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Home » NewsThe child is a king, the carolers sing
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” In the wake of the Cyclone Ditwah disaster, these hope-stirring lines of the familiar Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” resonate deeply with the resilient mood of Sri Lanka as we prepare [...]
Jaishankar here tomorrow; Zhao follows on Tuesday
Talks with President centre on disaster recovery and strengthening bilateral relations By Damith Wickremasekara President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will host India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji separately next week as the country begins to rebound from the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. While the discussions with [...]
AG’s officers to discuss Ranil case with CID team back from UK
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team involved in investigations 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 has been summoned to the Attorney General’s Department on Monday. The discussion with the team that returned [...]
OMP urges Govt. to call in international expertise to recover remains from landslides
The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) has requested that the government seek international expertise to recover bodies buried in landslides and to track persons reported missing following the Cyclone Ditwah disaster, a commissioner from the office said. OMP Commissioner Mirak Raheem told the Sunday Times that the office had urged the government to request international [...]
Auditor General’s post: CC rejects yet another President’s nominee, this time an Army officer
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Constitutional Council (CC) has rejected yet another nominee submitted by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to take over as the country’s next Auditor General. The CC’s rejection of O.R. Rajasinghe’s name means that four nominees the President has submitted to the CC over the past eight months to serve in a permanent [...]
Lanka to tap UN climate fund for Ditwah compensation
By Tharushi Weerasinghe Sri Lanka will apply to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD)—a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change—to seek compensation for damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah. Damage assessments are underway, while the government is also holding bilateral discussions on the claim, including during the recent United Nations Environment Assembly in [...]
Sri Lanka signs prisoner transfer agreement with Poland
Sri Lanka and Poland have signed a bilateral agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between the two countries. The agreement was signed this week in Colombo between Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe, PC and Przemyslaw Domagala, Deputy Director of Poland’s Department of International Cooperation and Human Rights. The agreement is aimed at assisting both countries [...]
Finance Ministry issues circular laying out proposed bonus payment scheme
The Finance Ministry has approved the payment of performance-based bonuses to staff of commercial corporations, statutory boards and government owned companies for 2025. Finance Ministry secretary Harshana Suriyapperuma has issued the relevant circular laying out the proposed bonus payment scheme. For employees of institutions which earned profits during the 2024 financial year and paid at [...]
Degree by degree, NPP true colours are showing
My dear Ranwala sahodaraya, I am writing to you after you gave us a timely reminder of your presence in public life, causing much embarrassment to the ‘maalimaawa’ chaps almost exactly a year after you first did so. Some say we should declare a ‘Ranwala Day’ every year. Others argue it is more like an [...]
IMF Rapid Financing Instrument: Critical support at fragile juncture
By Bandula Sirimanna The International Monetary Fund on Friday approved Sri Lanka SDR 150.5 million, or about US$206 million, through the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), to meet urgent financing for post-Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction. The devastating cyclone, which shook the country on November 28, caused over 600 fatalities and leaving scores of people displaced. There was [...]
CIABOC asks officials to consider representations made on behalf of Minister Jayakody
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has directed its officials to consider legal representations made on behalf of Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody on allegations against him on the misappropriation of funds while serving at the Fertiliser Corporation in 2015, and submit its report within next week. The Minister [...]
Christmas buzz in Pettah
With just a few more days left for Christmas, crowds were seen yesterday in Pettah shopping for clothes, gifts and decorations. Pix by Eshan Fernando.
Hospital recovery costs may exceed Rs 21 billion
By Sajeniya Sathanandan Hospitals are still struggling to cope with the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah, three weeks into the recovery effort, while facing endless challenges. District General Hospital Chilaw, Base Hospital Mahiyanganaya, Divisional Hospital Wattegama, and Spring Valley Divisional Hospital Badulla were among the worst affected hospitals by floods and landslides between November 27 [...]
