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Home » NewsWFP to revive Thriposha, scales up emergency aid
By Kapila Bandara Leading UN humanitarian agency, the World Food Programme, has responded quickly to Sri Lanka’s food and nutrition emergency and is working to revive the Thriposha supplement for children below 5 years and pregnant and lactating women, as well as the school meals programme. The WFP is scaling up its programme to include [...]
Instead of credit lines, India pushing for projects here
Official statements refer to investment partnership in infrastructure and renewable energy among others A four-member Indian team that held talks in Colombo during a whirlwind visit on Thursday indicated that, rather than offer more credit lines to Sri Lanka, it was time to push for quicker implementation of Indian projects. The delegation was led by Foreign [...]
Indo-Lanka lesbian love: Couple held
By Chris Kamalendran An Indian woman and a Sri Lankan woman who had been maintaining a relationship on social media for more than two years have been arrested by the Akkaraipattu Police after they allegedly expressed a desire to get married. The Indian woman had reportedly invited the Sri Lankan woman to come to Tamil [...]
Medicinal drugs in short supply due to lapses by officials
A national audit has found that the dollar deficit was just one reason for the national shortage of medical supplies. Others include computer systems not having being updated, lack of coordination among relevant medical sector offices and a sheer disregard for procurement schedules. The Auditor General’s special report regarding steps taken to avoid pharmaceutical shortages [...]
Delay in appointing new tax chief: Billions may be lost
By Damith Wickramasekara The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is in danger of losing billions of rupees in uncollected taxes due to the delay in appointing a new Commissioner General (CG). The former CG retired three months ago and the position has since been overseen by an Acting CG. Under the Inland Revenue Act, however, the [...]
Jet fuel running out; long-haul flights may avoid Lanka
By Namini Wijedasa Sri Lanka’s aviation fuel supplies are at critically low levels with the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) saying it was fighting to ensure they will last till next week. There is likely to be a significant reduction in flights into and out of the country if stocks were not replenished [...]
PSC proposes mixed electoral system for general election; more youth, women representation
By Sandun Jayawardana The Parliament Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reforms has proposed a mixed system for Parliamentary elections while retaining the current number of 225 MPs and the National List. The Committee recommends the mixed system could have 70 percent of MPs elected from wards with 30 percent elected under the proportional representation (PR) [...]
Kitchens nourish people’s connections, fulfil nutrition needs
By Yoshitha Perera Sri Lankans have accepted the concept of the community kitchen due to the food scarcity and rising food costs. Many more are being set up in Colombo’s suburbs and outskirts and they are becoming increasingly popular. “One man came after having lunch and said he ate three plates of rice. He had [...]
Church and educators offer children in-person education
By Renishka Fernando On June 18, the Education Ministry announced the closure of Government and Government-approved private schools in main cities due to the fuel crisis. The University of Peradeniya also discontinued its operations until a solution is found. The difficulties students already face have increased. To try and address some of these issues, the [...]
Unsavoury characters, military abuses ignite rage at filling stations
By Kasun Warakapitiya Heated arguments, brawls, and violence are now regularly erupting at many fuel stations where motorists in lengthy lines for days and nights now do not expect law enforcement by police. In some queues, people complain that the police are spectators, while thugs and three-wheel operators take control. Motorists have been seen shouting [...]
Frustrating Fridays for healthcare workers
The Government’s plan to give fuel on Fridays to the health sector has drawn mixed reactions. Owners of filling stations complained that they did not receive enough stock from the Ceylon Petroleum Corp. Doctors, nurses, attendants, radiologists and other healthcare services providers lined up on Friday for fuel on a priority basis. Some also lined [...]
Four more perish in fuel lines taking tally to 16
At least four Sri Lankans perished this week as they waited in fuel queues that stretch to unprecedented lengths, or in related incidents. At least 16 Sri Lankans have now died in fuel queues. The most recent death was in Jaffna town where a youth was assaulted near the filling station when he had argued [...]
