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Tangalle Nugegoda It is said the popularity of a political party cannot be judged by rally crowds, as Sri Lanka’s past politics show. However, major rallies were held this week—one by the NPP government in Tangalle to promote its Ratama Ekata programme for a drug-free country, and the other in Nugegoda, seen as the SLPP-led [...]
CC rejects President’s bid to extend Acting Auditor General’s term
President torpedoes his own recommendation; post falls vacant By Ranjith Padmasiri A recommendation by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to extend the services of Acting Auditor General for another three months has been rejected by the Constitutional Council. The presidential recommendation, however, came with an accompanying note that claimed that the Acting Auditor General had accepted [...]
Govt. floats $50m dollar bonds for local banks, first since 2022
For the first time since Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in 2022, the government has issued a USD 50 million worth Domestic Dollar Bond (DDB) to raise dollars from local commercial banks alone. With the maturity period ranging from one to three years, the interest rate of the bond will be determined through competitive bidding. Only [...]
Energy minister approaches CIABOC with written submission
Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody has made legal representations to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), which is probing allegations that he had misappropriated funds while serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015, a senior official said. The minister has requested that a written submission be considered before action is filed against [...]
New authority to regulate microfinance, non-banking lenders
A bill to regulate non-banking lending institutions is to be introduced, with penalties for non-compliance including fines of up to Rs five million, up to five years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction in a magistrate’s court. The proposed Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill was published by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as [...]
Rockslide in Pahala Kadugannawa kills 6
A rockslide in Pahala Kadugannawa on the Colombo–Kandy main road left six dead and several others trapped yesterday, triggering a large-scale rescue mission and causing severe traffic disruption. The incident occurred at around 8.45 a.m. when a huge boulder, along with an earth mound and several smaller rocks, broke loose from a slope below the [...]
Organised crime: New bill allows longer detention, property seizure
A bill to detain and charge organised crime suspects now held under the PTA will be introduced next month. According to a senior official, the bill will not replace the PTA, but it specifically targets organised crime and gives authorities greater powers against big-time criminals. He said that hardcore criminals involved in drug-related offences and [...]
No need to amend RTI Act, but look into shortages, NMSJ tells Govt.
The National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) says there is no need to amend the Right to Information (RTI) Act, despite reports that the Government is considering changes. The group says the RTI law has already helped the public and should not be weakened. Instead, the NMSJ says the Government should focus on the problems [...]
Opposition MPs led by Dilith and Dayasiri propose special parliamentary committee to probe JSC
A group of opposition MPs have submitted a proposal to Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne calling for the establishment of a special parliamentary committee to review the appointments, removals, transfers, and promotions of judicial officers made by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). A group of opposition MPs led by Sarvajana Balaya Leader Dilith Jayaweera and Samagi Jana [...]
Justice Shiran Gooneratne takes oaths as Acting CJ
Supreme Court Justice Shiran Gooneratne yesterday took oaths before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, as the Acting Chief Justice until the return of Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. Chief Justice Surasena has left to India on an official visit to attend the swearing in ceremony of the new Indian Chief Justice Surya Kant in New Delhi [...]
CID to submit report upon returning from London in probe against Ranil’s visit
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has obtained statements from 50 persons so far regarding the investigation into the alleged misuse of Rs. 16.6 million in state funds by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe to attend his wife’s graduation ceremony at a UK university. A CID team which is currently in the UK as [...]
Cemeteries cleaned, memorials restored for Maveerar Naal amid Govt. nod
By S. Rubatheesan Ahead of the annual collective commemorative ‘Heroes Day’ event known as ‘Maveerar Naal’ to be observed next Thursday (27), final preparations are in full swing in the Northern and Eastern provinces to commemorate Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members and civilians who perished during the three-decade-long armed uprising for a separate [...]
Trawler haul of ‘ice’ and heroin, SJB suspect, highlights in recent narco busts
By Ishu Bandara More drug detections and conviction of drug traffickers by courts took place as operations to dismantle narcotic networks and organised crime continued. This week the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court judgement passed on five convicts found guilty of conspiracy, trafficking, and possession of 152.341 kilograms of heroin in 2023. In [...]
Chronic understaffing crippling RTIC; misreporting impacts quasi-judicial appeal function
By Ranjith Padmasiri In a statement issued on Thursday, the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) has warned against the potential amendment of Sri Lanka’s globally praised Right to Information Act (RTI Act), emphasising that a combination of ‘chronic understaffing’ and misreporting is negatively impacting its quasi-judicial appeal function, which is carried out despite serious institutional [...]
UK levy could raise uni costs for Sri Lankans, living outlay now Rs 611,000
By Kapila Bandara Thousands of Sri Lankans aspiring to higher education in the United Kingdom will likely face increased tuition costs from a 6% levy the Labour Government has proposed on fees paid by international students, as part of a broader policy to cut down the number of immigrants. Living costs applicable for London and [...]
