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Home » NewsAll faiths come together for Iftar at the Colombo Town Hall Lawn
Remembering those who lost their lives in the Easter Sunday terror attacks, an Iftar ceremony was held yesterday at the Colombo Town Hall Lawn with the participation of those of all religions, civil society leaders and security forces personnel. Organised by the Sri Lanka Muslim Civil Society, the event began with the observance of silent [...]
Billions in fertiliser subsidy go to wrong pockets
Billions of rupees were erroneously credited to the bank accounts of persons who were not farmers under Sri Lanka’s cash transfer scheme for fertiliser and paid out towards untilled paddy lands instead of cultivated ones, the Auditor General’s Department has found. The national auditor also investigated the procurement fiasco that led to severe delays in [...]
Zaharan had an open warrant for his arrest since last year
Police knew of terror chief’s motives; but search dissipated after arrest of TID Chief Nalaka Silva An open warrant for the arrest of Mohamed Zaharan, the self-styled leader of the National Thowheed Jamath (NTJ) had been issued by a Colombo Magistrate back in August last year, but the wanted man had gone into hiding by [...]
President to attend Modi’s swearing-in
President Maithripala Sirisena will attend Thursday’s swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was re-elected for a second term this week, a spokesman for the President’s office said. President Sirisena earlier telephoned Premier Modi to congratulate him on his party’s victory at the Parliamentary elections.
Single-bid contracts: Hungarians to build two flyovers
Single-bid contracts–this time for two flyovers funded through a Hungarian loan of 52mn Euros (Rs 10.2bn)–have crept back into the Road Development Authority (RDA). The Cabinet this week approved the construction of two flyovers at the Kohuwala and Getambe junctions “as a remedial measure” for heavy traffic congestion. The proposal was submitted by Highways and [...]
Kurunegala doctor arrested; probe on assets
A Kurunegala Teaching Hospital doctor has been arrested over allegations that he had acquired a large number of assets through suspicious means, Kurunegala Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Wasantha Kithsiri Jayalath said. The suspect, who police identified as Seigu Siyabdeen Mohammed Shafi (42), is a resident of Gettuwana, Kurunegala. He is attached to the [...]
Diplomats need more time to relax travel ban
Colombo-based diplomatic mission heads have declared they want more time to lift travel bans imposed on their countries’ citizens visiting Sri Lanka. This was in response to a request made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at a meeting with 43 heads of missions based in Colombo and two representatives of UN agencies. The diplomats told [...]
Dinesh marks 36 years in parliamentary politics
A Bodhi Pooja and Pahan Pooja to mark the 36th year of Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Leader Dinesh Gunawardena being elected as a parliamentarian representing the Maharagama electorate was held at the Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya this week.
Ven. Gnanasara’s release smacks of racism: ULF
The United Left Front (ULF) has condemned the Presidential pardon granted to Bodu Bala Sena General Secretary Ven. Galagoda-Aththe Gnanasara Thera, as an endorsement of racism and an act amounting to contempt of court. Issuing a statement, ULF General Secretary Lal Wijenayaka said the Ven. Gnanasara Thera had been sentenced to 19 years in prison [...]
Drive to register people for voting
Civil rights groups have launched campaigns to encourage persons to register for voting with the registration process currently underway. Electoral advocacy groups point out that many people, including those who live in apartment complexes, disabled individuals and domestic migrant workers had not submitted their details for the 2018 voter registration. Therefore, many had missed out [...]
Freshwater fish promoted to solve Nuwara Eliya District’s nutrition crisis
A programme to vigorously promote inland fisheries in the Nuwara Eliya District has been launched as part of urgent measures to address concerns about the nutritional status of women and children in the area. This comes after the District recorded the highest levels of stunting of children in the Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey. [...]
Man sets fire to mother-in-law’s shop after she refused to give money for gambling
Police are searching for a man who allegedly set fire to his mother –in- law’s shop in Kochchikade, Negombo, following a financial dispute. Police said the three storey building comprising a trading centre that sold plastic, aluminum and sanitary wear, was set on fire on Thursday. Police said, according to initial investigations the suspect had [...]