Heavy losses incurred by Pera Uni’s Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnosis and Research Centre
By L. B. Senaratne Peradeniya University’s Centre for Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnosis and Research (CAADDR) has lost most of its research documents, which are irreplaceable, along with valuable equipment, during the recent floods which invaded their research laboratories located on the banks of the Mahaweli within the campus. The CAADDR was established in 2007 in [...]
After the storm, spells of showers
By Jayani Madawala The Meteorology Department forecasted that several spells of showers would occur today in Eastern, Uva and Central Provinces and in Polonnaruwa and Hambantota Districts. According to their weather report showers or thunderstorms would occur at a few places in Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle, Matara and Kalutara districts after 2 p.m. They [...]
Mahamaya Kandy closed indefinitely
Mahamaya Girls’ College in Kandy has been closed indefinitely until the area is more stabilised from landslides. In 2021, there was a protest against a high-rising building above Mahamaya Girls’ College, but the UDA had given the permission for its construction. Residents had protested to the authorities, but little heed was taken and allowed the [...]
Five families in Haldummulla evacuated due to threat of landslide
Eleven residents from five families living near the Pinnelanda mountain area at Maladola, Haldummulla were evacuated to safety yesterday (20) after a massive rock formation atop the mountain began to crack and break away, Haldummulla Police said. Police stated that although secure shelter had been arranged for the affected families at the Maladola Viharaya as [...]
NMRA decision to ‘withhold’ antibiotic jabs under fire
Sri Lanka needs an accredited state-of-the-art lab for tests, urge many, as drug authority responds to alleged contaminated anti-nausea medicine Ondansetron By Kumudini Hettiarachchi A growing debate has emerged over the “blanket” withholding of several antibiotic medications from an Indian pharmaceutical company in Gujarat this week, over suspicions of one non-antibiotic medication being contaminated. This [...]
India spreads ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ across the country
As part of India’s continued assistance to Sri Lanka under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Assistant High Commission in Kandy and Consulate General of India in Jaffna conducted distribution drives for families affected by Cyclone Ditwah in different parts of the Island. Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha on Thursday distributed relief [...]
BASL commends RTI Commission for service, asks the President to secure institutional autonomy
By Ranjith Padmasiri Noting with appreciation the ‘commendable service’ rendered by Sri Lanka’s Right to Information Commission (RTI Commission) since its establishment despite limited resources, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake calling on the President to take ‘immediate steps’ to secure and safeguard the autonomy and capacity [...]
Pentara project in Thummulla: Petitioners lose appeal in High Court; case goes back to DC
By Ranjith Padmasiri The Civil Appellate High Court of the Western Province in Colombo this week refused to issue Leave to Appeal and Interim Orders against the Pentara Residencies project in Thummulla, Colombo. In refusing the interim reliefs sought with costs, the Civil Appellate Court held that the District Court was justified in declining to [...]
Protest over non-issuance of disaster relief allowance erupts in Puttalam
By Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe Residents of the Puttalam divisional secretariat were up in arms yesterday over the divisional secretariat’s failing to provide the Rs 25, 000 compensation to those affected by cyclone Ditwah. Around 1000 protestors obstructed the old Puttalam – Mannar road from the Weppamaduwa area for nearly five hours. The protestors were from [...]
Helpdesk at Galle Face to assist public during the season
Under the direction of the defence secretary, a public assistance helpdesk will be set up from today in the Galle Face area to assist the public during the ongoing festive season. The helpdesk is being set up with the co- ordination of the tri-forces and the police. The helpdesk will function as a central point [...]
Negombo hotel under investigation after many complaints of food poisoning
Public health inspectors have commenced an investigation on a well-known hotel in Negombo as several complaints were made that a large number of people had stomach upset after they returned home after visiting the hotel for functions. A PHI in charge of the area who declined to be named told the Sunday Times they collected [...]
Battered upcountry railway track on its way to former scenic splendour
By Rekha Tharangani Fonseka The Railway Department was able to restore a 68-kilometre stretch of track between Badulla and Ambewela within 23 days after Cyclone Ditwah caused damage to the upcountry railway track in 26 places. The track was restored with the support of the Railway workforce, officers of the National Building Research Organisation, the [...]
