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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa paying homage to his elder brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at a ceremony to declare open the Sandahiru Seya in Anuradhapura on Thursday which marked the second anniversary of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency. Work on this stupa was started when Mahinda Rajapaksa was President.
Public servants gagged: Cannot criticise Govt. on social media
Public servants have received a gag-order to refrain from criticising the Government and its policies through social media platforms in a fresh move to stem negative publicity against the administration. They have been warned of disciplinary action if they violate the directive from the State Ministry of Home Affairs. In a circular issued this week, [...]
Strict guidelines for SOEs: They will reap what they sow
The Finance Ministry this week cracked the whip on state-owned enterprises (SOEs), requiring boards of directors to be held accountable for their decisions and actions, laying down strict guidelines for recruitment and payments, and demanding performance targets to be met across all institutions. The instructions targeting 400-odd institutions became effective on Wednesday. They were accompanied [...]
Dispute over Chinese organic fertiliser: Govt. backs down
The Government has decided to back down in the dispute over the Chinese organic fertiliser shipment that was found to be contaminated. Preparations are underway to resolve the dispute by paying 75 percent of the claim by the Chinese company. This amounts to US$ 6.7 million. The Government has also decided to buy fresh stocks [...]
On the cards; State sector unions threaten to strike
A public sector trade union alliance has threatened to take union action without ‘prior notice’ if the Government fails to include a salary hike or allowance in the 2022 Budget. Expressing disappointment that the Budget 2022 had not provided relief to state-sector employees, the Sri Lanka Government Officers’ Trade Union Association (SLGOTUA) wrote to the [...]
Local Govt. polls skipped, councils get extended terms
The Government is to extend the local councils’ term by one year without elections, the Sunday Times learns. Accordingly, the terms of 340 local bodies — 24 municipal councils, 41 urban councils and 275 Pradeshiya Sabhas — will be extended after their mandated four-year term expires in April next year. The term of another local [...]
Covid cases rising; 135 deaths, over 4,385 afflicted this week
While the number of positive cases is rising again, 155 COVID-19 related deaths were recorded this week. Some 725 COVID-19 positive cases were reported on Saturday raising the number of afflicted people to more than 4,385 during the week. On Friday, 22 more covid deaths were recorded raising Sri Lanka’s total covid death toll to [...]
Sandahiru Seya unveiled
A religious ceremony to unveil the Sandahiru Seya in Anuradhapura was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Ill full moon Poya day on Thursday. The Seya was built to commemorate security forces personnel who sacrificed their lives during the 30-year-old conflict
National newspapers resolve 207 complaints on a self-regulation basis
National newspapers resolved 207 complaints from aggrieved readers directly on a self-regulation basis last year while the Press Complaints Commission of Sri Lanka (PCCSL) received 76 complaints for adjudication under the voluntary mechanism set up by the industry back in 2003. The 2020 annual report of the PCCSL presented by its Chief Executive Officer Sukumar [...]
Rare barn owl injured in demolition of old water tank dies
A rare barn owl (tyto alba), classified as ‘near threatened’ in the National Red List (2012) met an unfortunate death on Friday after sustaining injuries during a controlled demolition of an old abandoned water tank in Konthaipitty, Mannar. Following the demolition of the tank with the assistance of Army personnel, on Monday, the barn owl [...]
Trail of waste ends in the sea
As the heavy rains left a trail of destruction on land, it has also washed tonnes of plastic waste and garbage to the ocean and river beds in several areas. The Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Dharshani Lahandapura told the Sunday Times that usually during the heavy rains nearly 250,000 tonnes of [...]
Landslide mitigation measures in place as one lane opens for traffic at Pahala Kadugannawa
One lane of the Pahala-Kadugannawa Road that was temporarily closed due to landslide risk was reopened on Thursday, after mitigation measures were put in place by the authorities. “We opened a single lane under the assurance given by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) that it was safe to do so,” Road Development Authority (RDA) [...]
NDCU fears rise in dengue cases
The lifting of pandemic restrictions and the incessant rains in the past two weeks can increase the number of dengue patients, the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU) has warned . Its Community Physician Shilanthi Seneviratne expressed fears that the cases would increase as the monsoon rains could create ideal breeding places for dengue mosquitoes, leading [...]
After a slump, tourism industry gearing to meet challenges as arrivals pick up
After months of financial distress that saw hundreds of people losing jobs or migrating, the tourism industry is now gearing to meet a sudden increase in demand, sources said. For this year, upto November 18, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has recorded 83,397 arrivals, grossing US$ 134.34 million as at October 31. In [...]
In the absence of foreigner interest, UDA marketing prime real estate to local investors
With laborious approval processes, policy vagaries and negative credit ratings among the factors blamed for scant foreigner interest, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) is marketing its hefty portfolio of prime real estate to local investors. The ‘UDA Investment Forum 2021’ that takes place at Water’s Edge on Thursday targets Sri Lankan businesses who are welcome [...]
A SriLankan manager returning home called fire dept. on seeing fire at racecourse building
The Government Analyst was called in yesterday to investigate a fire that broke out at a restaurant in Colombo 7, with initial suspicion that a gas leak had led to the incident. Two people sustained minor injuries in the incident reported around 5.30 am. Extensive damages have been caused to the restaurant located at the [...]
