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Home » NewsPoson lights again at Thanthirimale
For the 16th year, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. yesterday illuminated the historic site of Thanthirimale to mark the Poson festival. Thousands of devotees took part in religious ceremonies at the Viharaya. Pic by Ishan Sanjeewa
Strong opposition to President’s non-binding referendum move
President Maithripala Sirisena wants to conduct a non-binding national referendum to seek public approval for parliamentary general elections ahead of the presidential poll this year. Though he has obtained a favourable opinion from Attorney General Dappula de Livera, there are other political obstacles he would have to surmount. His own legal advisors have also expressed [...]
Ten-year PR visas for foreign investors
The government will extend Permanent Resident visas for up to ten years to attract long-term foreign investors, a senior minister said. Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the move was intended to attract more foreign direct investments to the condominium industry. “At present, to secure a five-year PR visa, an investor has to deposit US$ [...]
Millions mark Poson in A’pura, Mihintale and Thanthirimale
More than a million Buddhists are expected to join in pilgrimages to historic sites, especially Mihintale on Poson Poya today, the day when Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mahinda. Hundreds of thousands of Buddhists are also converging on Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, where the then Sinhala monarch, King Devanampiya Tissa embraced Theravada [...]
Port highway project: Chosen Chinese company debarred by WB
The Chinese company that recently received a letter of intent from the Road Development Authority (RDA) to carry out civil works related to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded port access elevated highway project has been debarred by the World Bank (WB). The WB, on June 5, announced a nine-month debarment of China Railway Construction Corporation [...]
Power Minister proposes drastic reduction in powers of PUCSL
Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake is seeking to whittle down the authority of independent regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). Since taking over the portfolio in January this year, the minister has already floated various emergency power proposals; contracted barge-mounted electricity outside accepted procurement procedure; and ordered the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) [...]
500,000 suffering in the drought cry out for water
Nearly half-a-million Sri Lankans are suffering without water to drink and facing food shortages as a result of lingering drought. While the Southwest monsoon has brought rains, it has not been enough to replenish the rivers, tanks and agri wells. Statistics obtained by the Sunday Times show that more than 120,000 families and in excess [...]
Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia groundwater highly contaminated by faecal matter and chemicals
Groundwater in Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia is highly contaminated with faecal matter from domestic septic tanks and soakage pits as well as chemicals from industries, a report on a proposal to extend pipe-borne sewage disposal there says. A comprehensive study in the project area identified a deterioration of surface water quality as well as “extremely high total [...]
Unlicensed, unregistered – rogue lenders exploit the dark
The government’s intervention last August to write off microfinance loans to women in drought-affected areas is of no help to thousands of families struggling with debt as many lenders are unregistered with the Central Bank and Treasury and ineligible to receive Treasury grants to settle outstanding loans. Moreover, no microfinance institution currently has a licence [...]
Muslim MPs who resigned to reconsider accepting ministerial posts
Muslim MPs who stepped down from their Cabinet, State and Deputy Minister positions will hold a special meeting in the Parliament complex on Tuesday to consider whether to again accept ministerial posts in the Government. Former Minister Abdul Haleem told the Sunday Times that the meeting would take place once Parliament sessions resume on Tuesday. [...]
Lankan, Indian Armed Forces exchange visits to foster goodwill
The 160 Sri Lankan Armed Forces Personnel and their families, designated for the 2nd Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage, organised by the High Commission of India, met with 160 Indian Armed Forces personnel and their families at Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday. The latter are here on the invitation of the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. “The [...]
In the spirit of Poson
Religious activities and other meritorious acts connected to Poson began yesterday as seen in these pictures taken in Anuradhapura, Saliyawewa and Colombo. Pix by Jayantha Wickremarachchi and Priyanka Samaraweera.
Hotels Association asks Govt. to underwrite loans
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has urged the Government to underwrite working capital loans amounting to Rs12 billion. Issuing a statement, THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said they are making this request as an industry after taking stock of the situation. He added that the association was asking the Government to underwrite the working [...]
GTF condemns anti-Muslim hysteria
The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has expressed its condemnation of the violence and intimidation directed against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Issuing a statement, the GTF states that it expresses strong condemnation of the anti-Muslim hatred and hysteria being whipped up by sections of the Sinhala Buddhist community, and called on the Sri Lankan [...]
Remember the message of peace and harmony this Poson
President, Prime Minister and Speaker called on the people to follow the teachings of Lord Buddha to build peace and harmony among communities. President Maitripala Sirisena said that Sri Lanka was granted a non violent religion with the arrival of Mahinda Thera. This is the moment where Poson Poya’s message of boundless compassion and peaceful [...]
Australia softens Travel Advisory to SL
The Tourism industry received a boost this week as Australia softened its, previously imposed, strict Travel Advisory, providing the industry with the hope that the recovery initiatives taken have had a positive impact on the global stage. The Australian Travel Advisory to its nationals reads, “exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to the [...]
Yoga for peace and harmony
The Indian High Commission celebrated International Day of Yoga at Independence Square, Colombo, yesterday (15). Politicians, yoga experts and yoga enthusiasts gathered at the event. Addressing the gathering, Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu spoke of the common heritage between India and Sri Lanka, and the connection between yoga and Buddhist philosophy that unifies forces, [...]
