News
Home » NewsRain dampens police move to rein in students
The heavy rain these days is even overwhelming the police with a bigger threat than student protests. This week, the Riot Police were called in to disperse Kelaniya University student protesters and they used tear gas, but eventually, the police had to use the shields as a sort of umbrella when the rains continued to [...]
More tax hikes in upcoming Budget
Treasury says extra money needed to fund welfare and relief programmes By Damith Wickramasekara The Government will have to further increase taxes in the upcoming 2023 Budget to meet the cost of major welfare and relief programmes, totalling more than Rs 800 million already implemented this year, a senior Treasury official said. They include Rs [...]
Media Minister proposes lifting of cess on newsprint imports
Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardena will submit a paper to the Cabinet tomorrow recommending the lifting of the cess charged on newsprint imports. He will also brief the Finance Ministry on the issue, the Minister told the Sunday Times, admitting that these tariffs had severely impacted the printing of newspapers and publishers had been compelled [...]
Independent commissions to be reconstituted with new members
All independent commissions–except the Judicial Service Commission–will be reconstituted with the passing of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution on Friday, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said. The Commissions are the Election Commission; the Public Service Commission; the National Police Commission; the Audit Service Commission; the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka; the Commission to Investigate [...]
Deepawali gift: Eight PTA prisoners being released
Eight convicted prisoners serving their sentences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) received presidential pardons this week, a senior Cabinet Minister said. Four detainees were freed on Friday while three others are expected to leave prison tomorrow. The eighth inmate has to undergo a period of rehabilitation before being released. The men had been [...]
Alarming narcotics crisis in Jaffna: From a group of 22, 19 tested positive yesterday
By S. Rubatheesan Nineteen out of 22 people admitted to the Jaffna District Hospital for tests yesterday morning came back positive for heroin use, an indication of just how serious the problem was in the peninsula, health officials said. The unemployed men between the ages of 17 and 31 were taken in by police on [...]
New checks on casinos: Rs 500mn for licence; told to apply before Oct. 30
The Inland Revenue Commissioner General has published a notice to give effect to new rules aimed at regulating the casino gaming industry–instructing existing and aspiring casino operators to apply for licences before October 30. The rules, issued under the Casino Business (Regulation) Act of 2010, deem the Commissioner General to be the “authorised officer” in [...]
State funeral for Atamasthanadipathi
A state funeral was held yesterday for the cremation of the Atamasthanadipathi Most Venerable Dr. Pallegama Siriniwasa Nayaka Thera in Anuradhapura. The prelate died on October 18 while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Colombo.
Navy boat found after extensive search operation by several countries and agencies
By Sohan Vipulananda A Sri Lankan Navy vessel which was reported missing for the past 30 days has finally come back to the country, with an officer saying there was an engine breakdown. The Navy sent the vessel with a senior officer and some officers from the volunteer Navy force on September 16 for a [...]
Human rights violation probes: Nawaz J’s panel’s term extended
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has granted a further extension to the Justice A.H.M.D. Nawaz Commission, set up by his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to find out whether earlier Commissions of Inquiry and Committees that looked into human rights violations have revealed any such misdeeds, serious violations of international humanitarian laws and other serious such offences. Last month, [...]
50 years of educating Lankan youth on nature and wildlife
By Malaka Rodrigo The Young Zoologists’ Association celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend (October 22nd and 23rd) with its annual exhibition on wildlife arts and photography at the JDA Perera Gallery at Horton Place in Colombo 7. The exhibition will have more than 200 creations by young members of the association. The wildlife arts section [...]
Traders, services providers resist passing on cost reductions
By Kasun Warakapitiya and Senuka Jayakody Despite the recent reduction of the price of fuel, cooking gas, and some essential commodities such as wheat flour, the benefits have not yet trickled down to the consumers. Consumer goods retailers and services providers are resisting passing on the reduced energy costs, noting higher expenditure on other things. Last [...]
Poultry farmers continue to struggle to obtain animal feed
By Yoshitha Perera Despite a drop in the price of chicken meat, consumers are hesitant to purchase protein-rich foods due to rising living costs, All Island Poultry Farmers’ Association chairman Ajith Gunasekara said. Price of 1kg of chicken meat reduced from Rs. 1500 to Rs.1080; however consumers are not buying it due to the higher [...]