President, Premier hail Modi’s landslide election victory
President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe extended their good wishes to Indian Premier Narendra Modi on his victory in the recent General Elections. President Sirisena stated that, “The decision of the people of India to entrust your Party and its alliance partners the responsibility of guiding India’s destiny for a further term, with [...]
SL permanent rep to UN hits out at Special Advisors’ joint statement
Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York has criticised two UN Special Advisors who issued a joint statement earlier this month expressing alarm at the “growing acts of violence on the basis of religion” in the country. Rohan Perera wrote to Adama Dieng, UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, [...]
35 foreign refugees relocated at rehabilitation centre in Vavuniya
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has temporarily relocated 35 foreign refugees at the Poonthottam Rehabilitation Centre in Vavuniya. Earlier, discussions were held to relocate the refugees to Ridiyagama. Hambantota. This was abandoned due to protests by area residents. A decision was then taken to transfer 169 of the refugees to the Poonthottam [...]
PM’s office to secure release of 32 Lankan fisherman in Indian custody
Negotiations have been initiated by the Prime Minister’s (PM) office, on the instructions of Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, with the Indian Government, for an exchange of fishermen, to secure the release of 32 Sri Lankan fisherman currently in Indian custody. The Government is to offer to release 18 Indian fishermen and their boats, being held in [...]
Minister Bathiudeen at FCID over alleged financial misappropriation
Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was summoned to the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) last morning, to record a statement regarding an alleged financial misappropriation in the import of 257,000 metric tons of rice, at Lak Sathosa, during 2014-2015, when Mr Bathiudeen was the Minister of Industry & Commerce. He arrived at the FCID at 10 am [...]
Kottegoda first witness before PSC on Easter Sunday attacks
Defence Secretary Shantha Kottegoda will be the first witness summoned before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks. Retired General Kottegoda will appear before the PSC on Wednesday. Meanwhile, advertisements are also due to be published in national newspapers this week, asking the public to submit any information [...]
3,000 security personnel in cordon and search operations
The army and police yesterday conducted special Cordon and Search Operations (CSO) in the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kurunegala and Puttalam Districts, which saw close to 3,000 troops work with police personnel. “The CSO was coordinated by the Overall Operational Command – Colombo, while in other parts of the island search operations were conducted at Security [...]
Sujeewa v. the Sunday Times: Plaintiff Minister cites political envy as reason for defamation
Science, Technology & Research non-Cabinet Minister Sujeewa Senasinghe has told court that the intention of the Sunday Times publishing articles against him was to give the newspaper owner’s son, State Defence Minister and Media Minister Ruwan Wijewardene, who was of his same age, a political advantage over himself. He said he could not think of [...]
Some families still waiting for terrorist blasts relief
The government last week said Rs. 250 million had been paid to victims of the Easter Sunday bomb blasts, but some of the injured say they are yet to be informed of any relief. The Ministry of Public Affairs and Disaster Management said compensation had been paid to the families of all victims both killed [...]
Tales of woe ring out from devastated homes in Katuwapitiya
Lives changed forever – the external wounds are slowly healing but the scars will remain. As people from Katuwapitiya and its environs painfully attempt to limp back to a semblance of normalcy, the support system – except the groups of nuns who are still walking into their homes and giving them a shoulder to cry [...]
Sirisena at Rajapaksa residence – not for politics, but for weddings
There was a surprise visitor to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence on Thursday morning and it turned the rumour mill to function overtime. It was President Maithripala Sirisena. He arrived there and sat in an inner drawing room area, patiently waiting for his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa, and one-time boss who was upstairs. Those who saw [...]
Tourism sector wants safe country for Sri Lankans and visitors
The tourism industry suffered a further blow with last week’s sporadic incidents in the North Western Province and parts of Gampaha, as hoteliers began offering discounts of up to 70% in some instances. “The attacks hurt tourism, and the riots hurt tourism. The riots caused the same security issues the terrorist attacks caused,” said Saliya [...]
A family’s courage to protect neighbours in the face of violence
Caring, concerned people step in to safeguard their neighbours and their property when the government fails to ensure public safety in many crises in Sri Lanka. Such acts of selflessness were once again evident recently in the face of violence in the North Western Province. R P Sujeewani Chandima, 43, saved the lives of 14 [...]
