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If there’s no gas, switch to firewood

If there’s no gas, switch to firewood

With tens of thousands of families suffering without cooking gas, these two desperate Beruwela women who failed in their bid to buy a cylinder are seen returning with a bundle of firewood, which most Sri Lankans used before gas cookers became a household item. Pic by Thusitha Kumara de Silva  

CB orders immediate conversion of foreign currency earnings to rupees

The Central Bank has ordered importers, exporters and those engaged in receiving funds for ‘goods and services’ provided abroad, including professionals, to convert their foreign currency earnings to rupees forthwith and for commercial banks to ensure the transactions are done each month. In a move that has sent shock waves among the business community, professionals [...]

CEB engineers warn of sudden strike action if Govt. goes ahead with US deal

The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers’ Union has warned Power Minister Gamini Lokuge of possible trade union action “without prior notice” if the Government goes ahead with the award of the LNG monopoly to a US-based company. Union President Saumya Kumarawadu told the Sunday Times they had written to the minister, saying that the Government’s decision [...]

TNA team invited by US Govt. to discuss political issues

A Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation is to visit the United States later this month to drum up support for the party’s stand on political issues. The three-member delegation has been invited by the US Government. It will comprise K. Kanag-isvaran PC, Dr. Nirmala Chandrahasan and M.A. Sumanthiran PC. Party spokesperson Sumanthiran told the Sunday [...]

Loss of Rs. 125m by giving PCR contract to a particular company

Disregarding average market prices, PCR testing kits had been bought from a bidder who quoted a higher price at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, thus causing a financial loss of more than Rs. 125 million, the Auditor General’s 2020 Report has revealed. The report was handed over to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena this week [...]

Despite court order, controversial Chinese fertiliser ship inching towards Colombo Port

The cargo vessel carrying contaminated fertiliser from China –  now in the eye of a diplomatic and legal storm — was yesterday tracked in Sri Lanka’s waters off Beruwela, inching towards the Colombo Port. Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Indika de Silva told the Sunday Times yesterday the ship was in the waters of Sri Lanka’s [...]

I will bring about the revolution I promised, but not through military rule, says President

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday vowed to keep to his promise of introducing a revolutionary change, as promised, but will not resort to a military type rule. He was addressing a ceremony in Weeraketiya to mark the completion of 1500 road projects islandwide. “Some people said they expected a person like a military person. That is [...]

Teacher protest gains wider support ahead of school restart

Teacher protest gains wider support ahead of school restart

In the backdrop of teachers and principals continuing their protests demanding a salary revision, the government last week announced that all schools will open tomorrow. But education trade unions have vowed to continue their campaign until their demands are met. The Education Ministry however, expressed doubts whether there will be a change in the government’s [...]

Travel ban for ministers during Budget debate

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has barred Ministers, State Ministers and officials from travelling overseas ahead of the Government’s second Budget which will be presented to Parliament on Friday. In a circular sent to secretaries to all Ministries and State Ministries, Presidential Secretary P.B. Jayasundera instructed that no foreign travel, either official or personal, be planned for [...]

Police arrest drone operator

Sri Dalada Maligawa Police personnel took into custody a drone camera, and the passport of a Bangladeshi national when he operated the camera within the high-security zone of the Maligawa. The suspect’s cellular phone and other accessories were also taken into the custody of the Police. The suspect informed the Police that he was working [...]

Clearing imports becomes difficult amidst shortage of dollars

More than 300 containers of essential items have been held up at the Colombo Port due to importers not meeting bank conditions on Letters of Credit (LC). Director General of Customs Maj Gen (Retd) G V Ravipriya confirmed to the Sunday Times that there had been slow movement in clearing the consignments that had arrived [...]

Cooking gas shortage fuels public anger on the streets

Cooking gas shortage fuels public anger on the streets

Dozens of desperate Sri Lankans unable to buy domestic gas canisters have been lining up at petrol stations in some cities for kerosene while venting their fury at the government. But as the days wore on and stocks dwindled, filling stations imposed limits on kerosene buyers. Some in Colombo who joined long lines while carrying [...]

Suppliers relish rocketing commodity prices, households reel

Suppliers relish rocketing commodity prices, households reel

Retailers and merchants have mixed views of the new gazette on removing price controls on food items such as sugar, dhal (lentils), chicken, canned fish, corn, big onions, wheat flour, potato, and milk powder. They said that although supplies increase, the prices also rise because importers, suppliers as well as wholesalers charge more. Retail shop [...]

Sweet and sour festival of Deepavali

Sweet and sour festival of Deepavali

Many families could not share traditional food due to a shortage of gas, sugar and other items Sweetmeat shops, confectioners, hotels and bakery owners say prices soaring beyond their limits and they are bearing heavy losses to avoid risk of losing customers Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights, is thought to be incomplete without the [...]

Farmers ‘clueless’ about artificial chemical fertiliser

Farmers ‘clueless’ about artificial chemical fertiliser

A mid widespread protests by angry farmers demanding fertiliser by burning the effigy of the Minister of Agriculture and parading mock coffins signifying the death of rice farming, two Indian Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft landed in the early hours of Thursday at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 100,000 kilos of nano nitrogen fertiliser. [...]

