoured ones
Despite Government claims that there would be no VIP queues for the special Exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic, there were reports of a speedier route for the favoured ones to cut through the long lines. Our photographer captured some of the VIPs who came wearing coloured wrist bands for identification to get through the [...]
Despair amidst devotion: Kandy overwhelmed
Despite promise of an orderly plan in place for thousands of devotees flocking to Kandy for the exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, for many, including the residents of Kandy, it turned out to be an unpleasant experience as authorities struggled to cope with the sheer numbers arriving in the ancient city. [...]
Pilgrims felt blessed to worship the ‘Dalada’ despite lapses
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Over the past week, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travelled to Kandy for the special exposition, “Sri Dalada Vandanawa”, at the Temple of the Tooth Relic — to experience what many devotees describe as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the revered tooth relic of the Buddha. “I felt so blessed that I [...]
The once highly vaunted Right to Information Commission now short-staffed, fund-less
By Sandun Jayawardana The Right to Information Commission (RTIC) is facing a crisis owing to a multitude of issues that have placed a severe strain on its day-to-day functioning. Problems include a crippling shortage of staff, delays in filling two vacancies of Commission members and the lack of an Independent Fund for the Commission. The [...]
Suspects of Dan Priyasad murder identified; 29 shooting incidents in connection with the case
Preliminary police investigations have revealed that a suspect based in Dubai has masterminded the murder of Dan Priyasad. According to the police, three days prior to the murder Dan Priyasad had attacked a three-wheeler which he suspected was the vehicle hired and used for his brother’s murder in 2022. Following the attack on the three-wheeler [...]
Turf once off limits prepares to host biggest May Day rally
By Ishu Bandara and Dilushi Wijesinghe Elections watchdog will keep a close eye on political parties holding rallies on May Day falling within the local elections time frame. Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said rallies will be watched to prevent any possible violations of election laws. He noted that while such events are permitted during [...]
Record number of rejected nominations on the drive to local elections
Election monitors welcome significant drop in campaign misdemeanours By Sandun Jayawardana Election monitors have flagged the record number of rejected nominations for the 2025 local government election as a matter that should be examined in detail after the poll to ensure there would not be a repeat. Some 49 recognised political parties and 75 independent [...]
Polls watchdogs prevent subtle ways to influence voters
By Ishu Bandara The Election Commission (EC) and the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) separately intervened, aiming to prevent two specific types of elections rules violations. Their efforts played a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of the local government election and shielding voters from undue influence. Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake told the [...]
Ministerial residences turning into mosquito breeding grounds
Await discussions on future use with no takers By Kasun Warakapitiya Three months after the government appointed a committee to study and make recommendations on making use of former ministerial residences for economic uses, most houses and buildings remain vacant, with some in a neglected state. Visits by the Sunday Times revealed that some [...]
Pledge to share expertise and build bridges for benefit of patients
CSSL & RCS England seal powerful bond through historic Memorandum of Cooperation By Kumudini Hettiarachchi The ceremony cementing the long and strong ties between the surgeons of the United Kingdom (UK) and Sri Lanka was formal and evocative with echoes of the past and promises for the future. Friday evening witnessed the signing of a [...]
400 baby turtles released to sea at Kudawa
The officials attached to the Kandakuliya Wildlife range office released to the sea 400 baby sea turtles hatched at turtle hatcheries in the area. The Wildlife officers released the turtles at the Kudawa beach, situated at Kandakuliya. Under the supervision of the officials the baby olive ridley turtles, known as “Batu Kesbewa”, had been hatched [...]
Electric jolts finishing off elephants by the dozen
By D.Thiviyatharshini The destruction of human and elephant lives, and property has continued unabated over five years, according to data from wildlife authorities. Electrocution has become the biggest killer of elephants. According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), in 2020 and 2021, the largest number of elephants died from ‘Hakka Pattas’ (jaw bombs) and [...]
Gloomy skies and rain despite warm spells, Met. Department says
By Jayani Madawala The weather in most parts of the country is expected to be mostly cloudy with a chance of passing showers and thunderstorms, Meteorological Department’s Director Athula Karunanayake said. This is mainly due to the fact that the Intertropical Convergence Zone significantly impacts the weather, primarily causing increased cloudiness and precipitation in areas. [...]