News
Home » NewsKumba Mela like ceremony at Kataragama
One of Sri Lanka’s major national pageants, the Kataragama Esela Poya Perahera, concluded yesterday. Due to the COVID pandemic, the perahera was restricted to participants and Devale officials with the public not allowed. The traditional water-cutting ceremony was held yesterday morning and it resembled a mini version of India’s Kumba Mela that became a super [...]
Trade Ministry to import items; compete with private sector
The Trade Ministry is to seek cabinet approval to obtain a bank guarantee of US$ 10 million from the Treasury to get into the business of importing essential items including building material to end the monopoly of the private sector. The objective of the ministry is to set up a government arm in importing goods [...]
Presidential Secretary says IMF not the answer
Sri Lanka has no immediate plan to seek financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundera has said. “Right now, it is not a question of whether we want the IMF or not,” the former Finance Ministry Secretary explained in an interview. “The IMF coming won’t bring tourism here. The IMF coming [...]
New labour regulations to protect children
Using children between the ages of 16 and 18 to change tyres, cook in restaurants and cut tiles or handle dangerous equipment is to be banned under new regulations, a senior Labour Department official said. For this purpose, the Labour Ministry will expand the list of jobs considered to be hazardous to children between 16 [...]
KNDU gets billions from two state banks
As the Government introduced an amendment to bring the Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) under the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the face of ongoing public protests, the university has secured Rs 36.54 billion from two state banks under a Treasury guarantee. Following the widespread protests across the country against the KNDU bill, the Education [...]
Sharp rise in COVID cases at NHSL; early signal of spike elsewhere
A sharp rise has been seen in the number of COVID-19 patients seeking treatment at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) this week and many warned that it may be an “early signal” of what to expect from other parts of the country. This week, the NHSL saw more than 200 COVID-19 patients seeking [...]
Strong vaccine studies in SL
With different vaccines being brought to Sri Lanka, crucial ‘vaccine studies’ are underway, comparing and contrasting one against the other. Some of the findings of these studies were announced this week. The vaccines currently used in Sri Lanka are AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Sinopharm, Pfizer and Moderna. Prof. Neelika Malavige, the Head of the Department of [...]
Important findings on AstraZeneca & Sinopharm from vaccine studies
‘Neutralizing’ antibodies are very important, reiterates Prof. Neelika Malavige, pointing out that they block the virus from attaching itself to the host (a person’s) cell receptors. The findings of her team which included Dr. Chandima Jeewandara are: With 1 dose of AstraZeneca, over 93% of the people developed a neutralising antibody response for the wild [...]
Re-visiting the basic info to keep the virus at bay
As signs emerge of the Delta variant gradually taking hold in Sri Lanka, the Sunday Times spoke to Consultant Physician Dr. Eranga Narangoda attached to the Homagama COVID-19 Treatment Hospital to remind the public about what they need to do. The symptoms brought on by the Delta variant are almost the same as the wild [...]
Thalangama wetland: CEA amends 2007 gazette to allow elevated highway
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has amended a 2007 gazette declaring the ecologically-rich Thalangama wetland as an Environmentally Protected Area (EPA) to allow the elevated highway from New Kelani Bridge to Athurugiriya to cross the land. Gazette 223/07 dated July 19 issued by the CEA is now listed on the website of the Department of [...]
Litro says it can meet country’s LP gas demands even if Laugfs withdraws
As reports come in of outlets running out of Liquefied Petroleum (LP Gas) cylinders, arrangements are being made to ensure that there will be no gas shortages in the country from tomorrow (26), the Government said yesterday. State-run Litro gas has been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that there is no gas shortage in [...]
Petitions filed against Finance Bill, more to follow
Petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court stating that several provisions in the Finance Bill introduced by the government to grant amnesty to tax evaders are inconsistent with the Constitution, and would require the bill to be passed by a special majority in Parliament and the people at a referendum. The bill was presented [...]
A timely booklet packed with detail
A colourful and detailed booklet titled ‘Home care for COVID-19 patients’ has been published by the College of General Practitioners of Sri Lanka (CGPSL). This practical guide to assisting a General Practitioner (GP) in the management of a COVID positive patient who is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic in the home environment is in all the [...]
Watch out; heavy rains and strong winds likely in many areas
More rain and gusty winds are expected in the wake of the Southwest monsoon being fully active over the island. The Meteorological Department has predicted fairly strong winds with a speed of around 40-50 kilo metres an hour, across the island. Thereby, strong gusty winds up to 60 kilometres an hour can be expected in [...]
Door-to-door vaccination begins
The rollout of vaccines for those who were not able to access the centres has begun with health staff going from door-to-door. Several families in some areas of Colombo had called the Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) on Monday and been told that they would be given the jab on Wednesday. Thereafter, the authorities had called [...]
‘When balancing lives and livelihoods, don’t get COVID-19 and don’t give it to others’
With the high possibility of COVID-19 being around for a long while, the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), Dr. Padma Gunaratne looks forward and backward. “Let’s vaccinate, through our efficient state hospitals, all those who attend the regular clinics to give coverage to vulnerable people with co-morbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular [...]
Ditch electric fences – human-elephant deaths are rising
The two farmers thought they were safe after chasing off a herd of elephants coming into their paddy fields. It was frightening work – elephants have killed more than 15 people around their homes in Kahatagasdigiliya, Anuradhapura in recent months. The other villagers who had been with them went home but these two farmers, both [...]
