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Home » NewsTreasury stalls Customs probe on alcohol ‘firms’
Customs have been ordered by the Treasury to halt investigations into nine dummy companies that imported ethyl alcohol for industrial purposes but sold it surreptitiously to liquor manufacturers. The revenue loss during the past two years due to this racket, a senior Customs official who investigated the matter said, was more than one billion rupees. [...]
PM likely to be flown to US for treatment
The government is exploring the possibility of Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne undergoing treatment in a medical institution in the United States. An official said yesterday that he may be moved by an air ambulance but added that a date was yet to be worked out. The move follows President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Lanka Hospitals [...]
SEC buys fake award
Earlier this year, the State Engineering Corporation (SEC) proudly announced winning an international award for its “high quality service” at a “Standards Conference and Awards Ceremony” held in Paris. However, the honour came with a 3,900 euro or Rs. 646,952 price tag which the SEC paid to a dubious Spanish company named Business Initiative Directions [...]
Navy rescues 51 Lankans from mid-sea grave
The Navy was yesterday hunting for a group of human traffickers who intentionally set adrift 51 Australia-bound illegal migrants on a crippled boat in the high seas and fled the area in another vessel. The illegal migrants who included women and children were left stranded some 300 nautical miles off the eastern coast and were [...]
TNA may consider coalition with UPFA in East, if invited
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan said yesterday that they were willing to consider a coalition administration in the Eastern Provincial Council if there was an invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa. “So far no such invitation has been received,” he told a news conference at a Colombo hotel. Communist Party leader and Minister D.E.W. [...]
Police hunt for Malaka as Army probes major’s conduct
Two special teams were deployed yesterday by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to arrest Malaka Silva, son of Public Relations Minister Mervyn Silva. This is over allegations that he together with Rehan Wijeratne, son of late Parliamentarian Mano Wijeratne, allegedly assaulted Major Chandana Pradeep, an officer attached to the Military Intelligence Corps (MIC). The incident is [...]
Chinese dignitary on goodwill visit
Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday on a goodwill visit. Mr. Bangguo, who is here on the invitation of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, will meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other political leaders to discuss bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest. He will [...]
Cancer-causing Indian kitchenware detected at port
A container load of stainless steel kitchenware imported from India was found to be contaminated with radioactive material, Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Ranjith Wijewardene said. He said radiation detection equipment at the Colombo port had revealed that the 40-foot container was emitting radiation. “Several samples were tested at the AEA’s laboratory on Friday (14) and [...]
Noise pollution: Parliament takes the bull by the horns
Regulations to check the noise levels from vehicle horns will be debated by Parliament on Wednesday. The regulations presented by the Transport Ministry will enable the Commissioner General of Motor Traffic to authorise officers of the Department to carry out tests to ensure that motor vehicles are maintained to comply with the permissible noise levels. [...]
Ex Al-Jazeera chief tells MR: Stay with NAM and look East
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was all for a suggestion that countries in Asia should shift their focus from the West to the East. Given Sri Lanka’s close relations with China, such advice was like telling children that they should eat more chocolates. The suggestion came from former Al-Jazeera chief Wadah Khanfar when he met the President [...]
Train derailed after hitting jumbo
The human-elephant conflict took a slightly new turn when a wild elephant was knocked down by a Colombo bound train at Kekirawa in the Anuradhapura District killing the elephant and causing the train to derail. The train which was travelling on Friday night from Trincomalee to Colombo came to a halt when the elephant was [...]
Students helpless and angry
The ongoing strike by university staff and the Government’s continuing lack of initiative to resolve the crisis has left students confused, frustrated and angry. Science student Yomal Jayasinghe’s dream of qualifying and getting a decent job becomes less achievable by the day as universities remain shut and academics continue to agitate for salary and other [...]
Rare hit and sail mishap ends in watery grave for fisherman
Two fishermen narrowly escaped while a third died after their tiny boat reportedly collided with a container ship in a rare hit and sail mishap off the coast of Wattala, mishap earlier this month, the International Transport workers Federation (ITF) said this week. The ship, believed to belong to the Evergreen Shipping Company and identified [...]
‘Diamond’ gobbler in court tomorrow
The Chinese national, arrested for a bizarre diamond heist at the recent gem and jewellery exhibition in Colombo, will be produced at the Colombo Magistrate’s court tomorrow while the main accomplice is still at large, the police said. Three days after the suspect swallowed what was initially believed to be a Rs. 1.8 million worth [...]
Audit query from Public Trustee yet unanswered
A nephew of the Public Trustee has been paid the highest amount as legal fees for cases handled on behalf of the Department, an audit inquiry made by the Auditor General’s (AG’s) Department has revealed. The AG’s Department which made the inquiry nearly seven months ago from the Public Trustee’s Department over the payment seven [...]
Strict guidelines set for whale and dolphin watching
Stringent new regulations have been drawn up to cover all aspects of the whale and dolphin watching industry. Conditions will apply to all owners and operators of such tour vessels, the crew, and the passengers. The regulations cover annual licensing, mandatory insurance for vessels and passengers, lifesaving requirements, fees to be levied, and guidelines for [...]
Desperate farmers seek help
The crippling drought that has ruined thousands of cultivated acres across the country has driven more than 230,000 farmers to seek compensation from the Government. Scientists warn that extreme weather could become a pattern and that agriculture could be a repeat victim. The Agrarian Services Department has been approached by farmers in 13 districts, including [...]
