http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 15 Jun 2019 18:59:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/poson-lights-again-at-thanthirimale-353874.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:14 am For the 16th year, Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. yesterday illuminated the historic site of Thanthirimale to mark the Poson festival. Thousands of devotees took part in religious ceremonies at the Viharaya. Pic by Ishan Sanjeewa... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/strong-opposition-to-presidents-non-binding-referendum-move-353871.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:13 am President Maithripala Sirisena wants to conduct a non-binding national referendum to seek public approval for parliamentary general elections ahead of the presidential poll this year. Though he has obtained a favourable opinion from Attorney General Dappula de Livera, there are other political obstacles he would have to surmount. His own legal advisors have also expressed scepticism over the mo... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/ten-year-pr-visas-for-foreign-investors-353867.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:12 am The government will extend Permanent Resident visas for up to ten years to attract long-term foreign investors, a senior minister said. Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena said the move was intended to attract more foreign direct investments to the condominium industry. “At present, to secure a five-year PR visa, an investor has to deposit US$ 300,000. Under the new scheme, the deposit amo... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/millions-mark-poson-in-apura-mihintale-and-thanthirimale-353865.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:11 am More than a million Buddhists are expected to join in pilgrimages to historic sites, especially Mihintale on Poson Poya today, the day when Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arahat Mahinda. Hundreds of thousands of Buddhists are also converging on Anuradhapura, the ancient capital, where the then Sinhala monarch, King Devanampiya Tissa embraced Theravada Buddhism following his meeting wit... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/port-highway-project-chosen-chinese-company-debarred-by-wb-353863.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:10 am The Chinese company that recently received a letter of intent from the Road Development Authority (RDA) to carry out civil works related to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded port access elevated highway project has been debarred by the World Bank (WB). The WB, on June 5, announced a nine-month debarment of China Railway Construction Corporation Ltd (CRCC), its wholly owned subsidiaries an... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/power-minister-proposes-drastic-reduction-in-powers-of-pucsl-353859.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:10 am Power and Energy Minister Ravi Karunanayake is seeking to whittle down the authority of independent regulator, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). Since taking over the portfolio in January this year, the minister has already floated various emergency power proposals; contracted barge-mounted electricity outside accepted procurement procedure; and ordered the Ceylon Electricity Bo... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/500000-suffering-in-the-drought-cry-out-for-water-353851.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:08 am [caption id="attachment_353852" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Polonnaruwa: Lack of drinking water and high level of heat. Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa and Karu Gamage"][/caption] Nearly half-a-million Sri Lankans are suffering without water to drink and facing food shortages as a result of lingering drought. While the Southwest monsoon has brought rains, it has not been enough ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/dehiwala-mt-lavinia-groundwater-highly-contaminated-by-faecal-matter-and-chemicals-353848.html 16 June 2019 @ 12:04 am [caption id="attachment_353849" align="aligncenter" width="616" caption="The beach stretch from Wellawatte to Mt. Lavinia is “severely polluted” due to untreated wastewater discharges, a detailed report has also revealed"][/caption] Groundwater in Dehiwala-Mt Lavinia is highly contaminated with faecal matter from domestic septic tanks and soakage pits as well as chemicals from industries, a... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/unlicensed-unregistered-rogue-lenders-exploit-the-dark-353838.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:57 pm The government’s intervention last August to write off microfinance loans to women in drought-affected areas is of no help to thousands of families struggling with debt as many lenders are unregistered with the Central Bank and Treasury and ineligible to receive Treasury grants to settle outstanding loans. Moreover, no microfinance institution currently has a licence to operate as a len... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/muslim-mps-who-resigned-to-reconsider-accepting-ministerial-posts-353837.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:55 pm Muslim MPs who stepped down from their Cabinet, State and Deputy Minister positions will hold a special meeting in the Parliament complex on Tuesday to consider whether to again accept ministerial posts in the Government. Former Minister Abdul Haleem told the Sunday Times that the meeting would take place once Parliament sessions resume on Tuesday. He said the MPs would hold the meeting to d... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/lankan-indian-armed-forces-exchange-visits-to-foster-goodwill-353819.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:54 pm [caption id="attachment_353826" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Inidan military personnel with families arrive at the BIA while below, Sri Lankan military leave the BIA. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal"][/caption] The 160 Sri Lankan Armed Forces Personnel and their families, designated for the 2nd Bodh Gaya Pilgrimage, organised by the High Commission of India, met with 160 Indian Armed Forces p... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/in-the-spirit-of-poson-353829.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:54 pm Religious activities and other meritorious acts connected to Poson began yesterday as seen in these pictures taken in Anuradhapura, Saliyawewa and Colombo. Pix by Jayantha Wickremarachchi and Priyanka Samaraweera.  ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/hotels-association-asks-govt-to-underwrite-loans-2-353825.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:53 pm The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has urged the Government to underwrite working capital loans amounting to Rs12 billion. Issuing a statement, THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said they are making this request as an industry after taking stock of the situation. He added that the association was asking the Government to underwrite the working capital loans in order to meet monthly salari... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/gtf-condemns-anti-muslim-hysteria-353823.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:52 pm The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has expressed its condemnation of the violence and intimidation directed against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. Issuing a statement, the GTF states that it expresses strong condemnation of the anti-Muslim hatred and hysteria being whipped up by sections of the Sinhala Buddhist community, and called on the Sri Lankan authorities to take immediate steps to arrest ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/remember-the-message-of-peace-and-harmony-this-poson-353821.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:51 pm President, Prime Minister and Speaker called on the people to follow the teachings of Lord Buddha to build peace and harmony among communities. President Maitripala Sirisena said that Sri Lanka was granted a non violent religion with the arrival of Mahinda Thera. This is the moment where Poson Poya’s message of boundless compassion and peaceful co- existence should be ingrained in the hear... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/australia-softens-travel-advisory-to-sl-353818.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:50 pm The Tourism industry received a boost this week as Australia softened its, previously imposed, strict Travel Advisory, providing the industry with the hope that the recovery initiatives taken have had a positive impact on the global stage. The Australian Travel Advisory to its nationals reads, “exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to the country.” The move was seen as a posit... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/yoga-for-peace-and-harmony-353809.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:49 pm [caption id="attachment_353812" align="alignright" width="500" caption="Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi"][/caption] The Indian High Commission celebrated International Day of Yoga at Independence Square, Colombo, yesterday (15). Politicians, yoga experts and yoga enthusiasts gathered at the event. Addressing the gathering, Indian High Commissioner Taranjit Singh Sandhu spoke of the common ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/expedite-probes-on-those-detained-in-round-up-ops-and-mob-violence-pm-353805.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:47 pm Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has advised the Police and the Attorney General’s Department to expedite inquiries on those arrested in operations carried out after the Easter Sunday bombings and the mob violence that followed. The directive came after revelations that over 2,400 persons were currently in custody over the incidents. The directive was given at a meeting with senior poli... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/woman-drowns-in-canoeing-tragedy-353799.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:46 pm A woman who was canoeing in the Mahaweli River drowned on Friday after her canoe overturned. The victim was canoeing in the river with another woman when the tragedy happened in Dehiaththakandiya, police said. They said the victim tried to swim to shore before she drowned, while the other woman, who managed to cling on to the overturned canoe, was rescued by villagers. The woman's body wa... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/authorities-were-warned-of-zahrans-isis-terrorism-claim-witnesses-353779.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:40 pm [caption id="attachment_353782" align="alignright" width="550" caption="M L A M Hizbullah makes a point. Pix by Sameera Weerasekera"][/caption] Two former provincial governors, who resigned from their posts following accusations of links to terrorists behind the Easter Sunday terror attacks, were among the key witnesses who gave evidence this week before the Parliamentary Select Committee (... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/korean-lng-firms-swiss-challenge-proposal-sees-fifth-deadline-extension-353793.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:40 pm The deadline for international bidders to counter a Korean proposal for an offshore floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) has been extended for a fifth time. Bidders have now been given till July 23 to submit counter proposals under the Swiss Challenge procedure for the project which will serve the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and some cruc... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/central-expressway-stage-iii-japan-urged-to-provide-fresh-proposal-353791.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:39 pm Japan has been requested to come up with a fresh proposal for stage III of the Central Expressway project after disagreements arose over the Rs 135 billion project. The Government’s decision to review the proposal had been conveyed to the Japanese Ambassador by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last week at a Colombo meeting, where the Government’s counter plan was also explained. Prim... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/maithri-ranil-vie-for-modis-ear-during-whistle-stop-353753.