News
Home » NewsChina’s loan delayed: Central Expressway at roadblock
A continuing delay by China’s Exim Bank to extend a loan of US$ 1.1 billion (Rs 158 billion) to Sri Lanka has put on hold the first phase of the Central Expressway project. The project covers 37.09 kilometres and links up to the rest of the Central Expressway from Mirigama. “If we don’t receive the [...]
New controversy over dredging of sand for Colombo Port City
The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) has called for a detailed report from the Ministry of Megapolis after a citizen’s movement warned that a dredger belonging to Colombo Port City builders China Harbour Engineering Corporation could be mining sand closer to shore than has been approved. Screenshots from www.marinetraffic.com that reportedly showed the dredger within three [...]
Elephantine fraud: Rs. 250 million racket in importing elephant for Dalada Maligawa
More than Rs 261 million was sent overseas fraudulently in the guise of paying for the import of an elephant from Myanmar in 2007, whereas the market value of the animal was around Rs. 10 to 15 million, a probe committee has revealed. The one-man committee, which probed corruption in the registration and issuing of [...]
War-hit north and east trapped in poverty and debts
Eight years after the war ended there is persistent poverty in the north and east while incomes remain far lower than in other parts of the country, the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) shows. The median income in Sri Lanka is now Rs 43,511. In the estate sector, it is Rs 29,134–and this [...]
Bond Commission: AG names PM among witnesses
Twenty witnesses, including Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, are on a list submitted by the Attorney General’s Department to the Commission of Inquiry probing the Central Bank bond issue. The AG has requested that they be summoned before the commission. The Sunday Times learns that the request has been made to clarify certain statements and issues [...]
Billions lost by unabated official mismanagement of public finances
The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) in its latest report tabled in Parliament this week found, after scrutiny of 15 Govt institutions, that serious lapses continue to take place on the part of officials who handle public finances, resulting in losses running into billions of rupees. The Report tabled by COPE Chairman JVP MP [...]
Don’t protect corrupt politicians and sing their praises, President Sirisena tells journalists
Journalists have a far more important role to play than politicians or govt. officials in ensuring a better tomorrow, President Maithripala Sirisena observed. Speaking at the issue of a commemorative stamp in honour of the late veteran journalist and editor D.B. Dhanapala, President Sirisena asked journalists not to protect corrupt politicians and sing their praises [...]
SLBFE still holds on to Rs. 3.2 billion in unpaid Kuwait war compensation
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is still holding on to a balance of more than Rs 3.2 billion from money remitted by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) to pay Sri Lankans who were employed in Kuwait during that country’s invasion by Iraq in 1990, the Auditor General’s Department states. The amount [...]
IUU fishing by TN fishermen: Burden of stopping it thrust on Lanka
This time last week the third round of bilateral talks between Sri Lanka’s Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and India’s Agriculture and Fisheries Welfare Minister Radha Kohan Singh was concluded in New Delhi. Before heading to the talks Minister Amaraweera reiterated the extent of the problem, explaining that 1,500 to 2,000 Tamil [...]
JR’s grandson enters politics through the SLFP; opposes new Constitution
Former President J.R. Jayewardene’s grandson Pradip Jayewardene has announced his arrival into politics and expressed his willingness to contest as the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) mayoral candidate for Colombo. He told journalists he had also been approached by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and invited to join the Joint Opposition (JO). “I didn’t reply Mr [...]
Opponents of new constitution should visit NE, says President
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday alleged that certain elements in the country were determined to derail the ongoing constitutional-making process with a negative campaign in the south. “We have taken steps to devolve powers within an undivided country. Those who are trying to mislead the people in the South that Constitutional reforms would lead to a [...]
17-year-old rider dies, 14-year-old driver arrested
A teenage motorcycle rider died at the National Hospital on Friday after he was injured in a collision with a three-wheeler driven by another teenager. The accident took place at Dickwala in Kegalle. The victim, identified as 17-year-old Gayan Pethum, a Kegalle Maha Vidyalaya student, did not possess a riding licence, a coroner’s inquiry was [...]
Ponies turn pests
Residents and tourists in Nuwara Eliya Town are inconvenienced by ponies who roam around the town, causing traffic and other problems. The ponies are reared by people as part of self employment. The problem has existed for years. Here some stray ponies are seen at the roundabout in front of the Nuwara Eliya bus stand. [...]
