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Sri Lankan Muslims celebrated the Eid ul Adha Hajj festival symbolizing the sacrificial spirit on Thursday with prayers and other ceremonies in many parts of the country. At the Galle Face Green, Muslim women and girls are seen taking part in festival prayers. Pc by Indika Handuwala
X-Press Pearl disaster: AG for talks in Singapore
Anine-member Sri Lankan delegation led by Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam will head to Singapore later this month for a meeting with the insurance company of the X-Press Pearl vessel which sank off the Colombo Port in 2021. The delegation will be meeting company representatives on July 18 and 19 in a bid to gain maximum [...]
Parliament approves Domestic Debt Optimisation plan by majority of 60 votes
The Government’s Domestic Debt Optimisation (DDO) plan was passed by Parliament last evening by a majority of 60 votes. The resolution received 122 votes in favour and 62 against. The resolution for the “implementation of the Domestic Debt Optimisation to restore sovereign debt sustainability” was passed after a debate lasting 10 hours Sri Lanka Podujana [...]
Strong earthquake in Indian Ocean: Tremors in Colombo and other areas
A 5.8 Richter scale magnitude earthquake yesterday hit the southeast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, triggering widespread tremors across the country, including Colombo, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said. The bureau’s Acting Director General Ajith Prema told the Sunday Times that the earthquake was felt in many areas such as Colombo, Battaramulla, [...]
New Police Chief: President to submit names of 3 SDIGs to CC this week
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to submit three names to the Constitutional Council on Tuesday to select the next Inspector General of Police amidst a growing tussle for the topmost position in the Police Department. IGP C.D. Wickremaratne ended his term last Monday after getting two extensions. According to the current seniority list, the names [...]
Organic fertiliser issue: Talks with China to recover USD 6.2mn
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has resumed talks with the Chinese Government to recover US$ 6.2 million which the Sri Lankan Government paid to purchase organic fertiliser, but was not able to receive the consignment due to an issue of contamination. Agriculture Ministry Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe told the Sunday Times Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry was [...]
Powerful new committee to vet all big projects
The Treasury has put in place an additional layer of vetting for projects valued at more than Rs 500mn if they are Sri Lanka Government-funded and more than Rs. 1bn if foreign-funded. They must also first be approved by the National Planning Department (NPD) before going to the Cabinet while the Auditor General, too, will [...]
Firewalking major attraction at Kataragama festival
Firewalking was part of the Kataragama Devalaya’s annual festival on Friday. Thousands of devotees took part in the festival with Kavadi-carrying dancers and those who performed pada yatra and other vows also participating. Pix by Nisal Baduge
Several housing complexes unsafe for residents
A number of government-owned housing units across the county are in a dilapidated state, causing a safety threat to the residents. Rusted canopy frames, unpainted walls, cracked ceilings and broken slabs were witnessed during a visit by the Sunday Times to these complexes. Among such schemes was the Wekanda housing complex in Kompannaya Veediya. Constructed [...]
Pera Uni’s open day draws large crowds
The University of Peradeniya’s open day event saw an unprecedented turnout with large crowds gathering at all faculties. The Faculty of Medicine was particularly popular among visitors. Visitors were seen queuing up from 4.30 am at the gates to enter the Medical Faculty. The event coincided with the university’s founder’s day. University officials garlanded the [...]
Lanka condemns burning of the Quran outside mosque in Sweden
Sri Lanka has condemned the burning of the sacred text of Islam – the Holy Quran – outside a mosque in Sweden during the Eid al Adha celebrated by Muslims worldwide. “The exercise of the freedom of expression carries with it the responsibility to exercise this right in a manner that respects the rights of [...]
Barrage of criticism against NMRA by SLMA
Serious charges with regard to several critical issues were levelled against the country’s drug watchdog by senior health experts this week, with a counter explanation following speedily on Friday morning. While the powerful Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) fired off a strong letter to President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday and also held a media briefing [...]
About 500,000 Aswesuma appeals: Minister says stop protests, focus on appeals
Around 500,000 people have appealed against the Aswesuma beneficiaries list, Social Empowerment State Minister Anupa Pasqual told the Sunday Times last night. The State Minister called on those protesting to stop wasting their time on protests and get involved in the appeal process, warning that nothing could be done once the list was finalised. He [...]
Kandy Esala Perahera from Aug 21
The Kandy Esala Perahera with links to the Sacred Tooth Relic will begin on August 21, according to the Sri Dalada Maligawa. This year’s perahera will be the 270th since the tradition was resumed during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1781AD). The first Randoli Perhera will be held on August 26 and the [...]
Police probe Rs. 3.3 mn fraud at Pera Uni
Police are probing a massive fraud of Rs. 3.3 million alleged to have taken place in the the Physical Training Department of the University of Peradeniya. The probe follows a complaint lodged with the police. Following a domestic inquiry the department’s director Palitha Kumars’ services were terminated by the University. The Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor [...]
Thailand assures return of tusker after full recovery
While religious ceremonies were held at the Zoological Gardens in Dehiwala on Friday for the safe return of Sak Surin to Thailand, Thai Ambassador Poj Harnpol assured that the tusker will be returned to Colombo after the animal fully recovers. Officials of the Thai embassy will visit the animal before it is repatriated. The Thai [...]
Utilities moving to e-billing to shave costs
Three Government utility service providers, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Lanka Electricity Company (LECO), and Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), have taken initiatives to discard the traditional system of printed bills given to households and move to an online system. Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) Additional General Manager Hemantha Ranasinghe told the Sunday Times that [...]
CEB pays up arrears of rooftop solar power customers
The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has claimed it has settled accumulated arrears of roughly Rs. 4 billion to rooftop solar unit users. All arrears up to April 2023 have now been resolved, the CEB’s Additional General Manager, Eng. G.I.D.H.K. Ranasinghe said. “Although the settlement of previous debt is not included in the tariff, the utility [...]
Ancient capital’s landmarks lie unprotected
Archeological conservation has lately become a topic of controversy in light of the recent clashes between the Archeological Department and the people of the North and East of Sri Lanka. Despite the heated debates on heritage and culture, negligent urbanisation and severe budget cuts, that officials say are related to the coronavirus disease pandemic, are [...]
Chilaw coast sea erosion impacted by monsoon
The onset of the monsoon has increased sea erosion in the coastal areas of the Chilaw district. The newly carpeted road from Chilaw to Wennapuwa has been damaged and several coconut trees have been uprooted due to gale winds. The sea erosion has adversely affected the fishermen of the area too as it has impacted [...]
Flights from Ratmalana to Jaffna begin
A domestic flight service from Ratmalana to Jaffna and back began yesterday, Ratmalana Airport, manager Aruna Rajapaksa said. The flight time is about one hour and ten minutes. The two private companies providing the service will operate flights on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The maiden flight Cessna 208 had 12 people on board. A [...]