Arrest two Indian trawlers weekly: A formula to end illegal fishing
By Steve Creech Last Monday, 7.30 a.m. – I’m standing in the middle of the cooperative’s auction shed at Koddady landing centre on the north coast of Jaffna, two kilometres east of Point Pedro. The auction shed is usually the epitome of organised chaos. Fishermen bring basket after basket of emperors (gal malu/vella meen) from [...]
Extent of oil discharge spill near port investigated
By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe The Panama-registered vessel, MT ASP Avana, which was also responsible for a recent oil spill near the Colombo Port, was released following a fine of Rs 15 million, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) chairman Samantha Gunasekara said. But investigations regarding the oil spill related to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have yet [...]
Age-related sex education to be combined in existing subjects
By Minaza Hassan Sex education will not be added as a stand-alone subject in the curriculum reforms starting on 5 January, Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said, despite the topic generating conversation over the past few months. While recognising that social issues such as child abuse and inadequate awareness are genuine concerns stemming from insufficient [...]
Veggies washed away with Ditwah, farmers cry for help
Pix and text by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa Cyclone ‘Ditwah’ that triggered rains and landslides caused immense damage to vegetable crops in various areas across the country. Most of the supplies that come into the Dambulla Economic Centre are from cultivations in Yatawatta and Pallepola Divisional Secretary areas. However, 90 per cent of the vegetable crops [...]
As waters raged in Kotiyakumbura a GramaNiladhari goes beyond the call of duty
Pix and text by Ravindra Welagedara When floods swept through the Kotiyakumbura area following Cyclone Ditwah on November 28, 89 houses in the Ampe Grama Niladhari Division were surrounded by water, with ten almost submerged and families trapped without food or water. Amid the danger, Grama Niladhari P.R. Deshapriya Navaratne Bandara stepped forward to lead rescue [...]
Some flood-affected families living in risky situations
By Ishu Bandara More than 20 days after the flooding caused by cyclone Ditwah, many people living in the worst affected areas are still stranded and vulnerable. They continue to face severe hardships and a significant number of affected families have yet to receive the announced compensation, raising serious concerns about delays in relief and [...]
Ranwala’s driving licence suspended; victims refuse compensation
By Kasun Warakapitiya Mahara Additional Magistrate Bandara Illangasinghe on Friday ordered the police to suspend the driving licence of former speaker Asoka Ranwala, who is at the centre of a controversy over an accident in Sapugaskanda last week. The order follows a request by the police. The magistrate also ordered the police to submit a [...]
Voetlights 2025: Legal fraternity gathers to toast and roast
The annual gala dinner of the Voetlights Society was held on Friday at the Shangri-La hotel, Colombo. The event is an occasion to toast a 17th-18th century Dutch jurist Johaness Voet who influenced the development of Roman-Dutch Law and to ‘roast’ senior judges, lawyers and ‘fellow Voetligters’ in a convivial evening at the end of [...]
Rapid recovery from devastation gives confidence to visitors
International visitors are voicing admiration for Sri Lanka’s rapid infrastructure repairs, signalling resilience in the tourism sector following the cyclone devastation. Tourists accounts of restoration in key areas like Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and eastern rail lines are boosting confidence and encouraging bookings into the high season, but tour agents on the other hand point to lower [...]
25,000 metric tonnes of Puttalam salt destroyed by floods
More than 25,000 metric tonnes of salt stored in salterns in the Puttalam District have been destroyed due to the recent heavy rains, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Salt Producers’ Association Ranish Badurdeen said. Talking to the media, Mr. Badurdeen said over 10,000 metric tonnes of salt stored in salterns belonging to the association had [...]
Kandy MC budget passed by majority of 5
The 158th budget of the Kandy Municipal Council was passed by a majority of 05 councillors. The voting was 25 for the ruling party and 20 opposing, while one councillor abstained from voting. There was a surplus of Rs. 327,520 million. Mayor Chandrasiri Wijenaike presented what was his maiden budget outlining the income and expenditure [...]