Expedite probes on those detained in round up ops and mob violence: PM
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has advised the Police and the Attorney General’s Department to expedite inquiries on those arrested in operations carried out after the Easter Sunday bombings and the mob violence that followed. The directive came after revelations that over 2,400 persons were currently in custody over the incidents. The directive was given at [...]
Woman drowns in canoeing tragedy
A woman who was canoeing in the Mahaweli River drowned on Friday after her canoe overturned. The victim was canoeing in the river with another woman when the tragedy happened in Dehiaththakandiya, police said. They said the victim tried to swim to shore before she drowned, while the other woman, who managed to cling on [...]
Authorities were warned of Zahran’s ISIS terrorism, claim witnesses
Two former provincial governors, who resigned from their posts following accusations of links to terrorists behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks, were among the key witnesses who gave evidence this week before the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) looking into the attacks. Former Western Province Governor Azath Salley and former Eastern Province Governor M L A [...]
Korean LNG firm’s Swiss Challenge proposal sees fifth deadline extension
The deadline for international bidders to counter a Korean proposal for an offshore floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been extended for a fifth time. Bidders have now been given till July 23 to submit counter proposals under the Swiss Challenge procedure for the project which will serve [...]
Central Expressway Stage III: Japan urged to provide fresh proposal
Japan has been requested to come up with a fresh proposal for stage III of the Central Expressway project after disagreements arose over the Rs 135 billion project. The Government’s decision to review the proposal had been conveyed to the Japanese Ambassador by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week at a Colombo meeting, where the [...]
Maithri, Ranil vie for Modi’s ‘ear’ during whistle stop
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s brief visit to Sri Lanka last week, after his re-election, symbolises Modi’s commitment to the ‘Neighbourhood first’ concept. The Indian PM’s visit was seen as a move to show solidarity with Sri Lanka, following the Easter Sunday Bombings, and to focus on Counter Terrorism efforts. Welcomed at the Bandaranaike [...]
Damage caused to ex-judge’s house: Construction company’s bid to crush enjoining order fails
Colombo District Judge Amali Ranaweera this week turned down objections on extending an enjoining order against a construction company which has allegedly caused damage to a house located close to its construction site in Narahenpita. In this case, former Court of Appeal President, Justice Upali de Z Goonewardena, and his wife, former Professor of Microbiology [...]
Court of Appeal upholds private school’s right to teach in English
The Court of Appeal (CoA) has quashed an order by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to a Government Approved Private Unaided (English Medium) School, to teach either in the mother tongue or bilingual medium, instead of in English. CoA Judge Mahinda Samayawardhena issued the order, upholding a Petition filed by parents of [...]
Motorists snap fingers at lane laws despite 500 cases filed
The rain was being used as an excuse by motorists to break the lane law. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal The “lane law” became effective from Monday but most motorists ignored them whenever traffic police were not present. Since Monday, police have filed cases against 500 errant motorists, Deputy Inspector-General (Traffic) Senior Superintendent Ajith Rohana [...]
Giving back life to the ‘Green Isle’
Across a floating bridge made of barrels, there is an island being smothered by wel-atha, where slowly a ‘revival’ is taking place so that soon it will be a haven for all those creatures being pushed out of their habitats in Colombo’s suburbs. Not far to travel, the ‘Green Isle’ surrounded by canals, where lurks [...]
Easter Sunday attacks reconfirm need to abolish Executive Presidency
With the Easter Sunday attacks and the fallout from terrorism holding the attention of the country in the past few weeks, a critical aspect of the country’s governance has once again been relegated to a footnote, in the discussions that relate to Sri Lanka’s future. The issue of the Executive Presidency (EP) which occupied centre [...]
State has no plan to tackle child prostitution and porn, UN body finds
Despite Sri Lanka being recognised as a pathfinder country to end violence against children and is in its final stages of developing a national child protection policy, it lacks a comprehensive national plan to address the issues, a UN report said. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has published its concluding [...]
Mahinda, Gota take cover behind affidavits and supporting documents
The affidavits and supporting documents of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other key persons facing allegations of large-scale fraud and corruption at SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan), SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka, were presented and marked at the Commission of Inquiry’s (CoI) public sittings this week. Some of the other key figures [...]
Hotels Association asks Govt. to underwrite loans
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has urged the Government to underwrite working capital loans amounting to Rs12 billion. Issuing a statement, THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said they are making this request as an industry after taking stock of the situation. He added that the association was asking the Government to underwrite the working [...]
International scientists to meet in Lanka on tropics crisis
International scientists will meet in Sri Lanka in September to discuss saving life forms in the tropics, where 80 per cent of all species live and where the greatest threats to biodiversity lie. “About 200 world-renowned scientists are expected to participate in this conference, organised by the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC)’s Asia-Pacific [...]
Kite surfing schools facing closure
In whichever part of the country you may be, the effects of Easter Sunday bombing are still felt. The village of Kalpitiya one among those badly affected by that deadly blast. Though the kite surfing season at Kalpitiya has begun, the fallout of the deadly blast have taken a heavy toll. The beaches are all [...]