Lights out for pandal-makers gone broke by security edict
Dejected pandal-makers who found they had laboured for nothing when the government blocked the erection of Vesak pandals for fear of terrorist attacks on crowds viewing the popular illuminated structures are calling for compensation. The government has signalled that it will not allow them to recoup losses by mounting pandals for Poson and Esala Poya. [...]
Students answer school bell as alarm bells fade
Persuaded by repeated assurances by the government and the armed forces that schools are safe from terror attacks, students have been filling up classes at the 10,062 schools across the country. Nevertheless, many schools are still asking parents to stand guard at the gates to protect their children. After a miserable start to the second [...]
A firm ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer through DNA Profiling
With Sri Lanka reeling in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings on April 21, the Government Analyst’s Department has without a doubt established the identity of the suicide-bombers within a month. How has the identity of the suicide-bombers been confirmed? The answer may seem simple but it is a complex process based on strong [...]
National reconciliation is no longer on the agenda
Most of those who voted for change in January 2015 would agree that the performance of the Yahapalana Government is like the proverbial curate’s egg – both good and bad. The opening up of the democratic space is one achievement, while the steps taken to bring about national reconciliation is another, both of which constitute [...]
Pick of the Pix
Pix by Amila Gamage, M.A. Pushpakumara, Sameera Weerasekera, Priyantha Wickramarachchi, Gamini Mahadura and Shelton Hettiarachchi
From our readers
Shutterbugs out there, here’s your chance to send in your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph, to pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk. We would also appreciate if you mentioned the camera or cellphone that was used.
30 leopard deaths in five years
At least 30 leopards have been found dead in the Central Province in the past five years, the province’s Assistant Wildlife Director D.M. Weerasinghe said. He said their records from 2015 to April 2019 showed that the carcasses had been found in Haggala, Kandy, Maskeliya, Keerthibandarapura, Belihuloya, Horton Plains and Kotagala. Of these five years, [...]
Where have all the tourists gone?
Nuwara Eliya which usually attracts many local and foreign tourists has been badly hit following the Easter Sunday bombings. Usually during this period the place is a hive of activity with fairs and other festivals starting from April onwards. In contrast the area is bereft of visitors as seen in these pictures.
Small traders bombed out
Though over a month has passed since the barbaric ‘Easter Sunday’ terrorist suicide attacks, normalcy is yet to return to the community. Small-scale vendors and traders throughout the country have been among the hardest hit. Colombo’s Manning Market in Pettah generally teeming with people, and one of the busiest markets in the country, is but [...]
First large body of tourists arrive after Easter Sunday attacks
A large group of tourists from Thailand arrived last week to visit the Dalada Maligawa. It was the largest group of tourists to visit the country since the ‘Easter Sunday’ suicide bomb attacks in the country. The group of 80 persons included five monks, seventy-five laymen and was led by a Nayaka Thera. On arrival [...]
400th year remembrance of last King of Jaffna – Sankili II
The 400th year remembrance, of Sankili II, the last king of Jaffna will be marked today (Sunday) and tomorrow in Jaffna. Sankili was defeated in battle by the Portugese in 1619 and taken to Goa where he was hanged. The date of the commemoration ceremony has been fixed according to the Tamil calendar. Programmes to [...]
Indo-Sri Lanka IMBL talks conclude
The annual International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) meeting between the representatives of navies of India and Sri Lanka held onboard SLNS Sayurala at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line off Kankesanthurai was held on Friday. The Sri Lankan delegation headed by Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Merril Wickramasinghe, also included Deputy Area Commander (North [...]
China’s Brave Warriors in Lanka
China donated 10 ‘Brave Warrior’ Jeeps to the Sri Lankan Police as part of the public security cooperation between the two countries. Pic by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
A low-key Vesak celebration
Vesak was celebrated across the country amidst tight security deployment, especially at temples. Armed officers of the tri-forces, police and dayaka committees appointed by the temple checked those entering temples. The turnout of pilgrims was low on Vesak day, but some crowds did visit temples the day after. Temples and stupas were illuminated by decorative [...]