New Forex Control Act regulations still not gazetted, says Controller
Despite the Govt designating Nov.1 for the new FEC Act to become operational, regulations related to it have still not been gazetted. Exchange Controller U.P. Alawattage told the Sunday Times, the full scope of the new FEC Act will only become clear once regulations related to it are gazetted. As it stands now, the FEC [...]
Ajahn Brahmavamso to speak at Temple Trees
Ajahn Brahmavamso, the popular Buddhist teacher to a growing international audience eager to learn techniques of meditation, will speak at the Prime Minister’s auditorium at Temple Trees on November 6 and 7, the Ajahn Brahm Society – Sri Lanka branch announced this week. Born in London as Peter Betts, Ajahn Brahmavamso graduated from Cambridge University [...]
SL Navy rescues 7 Indian crew of sinking ship
The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) yesterday rescued a seven-member crew of an Indian merchant ship that was sinking in the southern Indian Ocean. Medium scale Indian merchant vessel ‘Maria Lurudaya’ was bound to the Maldivies when it suffered a mechanical failure mid sea. The Maldivian govt. informed the SLN of the vessel in distress and [...]
Indian High Commissioner launches new degree course at Buddhist academy convocation in Kandy
Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Sandhu, who was the chief guest at the 5th convocation ceremony of the Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA) in Kandy launched a new degree course, Bachelor of Technology (B.Tec) at the institute this week. In his address, the high commissioner highlighted the importance of spiritual bonds treasured over centuries between [...]
Delay in inter-monsoonal downpour prolongs agony of drought-hit farmers
The chaotic weather pattern over Sri Lanka continues to wreak havoc — with the South West monsoon lashing one half of the country in an extended stay, while October’s much-expected inter-monsoonal rains are yet to make an appearance to end the drought in the other half. The Meteorological Department said the low pressure condition that [...]
A House divided by hairpin-bends on Highways
An adjournment debate was held in Parliament on Thursday (19) on the ongoing Highway projects and the problems associated with them. The motion was moved by the JVP. Members from both the Govt and the Opposition participated. Following are extracts of some of the views expressed. Special Assignments Minister Sarath Amunugama: Both sides agree that [...]
Rewards and regrets at Grade 5 scholarship exam hurdle
Fewer children have achieved the Grade 5 scholarship test cut off mark over the years, data show. Only 9.45% of the 350,462 candidates achieved the cutoff mark this year — a 10-year low. This, compared with 11.95% in 2007 and 11.79% in 2008. Last year, just 9.5% scaled the hurdle. This year, the cut off [...]
Silver Jubilee SAARCLAW conference to focus on drafting trade and commercial laws
The Silver Jubilee Conference of South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation in Law (SAARCLAW) is scheduled to kick off on October 27 at the Taj Samudra hotel, Colombo where the body was born 25 years ago. The three day conference titled “Emerging Legal Trends in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries”, will [...]
Buyers advised not to fall for builders’ tall stories
Without examining building plans and development permits, or even titles and deeds at least, potential apartment buyers should not hand over millions to property developers who promise them a flat. That may sound like common sense. But, for most, it may not be. Then again, some may argue such documents themselves may be fraudulent in [...]
Tainted food, fruit, veggies, and cooking oil galore
Thousands of cases of food unfit for human consumption are being detected every year in Sri Lanka, food safety officials say. “From an estimated 20,000 cases a year, about 25% relate to food items which are not fit for consumption,’’ the deputy director general of environmental, occupational health and food safety, Dr Lakshman Gamlath said. [...]
Norochcholai coal dust nightmare: Relief may be in sight for victims
Clouds of coal dust continue to choke the lives of helpless people living with an environmental death sentence in the vicinity of the Norochcholai coal power plant built by the Chinese. But some relief may be in sight from the pollution caused by the project developed by the Ceylon Electricity Board. Inhaling coal dust can [...]
Dengue cases surpass 160,000, short-handed inspectors seek public support
Despite warnings of a possible dengue outbreak due to seasonal rains, the public has become complacent about keeping their premises clean, health officials say. Dengue infections now exceed an unprecedented 160,000 and there is no sign of slowing down. There is also a shortage of at least 2,000 public health inspectors. The law related to [...]
