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Victory for democracy, says UPFA
The UPFA said last night that the large turnout at the Northern Province elections was a victory for democracy. In a statement, UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha said those who hailed democracy should appreciate that a high percentage had voted in the north. “We should specially note that there was a turnout of 70% from [...]
Highest turnout in Northern Province
Voting at yesterday’s provincial council elections ended with a high turnout in the Northern and Central Provinces, while the North Western recorded a relatively lower turnout. Polling ended in a relatively peaceful manner with few or no incidents while the highest voter turnout of 68 per cent was registered in the Northern Province. According to Government [...]
Bomb scare: SriLankan flight in emergency landing at Stansted
A SriLankan Airlines flight to the Heathrow airport in London was forced to make an emergency landing at the nearby Stansted Airport instead, when a drunken British deportee allegedly created a bomb scare. Soon after Sri Lankan Airlines 503 landed at 7.30 pm with a full complement of 267 passengers and crew, the Essex Police arrested [...]
Diplomats ordered to cut travel expenses
Sri Lankan diplomats have been told to cut down on travel expenses immediately following excesses in certain sectors, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama said yesterday. Orders to this effect have been sent to the heads of Sri Lankan missions, instructing them and their staff to avoid unnecessary travel, he said. “Each and every staff [...]
Central Provincial Council elections
Nuwara Eliya voters brave inclement weather for highest turnout of 65% Nuwara Eliya: The previous day’s gloomy weather did not deter Saturday’s voter turnout in Nuwara Eliya, where heavy campaigning among two ruling party members led to 65 per cent of voters from the estate sector casting their votes at 423 polling stations to elect [...]
Tamil Nadu exports fish robbed from Lanka
More than 1,000 Tamil Nadu fishing boats that cross into Sri Lankan waters with impunity thrice a week form part of the southern Indian state’s multi-billion rupee fish export industry catering to the European Union, the United States, Japan and other countries, a Sunday Times investigation has revealed. The fishermen who cross the International Maritime [...]
Heavy and peaceful poll in Jaffna: TNA victory expected
The people of Jaffna filed into polling stations in a steady stream yesterday to elect members to the country’s first Northern Provincial Council. Enthusiasm was high, with many people acknowledging that they had voted for the Tamil National Alliance. Polling was, for the most part, peaceful. Some parts of the district were so quiet yesterday [...]
PAFFREL: 106 complaints on polls day
The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections PAFFREL said yesterday that it received 106 complaints on election day, of which 40 were from the Central Province, 32 from the North Western Province and 34 from the Northern Province. The group said it had deployed 3,500 stationary observers, 750 mobile observers and eight international observers [...]
Voting amid wasp attacks and priestly canvassing
WANNI: Voting started off slowly in the Wanni which encompasses the Mullaitivu, Vavuniya and Mannar districts, but picked up later in the day, election monitors said. Rumours that voter identity could be traced, issues over temporary ID cards and fear of wasp attacks had added to the initial slow turnout, they said. But later in the [...]
Attorney for the aggrieved objects to police evidence
At the magisterial inquiry held into the Rathupaswala case before Gampaha Magistrate T. Jayatilleke on September 17, HQI Magalegoda said that at the height of the uproar, there was a noise of shooting, after an attack with empty bottles by the crowd. Three persons including Akila Dinesh Jayasinghe and S. Ravishan Perera of Rathupaswela died [...]
Pioneer ad man to be laid to rest
Pioneer Sri Lankan advertising personality and founder of Zenith Advertising, Sol M. Fernando, died in Australia recently. His ashes will be interred at his family burial plot at Madampitiya General Cemetery on Tuesday 24th September at 4.30 p.m., family members said Mr. Fernando, who was a talented global award winning artist, started life as a [...]
CMC awaits Internal Audit Dept. report on the burnt files
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is awaiting its Internal Audit Dept’s report on the destruction of the CMC files. CMC Mayor M.J. Muzammil told the Sunday Times that the inquiry has not been completed, as they are waiting for the Internal Audit Dept’s observations. “The Dept is yet to get statements from three Municipal Councillors [...]
3 road deaths due to speeding
Two fatal road accidents due to speeding claimed three lives on Friday (20), police said. Two 30-year-olds were killed when the car they were travelling in collided with a lorry at Eldeniya on the Katugastota-Kurunegala road. The victims were Nadun Kurukulasuriya (33) and Suminda Udayakantha (37). The car was severely damaged in the accident, while [...]
