News
Home » News
Colombo-based foreign diplomats came out of their busy schedule for National New Year fun and games organised by the Foreign Ministry at the Police Park in Colombo yesterday. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Tareq Mohammed Ariful Islam won the title of Avurudu Kumaraya while Myanmar Deputy Chief of Mission Lei Yi Win was crowned Avurudu Kumari. China’s [...]
Law to seize proceeds of crime
On IMF guidance, major new moves to confiscate ill-gotten wealth By Namini Wijedasa President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe have jointly presented to the Cabinet a draft law that allows for the forfeiture of the proceeds or “fruits” of crime after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) insisted on the promised legislation being enacted [...]
Iran’s President coming on Wednesday notwithstanding West Asian crisis
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi will arrive in the country as previously scheduled on Wednesday for an overnight state visit when he will also inaugurate the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project along with President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Though neither the Foreign Ministry nor the Iranian embassy in Colombo have confirmed the dates of the state visit, government [...]
Thousands fall prey to massive SMS fraud using Postal Dept. as a front
By Dilushi Wijesinghe A serious fraud using Sri Lanka’s Postal Department as a front is victimising unsuspecting people, with the Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) struggling to catch the masterminds behind the scam. The scam is in the form of a general SMS sent to mobile phone owners, notifying [...]
Several Govt. websites face danger of attack
By Mimi Alphonsus Scores of government websites are missing vital Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certification—a basic component of cybersecurity that ensures a safe connection—thereby putting users’ sensitive data at risk, the Sunday Times has found. In an independent analysis of 130 official websites, it was detected that at least 35 of them (around 27 percent) [...]
Justice Ameer Ismail passes away
Retired Supreme Court judge Ameer Ismail passed away yesterday. Educated at Wesley College, Colombo, he obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ceylon and was sworn in as an advocate in 1969. He joined the Attorney General’s Department as a Crown Counsel in 1971 and was later promoted to Senior State Counsel. [...]
Domestic, Indian suitors woo insurer’s hand in second marriage
By Kapila Bandara Five potential bidders are casting knowing glances at Sri Lanka Insurance Corp’s life and general businesses and among them is an insurer owned by a leading conglomerate in Sri Lanka, and an insurer owned by the Government of India, which claims to be the largest by market capitalisation, operating a joint venture [...]
The koha’s song – are we hearing it less during Avurudu?
By Malaka Rodrigo The koha’s song, renowned for being the melody of ‘Avurudu’, traditionally heralds the arrival of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. However, there’s a growing concern that this iconic trill is now less frequently heard during the season. Could this be attributed to a decrease in the koha population, a shift in [...]
Hometown mourns ‘Chandi Mahattaya’, the good-hearted rebel
By Jayanie Madawala The final rites of the late former deputy minister Palitha Thewarapperuma were performed on Friday at a gravesite that he himself had prepared in Yatadolawaththa, Matugama. He died at the age of 64 from electrocution while attempting to connect electrical wires. Mr. Thewarapperuma was a popular member of the United National Party [...]
Ariyaratne’s last rites held amidst large crowd
The funeral of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement founder Dr. Ahangamage Tudor Ariyaratne took place yesterday at Independence Square in Colombo 7 attended by a large crowd. Dr. Ariyaratne passed away on April 16 aged 92 at a private hospital while undergoing medical treatment. His remains lay at the Damsak Mandira of the Sarvodaya Headquarters in Rawatawatte [...]
Winds of war far from their minds as diplomats take a shot at Avurudu games
Text and Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara While the rest of the world is on edge over fears of World War III, the diplomatic community in Sri Lanka put differences between their respective governments aside yesterday to come together to celebrate the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. The New Year celebrations were organised by the [...]
Uma Oya: Benefits begin to flow but key issues not fully addressed
Electricity generation underway; paddy lands are being irrigated, but residents say problems persist over water scarcity and compensation payments By Anthony David from the Uma Oya site. Pix by Indika Handuwala One of Sri Lanka’s ambitious multipurpose projects aimed at enhancing power generation and irrigating more paddy lands is now ready after weathering many storms [...]
