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Home » NewsThe House of Lanka’s destiny
The House of Parliament, the supreme legislature of the sovereign people, is closed to MPs following the prorogation. But schoolchildren were allowed to enter the House on Friday, while outside Parliament the political horse trading and other dramas continued. Parliament will be the centre of attraction next week, if it reconvenes, to show which party [...]
TNA resolves to back no-faith motion against Rajapaksa
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has resolved to vote in support of the no-confidence motion against the Government headed by Mahinda Rajapaksa, who, it says, has been unconstitutionally and illegally appointed as Prime Minister. The move came as 118 MPs from all parties opposed to the prorogation of the 225 seat Parliament met Speaker Karu [...]
I will reconvene Parliament soon, says President
The nine-day political turmoil after President Maithripala Sirisena ousted Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore-in Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister with a new government showed signs of receding yesterday. In brief remarks made to the Sunday Times, President Maithripala Sirisena said he would “reconvene Parliament soon” but did not mention a date. “We have the [...]
Govt. Printer waiting for vital gazette
The Government Printers Office has been put on standby since yesterday morning to print any gazette notification, Government Printer Ganga Liyanage told the Sunday Times. Ms. Liyanage said they were informed both by the Presidential Secretariat and the Speaker’s office that there could be an important gazette notification issued at any moment and to keep [...]
Please bear with us; we’re up by Rs. 20 from next week
We regret to inform our valued readers that due to the steep rise in world market prices of newsprint and other material together with the sharp depreciation of the rupee, we have no option but to raise the price of the Sunday Times by Rs. 20 from next Sunday. We assure you that as the [...]
Political turmoil puts mega US grant in balance
A multimillion dollar US grant aid programme which was to be signed in December is hanging in the balance due to the political turmoil in Sri Lanka. Earlier this year, the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) approved a five-year grant of about US$ 460mn for Sri Lanka’s land and transport sectors. The money was [...]
Security breaches at AG’s Dept., STF deployed
“Security breaches” at the Attorney General’s Department had forced it to seek additional security from the Inspector General of Police, a senior AG’s Dept. officer said yesterday. He said the “security breaches”, had taken place “over the past few weeks”, but did not give details. However, he said there were no incidents of any files [...]
Expect heavy rains from tomorrow; Bay of Bengal low pressure may affect SL
There is the possibility of heavy rains throughout next week, the Meteorology Department said yesterday. Heavy showers are expected from tomorrow night with the possibility of rainfall between 100mm – 150mm. Anusha Warnasooriya (Acting) Director – Weather Forecasting of the Department said. Heavy rainfall is expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western Provinces (particularly [...]
Polls Commission ready for Parliamentary polls two months after its proclamation
The Elections Commission (EC) is prepared to hold Parliamentary elections within 2 months after a related proclamation by the President, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times yesterday. He said the EC could make the arrangements including the appointment of officials within that period. Following a proclamation of Parliamentary elections, nominations could be called [...]
Range Bandara plays voice clips to prove he was offered inducements
United National Party Minister and Parliamentarian Palitha Range-Bandara, yesterday, provided what he called evidence to prove that he was offered millions of rupees and a cabinet posting if he joined the UPFA government. He told journalists yesterday that he received several calls from former Minister S.B. Dissanayake and other UPFA members, offering him a ministerial [...]
Tourism industry not yet affected by travel advisories, say hoteliers
The recent travel advisories issued by some countries following the political situation in the country, has not yet affected the tourism industry, although the upcoming weeks are uncertain, an industry source said. The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany have issued travel advisories. Kandy Hoteliers Association president said that, so far, there [...]
Hospital under investigation over ten-year-old boy’s death
A private hospital is under investigation following the death of a ten-year-old boy, who underwent a bone marrow transplant to overcome Thalassaemia. At a coroner’s court inquiry, it was claimed that the hospital had made a mistake in identifying the boy’s blood group and a bone that was removed during surgery had been found inside [...]
