http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sun, 19 Sep 2021 05:43:23 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/tipsy-turvy-turnout-after-sudden-opening-of-liquor-shops-455896.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:49 pm lt;div gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-455897 quot; title= quot;_MG_6847 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/MG_6847.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;600 quot; height= quot;407 quot; / gt; On Friday, large crowds gathered outside liquor shops after they were suddenly opened despite the country-wide lockdown. The decision to open liquor s... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/2022-budget-import-restrictions-local-production-by-private-sector-455894.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:47 pm Import restrictions will continue for next year with the aim of improving local production with priority for private sector projects being among the highlights in the proposed 2022 budget, senior Finance Ministry officials said. With ldquo;production economy rdquo; as the theme of the November budget now being prepared, the main focus is on agricultural, road development, irrigation and renewa... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/legal-sources-question-monetary-boards-approval-of-pension-for-governors-455892.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:46 pm The Monetary Board of Sri Lanka (MBSL) has approved a pension scheme for Governors of the Central Bank (CB) despite not having the authority to do so under the Monetary Law Act (MLA), legal sources pointed out this week. The general powers of the MBSL are contained in Section 10 of the MLA which provides authority to approve salaries for the staff. Section 10(b) provides for pension schemes. Th... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/mannar-basin-resources-energy-minister-in-dubai-for-talks-with-global-oil-giants-455890.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:46 pm Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila left for Dubai this week for meetings with officials of Exxon Mobil, one of the world rsquo;s largest publicly traded oil and gas companies, and two other international oil and gas firms. The minister is actively promoting the exploitation of resources in the Mannar Basin which he claims will help Sri Lanka pay off billions of dollars in foreign debt. The Ceylon... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/another-mega-project-gets-extension-till-dec-next-year-455888.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:45 pm Yet another long overdue multimillion-dollar mixed development project, John Keells rsquo; Waterfront Properties (Pvt) Ltd, has been given an extension to start commercial operations. It is the second postponement granted to the venture, with the first one having been in August 2018. The fresh extension of 14-months-and-20-days will start from October 12 this year. Therefore, the initiative ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/cid-probes-ratwattes-prison-escapade-455886.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:45 pm The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recorded a statement from State Minister Lohan Ratwatte over incidents involving him at the Welikada and Anurdhapura prisons, Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekara said yesterday. He said the CID was collecting evidence, including CCTV footage and statements from prisons officials and inmates who witnessed the incidents. ldquo;We will e... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/controversy-and-confusion-over-sudden-opening-of-liquor-shops-455884.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:44 pm The liquor shops were open for the public on Friday without the approval of the Health Authorities, nbsp; Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella complained yesterday . He said this was discussed at the COVID-19 Committee Meeting presided over by the President and opening of the liquor shops came as a proposal from Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, but no objections were raised. Liquor shops we... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/seized-drug-vessel-brought-to-colombo-455881.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:43 pm lt;div gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-455882 quot; title= quot;_MG_7226 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/MG_7226.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;600 quot; height= quot;400 quot; / gt; A foreign fishing vessel with seven persons on board carrying more than 170kg of heroin was intercepted by the Sri Lanka Navy in international waters,... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/harmful-microorganisms-detected-in-fertiliser-imported-from-china-analyst-455879.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:42 pm Sri Lankan authorities have ordered a stock of fertiliser for distribution among farmers but, according to an independent and internationally accredited analyst, there is a possibility of the presence of microorganisms in it. Some agricultural experts point out that the stock of fertiliser ordered for distribution among farmers has now been detected as harmful for plants and humans, according t... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/lankadeepa-senior-journalist-no-more-455874.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:39 pm Veteran journalist and former Lankadeepa staffer W.G. Gunaratne passed away on Friday after a battle with COVID-19. He was 84 years at the time of his death. lt;img class= quot;alignright wp-image-455876 quot; title= quot;W.G quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/W.G.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;210 quot; height= quot;342 quot; / gt;A senior journalist for mor... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/caa-executive-director-thushan-gunawardena-to-step-down-455872.