New-born Black Rhino dies
A Black Rhino was born last week at the Dehiwala Zoo, but died a few hours later. Zoo sources said the baby was born in the early hours of Monday, September 10. The post-mortem or necropsy revealed internal bleeding in the head of the new-born, Zoo director Anura de Silva told the Sunday Times. The [...]
SC Bench stays acquisition till Oct. 1 on residents’ objections
The Supreme Court directed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to maintain the status quo till October 1, with regard to a seven acre block of prime land in the Kompannaveediya area, without taking further steps to acquire the land for a development project which an Indian company is to undertake. A Bench comprising Justices Shiranee [...]
India Abroad Editor receives Most Outstanding Journalist Award
Aziz Haniffa, editor, and chief diplomatic and political correspondent of India Abroad was presented with the Most Outstanding Journalist Award by a coalition of the Indian-American community, political, and cultural organisations, under the aegis of the National Council of Asian Indian Associations (NCAIA) recently. The award was presented by Nirupama Rao, India’s Ambassador to the [...]
SC approves UGC’s third formula to resolve vexed
Concluding the proceedings in eight rights applications on Wednesday the Supreme Court, in order to resolve, approved the proposal by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to admit an additional 5,609 students to the universities for the current academic year 2011/0212, in excess of the normal annual intake of 21,500. The new figure included 681 more [...]
No more 3-hour power cuts: But for how long?
Power cuts may have been temporarily lifted, but Power and Energy Minister didn’t have any bright news when he failed to give assurance of a continuous power supply for the upcoming festive season. Addressing a news conference this week Minister Champika Ranawaka said, “at present the three hour power cut is halted as the Norochcholai [...]
Kapilavastu relics: It was a life-long dream come true, say devotees
The sacred Kapilavastu relics that were brought to Sri Lanka on August 19, after more than three decades, made its way back to India on Wednesday (September 12) after an estimated three million people stood in winding queues for long hours to show their veneration and fulfil what some said was a life-long dream. A [...]
Debt-ridden, loss-making SEC pays for dubious award
Sri Lanka is overwhelmed by various international awards given by obscure foreign organisations. Now a state agency has joined the throng of companies and individuals willing to pay for recognition from a dubious Spanish outfit. Earlier this month, State Engineering Corporation (SEC) which comes under the Ministry of Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities, [...]
Swindlers and extortionists target gold merchants once again
Gold merchants and jewellery shop owners in the country are once again falling prey to swindlers and extortionists. Two years ago when a similar situation arose the matter was taken up with the Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and was quickly brought under control. The latest incident came to the spotlight a week ago when one [...]
Police to consult legal opinion on charging union official for giving false info
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID)’s inquiry into the alleged irregularities that took place in the conduct of this year’s Grade Five Scholarship examination has resulted in Police threatening legal action against the union official who went public with the information. The report compiled by the CID into the incident concluded with the Police forwarding its [...]
TNA will consider forming common alliance in Eastern Provincial Council – if invited
A Cabinet Minister’s proposal for a coalition administration in thr Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) could be considered if an invitation is received, TNA Leader Rajavarothayam Sampanthan told a news conference yesterday. “If the President invites us to form a coalition in the EPC, we will consider it, but so far no such invitation has been [...]
Three white elephants to cost Rs. 60 m. a month
While many political analysts consider the provincial councils which were meant to decentralise power, are in fact white elephants duplicating functions and serving little purpose, it is learnt more than Rs. 60 million would be incurred monthly by the Government to maintain the 114 members elected on September 8 to the Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and North-Central [...]
Elections Dept. officials probed malpractices promptly, reducing their incidence: Polls Chief
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday said he had deployed officials from his department directly to investigate allegations of malpractices at polling booths at last Saturday’s provincial council elections and added he would continue the practice at future elections. He said he found the system was effective as the chances of any malpractices were reduced.Mr. Deshapriya [...]
Post polls: Cycle of violence order of the day
At least 14 incidents of post-election violence and two election related deaths have been reported after last Saturday’s elections to the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central Provincial Councils. Both the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) party as well as the main opposition United National Party (UNP) lost a member each due to intra-party violence. [...]
CPA delegates take time out to get to know the country
Bermuda shorts and animal-teeth necklaces, top hats and colourful traditional garb added colour and variety to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)’s 58th Conference which concluded in Colombo on Friday. The Conference brought together over 700 delegates from 53 countries to discuss ways to make the Commonwealth more relevant for the future. Colours of the Commonwealth: [...]
Dust and debris
All major roads in the northern province are in a badly dilapidated condition. Reconstruction work -including reconstruction of the A9 commenced in 2009. The repairs remain incomplete and pose a major health hazard to residents as well as commuters. The roads, built during the pre-independence era are extremely narrow and needed to be broadened. Unfortunately [...]
Health Ministry decides to attack dengue from the air
Aerial attacks on mosquitoes are the Government’s latest strategy to counter the dengue menace that has taken a toll of 30,473 victims and 110 lives since January this year. Aerial spraying of the larvicide Bti bacteria, using Air Force helicopters is to take place during the last two weeks of October in Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia [...]
Sri Lanka’s commitment to peace will unite C’wealth
Sri Lankan Government’s willingness to demonstrate at home and abroad a clear time frame that peace will be accompanied by equality of treatment for all the peoples of this country will help to unite the fifty-four member states in support of Sri Lanka at the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo, said Sir [...]