Water logged entrance to village a ‘death trap’, say residents

Water logged entrance to village a ‘death trap’, say residents

Millions of rupees are to be spent on the long stretch of the Muruthana – Bambukuliya Road currently in construction, according to the giant board displayed on the road by the Western Province Road Development Authority (RDA). However, no one seems to be taking any responsibility to repair the main entrance to the village on [...]

Hundreds of thousands of child marriages take place annually due to loopholes in the system

Hundreds of thousands of child marriages take place annually due to loopholes in the system

“I told them I would kill myself.” Now 20, she was 17-years-old when they tried to wed her to a 30-year-old man. She threatened her parents with suicide, she told the Sunday Times. She knew she was entitled to an education, to university, and she resorted to the most desperate threat to hold on to [...]

Paskaralingam tried to push through lucrative B.Ed. programme during Yahapalana Govt., but failed

Paskaralingam tried to push through lucrative B.Ed. programme during Yahapalana Govt.,  but failed

Pandora Papers also reveal more on his hush-hush dealings with setting up HCBT; Chairman says he did not disclose Mr Paskaralingam’s involvement due to then prevailing ethnic strife  Ramalingam Paskaralingam–who called the shots during the presidency of Ranasinghe Premadasa and was later one of then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s key adviser’s –pushed members of the [...]

Kandy school and residents protest against high-rise building

Kandy school and residents protest against high-rise building

A leading girls school in Kandy and residents in the area have in a letter to the UDA protested against a high-rise building that they allege poses a danger to the school, especially during the prevailing weather conditions. The letter signed by the principal of Mahamaya Girls’ College, the school’s development committee and residents, pointed [...]

Kandy Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman bailed out on Rs. 100,000

Kandy Additional Magistrate Farikdeen Halaldeen released the Gangawata Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Subhas Yatawara on a Rs. 100,000 surety bail with two sureties and a Rs. 10,000 cash bail after Mr. Yatawara was produced by Kandy Police officers before the Magistrate. The Chairman, who was evading arrest after a complaint had been lodged by the Pradeshiya [...]

Caution, need of the hour as infections and deaths show slight rise – Experts

Caution, need of the hour as infections and deaths show slight rise – Experts

Complacency among the people and the authorities will pave a strong and regrettable pathway for a resurgence of COVID-19, warned many experts this week. “COVID-19 is not over yet. It is not vanquished and everyone should be alert and not be comfortable within a false sense of complacency that just because the vaccination programme is [...]

Home-based care takes off successfully

Home-based care takes off successfully

A major success story in Sri Lanka’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been the home-based care system for asymptomatic (without symptoms) and mildly symptomatic positive patients. It is formally known as Patient Home Isolation and Management Systems (PHIMS). The system was piloted in the Kalutara district on June 7 and rolled out to the [...]

Rainfall worsens polluted canal

A small canal near the Werassa Ganga, coming under the Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC), has been overflowing with waste following heavy rains experienced over the past few days. The canal is currently clogged with “Japan Jabara” and other invasive plant species, along with plastic and other solid waste. The canal serves as a habitat for [...]

Drowning deaths fears resurface in wake of inland travel resumption

Deaths by drowning are likely to increase after travel between provinces were lifted and inter-provincial train services resumed this weekand holidaymakers rushed to beaches, waterfalls, lakes, reservoirs, and other inland waterways, professionals involved in water safety fear. This is also a season of heavy downpours. Recently, three members of a family from Kattankudy died at [...]

Sun, sea and sand; but little Covid rules

Sun, sea and sand; but little Covid rules

Since the lifting of travel restrictions, the Mount Lavinia beach is attracting hundreds of local and foreign tourists, who are seen sun bathing or strolling on the crowded beach. However, health regulations are observed in the breach. The beach poses a covid risk, with a majority of revellers wearing no face masks or maintaining the [...]

The long drawn fight against Police brutality continues

The long drawn fight against Police brutality continues

Twenty-one years: That’s how long Amitha Priyanthi has fought for justice over her brother’s killing, allegedly at the hands of the Police. On June 12, 2000, the Payagala police arrested her younger brother, Lasantha Jagath Kumara, for deserting the army. Five days later, he was dead, reportedly from injuries sustained in their custody. Pathologists found [...]

Pick of the Pix

Pick of the Pix

From our readers 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 We would also appreciate if you mention the camera or cellphone that was used.

Deadly deluge set to continue, danger flagged for six districts

Deadly deluge set to continue, danger flagged for six districts

Intense rainfall in the past week caused deaths and destruction of homes from flooding and landslides in many parts of Sri Lanka. Five people have been killed and one person is missing. More than 4,000 face hardships due to heavy rainfall, strong winds, and a few landslides, the Disaster Management Centre reported. According to the [...]

Gone with the rains; their home and all they had

Gone with the rains; their home and all they had

A family of three in Kirimaduthenna, Passara who miraculously escaped death after torrential rains destroyed their home completely are seeking help to rebuild their lives. Continuous rains had resulted in an earth slip that dragged down their house about 800 feet. The owner of the house K.D. Lionel had been staying the night over at [...]

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