News
Home » NewsUnited with a purpose
On the sidelines of the 19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, President Ranil Wickremesinghe met South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The two leaders discussed issues of the Global South. In his address to the summit, Mr. Wickremesinghe hailed South Africa’s bold move to invoke the International Court of Justice’s jurisdiction against [...]
JVP wants to deal with IMF in the future despite differences
SJB says it will go ahead with EFF with amendments, JVP critical of ongoing programmes The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) has declared it has no issues dealing with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but the global institution’s programmes should be in keeping with the national interest. Former MP and JVP’s economic [...]
Port City seeks new laws on forex transactions; clarity on employee benefits
By Namini Wijedasa The Colombo Port City has urged the Government to introduce draft banking and financial services regulations that will allow investors to transact in foreign currencies and deal with counterparts offshore to avoid any mandatory conversion or repatriation of monies, authoritative sources said. Investors are registered to do business within the Port City [...]
Election Commission to begin implementing campaign finance laws
By Damith Wickremasekara Beginning next week, the Elections Commission will start implementing campaign finance laws ahead of the presidential election this year, followed by parliamentary elections, a senior official said. Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake told the Sunday Times that the preparation and issuing of Gazette notifications related to elections and the briefing of relevant [...]
CEB keeps regulator in the dark about huge profits
Expert says surplus enough to reduce tariff by as much as 20 percent By Namini Wijedasa The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has projected a profit of Rs. 73 billion for this year in its internal approved budget but has forecast a markedly short surplus of Rs. 23.7 billion to the regulator, the Public Utilities Commission of [...]
Injunction against Dayasiri: Decision on extension tomorrow
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Colombo District Court will consider tomorrow whether to extend the interim injunction issued against former Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara, preventing him from hindering Acting General Secretary Sarathi Dushmantha from performing his duties. Mr. Jayasekara was removed as SLFP General Secretary in September last year, with the [...]
President calls for setting up of Palestine state in five years at NAM Summit
Sri Lanka has proposed to the Non-Alligned Movement (NAM) that it should spearhead a campaign to set up a state of Palestine within the next five years while reiterating its longstanding position of recognising the Palestinian peoples right to self-determination and the nationhood. President Ranil Wickremesinghe who addressed the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in [...]
Sri Lanka overpaid Indian fertiliser company in 2021: Audit report
The previous government paid more than double the market price to import nano nitrogen liquid fertiliser from an Indian fertiliser company that was selected through an unsolicited proposal, and received only seven percent of the total order placement despite settling the amount in full, an audit report has revealed. The National Audit Office report found [...]
For the first time in party’s history ITAK to hold election for leadership post
M.A. Sumanthiran and S. Shritharan hand over nominations For the first time in its history of nearly 75 years, the oldest Tamil party in the country, Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK), is to elect its next president today in a highly contested internal election between two MPs representing Jaffna district, M.A. Sumanthiran and S. Shritharan. [...]
Online loan sharks devour people desperate for money
The arrests this week of five Chinese nationals and a Sri Lankan for allegedly running an online loan scam in Dehiwala show how such scammers are increasingly using social media and messaging apps to target desperate and vulnerable Sri Lankans amid the country’s economic crisis. Police said the scam had been in operation since at [...]
Online Safety Bill: SLPI identifies controversial elements that infringe on freedom of expression
The Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), its constituents and affiliated organisations have expressed concern over the proposed Online Safety Bill (Bill) and its implications on the freedom of expression. While acknowledging a need to regulate internet intermediaries, as is the objective of the Bill, SLPI identifies several controversial elements present in the bill that are [...]
AG tells CID not to wait for complaints to act on those sowing religious disharmony
Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam has stressed that investigation agencies should take action against persons engaged in spreading distorted religious teachings that harm religious sentiments without waiting for complaints to be lodged. The AG said this to the newly-appointed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Rohan Premaratne when the latter called on [...]
