News
Home » NewsMalwatte prelate gives blessings to new President
After months of public protests against the economic catastrophe, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday became the first political leader to meet the Malwatte Chapter’s Maha Nayake, the Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera and receive blessings. The prelate is seen tying a pirith thread on the wrist of the President. Pic by Nishantha Malagala
Govt. mulls ban on groups resorting to violence
Tough action against those who try to seize power or occupy state buildings By Damith Wickramasekara The Government is considering the proscription of any groups, organisations or political parties that engage in acts of violence, use of undemocratic methods of trying to seize power or take control of state buildings, a senior government official said [...]
Exporters deny Sri Lanka Rs 287b a month by parking offshore
By Kapila Bandara Sri Lanka’s exporters are continuing to hoard the bulk of their US dollar earnings overseas and denying the country the foreign exchange needed during this unprecedented economic meltdown. From export earnings of an average US$1 billion a month, at least US$800 million (Rs 287.23 billion) is not being brought back to Sri [...]
No clear laws to assess national debt: Auditor General
Sri Lanka’s total debt balance and overall debt composition at a particular period cannot be calculated precisely in the absence of clear-cut written laws that would define the scope and responsibilities of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and the General Treasury, a special audit report has revealed. “The responsibility of the scope assigned [...]
Yuan Wan 5 at Hambantota port: Lanka seeks amicable solution with China and India
Sri Lanka is in talks with both China and India to “reach an amicable solution” with regard to the impending docking of China’s ‘Yuan Wan 5’ class tracking vessel at the Hambantota International Port, authoritative sources told the Sunday Times. Clearance to anchor the vessel was granted by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the [...]
President’s Fund dormant for two years; revival begins
The President’s Fund which gives money for medical operations and relief for poor has not been in operation in the past two years, despite having Rs 4 billion in the fund, a senior official said. As a result, some 7,000 applications including those seeking funds for surgery carried out or proposed operations have been held [...]
LCC to buy 4.5 million tons of coal on long-term credit basis; CEB engineers protest
By Niranjala Ariyawansha The Lanka Coal Company (LCC) has called for tenders for the purchase of 4.5 million metric tonnes of coal required for the Norochcholai Lakvijaya Coal Power Plant up to 2025 under a long-term credit facility. The Cabinet Paper submitted by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera for this purpose was granted approval [...]
Soft liquor permits for all tourist establishments
Soft liquor permits are being issued to all Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA)-approved establishments subject to restrictions, according to a Finance Ministry circular. It said these tourist hotels were being permitted to sell soft liquor from July 28 under certain conditions in keeping with the Excise Ordinance. Licences will be issued for boutique hotels, [...]
Economic crisis: Former top officials blame others in affidavits to SC
A five-member bench of the Supreme Court will resume hearings next week, on a Fundamental Rights petition filed by three academics against 39 respondents for mismanaging the economy. The respondents include former Finance Ministers–incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa, former Cabinet members, former Finance Secretary S. R. Attygalle, Central Bank former governors [...]
Police call for public assistance to identify suspects in MP’s murder
The Police are seeking public assistance to identify the eight people suspected to be directly involved in the murder of former Parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security guard on May 9. The Police provided media outlets with several images of the suspects and asked people who had information about them to call the following numbers: [...]
Ronald Perera becomes Sri Lanka Insurance Chairman
Ronald Perera PC has been appointed Chairman of Sri Lanka Insurance with immediate effect. Mr. Perera was senior counsel to current President and United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for several years. He was also a former Chairman of Bank of Ceylon.
Foreign postage rates up by 100% from tomorrow
Foreign postage rates will be increased by almost 100 percent from tomorrow, according to Postmaster General Ranjith Ariyaratne. The price review of fuel, airline fares, Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and railway fares, as well as the rapid depreciation of the rupee (LKR) against the US dollar (US$) have resulted in this increase, he said.
Minority parties likely to join all-party govt.
By Chris Kamalendran Several opposition parties representing minority communities are considering joining an all-party government proposed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Democratic People’s Front (DPF) led by Mano Ganesan, All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) under Rishad Bathiudeen and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) led by Rauff Hakeem are considering the proposal, party representatives confirmed. [...]
At the Dambulla wholesale market
At the Dambulla wholesale market, traders say though they are selling vegetables at giveaway prices, there are not many buyers due to the transport problem. Pic by Kanchana Kumara
President stresses need for national government
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday urged political parties to join an all-party administration to help the country out of its current dilemma, saying it is pointless to continue debating with slogans. He made these statements yesterday during an address to United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) organisers, ministers and MPs of the [...]
Pakistan army chief seeks US help in quick release of IMF funds
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s powerful army chief has appealed to Washington to use its leverage to secure the early release of International Monetary Fund money, Pakistani sources said, as the South Asian nation struggles to stave off an economic crisis. Pakistan’s foreign office confirmed a phone conversation between U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman [...]
