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Home » NewsPatriotism sky high at 75th Freedom Day show
One of the highlights of yesterday’s Independence Day celebration at the Galle Face Green was the parachute jump by tri forces and police paratroopers carrying with them a giant National Flag. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
EC shocked by police mini-poll estimate
The Election Commission is to raise objections with the Treasury over the estimates submitted by the Police Department to assist in the conduct of the upcoming local council polls, after the figures showed a three-fold increase compared to the 2018 local polls expenses. The Police Department has sent in an estimate of Rs 2.8 billion [...]
President vows to continue painful reform programme despite anarchists’ threats
President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday reiterated his call for unity to rebuild the country, but also vowed to continue with his new reform programme “regardless of the obstacles the anarchist political forces seek to create.” In an address to the nation last evening, President Wickremesinghe said, “We have reached the point of destruction.” He called on [...]
Bondholder group wants Lanka to ‘reorganise’ local debt
Institutions that hold outstanding international bonds issued by Sri Lanka have set a tough condition that the Government’s domestic debt be “reorganised’’. They said that an agreement will depend on this condition and two others being satisfied. The condition on domestic debt “reorganisation’’ was outlined in a statement issued on Friday in New York to [...]
Hindu rites still being held for the last king of Kandy
As Sri Lanka yesterday marked its 75th anniversary of independence from British rule, Kandy’s last king Sri Wickrema Rajasinha was commemorated in the South Indian city of Vellore on January 30. The king died 191 years ago and his descendants still conduct religious services to mark his death. The ashes of the king and the [...]
Coal tender in quagmire: Bid winner makes fresh demands over LCs
Sri Lanka’s latest coal tender has also run into problems, with the Indonesian company it was awarded to requesting a change to a crucial term that Lanka Coal Company (Pvt) Ltd (LCC) has deemed unacceptable, authoritative sources told the Sunday Times. The hitch is likely to cause delays in procuring crucial coal supplies beyond March, [...]
B’desh FM calls for South Asian unity and holistic approach to prosperity
Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen yesterday called on South Asia nations to come together and adopt a holistic approach to prosperity, given the multitude of challenges they are beset with. Delivering the 2023 Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture at the BMICH on Friday, he said a holistic approach to prosperity was necessary due to the [...]
AG to file revision application challenging Mudalige release
Magistrate says cops rigged evidence against student leader By Ranjith Padmasiri The Attorney General is to file a revision application against the order issued by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court clearing Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convener Wasantha Mudalige of charges filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). The AG’s decision comes after Inspector General [...]
Celebrations around the country
By Kasun Warakapitiya The 75th anniversary of independence was celebrated across the country with a range of events, including events organised by regional District Secretariats. School children also took part in these events. Colombo District Secretary, K D Wijesiri said that as the main independence event was held at Colombo, the District Secretariat did not [...]
Religious observances mark independence event
The “Janaraja Perahera” to commemorate the 75th Independence Day would be held on February 19 around the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. Secretary of the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Somarata Vidanapathirana said that the Perahera would be held under State sponsorship and would be a tourist attraction as well. President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited [...]
aCultural performances entertain audiences
The vibrant Lankaralanka cultural pageant took place at the Independence Square on Friday evening. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and a host of attendees were treated to a spectacular line-up of 18 song, music and dance performances. 10 State troupes and 8 private troupes performed under the direction of Gaya Ramya Alwis, Janaka Fonseka, Prof Karunarathna Bandara [...]
Gangaramaya Maha Perahera today and tomorrow
The Gangaramaya temple is to hold its 45th Nawam Maha Perahera today and tomorrow. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are to deposit the casket with the sacred Relic on the ceremonial tusker today before the Perhera. The final rituals of the perahera are to be held with the participation of Prime Minister [...]
D S Senanayake remembered in Colombo
Floral tribute was paid to the statue of the country’s first Prime Minister, Mahamanya D S Senanayake at Independence Square yesterday to mark the 75th Independence Day commemoration. Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, President’s Advocate Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe and former Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Sri Lankabhimanya Karu Jayasuriya, together [...]
Medical associations boycott meeting with minister
By Namini Wijedasa The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) and the main Colleges this week turned down a meeting chaired by Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella to discuss lowering drug prices, saying the priority was to solve dire medicine shortages and to stop the purchase of unevaluated drugs. The influential medical community has been fighting for [...]
75 years of Independence: Best wishes for a brighter future
Local and foreign leaders, diplomats and international organisations have all issued messages to mark Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day. Sri Lanka’s 75th Anniversary of Independence from colonial rule is being observed during an extremely critical and challenging time in the country, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said in his Independence Day message. There is a new economic [...]