Millions without meals, children skipping school
By Renishka Fernando Increasing numbers of Sri Lankan children from low-income homes are skipping school because their families are unable to feed them, teachers and parents say. A recent report found that children from one in seven households have dropped out. Government data shows that millions of children are not getting school meals. Only Rs [...]
Priyamali and Bandara further remanded, but questions over delay in the arrest of key suspect
By Wasantha Ramanayake Controversial businesswoman Thilini Priyamali, the main suspect in a high-profile swindling case, had withdrawn three billion rupees from January to June from her account, the Criminal Investigation Department told Colombo Fort magistrate court. Given the complex nature of the complaints and existing cases against the suspect in magistrate and high courts, the [...]
Jaffna youths sucked into drug hell by the dozen, crimes rebound
By S. Rubathesan Seventeen-year-old Mukunthan (not real name) never believed that he would have secured second place in 1,500 metres race in his school sports meet until he gave it a try in March. He was a talented football player in the local club, but then, a blood test report found him to be positive [...]
Lagoon net kills two dolphins
Story and Pictures by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Two dolphins had died in the early hours of last Sunday after a pod of four got entangled in a fishing net at Thirikkapallama lagoon in Puttalam, officers of Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) said. The DWC veterinary surgeon of the North Western province, Dr Isura Katagoda said [...]
SPC suspends tender to import ‘Esmolol’ injections over pricing issue
Assures no shortage of drug in state sector; plans afoot to secure the drug under Indian Credit Line at a lower cost By Kumudini Hettiarachchi A tender awarded to import ‘Esmolol’ injections was suspended last week by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) over a pricing issue, with measures now being taken to get this drug [...]
College of Sexual Health and HIV Medicine to hold 2-day scientific sessions
The 27th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Sri Lanka College of Sexual Health and HIV Medicine (SLCoSHH) will be held on October 28 and 29 as a hybrid event in Colombo. The inauguration of the sessions on the theme ‘Follow the Science: Redesigning the Future of Sexual Health and HIV’ will be on Thursday (October [...]
Bad weather until next week; Sri Lanka hit by monsoon and low pressure in Bay of Bengal
By Nadia Fazlulhaq A combination of weather phenomena will see the prevailing adverse wet weather conditions continuing until mid next week, the Meteorology Department warned. “Last week there was a low pressure disturbance in the atmosphere which resulted in heavy showers. Also currently we are experiencing the tail end of the South West monsoon hence [...]
Drowning incidents rise amidst heavy rains
Thirty one year-old Lakshan Wijeyarante a young doctor attached to the Mahiyanganaya Base Hospital would never have thought that a quick dip after a hard day’s work at the nearby Mapakada tank would snatch his life away. This tragedy was just one among incidents of drowning reported this week related to the prevailing adverse weather [...]
A bridge that doesn’t serve all
Story and pix by Ravindra Welagedara A 120-year-old bridge across the Kelani River close to Yatiyanthota at Garagoda is in a dilapidated state causing severe inconvenience to residents who use the bridge. The bridge is now limited to light vehicles while buses, lorries and other larger vehicles have been banned. Barrels have been placed blocking [...]
Chinese law firm prevented from providing legal services in Lanka
SC rules that companies cannot practise law; only natural persons can By Namini Wijedasa The Supreme Court (SC) this week banned a Chinese law firm incorporated in Colombo nearly four years ago from providing any manner of legal services here, holding that only natural persons are permitted to engage in the practice of law — [...]
Places of worship continue power tariffs struggle
By Chrishanthi Christopher Sri Lanka’s main electricity supplier is continuing to apply the newly-revised tariffs to places of worship, despite the regulator’s intervention. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) deputy general manager Andrew Navamani said the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka had not informed the board of its decision. The PUCSL on August 10, 2022 approved [...]
Amended Islam textbooks next month: Minister
The Islam textbooks which were withdrawn from schools following recommendations made by the Presidential Task Force On ‘One Country One Law’ in January this year, will be re-distributed next month, the Education Ministry said. During question time in Parliament last week, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha assured that the amended version of the books would be [...]