http://www.sundaytimes.lk Official website of the Sunday Times Newspaper in Sri Lanka Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:57:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/buddha-relics-draw-devotees-to-gangaramaya-631102.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:32 pm lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-631103 quot; title= quot;_MG_9859 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/MG_9859.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;251 quot; / gt; Tens of thousands of Buddhist devotees from across the country are visiting Colombo rsquo;s Gangaramaya temple to pay homage to sacred relics of the Buddha brought f... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/ciaboc-decides-to-probe-complaint-against-speaker-631100.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:31 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Simultaneously, CIABOC will investigate Parliament rsquo;s suspended official lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri lt;/strong gt; The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has decided to initiate a probe into a complaint lodged by Parliament's suspended Deputy Secretary General Chamind... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/talks-with-wb-team-to-revive-stalled-projects-631098.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:30 pm A World Bank delegation visiting Sri Lanka next month will discuss plans to revive a string of projects that were stalled due to the 2022-23 economic crisis. Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath told lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt; that stalled projects mdash;including those in education, highways, and other infrastructure mdash;as well as new projects, would be discussed with the visi... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/current-vehicle-surcharge-to-remain-until-december-631096.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:29 pm The Finance Ministry has extended the validity period of the surcharge of 50 per cent imposed on vehicles until December 31, 2026. Accordingly, the surcharge is effective for used as well as modified vehicles too, with the Gazette notifications issued in January and April last year being extended until the end of this year. The notification would effectively mean the vehicle prices will rema... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/project-officers-see-salaries-triple-631092.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:29 pm Salaries for staff assigned to implement special development projects have shot up nearly three times compared to the past under the newly proposed salary scale, according to a circular issued by the General Treasury. Under the special projects category, projects with the estimated total cost of USD five million and an implementation timeframe of one year can be considered to set up a separate ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/herath-holds-talks-with-irans-fm-vows-to-honour-repayment-deal-631088.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:28 pm lt;strong gt;By Damith Wickramasekara nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Amid rising tensions in West Asia, the Sri Lankan and Iranian foreign ministers have discussed maintaining and strengthening ties between the two countries. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt; that he spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, by phone earlier this week. The conversati... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/sjb-mp-seeks-amendments-to-osa-to-protect-children-631068.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:20 pm Opposition Samagi Jana Balwegaya Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna has handed over a private member's bill to amend the Online Safety Act with the aim of protecting children from harm arising from the use of social media. The amendment seeks to introduce age-specific safeguards, parental consent, child-appropriate privacy and safety settings, and other measures to reduce exposure of children ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/ag-appoints-committee-headed-by-asg-dileepa-to-advise-on-serious-criminal-probes-631064.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:19 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe has appointed a committee, led by Additional Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris, to advise on investigations into sensitive and serious criminal cases. The committee was appointed following a request by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya. Other members include Deputy Solicito... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/lanka-to-seek-compensation-for-colonial-era-losses-631060.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:18 pm Sri Lanka will seek compensation from its former colonial rulers for loss of life and property as well as the return of artefacts stolen from the country, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath told Parliament on Friday. This was to compensate for the losses and damage done to the country during centuries of colonial rule. Mr Herath's remarks came in response to a question raised by Oppo... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/no-door-to-door-grama-niladhari-visits-for-voter-registration-ec-shifts-onus-to-public-631058.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:16 pm lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara lt;/strong gt; The Election Commission of Sri Lanka is revising the 2026 electoral list, with voters able to check and update their details online through the official e-services portal or in person at the Grama Niladhari and District Election Offices. Election Commission Chairman R. A. M. L. Rathnayake told the Sunday Times that, unlike in previous years, Gra... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/lethal-concrete-slab-a-wake-up-call-on-dilapidated-public-buildings-631054.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:14 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Dilushi Wijesinghe nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; The deteriorating condition of several government-owned housing complexes and public buildings has once again come under scrutiny following the death of a seven-year-old boy after a slab of concrete fell from an upper floor of a state-owned housing complex... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/jpura-ragging-death-convicted-students-lose-appeal-631051.