Experts unhappy over change in protocol for AZ booster
Controversy surrounds a sudden change in the vaccination protocol recommended by the Health Ministry’s National Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (NACCDs), the Sunday Times learns. This arose as top health officials warned of spikes in COVID-19 infections in several areas. The Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena stated this week that five clusters were [...]
Super-bug threat a ticking time-bomb
‘One shot’ medicines including antibiotics, ‘supposedly’ miracle cures for any and every illness, just do not work and will have severe repercussions not only on the patient but also on society. The ticking time-bomb is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) due to irrational use and abuse of precious antibiotics. This is the dire but timely message that [...]
COVID toe another manifestation of the infection
Watch out for the ‘COVID toe’. This is the advice from the National Eye Hospital’s Clinical Medicine Department which, amidst conducting many studies on COVID-19 related issues to help the people face the pandemic better, has come across several patients with the COVID toe. Poring over research conducted across the world, Consultant Physician Dr. Waruna [...]
Vaccine forum warns Prof. Vitarana’s statement could jeopardise vaccination drive
Taking strong objection to a statement made by Prof. Tissa Vitarana that mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer “might be harmful”, vaccine experts have warned that it could create confusion among the public and jeopardise the government’s efforts to vaccinate adults and children to provide protection against the deadly COVID-19 causing virus. “We assure the safety [...]
NKB, a people’s bridge, because priority was given to the displaced
The New Kelani Bridge (NKB) construction shows that, if the Government really wants to do something, it could, a specialist from the main funder Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said. Senior Project Specialist Namal Ralapanawe was referring to the successful resettlement of hundreds of families to make way for the bridge. While mega projects were [...]
Severe floods and landslides cause deaths of 27 people and affect about 200,000
The severe weather conditions with floods and landslides in many parts of the country have caused the deaths of 27 people and affected more than 200,000, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said. Nearly 150 Northern province families which were affected by heavy rains and floods are still temporarily housed in Government-run safe shelters in Mannar. [...]
Nothing in the budget for us, say cross section of people
An already over burdened public hit out at the 2022 budget saying it had failed miserably to address the steeply rising cost of living, while various transport sectors affected by the covid pandemic lockdowns say they are sceptical about the Finance Minister’s relief proposals. Shortages and price hikes have affected all social strata whether upper, [...]
Cost of living takes off to space: Price controls lifted, window dressing by market players
The lifting of the price control on essential items including cement, gas, sugar and chicken by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has resulted in an unprecedented increase in prices with market players deciding on the figure. The CAA, the regulator of the essential goods price index, justified the price increases and said price controls had [...]
Takeaways and eating out pick up as home cooking fizzles out
Preparing dishes in rice cookers or curries in microwave cookers have become family favourites among some Sri Lankans who can afford to turn to electric appliances Electric and kerosene cookers and wood stoves are fast replacing gas cookers, due to gas shortages while some depend on takeaways or eating out. Restaurants in the meantime though [...]
Vegetables prices up, up and away; rains add more misery to woes of consumers, farmers
Gone with the floods: Kalpitiya farmers made destitute Unusual heavy rains have caused destruction to cultivation in 16 divisional secretariat areas in the Puttalam District. In Kalpitiya alone, some 10,000 acres of vegetable cultivation has been destroyed by floods. Kalpitiya supplied about 300,000 kilograms of vegetables a day to wholesale markets countrywide. This is a [...]
Cattle slaughter ban: Intention may be good but consequences dire, say researchers
The proposal to ban cattle slaughter will have a ripple effect on dairy, leather tanning and footwear as well as leather goods industries while breeding an underground economy of illegal slaughter and trade that will foster animal cruelty, researchers warned this week. The Cabinet in October approved a bill to amend laws to ban cattle [...]
District tie-up plan to provide public servants veggies at affordable prices
As vegetable prices skyrocket, the Government has launched a programme titled “Sahan Eliya” to provide Nuwara Eliya district vegetables at affordable prices to Colombo district public servants. Under the programme, vegetable harvested in the Nuwara Eliya district are sold to the Colombo District state-sector employees at affordable prices ranging from Rs. 400 to Rs. 600 [...]
After incessant rains, desperate search for pesticide, fungicide and fertiliser
Nuwara Eliya farmers are desperately searching for chemical fertiliser and fungicide to save whatever left of their cultivation in the aftermath of incessant heavy rains in the past two weeks. They said the only way they could get some revenue to cover their investments was by applying chemical fertiliser and therefore they were forced to [...]
Two years on, ‘Mission Unaccomplished’
The story is told of how Australian cricketer Mark Waugh, trying to sledge an English batsman, Jimmy Ormond, asked him “What are you doing here? You are not good enough to play for England” only to be told in return “At least I am the best player in my family,” a snide reference to Mark’s [...]
All students head to school tomorrow as warning bells ring over COVID-19
Grades 6 to 9 classes will begin tomorrow in schools islandwide, marking the fourth and final stage of the staggered opening of schools. However, there are concerns as a large number of unvaccinated students begin academic activities in state and private schools amidst rising cases of COVID-19. There is concern over rising dengue cases too. [...]
At 84 ‘traffic aachchi’ still helps schoolchildren cross the road
For more than 40 years she has helped children of Hettimulla Junior school cross the main Kandy-Colombo road. Meet 84-year-old K. Lily Violet, lovingly known as ‘traffic aachchi’ by thousands of children who have come in and out of the junior school. Recalling how she started out as ‘ traffic aachchi’ she said, “I was [...]