GMOA strike extends to Wednesday, demands unmet despite Parliament debate
Union says trade union action meant to highlight salary issues, critical drug shortages in state hospitals, infrastructure woes By Sajeniya Sathanandan Tens of thousands of patients at state hospitals continue to be affected by the trade union action resorted to by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), that is to continue until Wednesday. The GMOA [...]
Teacher jobs tussle continues
By Sajeniya Sathanandan Development officers working as teachers have decided to continue to raise their demand for permanent school teacher positions which the government had previously promised, according to unions. In August, the Supreme Court dismissed four Fundamental Rights applications filed by a group of development officers. Development officers had been asked to work as [...]
COP30: Last minute deal clinched, but no roadmap on fossil fuel
Lanka unveils NDC 3.0, but its voice in Belém remains muted By Tharushi Weerasinghe COP30 negotiators meeting in the Brazilian city of Belém clinched a last-minute deal yesterday without a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. The EU and other nations had pushed for a deal that would call for a “roadmap” to phase [...]
CJ: Lawyers are officers of the court, must uphold conduct
By Ranjith Padmasiri Lawyers must bear in mind that they are officers of the court and that the court would rely and act on what they submit before it, which means they must strive to maintain the high standards expected of them throughout their careers, Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena stated. He made the remarks [...]
Four new PCs take oaths- with electronic signatures
For the first time in the country’s history, four newly appointed President’s Counsels have taken oaths in the Supreme Court without the use of pen and paper, after placing their signatures electronically before a full bench presided over by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. The newly sworn in President’s Counsels are four Additional Solicitor Generals [...]
Gangland shootings resurface in South
By Ishu Bandara Two separate killings reported from Tangalle and Meetiyagoda this week have raised concerns over organised crime activity in the Southern Province, with police suspecting links to ongoing gang rivalries and narco networks. On Tuesday 18 November, J.H. Wijath, 68, and P.H. Pushpa, 59, an elderly couple, were gunned down while at their [...]
Free medical camp for Sri Lankans in Bahrain
Sri Lanka’s embassy in Bahrain, in collaboration with the Sri Lankan Engineering Society in Bahrain (SLES) and the American Mission Hospital, conducted a free medical camp for Sri Lankan nationals on Friday at the Embassy premises. This initiative, launched at the request of the Ambassador Shanika Dissanayake, is part of the Embassy’s ongoing commitment to [...]
Minor flooding affects Kalu and Nilwala river basins
By Iresha Bandara Heavy rainfall across several parts of the country has caused minor flooding, mainly in the Kalu and Nilwala river basins. Disaster Management Media Spokesman Pradeep Kodippili told the Sunday Times that multiple weather-related incidents have been reported, prompting response operations and warnings in several districts. According to the Islandwide Water Level & [...]
Some ejected elephants return, but officials stick to plan
By Kasun Warakapitiya The Department of Wildlife Conservation will continue the controversial elephant drives despite some setbacks, including animals returning to areas from which they are ejected. This is because elephants prefer their home range over designated protected areas. Animals can’t be confined to certain areas, hoping they will adapt. Wildlife officers said that despite [...]
Racketeers operating illegal elephant safaris caught
Pix and story by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa A group of racketeers who entered Kaudulla National Park to show elephants to tourists without paying for tickets have been nabbed by a special Wildlife Department team. The raid came after private Safari jeep owners complained to the Wildlife Director General that some safari jeep operators use another [...]
Road safety awareness programme held for Central Province schools
By L B Senaratne Governor of the Central Province Prof S B Sarath Abeykoon organised a programme to educate students on road safety. Themed ‘how to avoid road accidents’ the programme included competitions held between 66 schools of the province, organised by the province’s Department of Motor Traffic. There were essay competitions, oratory competitions and [...]
SC grants leave to proceed in case on Sabaragamuwa uni student’s suicide after ragging
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed with two fundamental rights petitions filed over the suicide of a second year student of the Faculty of Technology, Sabaragamuwa University, who took his life after being subjected to severe ragging by senior students. The petitions were filed by the President of the Bar [...]
Stem cell & plant study yields significant results
Next goal to develop commercially-viable drug leads to benefit patients By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Stem cells have fascinated Emeritus Professor Preethi Udagama and it was when she attended a workshop that she wondered on the use of this valuable material on another aspect of her research, plant extracts. Prof. Udagama, retired Senior Professor of Zoology, [...]
A rare Dugong swims free, thanks to brave Mannar fishermen
By Malaka Rodrigo When the sun hung low above the Vidaththaltivu Sea on the morning of November 15, a small fishing crew from Mannar found themselves at the heart of a story far larger than their daily catch. Near eleven in the morning, about 4.25 kilometres off the Kaththalampiddy coast, they discovered something unusual struggling [...]
Wonders from Deep Under at Aqua Planet 2025
By Malaka Rodrigo Sri Lanka celebrates World Fisheries Day this year with a three-day exhibition titled Aqua Planet 2025, held at the Nelum Kuluna premises in Colombo. The event, which began on Novemebr 21 and ends today, is free to the public and aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable fisheries while showcasing [...]