http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 22 Nov 2025 20:05:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/sea-of-heads-show-of-strength-622181.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:40 am lt;p style= quot;text-align: center; quot; gt; lt;strong gt; lt;span style= quot;font-size: medium; quot; gt;Tangalle lt;/span gt; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-622182 quot; title= quot;Ratama quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/251123/uploads/2025/11/Ratama.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;600 quot; height= quot;322 quot; / gt; lt;p style=... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/cc-rejects-presidents-bid-to-extend-acting-auditor-generals-term-622179.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:36 am lt;strong gt;President torpedoes his own recommendation; post falls vacant lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; 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 no... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/govt-floats-50m-dollar-bonds-for-local-banks-first-since-2022-622177.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:35 am 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 locally incorporated licensed commercial banks are eligible to s... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/energy-minister-approaches-ciaboc-with-written-submission-622175.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:34 am 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 him. Earlier ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/new-authority-to-regulate-microfinance-non-banking-lenders-622173.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:34 am 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 rsquo; imprisonment, or both, upon conviction in a magistrate rsquo;s court. The proposed Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill was published by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as Minister of Finance,... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/rockslide-in-pahala-kadugannawa-kills-6-622155.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:24 am A rockslide in Pahala Kadugannawa on the Colombo ndash;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 railway line and crashed onto a house and a ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/organised-crime-new-bill-allows-longer-detention-property-seizure-622147.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:21 am 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 other organised activities are currently ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/no-need-to-amend-rti-act-but-look-into-shortages-nmsj-tells-govt-622149.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:14 am lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt;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. lt;/p gt; Instead, the NMSJ says the Government should focus on the p... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/opposition-mps-led-by-dilith-and-dayasiri-propose-special-parliamentary-committee-to-probe-jsc-622139.html 23 November 2025 @ 12:06 am 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 Balawegaya MP Dayasiri J... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/justice-shiran-gooneratne-takes-oaths-as-acting-cj-622095.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:36 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: center; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter wp-image-622096 quot; title= quot;9s quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/251123/uploads/2025/11/9s3.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;770 quot; height= quot;280 quot; / gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt;Supreme Court Justice Shiran Goone... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/cid-to-submit-report-upon-returning-from-london-in-probe-against-ranils-visit-622090.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:33 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 rsquo;s graduation ceremony at a UK university. A CID team which is currently in the UK as par... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/cemeteries-cleaned-memorials-restored-for-maveerar-naal-amid-govt-nod-622083.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:30 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By S. Rubatheesan lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; Ahead of the annual collective commemorative lsquo;Heroes Day rsquo; event known as lsquo; lt;em gt;Maveerar Naal lt;/em gt; rsquo; 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 peri... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/trawler-haul-of-ice-and-heroin-sjb-suspect-highlights-in-recent-narco-busts-622071.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:27 pm lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 the ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/chronic-understaffing-crippling-rtic-misreporting-impacts-quasi-judicial-appeal-function-622065.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:25 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; In a statement issued on Thursday, the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) has warned against the potential amendment of Sri Lanka rsquo;s globally praised Right to Information Act (RTI Act), emphasising that a combination of lsquo;chronic understaffing rsquo; and misreporting is negatively impacting its quasi-judicial appeal function, whi... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/uk-levy-could-raise-uni-costs-for-sri-lankans-living-outlay-now-rs-611000-622062.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:22 pm lt;strong gt;By Kapila Bandara nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 elsewhere have already ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/gmoa-strike-extends-to-wednesday-demands-unmet-despite-parliament-debate-622048.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:16 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Union says trade union action meant to highlight salary issues, critical drug shortages in state hospitals, infrastructure woes lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan lt;/strong gt; Tens of thousands of patients at state hospitals continue to be affected by the trade union action resorted to by the Government Medical ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/teacher-jobs-tussle-continues-622038.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:08 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; 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 R... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/cop30-ends-as-deadliest-talk-show-amid-fossil-fuel-deadlock-622033.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:06 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Lanka unveils NDC 3.0, but its voice in Bel eacute;m remains muted lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Tharushi Weerasinghe lt;/strong gt; nbsp; COP30 negotiators meeting in the Brazilian city of Bel eacute;m clinched a last-minute deal yesterday without a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. The EU and other nations had pushed f... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/cj-lawyers-are-officers-of-the-court-must-uphold-conduct-622026.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:03 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; 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 while addressing Friday rsquo;s ceremony for... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/four-new-pcs-take-oaths-with-electronic-signatures-622016.html 22 November 2025 @ 10:03 pm [caption id= quot;attachment_622018 quot; align= quot;alignright quot; width= quot;200 quot; caption= quot;Hiranjan Peiris quot;] lt;img class= quot;size-full wp-image-622018 quot; title= quot;Hiranjan-peiris-ASG-PC quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/251123/uploads/2025/11/Hiranjan-peiris-ASG-PC.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;200 quot; height= quot;300 quot; / gt;[/caption] lt;p style... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/gangland-shootings-resurface-in-south-622013.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:59 pm lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 shop in... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/free-medical-camp-for-sri-lankans-in-bahrain-622007.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:58 pm Sri Lanka rsquo;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 rsquo;s ongoing commitment to promoting the health and w... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/off-for-the-exam-in-a-unibuffel-armoured-vehicle-621998.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:55 pm [gallery link= quot;file quot; columns= quot;4 quot; orderby= quot;rand quot;] lt;strong gt;By Iresha Bandara nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt;that multiple weather-related inc... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/some-ejected-elephants-return-but-officials-stick-to-plan-621981.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:45 pm lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 rsquo;t be confined to certain areas, hoping they will adap... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/racketeers-operating-illegal-elephant-safaris-caught-621973.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:38 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;Pix and story by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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 anot... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/road-safety-awareness-programme-held-for-central-province-schools-621971.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:36 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By L B Senaratne nbsp; nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; Governor of the Central Province Prof S B Sarath Abeykoon organised a programme to educate students on road safety. Themed lsquo;how to avoid road accidents rsquo; the programme included competitions held between 66 schools of the province, organised by the province rsquo;s Department of Motor Traffic. There w... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/sc-grants-leave-to-proceed-in-case-on-sabaragamuwa-uni-students-suicide-after-ragging-621969.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:35 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; 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 Association o... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/stem-cell-plant-study-yields-significant-results-621961.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:15 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Next goal to develop commercially-viable drug leads to benefit patients lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; nbsp; lt;strong gt;By Kumudini Hettiarachchi lt;/strong gt; 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... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/a-rare-dugong-swims-free-thanks-to-brave-mannar-fishermen-621957.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:08 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By Malaka Rodrigo nbsp; nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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 ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/251123/news/wonders-from-deep-under-at-aqua-planet-2025-621949.html 22 November 2025 @ 9:04 pm lt;strong gt; lt;em gt;By Malaka Rodrigo nbsp; lt;/em gt; lt;/strong gt; 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 the co...