Obscene pics on cellphone: Accused discharged
An accused who was charged before the Kandy Chief Magistrate A.M.Vasantha Kumar was acquitted when it was revealed that sufficient notice had not been given to the accused to lead ‘computer evidence’ under the special provisions in the Penal Code. In this case H.M.C.H.Keitladora was accused of having obscene and lewd material downloaded to his [...]
Only SLAS officers eligible to be MC, complain councillors
Councillors of the Colombo Municipal Council charge that there is a move to appoint only Sri Lanka Administrative Service Officers for the post of Municipal Commissioner (MC). Councillor Mahendra de Silva said that previously the MC’s post was open for qualified persons and not limited to the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. “Former Municipal Commissioner Dr. [...]
Reports of ragging: Ministry says one thing, University another
Contradictory statements by the Higher Education Ministry and Sabaragamuwa University authorities over alleged ragging incidents at the university have once again brought up the issue that plagues our university system. The Higher Education Ministry had requested the Sabaragamuwa University’s Vice Chancellor to conduct an inquiry following complaints to the Ministry both by new entrants to the [...]
Wild elephant attack leaves family destitute
Wild elephants attacked the house of Chathurika Dihari (21) mother of one, in Karuwalagaswawa on the morning of September 15, completely destroying the brick walled house, thatched roof, personal belongings and consumed some 20 bushels of paddy stored inside. The house, built from money earned from farming and daily wage labour, was valued at some [...]
Drug Regulatory Authority prefers ‘pain killers’ to prevention and cure
Over 10 drug manufacturers have recorded two or more incidents of quality failures in 2012 and 2013, with some pharmaceutical companies guilty of more than seven to eight quality failures. In the last year alone there have been over 100 recorded cases of quality failures, while this year the number exceeds 70 cases by end [...]
Our feathered friends from across the seas are back
The birds are back and one of the earliest migratory visitors to Sri Lanka away from the harsh winters in the north is the Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater, point out Ornithologists. These birds leave their breeding grounds mainly in northern India and settle down here in various parts of the country, even in our home gardens. As [...]
Public warned of rains bringing possible dengue outbreak
Health authorities warn the public, especially within Colombo’s suburbs, of a possible dengue outbreak with the onset of intermittent rains. The warning comes with a sudden increase last month with the Colombo District topping the list of dengue victims with 23,569 cases. Among the vulnerable areas in the district are Kolonnawa, Maharagama, Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia, Kaduwela, Nugegoda [...]
‘Eelam War’ relic sheds 100 kg of TNT after 17 years
Police have revived a 17-year-old probe after the recent detection of explosives hidden inside a lorry used by the Tiger guerrillas during the “Eelam War”. The detection was made when the Kotahena Police were trying to move a lorry which had been under their custody and was due to be auctioned following a court order. The [...]
Wealthy, influential British investor says he is pulling out in disgust
A disgusted British media baron is selling his shares in a Sri Lanka boutique hotel and says he will warn other investors to think twice before they come here. Clive W Leach, 78, is the former chairman and chief executive of Yorkshire Tyne Tees Plc, one of the biggest television stations in the United Kingdom. [...]
Battle for control of classy hotel shifts to courts
The entire saga of the board-room battle of the Rs. 200 million Serene Pavilions Resort, a high-end sea-side boutique hotel at Wadduwa boiled over when Mr. Clive Leach arrived in Sri Lanka in August this year. About the same time, Mr. Lokuhetty is reported to have held a board meeting with his wife who is [...]
From a Dvora, we see the rape of our sea
In an island where large rocky coral stones heavily outnumber civilian inhabitants and wild ponies, 56-year-old Illangan Anthonimuthu sat distraught outside his home on the beachfront — a crumbled structure of cement blocks with rusty tin sheets for a roof. The frustration of not being able to set out to sea on Monday September 9, [...]
Intra-party incidents in UPFA while blatantly violating polls laws | North Western Provincial council elections
KURUNEGALA: Voting in Kurunegala for the North Western Provincial Council election progressed at a slow pace and was tainted with incidents of intra- party election violence. Shamika who is a resident of Melsiripura and a supporter of Johan Fernando suffered a fracture on one hand and was treated at the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital. He alleged he [...]
Over 500 complaints of violence, shootings mar run-up to PC polls: Observers
The campaign for the Northern, Central and North-Western Provincial Council elections were marred by violation of election law, violence, abuse of state property and involvement of state officials in electoral activity, election observers have pointed out Over 500 complaints had been recorded, they said. A striking feature during campaigning was a significant increase in intra-party violence [...]