Police chief retains powers after gazette empowering NPC disappears from Govt. Printer’s website
By Namini Wijedasa A gazette issued under the 21st Amendment by which the independent National Police Commission (NPC) retained powers of appointment, promotion, transfer, punishment, etc., of everyone above Chief Inspector (CI) rank—including Officers-in-Charge (OIC) of police stations/functional divisions—was removed from the official website of the Government Printing Department hours after it was published. These [...]
Muted celebrations
By Sandun Jayawardana A grand military parade was the highlight of a scaled down 75th Independence Day event held opposite Galle Face Green yesterday. The event was held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, with a host of local and foreign dignitaries also in attendance. Aside from foreign diplomats based in Colombo, eight foreign [...]
50 percent slash in expenses
Estimated expenses for the Independence Day celebrations were slashed by more than 50 percent from the original estimates, a senior official said. The budget was cut down by reducing the number of rehearsal days, cultural events, and heavy military vehicles with high usage of fuel and reusing old tents, the official explained. He said the [...]
Net entangled whale shark rescued and released into ocean
By Malaka Rodrigo With the hope of getting a good catch, a group of fisherfolk gathered at Nawakkadu beach in Puttalam on Monday. They laid a large ma dela (seine fishing net) in the morning and began pulling on the ropes after some time. The ma dela felt heavier than the other days, and this [...]
Unwanted veggie bounty once again causes price drop
By Kasun Warakapitiya Unplanned vegetable cultivation has once again led to a large harvest and drop in prices. And much goes to waste as a result. The manager of a dedicated economic centre, a chairman of a merchants association, as well as farmers, say there is no way of knowing how much needs to be [...]
Isolated protests across the country mark Independence Day
Sporadic protests were held yesterday in Colombo and outstation areas, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Independence. One of the main protests was held by the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF). IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige said the protest started near Sri Jayewardenepura University. He said their initial plan was to march towards Colombo city. However, [...]
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya conferred Sri Lankabhimanya award
Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya received the ‘Sri Lankabhimanya’ honourary award at a ceremony held at the President’s House in Colombo under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Friday. This honour was bestowed on Mr Jayasuriya in recognition of the services rendered by him to the country. Mr Jayasuriya was presented with the medal and [...]
Campaign begins, parties oozing with confidence to do well in the polls
By Sandun Jayawardana With the gazette notification confirming the March 9 local government elections now out, campaigning for the election is being conducted in earnest. On Friday, the Election Commission (EC) announced that postal voting for the upcoming election would take place on February 22, 23 and 24. According to the EC, 80,720 candidates will [...]
Candidates face up to economic realities
By Nadia Fazlulhaq Limits on election spending, coupled with high costs of printing and fuel, are among the challenges that candidates at the March local elections will face. As candidates canvass voters, some of them are even coming across desperate voters who want the candidates to pay their bills. Teacher Ajith Nanayakkara, 42, who is [...]
Emeritus Archbishop Oswald Gomis passes away; funeral tomorrow
The funeral of Colombo’s Emeritus Archbishop Oswald Gomis will take place tomorrow in the Cathedral Crypt, Archbishop’s House in Borella. A Requiem Mass will be held at 3 pm at St Lucia’s Cathedral Kotahena before the funeral procession leaves for Borella. Rev Dr Gomis passed away on Friday. His remains were placed at St Anne’s [...]
Lands to be returned to 197 displaced Tamil families in the north
By Chris Kamalendran and N. Lohathayalan Some 197 Tamil families who had been displaced from the Thellippalai Divisional Secretary area will next week regain possession of their lands after a 30-year wait. President Ranil Wickremesinghe will officially hand over the lands next Saturday. Most had been displaced overnight after the LTTE ordered them out from highly [...]
Case dismissed: Ven. Ananda Thera withdraws plaint
The Colombo District Court recently dismissed the case filed by Public Service United Nurses Union president, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, against Ven. Pathberiye Wimalagnana Thera, demanding Rs. 100 million compensation for tarnishing his reputation and the distress caused to him. When the case was taken up before Colombo District Court Judge Purnima Paranagama, a counsel [...]
Assault on former VC: Pera students get bail
By L.B.Senaratne The fourteen undergraduates allegedly involved in the attack on Peradeniya University’s former Vice Chancellor Atula Senaratne have been released on conditional bail by Kandy’s Chief Magistrate Sirinath Wijesekera. Each student was released on Rs. 15,000 cash bail and surety bail of Rs. 600,000. Undergraduates Union President Chamoda Sethsara, one of the 14 students, [...]
Killing of Kandy school security guard: Police make breakthrough
Police, investigating the death of a playground security guard of St. Sylvester College, Kandy have arrested a suspect in Colombo. He was produced before the Kandy magistrate and remanded till Monday. Police told the magistrate the suspect joined a security firm in Kandy while he was being hunted by police in connection with a murder [...]