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:37 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Joins a host of senior government officials and heads of institutions who have resigned recently lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) Executive Director Thushan Gunawardena is planning to resign from his post soon citing 'unavoidable circumstances' and 'personal reasons', informed sources said. He would be joining, in recent months, several senio... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/online-sales-to-avert-mass-gathering-at-liquor-outlets-455870.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:37 pm Online sales of liquor will be permitted by the Excise Department during the COVID-19 lockdown as the Government cannot afford to lose tax revenue running into billions of rupees. Excise Department Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri in a circular noted that an online system would be introduced to sell during the COVID-19 lockdown. The announcement came after long queues were seen outside liquor... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/vote-buying-and-freebies-lead-to-slpp-member-losing-seat-in-landmark-ruling-455868.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:36 pm Any member who is found guilty of having engaged in bribery to win votes is liable to be disqualified from holding his seat under provisions of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance, the Monaragala High Court ruled this week in a landmark case involving bribes being offered to win votes. High Court Judge Ranga Dissanayake gave the ruling when he held that a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/puttalams-betel-cultivation-severely-affected-by-black-fungul-disease-455852.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:03 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_455854 quot; align= quot;aligncenter quot; width= quot;770 quot; caption= quot;Betel cultivation hit by a fungal disease quot;] lt;img class= quot; wp-image-455854 quot; title= quot;11 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/117.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;770 quot; height= quot;280 quot; / gt;[/caption] As a leaf disease spreads rap... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/positive-covid-test-reports-turn-negative-after-nayake-thera-complains-to-phi-455850.html 18 September 2021 @ 10:01 pm Ven. Urulewatte Dharmaakitta Nayake Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya, has called on the authorities to launch a probe on irregularities surrounding the PCR tests carried out on him and those who were engaged in organising the temple's recent perahera. The Nayake thera, who is also a senior member of the Asgiri Maha Vihare Karaka Sangha Sabha, told lt;em gt;the S... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/cid-continuing-probe-on-epic-lanka-ceo-and-engineers-455828.html 18 September 2021 @ 9:27 pm The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is conducting a probe to arrest an engineer from Epic Lanka Technologies over the disappearance of a massive dump of classified pharmaceutical information from the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) database. Meanwhile, the Attorney General rsquo;s Department told court this week that the deletion of data could be part of a conspiracy hatc... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/trc-issues-guidelines-to-protect-consumers-from-mobile-operator-malpractices-455825.html 18 September 2021 @ 9:24 pm The telecommunications regulator has issued strong guidelines to curb malpractices in how value-added services are sold by licensed mobile operators. The framework envisages, among other things, a practical mechanism for unsubscribing from value-added services. It also introduces a billing and dispute management process for consumer complaints. Importantly, ldquo;No VAS [value added service... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/pick-of-the-pix-2-455797.html 18 September 2021 @ 9:06 pm [gallery link= quot;file quot; columns= quot;4 quot; orderby= quot;rand quot;] lt;p align= quot;center quot; gt;Shutterbugs out there, we would once again appreciate your contributions to this picture corner. Please send your captioned photograph along with your name, and the location of the photograph, to: pictures@sundaytimes.wnl.lk lt;/p gt; lt;p align= quot;center quot; gt;We would also ap... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/falling-by-the-wayside-455789.html 18 September 2021 @ 9:00 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: center; quot; gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter wp-image-455790 quot; title= quot;9 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/94.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;660 quot; height= quot;240 quot; / gt; lt;/p gt; The Covid-19 pandemic has dealt a tremendous blow to many people rsquo;s livelihoods. Some are trying to exploit this situation ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/homemakers-ask-wheres-veggie-deliveries-dambulla-farmers-desperate-455782.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:56 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_455783 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;400 quot; caption= quot;Whether vegetable growers or homemakers, (above and bottom) their dejected and despondent looks tell their own tale of woe. Pix by Kanchana Kumara and Eshan Fernando quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-455783 quot; title= quot;DSC07795 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/upl... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/several-essential-services-hindered-as-public-transport-still-at-a-halt-455779.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:51 pm Even though the Government has planned to carry out essential services without disruption, the COVID lockdown has caused transportation issues for certain service providers. Senior state sector officials said the main issue they face is a lack of staff due to the disruption of public transportation. Even though the President has instructed them to carry out essential services without disrupt... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/upfront-import-bills-will-cripple-us-say-appliance-retailers-455776.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:49 pm The Government's clampdown on imports in demanding a 100 percent cash deposit when opening letters of credit (LC) will result in the collapse of the electrical and electronic appliances import industry, stakeholders claimed. The Sri Lanka Retailers Association (SLRA) has asked the Government to remove the new requirement, saying if the policy remained for long many importers would have to close... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/herbal-drink-to-build-immunity-not-coronavirus-medicine-455768.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:44 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_455769 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;200 quot; caption= quot;Dr. Vikum Chandrarathne quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-455769 quot; title= quot;Dr.M.A.Vikum-Chandrarathne-(1) quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/Dr.M.A.Vikum-Chandrarathne-1.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;200 quot; height= quot;259 quot; / gt;[... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/govt-confident-of-reopening-schools-in-two-weeks-teachers-divided-over-decision-455762.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:32 pm lt;div gt; [caption id= quot;attachment_455763 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;300 quot; caption= quot;Schools remain closed due to the pandemic and teacher amp;#39;s trade union action quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-455763 quot; title= quot;_MG_5131 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/MG_5131.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;300 quot... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/laugfs-will-thrive-and-litro-will-shrink-due-to-re-structuring-fears-lsje-455757.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:31 pm The Litro Surakime Jathika Ekamuthuwa (LSJE) has sounded alarm over what it claims are attempts to sabotage Litro Gas in favour of its sole competitor Laugfs. Issuing a statement the LSJE, which comprises a collective of employees and members of civil society, notes that by keeping the price of a domestic LPG cylinder at a minimum price between October 2019 amp; August 2021, Litro has suffered... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/to-beat-the-pandemic-need-to-do-it-all-says-who-rep-455751.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:28 pm lt;div gt;The critical need in the face of the pandemic is behaviour change to keep safe, reiterated a top World Health Organization (WHO) official in Sri Lanka this week. lt;/div gt; The WHO Representative to Sri Lanka, Dr. Alaka Singh, who took up this post in May, said that compliance with public health and social measures is the individual responsibility of each one of us. ldquo;We must ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/even-an-imperfect-lockdown-has-helped-to-bring-down-infections-experts-455746.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:26 pm lt;img class= quot;alignright size-full wp-image-455747 quot; title= quot;CovidGraphic quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/210919/uploads/2021/09/CovidGraphic.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;400 quot; height= quot;518 quot; / gt;Even an lsquo;imperfect rsquo; lockdown has been useful in bringing down COVID-19 infections and the hospitals being flooded with patients, is the view of numer... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/all-people-eligible-for-vaccination-should-take-any-vaccine-being-offered-reiterates-prof-malavige-455742.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:23 pm With vaccines being uppermost in the minds of many people, we asked Prof. Neelika Malavige, Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, for her expert views on this subject. Clearly she reiterates that vaccination and preventive measures (wearing face masks, hand hygiene, keeping a distance of more than 1.5 metres from others when in public pl... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/protecting-pinnawelas-rare-twins-should-be-priority-says-captive-elephant-expert-455724.html 18 September 2021 @ 8:18 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Vasantha Nugegoda concerned that movement of elephants out of Pinnawela nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;em gt;following a court order could traumatise the newly-born baby jumbos lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Says not too late to implement project he had mooted several years ago to have separate group of elephants for pag... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/northern-fishermen-in-sea-of-misery-as-indian-raiders-plunder-continues-in-lankan-waters-455704.html 18 September 2021 @ 7:57 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_455707 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;400 quot; caption= quot;The affected northern fishermen show their damaged fishing gear. They say they took bank loans and pawned jewellery to buy the nets. It will cost Rs. 40,000 to repair a damaged net. They ask who will give them the money to repair the nets. quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-455707 q... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210919/news/grey-areas-in-sl-law-hamper-implementation-of-marine-pollution-convention-nao-report-455650.html 18 September 2021 @ 6:06 pm Despite several major naval accidents that have caused severe marine environmental pollution in the country rsquo;s territorial waters, Sri Lanka has still not taken steps to introduce legislation required to fully implement a key international marine pollution prevention convention it signed more than two decades ago, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) shows. The International Convent...