Poorest get more support via World Bank, ADB funding
By Jayanie Madawala Sri Lanka’s social safety net for the most vulnerable has been increased slightly with funding from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Samurdhi provides direct cash transfers and other livelihood activities to the poorest. Samurdhi Director General Bandula Thilakasiri said households earning Rs. 7,500 per month and below are eligible. [...]
Govt. won’t proceed with controversial CEP3 tender, AG informs CA
By Namini Wijedasa The Government will not proceed with the controversial tender to award the third section of the Central Expressway, and will call fresh bids for the project, the Court of Appeal (CA) was informed this week. The undertaking was given on Tuesday by the Road Development Authority (RDA) and the Minister of Highways [...]
Prominent Scout leader passes away
M.M.P. Senaratne, a prominent Scout Movement leader in Sri Lanka passed away on July 24 and the final rites were held at the Public Cemetery at Walpola in Panadura on Wednesday July 27. Mr. Senaratne was a past pupil of St. Xavier’s College, Nuwara Eliya and Ananda College, Colombo. In 1946, he became the first [...]
109 leopards slain in 12 years, risks rising for 1,000 left
By Malaka Rodrigo As the national day of the Sri Lankan leopard is marked once again tomorrow, experts say the economic crisis could raise the threat levels related to the big cats. Law enforcements against trappings and killings could diminish, and as people continue to lose their livelihoods, poaching could increase. The leopard is the [...]
Farmers, three-wheelers not thrilled about fuel pass
The National Fuel Pass and the QR code will come into effect tomorrow, following a trial run last week. Farmers see it as impractical and three-wheeler owners and private bus operators are not entirely pleased either, with the distribution of petrol and diesel. There are real concerns that while there is tech, there is not [...]
Queues everywhere, can’t get anywhere
Story and pix by Nilan Maligaspe Long queues on both sides of a road are a regular sight across the nation right now due to the fuel crisis. Due to this, there is frequently high traffic on most roads, and the public has been inconvenienced by groups of people demanding fuel. Even while the government [...]
More Lankans register for foreign jobs; more offers also come Lanka’s way
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Registration for foreign jobs continues to record an increase as Sri Lankans endure the economic crisis. The trend is welcome news for a Government desperate to see a rise in foreign exchange flows. According to Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, 172,505 people have registered with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign [...]
Net cast at Sri Lankans coming home to lift tourist numbers
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Indian visitors and the Sri Lankan diaspora will be the target segments next month to help revive tourism. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu said the Nallur Kovil festival and Esala Perahera are two main events in August that would attract Indian tourists and the Sri Lankan diaspora. “Of the [...]
Archaeology Dept. has no clear record of artefacts in President’s House
CID arrests many aragalaya protesters, while police say more than 1000 valuable items reported missing from President’s House and Temple Trees By Yoshitha Perera Though the President’s House was designated as a protected monument in 2009, the Archaeology Department has no clear record of the artefacts inside the premises, a senior official said. “It would [...]
Productivity slumps in hobbled bureaucracy
By Senuka Jayakody Fridays may no longer be a holiday for Sri Lanka’s public servants. The Ministry of Public Administration is expected to propose revoking the decision related to Fridays and instead a roster would be introduced, a senior official said. Public administration has gone through many disruptions, in particular due to the fuel scarcity. [...]
Red light over dengue
Urging adherence to precautions against COVID-19 & flu, expert issues an alert By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Al three are viral diseases and the surge of one is causing major concern to healthcare workers. The trio are – dengue, COVID-19 and influenza (flu). “Even though COVID-19 seems to be spreading fast once again in recent times after [...]
‘Monkeypox nowhere as dangerous as novel coronavirus’
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Do not be fearful of monkeypox. It is nowhere as dangerous as the novel coronavirus which triggered the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the important message from doctors, as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox, a public health emergency on account of its spread currently to many countries. “The world is familiar [...]
Ed. Ministry and NIE draw up plans for schools hit hard by transport crisis
NTC to organise a special school bus service; NIE creates essential learning content packages for teachers By Chrishanthi Christopher Several special measures will be introduced from next week to overcome difficulties that prevent academic activities in schools returning to normalcy, an Education Ministry official said recently. This follows many school children and teachers unable to [...]
Kap planting ceremony heralds Esala Perahera
By L.B.Senaratne The traditional Kap situweema or planting ceremony, at the four devales in Kandy took place at the auspicious time of 3.3.a.m. on Friday. This is the first religious ritual heralding the historic Esala Perahera. The Kap is traditionally brought in a perahera from the Aluthnuwara devale. The Basnayake Nilames of the four devales, [...]
Thriposha production back in action, and will be distributed soon
By Rekha Tharanganee Sri Lanka Thriposha, a state-owned company providing a nutrition supplement required by pregnant and lactating women, recently resumed production. Thriposha distribution was disrupted from November last year due to a low yield of local maize, corn and soya beans and the soaring prices of imported corn. Maize is the core ingredient due [...]