Parliament’s new seating arrangements not finalised yet
A final decision on the seating arrangement for the first sitting date of the new session of Parliament is yet to be taken, but Ranil Wickremesinghe is likely to be allocated the seat which was previously occupied by Mahinda Rajapaksa in the opposition benches of the House. Mr. Rajapaksa is to be allocated the seat [...]
Polls Commission ready for Parliamentary polls 2 months after its proclamation
The Elections Commission (EC) is prepared to hold Parliamentary elections within 2 months after a related proclamation by the President, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times yesterday. He said the EC could make the arrangements including the appointment of officials within that period. Following a proclamation of Parliamentary elections, nominations could be called [...]
Expect heavy rains from tomorrow; Bay of Bengal low pressure may affect SL
There is the possibility of heavy rains throughout next week, the Meteorology Department said yesterday. Heavy showers are expected from tomorrow night with the possibility of rainfall between 100mm – 150mm. Anusha Warnasooriya (Acting) Director – Weather Forecasting of the Department said. Heavy rainfall is expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-Western Provinces (particularly [...]
LAWASIA on fact finding mission to SL
LAWASIA, an international Legal body of Lawyers, Judges, Jurists and Legal organisations, is to undertake an urgent fact finding mission by eminent Legal personalities to Sri Lanka, as the country is experiencing a Constitutional crisis in its 70-year-long democratic history. The undertaking was effected this week after a delegation of the Bar Association of Sri [...]
Democracy lovers join UNP demonstrators, JVP hits out at both leading parties
A large number of civil society members and people with no affiliation to any party, joined the United National Party (UNP) protest rally on October 30 following President Maithripala Sirisena’s controversial decision to remove Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister and replace him with Mahinda Rajapaksa. The protest rally saw a crowd of [...]
Fish aplenty but low returns complain fishermen
Despite a rich harvest of fish in the Chilaw area their prices have been low. Despite adverse weather conditions, fishermen who continue going out to sea, complain of a sharp drop in fish prices. The average price of fish which was around Rs 700 a kg, has now dropped to around Rs 400-450. A kg [...]
Women and liquor: SC green light for five FR petitions
The Supreme Court, on Friday. granted Leave to Proceed in several Fundamental Rights (FR) applications filed against the ban on women selling alcohol and the prohibition on employment of women in the alcohol industry. A 3-member Bench comprising Justices Buwaneka Aluwihare P.C., Prasanna Jayawardena P.C. and Vijitha Malalgoda P.C., allowed 5 petitions to proceed and [...]
Stop loud noises from outdoor functions: Court orders Waters Edge
The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued a conditional order against Waters Edge (WE) over noise pollution from outdoor functions at the hotel. Accordingly, the court has ordered the WE management to stop loud noises emanating from outdoor functions at WE, noting that such noises were causing harm to the health and physical wellbeing of [...]
US allows eight importers to keep buying Iran oil for now
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it will temporarily allow eight importers to keep buying Iranian oil when it re-imposes sanctions on Monday to try to force Iran to curb its nuclear, missile and regional activities. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who announced the decision, did not name the [...]
Civil society expresses outrage over Sirisena’s drastic move
Statements, media releases and petitions continue to flow in following President Maithripala Sirisena’s surprise move to remove Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe from his post and instal Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former President, in his place. Yesterday, in an open appeal to Members of Parliament, the Movement for Democracy–which said it was a network of individuals concerned [...]
Odd couples share governance as tug-of-war continues
It looks as if there are parallel governments running in the country in the past few days, with, not only two persons claiming to be Prime Minister (PM), but also with duplicate Ministers. While more than 15 Cabinet Ministers, along with several State and Deputy Ministers have been sworn in, with Ranil Wickremesinghe still claiming [...]
A cross section of society has this to say
With the country’s political situation in constant flux, the Sunday Times spoke to a cross section of the public to ascertain their views. Many were of the view that irrespective of who governs the country, what is required is a strong government with a stable leadership that serves the public best. Ali Mohamad Kumaran (38), [...]