CEB engineers pull the plug on Govt.’s power plant plans
The Government’s plans to procure emergency power plants vital to avert a potential power crisis in 2018-2019 suffered a blow after the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union (CEBEU) decided to withdraw from all Technical Evaluation Committees (TECs) in charge of power plant procurement. The CEBEU’s move marks an escalation of trade union action launched last [...]
Sri Lanka hits world record in attempted suicides — depression, alcohol abuse main causes
A significant number of suicide cases in Sri Lanka are associated with depression and alcohol dependence, with 60 percent of the victims being males. In separate studies done by the Medical Faculty of the Peradeniya University and the Chilaw General Hospital, it has been found that a majority of the men who took their lives [...]
Govt has its work cut out; both in Constitution reforms and keeping public on its side
The Karaka Maha Sanga Sabha of the Malwathu and Asgiriya Chapters on Wednesday announced that it had decided at a special meeting held that evening that there was no necessity for a new Constitution or amendments to the present Constitution of the country and urged the Government to stop the Constitution drafting process. According to [...]
Unfit for human consumption
With vegetable prices at premium, some have begun to retrieve veggies from garbage trucks which are ‘cleaned’ and sold at a cheaper prices at wayside boutiques and unauthorized stalls. Many of the fruits and veggies sold at these make-shift sales points lie on pavements sans protection from the elements, and other scavengers. Chances are, many [...]
23 arrested for illicit extraction of lead from batteries
Twenty-three persons were arrested last week at a forest reserve by the Wanathavillu police for extracting lead from old vehicle batteries. Lead is a highly toxic metal that produces a range of adverse health effects particularly in young children and is environmentally hazardous. The activities have been carried out at a private property in the [...]
Three LTTE suspects indicted in the killing of army, navy personnel want case transfered to Vavuniya
The three LTTE suspects who were indicted in the murders of 26 army and navy personnel who were in LTTE custody have requested the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) in writing to transfer their court case to the Vavuniya High Court. The case is currently to be taken up by the Anuradhapura High Court, but has [...]
Writ application fixed for support on Dec.6
The Court of Appeal this week fixed Dec.6 for support of the writ application filed by W.S. Nandimal Silva, seeking an investigation into the alleged killing of 27 inmates of Welikada Prison in December 2012. The Bench comprised Justices L.T.B. Dehideniya (President) and K.K. Wickramasinghe. When the case was taken up on Tuesday (17), the [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, Sameera Weerasekera, Kanchana Kumara, Ariyadasa Gamini Obeysekera and Thusitha K. De Silva
This section of Hamilton Canal drowning in neglect and disrepair
A part of the Hamilton canal, or commonly known as Dutch canal, running from the Negombo lagoon upto the Maha Oya estuary at Poruthota is in a state of neglect and disrepair in spite of a Holland Government fund setup for its maintenance. This part of the canal in Negombo is a tourist attraction but [...]
The mis-measure of development
By Bjørn Lomborg, Exclusive to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka BERMUDA – A new scorecard that purports to grade countries on development progress tells us little about how we are faring against humanity’s biggest challenges. Instead, it highlights the shortcomings of today’s unfocused global development agenda. The major new report, led by Jeffrey D. [...]
Re-acquisition of Kotte land: British investor takes Lanka to ICSID
A British investor has filed action against the Sri Lanka Government at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) over the re-acquisition of a land close to the Parliament complex in Kotte, earlier given to construct a hotel . The case has been filed by the investor, Raymond Eyre and his company [...]
Awareness on taxation and importance of paying taxes by IRD
The Inland Revenue Dept (IRD) will next week commence its programmes on creating awareness of its taxation programmes and the importance of paying taxes. As a preliminary step, the awareness programme will be conducted for tuition class organisers and teachers in the Colombo District, at the IRD head office on Tuesday morning, by a team [...]
GMOA to send letter to President ahead of SAITM solution
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) will send an urgent letter to President Maithripala Sirisena tomorrow seeking a favourable solution on the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) issue. The decision to send the letter was taken after the President in his speech on Thursday at the Convocation of the Aquinas University said [...]