Despite slight drop in prices, consumers find veggie tags hard to swallow
By Dilushi Wijesinghe Dwindling consumer demands for high-priced vegetables are driving down prices, yet many consumers say the retail prices are still unaffordable. Nearly four months of continuous rain have destroyed crops in the country’s vegetable basket in the central hills and the North Central Province, triggering a supply shortage coupled with an unprecedented [...]
Paddy cultivation hit by invasive worm, farmers call for assistance
In addition to paddy cultivation being hit by the inclement weather, an invasive worm species has affected cultivations in Anuradhapura, Matale and Polonnaruwa. The invasive species has spread in paddy fields in the areas of Kalawewa, Galkiriyagama, Nagampaha, Bulnewa, Galnewa, and Thalawa in Anuradhapura, Habarana Hiriwadunna, Horiwila, Mahasengama and Hurakgoda in Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Seegiriya, Galewela [...]
Health workers await return of President to resolve issue over allowance demand
Set February 1 as fresh deadline, threaten full scale trade union action if all fails By Ryan Casiechetty Health workers excluding doctors, in state-run hospitals, are awaiting a resolution to their demand for an additional allowance similar to that of doctors and have warned that a failure to resolve the issue could result in trade [...]
Army destroys three-acre cannabis cultivation in the heart of Yala park
A cannabis cultivation inside Yala park was destroyed during a special operation carried out by the army and three suspects were arrested. The cultivation was spread over three acres and 1600 kgs of cannabis was seized during the operation. Villagers have been regularly complaining that due to illegal cannabis cultivation inside the park elephants have [...]
Taking credit
Tuition advertising plasters city surfaces Pix and text by M A Pushpa Kumara Posters and colourful cutouts seem to be the most popular way of tuition providers advertising themselves. Main junctions, railway and bus stands have not been spared by those advertising themselves. Most tuiton gurus have included their colourful photographs as well to attract [...]
Opening the first formal vocational training window to young people with autism
By Kumudini Hettiarachchi They stood tall and confident talking of their hopes as their parents watched with pride……on a new and pioneering pathway not only for themselves but also for others. Excitement and expectation in the New Year for a group very much a part of our society, but usually much-neglected and stigmatized without being [...]
DWC orders voltage checks on electric fences to protect elephants
By Kasun Warakapitiya Alarmed by the high number of elephant deaths due to electrocution, the Wildlife Conservation Department (DWC) has instructed its officers to check the voltage of electric fences erected by villagers. DWC Director General Chandana Sooriyabandara said he had instructed the officers to purchase meters to monitor the voltage on these electric fences. [...]
One month into ‘Yukthiya’, authorities hail it as a success
1493 out of the identified 4294 drug traffickers have been arrested, they say By Sandun Jayawardana One month after the launch of the “Yukthiya” (Justice) operation island-wide, authorities claimed that more than 65% of key individuals involved in narcotics distribution had been arrested, resulting in a drastic reduction in the availability of narcotics. On Thursday [...]
Don’t allow policemen in civvies to stop vehicles; Acting IGP issues directive after fatal shooting
By Jayantha Kumara Dissanayake (Alawwa Correspondent) In the aftermath of a fatal shooting of a father-of-three in Narammala by a police officer in civvies, Acting Inspector General Deshabandu Tennakoon has issued instructions to all police stations not to stop vehicles for inspection while police personnel are in civilian attire. Speaking to the media after visiting [...]
A passionate pledge to ensure inclusivity and equity in diverse Sri Lanka
Dr. Upul Dissanayake takes over as the 48th President of CCP By Kumudini Hettiarachchi As he takes over the captaincy of an august group of healers scattered across the far corners of this country, it is not only his medical knowledge but also his vast experience and humanity which will play a pivotal role in [...]
Leaked A/L Agri paper triggers retake, students anguished
By Nathara Abeywickrema More than 20,000 students have been forced to sit the G.C.E. Advanced Level Agricultural Science Paper for the second time on February 1, after the Examination Department cancelled Papers I and II due to social media leaks. As this move puts students in despair and adds to their anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty, [...]