COVID-19 and quarantine rules are keeping Lankan workers from going back abroad
Sri Lankan migrant workers are reluctant to go back to work abroad. With rising COVID-19 rates and extreme quarantine requirements in destination countries the number of people registering with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment is low. The registered migrant employment worker rate in Sri Lanka dropped from over two-hundred thousand people in 2019 [...]
Grants to train farmers on how to make organic fertiliser
The Agriculture Ministry has launched a countrywide initiative and grant scheme, to provide capacity building training and adequate resources for farmers to boost the local level of manufacturing organic fertilisers for their own use. Accordingly, the Agrarian Development Department, through its district offices, began conducting training and awareness campaigns on the advantages of organic farming [...]
Going organic: Farmer Wickramasinghe sets an example
Moving to organic agriculture as an alternative tool to address the shortage of chemical fertiliser for cultivation practices has achieved dramatic progress in onion cultivation at Galkiriyagama in the Anuradhapura district. The growth of organic fertiliser has been accomplished by J. M. K. Wickramasinghe, a farmer from the Galkiriyagama Kuda Elagamuwa area. He now uses [...]
Teachers fed up with being on bottom rung of salary ladder
Parents and students continue to struggle following the sudden absence of teachers from online teaching for close on two weeks but teachers say they have been waiting too long for salary increments the Government has failed to grant. “Please note that online classes will not be held today,” “Sorry today’s class will not be conducted” [...]
Amendment to Universities Act: FUTA calls for military -civilian separation in higher education
The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has expressed dismay at the Government’s sudden decision to amend the Universities Act of 1978. In a statement, FUTA noted that the Government on July 20 issued a gazette notification to amend the Universities Act of 1978 and bring “universities for a specific purpose” under the purview of [...]
Don’t flout the 25% capacity rule: Plea from hotel, restaurant associations to businesses
The social scene in Colombo has begun to pick up but restaurant and hotel associations are warning businesses not to break the 25% capacity rule. The Government approved the reopening of the hospitality industry four weeks ago. The approval for their re-openings with a 25% capacity cap came after an appeal made by the associations [...]
Bathiudeen maid another grim notch on child abuse tally
The case of the domestic maid who died at MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s house has again highlighted the vulnerability of children and young people in this country. Recent reports of sexual abuse of children have shocked the country, a notorious case being the 15-year-old girl in Mount Lavinia who was being sold online by her own [...]
Parents’ debts put estate children at risk
Sexual abuse of children living in the estate sector is on the rise, Communist Workers’ Union Chairman Attorney S. Moranraj warned. A physician working in the area, Dr. Champika Jayawardena, said these children were vulnerable because their estate worker parents left them at home during the day and paid little attention to them. When the [...]
Child and women right activists demand justice; call on Govt to do more to protect children
The death of 16-year-old domestic worker at former minister Rishad Bathuideen’s Colombo residence has stirred a hornet’s nest with many child and women rights activists protesting countrywide demanding justice. Activists this week staged protests in Colombo (before the residence of former minister), in Hatton, Kandy, Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Jaffna and other places, demanding that the [...]
Child sex abuse complaint turns into nightmare for family at Padukka police
A Padukka family has called on the Police Chief to carry out an impartial inquiry into their terrifying ordeal at the Padukka police station when they went there to make a complaint about a youth who was sending nude photographs to their 16-year-old daughter’s phone. The girl’s father said they went to the Padukka police [...]
No illumination: Pedestrians at risk at Colombo’s crossings
Accidents on pedestrian crossings have become increasingly common now, though they are meant to be the safest place to cross roads. Over the years local authorities responsible for illuminating the roads have realised that some of the road accidents taking place on the pedestrian crossings at night time could have been avoided by better lighting [...]
Zoo opens to public, health guidelines to be followed
The National Zoological Gardens Dehiwala will be opened to the public, the Department of National Zoological Gardens announced. Accordingly, the Zoo will be open from 9am to 5pm. Authorities said the public could access the parks but strict health regulations would have to be maintained. The Zoo was closed after a 12-year-old lion, Thor, tested [...]
Pick of the Pix
Shutterbugs out there, we would once again appreciate 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
Foreign Minister steps in to bring back Parami’s father
Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has intervened to take speedy action to bring back young Sri Lankan athlete Parami Wasanthi Maristela’s father and other fishermen, who have been stranded in India’s Andaman Islands for about a month after being released from custody. They were arrested for illegally straying into Andaman’s waters. Mr Gunawardena’s attention had been [...]
Present Ambassador to Russia to take up duties as University of Peradeniya VC
Prof M D Lamawansa, the present Ambassador of the Russian Federation, is to assume duties as the next Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya. He will take up the post at the beginning of next month, after present Vice Chancellor Upul B Dissanayake’s term of office ends on July 31. In January 2020, Prof [...]
Fishing vessel was apprehended: SLCG confirms Sunday Times story
The Sri Lanka Coast Guard confirmed the Sunday Times news item that a multi-day fishing vessel was detained by them at the Beruwala Fisheries Harbour on allegations that they were carrying electrical and other items. The Sunday Times on July 11 reported that a Lankan fishing vessel returning from Maldives was held at the harbour. [...]
Eight people killed in fatal road accidents on Friday; drunk and reckless driving to blame
Fatal road accidents continue to claim a large number of lives, including those of children. A kite string entangling on a motorbike resulted in the deaths of a mother and her 18-month-old son at Pitiwella in Boossa on the night of July 17. H. Suranga (35), who is attached to the supply section of the [...]