Key elephant-train solutions derailed
The government has begun implementing parts of a proposal aimed at preventing elephants from being killed by passing trains, but some key recommendations have been put on hold. Railways Department General Manager Dilantha Fernando said environmental groups claimed they could come up with better solutions at cheaper rates than the proposals set out in a [...]
Drug trafficking and money laundering go hand-in-hand, says SG
With Sri Lanka becoming a transit hub in global drug trafficking, tying up drug detection to money laundering is the call of the hour, says the Solicitor General and the Acting Attorney General Dappula de Livera. Citing the best practices of many jurisdictions the world over, he called for a holistic approach to drug trafficking [...]
Investigators check video of Ranatunga shooting incident
The Colombo Crime Division has taken over all CCTV footage related to the shooting incident at the Ceypetco building where a body guard of former minister Arjuna Ranatunga opened fire killing an employee of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) last Sunday. A senior CCD officer said that the footage will shed light on events that [...]
Concessions, price reductions and promises to reduce the cost of living
With the political upheaval of last week came a string of concessions and promises to reduce the cost of living burden on the average Sri Lankan. Mahinda Rajapaksa as the newly ‘appointed’ Finance and Economic Affairs Minister said the infamous “fuel price formula” would be scrapped. As such, the Ministry has reduced petrol 92 octane [...]
Police given stronger role in cracking down on ragging
University ragging offenders will find it more difficult to remain at large until their cases are investigated and police have been instructed to take proactive action against raggers, the Minister of Higher Education, Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said, as bullying on campus comes under scrutiny with the start of the new academic year this month and in [...]
Oct. 26, 2018: The purge and the ‘Night of the Long Knives’
“What was done to me will be done to you one day,” said Mahinda Rajapaksa to Ranil Wickremesinghe soon after the presidential election of 2015. The comments turned out to be prophetic. In Sri Lankan political history, Friday, the twenty-sixth of October was the night of the long knives. The day began innocuously enough. If [...]
Civil society has vital role to resolve Constitutional crisis
The political impasse created by the Constitutional crisis in the country has cast a great responsibility on civil society in general and professionals in particular. While the political actors fight it out, it is civil society, by virtue of its independent character, and the professionals, by virtue of their professionalism, who can guide the public [...]
‘Special Fiduciary’ to replace Jaffna College Trustees: US court
A Massachusetts Court issued an interim order on Wednesday directing that an independent lawyer called a ‘Special Fiduciary’ be appointed to replace the Trustees of Jaffna College (JC), to administer the bulk of its Trust funds, following a Legal dispute. The Court directive was issued consequent on the Board of Directors of JC filing a [...]
Tea industry withers as wage war continues
No consensus despite fresh round of talks with newly appointed ministers Trade unions demand basic daily salary be increased from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000; plantation companies say nothing more than all-inclusive wage hike of Rs. 940 a day with basic salary of Rs. 600 The deadlock continues over talks aimed at resolving the wage [...]
The slaughter of the dolphins
Acting on a tip-off last week, police raided a well-known fish stall in the Chilaw area while dolphin flesh was being sold. Police said that the mammals had been caught at sea and the still live mammals butchered inside a boat. The carcass was then transported to the stall where it was put up for [...]
Fraud inquiry uncovers hand of insurance company worker
Forged identity cards have been used to make a multi-million rupee claim from an insurance company, fraud investigators say. The Colombo Fraud Bureau says conmen have claimed Rs 4.8 million from a businessman’s insurance policy with the help of an employee of the insurance company. CFB director, S.P Rohan Premaratne said this was uncovered after [...]
Cereal import ban to stay to drive up local output
Last month’s decision to ban cereal imports will not be revoked as it is national policy, the Agricultural Ministry said. Local farmers will be encouraged to cultivate the crops through the introduction of a floor price and subsidies on seeds and fertiliser, Agriculture Ministry Secretary Ruwan Chanda said. Two weeks ago, the government moved to [...]