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:30 pm [caption id="attachment_353772" align="alignright" width="600" caption="Premier Modi with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe"][/caption] Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's brief visit to Sri Lanka last week, after his re-election, symbolises Modi's commitment to the 'Neighbourhood first' concept. The Indian PM's visit was seen as a move to sh... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/damage-caused-to-ex-judges-house-construction-companys-bid-to-crush-enjoining-order-fails-353773.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:30 pm Colombo District Judge Amali Ranaweera this week turned down objections on extending an enjoining order against a construction company which has allegedly caused damage to a house located close to its construction site in Narahenpita. In this case, former Court of Appeal President, Justice Upali de Z Goonewardena, and his wife, former Professor of Microbiology of the University of Kelaniya, and... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/court-of-appeal-upholds-private-schools-right-to-teach-in-english-353770.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:29 pm The Court of Appeal (CoA) has quashed an order by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to a Government Approved Private Unaided (English Medium) School, to teach either in the mother tongue or bilingual medium, instead of in English. CoA Judge Mahinda Samayawardhena issued the order, upholding a Petition filed by parents of students of Ashoka College, Horana. Petitioners Weragoda... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/motorists-snap-fingers-at-lane-laws-despite-500-cases-filed-353748.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:16 pm The rain was being used as an excuse by motorists to break the lane law. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal   The “lane law” became effective from Monday but most motorists ignored them whenever traffic police were not present. Since Monday, police have filed cases against 500 errant motorists, Deputy Inspector-General (Traffic) Senior Superintendent Ajith Rohana said yesterday. “We will k... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/giving-back-life-to-the-green-isle-353723.html 15 June 2019 @ 11:05 pm [caption id="attachment_353728" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="At the soft-launch of the ‘Green Isle’ project on June 6 – (from left) Abans Brands Manager Ruwan Gunasekera; Abans Director Buddhika Dharmawardena; Project Chair Prof Lakdas Fernando; WNPS President Sriyan de Silva Wijeyeratne; and WNPS General-Secretary Jehan CanagaRetna. Pix by Ishanka Sunimal"][/caption] Across a... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/easter-sunday-attacks-reconfirm-need-to-abolish-executive-presidency-353719.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:59 pm With the Easter Sunday attacks and the fallout from terrorism holding the attention of the country in the past few weeks, a critical aspect of the country’s governance has once again been relegated to a footnote, in the discussions that relate to Sri Lanka’s future. The issue of the Executive Presidency (EP) which occupied centre stage in the 2015 Presidential Election campaign and figured on ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/pix-of-the-pix-353707.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:57 pm [gallery link="file" columns="4" orderby="rand"]... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/state-has-no-plan-to-tackle-child-prostitution-and-porn-un-body-finds-353703.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:52 pm Despite Sri Lanka being recognised as a pathfinder country to end violence against children and is in its final stages of developing a national child protection policy, it lacks a comprehensive national plan to address the issues, a UN report said. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has published its concluding observations on the report submitted by Sri Lanka on the Option... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/mahinda-gota-take-cover-behind-affidavits-and-supporting-documents-353700.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:50 pm The affidavits and supporting documents of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other key persons facing allegations of large-scale fraud and corruption at SriLankan Airlines (SriLankan), SriLankan Catering and Mihin Lanka, were presented and marked at the Commission of Inquiry’s (CoI) public sittings this week. Some of the other key figures and ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/hotels-association-asks-govt-to-underwrite-loans-353697.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:45 pm The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) has urged the Government to underwrite working capital loans amounting to Rs12 billion. Issuing a statement, THASL President Sanath Ukwatte said they are making this request as an industry after taking stock of the situation. He added that the association was asking the Government to underwrite the working capital loans in order to meet monthly salari... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/international-scientists-to-meet-in-lanka-on-tropics-crisis-353692.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:44 pm International scientists will meet in Sri Lanka in September to discuss saving life forms in the tropics, where 80 per cent of all species live and where the greatest threats to biodiversity lie. “About 200 world-renowned scientists are expected to participate in this conference, organised by the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC)’s Asia-Pacific Chapter,” Dr. Eno... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190616/news/kite-surfing-schools-facing-closure-353689.html 15 June 2019 @ 10:41 pm [caption id="attachment_353690" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="A single kite surfer in an empty skyline"][/caption] In whichever part of the country you may be, the effects of Easter Sunday bombing are still felt. The village of Kalpitiya one among those badly affected by that deadly blast. Though the kite surfing season at Kalpitiya has begun, the fallout of the deadly blast have ...