Meltdown batters nearly 3 millon self-employed
About three million self-employed Sri Lankans are facing the full force of the national bankruptcy and the widespread crises it has created. The Secretary of the All Island Three Wheeler Driver Union, T R R Pallie, says fares have risen beyond Rs 100 for a kilometre because of rising fuel costs, and he fears this [...]
Whether going to school or online learning, it’s a struggle all round
By Nadia Fazlulhaq City school closures, commencing online education and conducting physical school in outstations did not mitigate the struggle teachers, parents and students faced this week as a result of the fuel crisis, power cuts and financial difficulties. In villages, limited public transport and unavailability of fuel for bikes and three-wheelers affected teachers who [...]
Pardon for Royal Park murderer: Rathana Thera slams Sirisena, denies bribetaking
By Sandun Jayawardana Parliamentarian Ven Aturaliye Rathana Thera has hit out at former President Maithripala Sirisena, insisting that due process was followed in obtaining a Presidential pardon for the Royal Park murder convict Jude Shramantha Jayamaha. Mr. Jayamaha was sentenced to death for the 2005 murder of Yvonne Jonsson at the Royal Park condominium complex [...]
Uma Oya Project delayed further due to lack of funds
The completion of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is set to be further delayed, as US$ 12mn is required to complete the remaining five per cent of the scheme, a senior official said. Funds were requested through the Power and Energy Ministry from the Treasury but there has been no response, said Project Director [...]
Devale land to be used for cultivation: Basnayake Nilame
The Basnayake Nilame of the Maha Vishnu Devale and Aluthnuwara has instructed his Vidanes (devale headmen) that 42,000 acres of land under the devale should be utilised for cultivation. He said that the devale would not require a return on the activity. If any difficulty were to arise, the devale would provide assistance to the [...]
Digitalisation, more cameras to minimise Customs corruption
A commission that studied operations at Sri Lanka Customs has proposed significant digitalisation and targeted CCTV installation to minimise corruption. Electronic monitoring of bulk cargo, introduction of GPS for trucks and online verification facilities are among the 117 recommendations. The Commission of Inquiry into Customs was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in February last year. [...]
Builders to turn cultivators as construction industry collapses
The construction industry, now mostly at a standstill, is to turn to cultivating crops in abandoned lands. Already weighed down by the dollar crisis in the country the government’s decision to halt all state-sponsored building projects has hit the industry further. A circular in this regard, directing that any ongoing development projects or projects in [...]
Timely intervention beyond the call of duty by paediatricians to save little lives
As Sri Lanka descended into an economic morass with its multi-tentacles choking not only fuel, food and energy stocks but also essential medicines and devices, the healers of children, along with other medical bodies, went beyond their call of duty of treating and managing the sick. With the health crisis showing dangerously low stocks of [...]
Spread of flu: “Nothing unusual”, but vulnerable groups must take extra care: Expert
As influenza continued to show an upward trend across the country, vulnerable people were urged to take “extra care” to prevent getting the infection. If they do catch the flu, to rest and stay hydrated and also seek medical attention. A special word of caution goes out to expectant mothers and the elderly who are [...]
Migrant workers hit with higher health certificate costs
The price of a pre-departure expatriate health certificate required by all prospective migrants to West Asia has shot up from Rs 18,000 to Rs 38,000, prompting cries that the licensed medical clinics were financially exploiting workers. Other costs have also jumped. For instance, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine that cost between Rs700-900 is [...]
An unsavoury smell
The sweet aroma of fruits is replaced by an acidic, disgusting stench at the Peliyagoda Manning Market, as traders blame authorities for tons of waste piled up at the market premises. Athula Liyanage, a fruit vendor, said they are seeing a drop in customers mainly due to the unbearable smell generated from the garbage. “There [...]
Duopoly not providing daily cooking gas need
Despite assurances of uninterrupted supply by the cooking gas duopoly — state-owned Litro Gas and privately-held Laugfs Gas — thousands of men, women, elderly, and even children are in queues waiting for days demanding cylinders for their homes and small businesses. “Diyaw, diyaw, gas diyaw,’’ is a common chant. About 100,000 gas canisters a day [...]