Police to take action on foreign tourist harassment recorded on social media
The Police Department will track incidents of foreign tourist harassment recorded on social media and take action against local perpetrators, its spokesman said this week, just days after two Sri Lankans were arrested—one for cheating, the other on three charges including verbal abuse—and released on hefty bails. “The police are going to take some action, [...]
Iran-Israel conflict: Lankan workers face no immediate threat, says ambassador
By Sandun Jayawardana There is no immediate threat to Sri Lankans in Israel following tit-for-tat military strikes between Israel and Iran, local authorities stressed. Around 11,000 Sri Lankans live and work in Israel, with more than 2,000 having arrived in recent months after new opportunities opened up in the agriculture and construction sectors, Sri Lanka’s [...]
TISL goes to Supreme Court over controversial purchases of medical supplies including counterfeit immunoglobulin
By Mimi Alphonsus Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) this week petitioned the Supreme Court highlighting the serious ramifications on the health sector and the general public of recent controversial purchases of medical supplies including counterfeit human immunoglobulin. TISL and its Chairman Pulasthi Hewamanna maintain that actions by the Ministry of Health, the National Medical Regulations [...]
SL Catholic Church to take first steps seeking canonisation of Easter Sunday attack victims
Today marks five years since the attacks that claimed nearly 200 lives By S. Rubatheesan Sri Lanka’s Catholic Church is seeking the canonisation as “Heroes of Faith” of nearly 200 innocent churchgoers who died in the horrific Easter Sunday attacks exactly five years ago today, hoping the move will pave the way for an international [...]
Govt. responds to UN Special Rapporteurs’ concerns over Online Safety Act
By Namini Wijedasa The Government has responded to serious concerns raised by three UN Special Rapporteurs about its new Online Safety Act (OSA) by stating that the law is aimed at addressing internet crimes against women and children and not for the purpose of restricting the fundamental rights of the citizen. “It is not the [...]
Digitised govt. sector vulnerable to cyberattacks, but countermeasures woefully inadequate
Health information systems require the most urgent attention By Mimi Alphonsus “Sorry for unauthorised access to your website but your website has some security flaws,” read a message, purportedly from an A/ Level student who hacked the Education Ministry website earlier this month. The embarrassing incursion that drew attention to cyber security concerns revealed only [...]
Pretty in pink; Tabebuia rosea in all its glory
Excessive heat and dry weather conditions during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period caused an explosion of pink-hued flowers in the country’s ornamental rosy trumpet (Tabebuia rosea) or “robarosia” trees this season. The display was so vibrant that it gave rise to widespread public admiration. And since it coincided with the blooming of cherry [...]
May Day rallies: Working comrades ready to raise socio-economic issues
By Kasun Warakapitiya All major political parties are set to hold grand May Day rallies, ahead of launching election campaigns. Several parties have selected Colombo as their venue, and the National People’s Power (NPP) will have four events in important cities, including the north and the south. President Ranil Wickremesinghe is due at the United [...]
Fathers allowed to witness childbirth and offer emotional support
By Hafsa Sabry Gone are the days when fathers-to-be anxiously paced the corridors of the Castle Street Hospital for Women. In a groundbreaking move, the hospital is welcoming husbands into the delivery room in recognition of the invaluable emotional support they provide during birthing. Emotionally supporting the mother-to-be during labour is crucial, as it can [...]
Sri Lanka Law College forms Alumni association, part of 150th anniversary celebrations
In a historic event to coincide with the 150th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Law College, its esteemed alumni came together at the College Main Hall on April 3 to establish the Alumni Association. The inception of the Alumni Association follows meticulous groundwork initiated by Principal Dr. Athula Pathinayake and Palitha Kumarasinghe PC, who secured permission [...]
Speed limits to be revised to help rein in road traffic deaths
By Nathara Abeywickrama Twenty-three people—or around seven per day—died in traffic accidents from April 12–14, the Sinhala and Tamil New Year period, with the main causes being drunk driving, speeding and negligence. The total number of accidents reported by the National Hospital of Sri Lanka alone was 161 during this period. There were also some [...]