Bottled water under microscope again after complaints from customers
Bottled water not meeting proper standards and unsuitable for consumption is being sold in public places, resulting in a fresh order by the Director General of Health to all provincial and divisional health officials to monitor bottled water distributors. Health Director General Dr. Palitha Mahipala last week issued an order to local government health authorities [...]
Excessive use of agrochemicals pollutes groundwater in many places
Last month, the Sunday Times highlighted that Sri Lanka’s farmers were over-using agro-chemicals, and warned that it could ultimately penetrate into the groundwater. This has now been confirmed by a study conducted by the Water Resources Board (WRB). WRB Director General R.S. Wijesekare revealed that chemical compounds such as Nitrates, Phosphates and heavy metals were [...]
Severe water shortage looms in Jaffna
The first elections in Jaffna since the war ended was held yesterday with many political promises. However, experts point out a water shortage silently looming in Jaffna, that will affect the people beyond these political promises. The fact that Jaffna will face a severe water shortage in the future, if water extraction is not managed, [...]
Children of a lesser God
Will you travel 60 km to cast your vote? But for the villagers of Pookulam, -a small fishing community bordering the Mannar coastline and the Wilpattu National Park in Puttalam– this has been the reality. There has never been a polling booth in their village. The 261 voters had to travel 60 km to the polling [...]
Legal wrangling delays pictorial warning on pack of cigarettes
The Government’s move to discourage smoking through pictorial warnings on packets of cigarettes faced a legal snag on Friday when the Supreme Court issued a stay order preventing the implementation of new regulations. The interim ruling came following Sri Lanka’s tobacco monopoly, the Ceylon Tobacco Company, seeking relief in the Supreme Court after its attempt to [...]
Back to HSZ village
Paripooranathar, a 72 year-old fisherman and village leader from the Palaly high security zone smiles after voting. He and others from his village now live in Polikandi and Velvettiturai, in Jaffna, after their lands were taken over. They were provided government buses to go into the high security zones for voting as they are still [...]
A silent and watchful greeting
Students of Jaffna Hindu College arrive at school as the Master-in-Charge of Discipline looks on. Pix by Lakshman Gunatillake
19% unemployment among 18-30 years age group including graduates
Unemployment is at 19% among youth between 18-30 years, said the Monitoring MP for the Education Ministry and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Mohan Lal Grero. He said that this is what the Government has been focused on, as it indicates the country’s growth. “The reason for unemployability among youth is because we [...]
Marks for Listening to and Speaking in English from O/L 2015
The Education Ministry, with Cabinet approval, has taken steps to alter the marking scheme for Ordinary Level (O/L) English Language. Under the new changes, the ministry has decided to allocate 20% for listening and speaking. It was thus decided because students who study English in schools, despite being able to read and write, were not [...]
Schools, teachers used for election related work: Polls’ Monitors
Several instances where school teachers and schools have been used for election related work was reported ahead of yesterday’s provincial elections, election monitors said.. The People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) pointed out that use of school property and officials violates election laws. The Network for Election Monitoring and Intellectuals for Human Rights [...]
Kelaniya undergrads protest for a new hostel
Over 2000 students of the Kelaniya University launched a protest march this Tuesday (17) against an attack on the university hostel which is situated in Kannangara area of Kelaniya. The protest march which commenced at the University premises at around 9.30 that morning to University Grants Commission where the student union leaders spoke with its Chairperson, Prof. [...]
Grade 5 exam harmful to children, adds pressure: Monitoring MP
Schoolchildren turning out to be metal mickeys due to high parental expectations and peer pressure Monitoring MP for the Education Ministry and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Mohan Lal Grero believes that the Grade 5 scholarship exam is harmful for the children’s mind, as it adds pressure on them. Mr Grero, in an [...]
Eco healthy development of SL without following Europe, US: Nobel Laureate
‘Future Earth’ programme to keep SL in step with global strategies to make Earth a safer place Nobel Laureate in Science Prof. Yuan Tseh Lee visited the Peradeniya University’s Chemistry department and the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration, where he conducted lectures on the Environment changes taking place. He was in Sri Lanka this [...]
2013 -2014 office bearers of Methodist Central College
Past Pupils Association of Methodist Central College Batticaloa elected new office bearers for the year 2013/2014 at the Annual General Meeting of the Association held on 07.09.2013 at the College auditorium. President : Engineer D.A.Pragash; General Secretary: Engineer Y.Gobinath; Treasurer : S . Retnaraj whilst the ever green old boy, who was former Principal [...]