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:12 pm lt;strong gt;By Ranjith Padmasiri nbsp; lt;/strong gt; The Court of Appeal this week upheld the Colombo High Court rsquo;s sentence on 22 former undergraduates who pleaded guilty to causing the death of a fellow student at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura by striking his head with a thick glass. The Court of Appeal set aside applications filed by the convicts seeking a revision on the ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/gmoa-doubles-down-on-trade-union-action-cites-ministers-failure-to-honour-agreement-631049.html 7 February 2026 @ 11:11 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt;The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) is planning to escalate its trade union action despite the hardships and inconvenience caused to outpatients across the country, citing the Health Minister's failure to adhere to the written agreement and the timeline that was agreed upon during the previous discussion. lt;/p g... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/property-owners-landlords-raise-concerns-about-draft-law-630969.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:25 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Govt. says it will suspend passage of Bill through parliament reportedly to facilitate feedback lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Some legal counsel say quot;conceptually it is not bad law quot; but insist changes needed to remove ambiguity, others say POB unnecessary lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;FR petitions filed befo... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/faiszer-mustapha-presents-dissolution-of-marriage-mmda-bills-in-parliament-630962.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:21 pm New Democratic Front Member of Parliament Faiszer Mustapha this week presented a Private Member rsquo;s Bill in parliament detailing proposed amendments to the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act to establish a minimum marriage age of 18, although judicial exemptions may be granted for individuals as young as 16 under strict safeguards. The Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (Amendment) mandates that ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/multiple-sclerosis-can-be-controlled-to-lead-fruitful-lives-630951.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:19 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By Kumudini Hettiarachchi nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;/p gt; Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease which impacts on the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve, is controllable. Those affected by MS, a disorder of the young, can lead a normal life ndash; work, get married and have children. This is the c... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/reviving-wrecked-state-bus-service-a-long-hard-slog-630948.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:13 pm lt;strong gt;By Jayanie Madawala nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Sri Lanka rsquo;s inefficient public transport services are well reflected in the state-run bus service, which for decades had accumulated billions in financial losses in the hands of corrupt politicians and their incompetent appointees. And turning around the state bus service along with filling up staff gaps now is a daunting undertaki... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/an-economy-of-a-country-is-successful-only-if-the-people-benefit-says-president-at-independence-day-celebrations-630939.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:11 pm Charm and simplicity marked the 78th National Independence Day celebrations on February 4 at Independence Square. More than 4,500 members representing the tri-forces and police added colour to the event. Over 500 performers mdash;selected from the armed forces, police, National Youth Services Council, National Dancing Squad, and cultural centres including Manmunai North, Akkaraipattu, and Saint... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/geoffrey-bawa-trust-to-restore-gangarama-temples-seema-malaka-630932.html 7 February 2026 @ 9:00 pm lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-630933 quot; title= quot;9Y1A0355 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/9Y1A0355.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;333 quot; / gt; The Seema Malaka of the Hunupitiye Gangaramaya Temple, probably the most public of the late architect Geoffrey Bawa rsquo;s oeuvre, is to be restored by the Geoffre... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/devnimori-relics-draw-thousands-in-their-first-visit-beyond-india-630925.html 7 February 2026 @ 8:57 pm lt;strong gt;By Ishu Bandara lt;/strong gt; Marking their first ever international exposition, the Sacred Devnimori Relics of the Buddha arrived in Sri Lanka from India on February 4, Sri Lanka rsquo;s Independence Day, and were placed at the Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo for public veneration. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake inaugurated the exposition of the Sacred Relics on Independe... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/pollution-chokes-hamilton-canal-environmental-disaster-looms-in-muthurajawela-630912.html 7 February 2026 @ 8:49 pm lt;ul gt; lt;li gt; lt;strong gt;Residents say superficial cleanups won rsquo;t solve the problem; Government teams nbsp; lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;up with church and activists to save the environmentally sensitive marsh lt;/strong gt; lt;/li gt; lt;/ul gt; lt;strong gt;By Tharushi Weerasinghe lt;/strong gt; Residents living along the Hamilton Canal and fishermen from the Negombo La... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/road-racing-biker-menace-leaves-cops-chasing-riders-tail-630908.html 7 February 2026 @ 8:42 pm lt;strong gt;By Kasun Warakapitiya nbsp; nbsp; lt;/strong gt; Bikers racing on public roads at night and endangering other road users gained renewed attention from the police after the recent death of a teen who crashed into a car while racing with another youth. But traffic police are nowhere close to stamping out the nuisance. Police say many youths have died during motorbike street ra... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/some-stretched-to-the-limit-despite-cyclone-damage-payouts-630899.html 7 February 2026 @ 8:33 pm lt;strong gt;Nearly ten weeks after Cyclone Ditwah devastated the country, the Sunday Times team rsquo;s visit to Colombo rsquo;s worst-affected area captures victims rsquo; woes ndash; from unpaid compensation to struggles in resuming livelihoods with little state support lt;/strong gt; lt;strong gt;By Sajeniya Sathanandan lt;/strong gt; It has been more than two months since Cyclone D... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/kandy-devale-holds-ther-festival-in-new-chariot-630894.html 7 February 2026 @ 8:26 pm lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;img class= quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-630895 quot; title= quot;K-D-10 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/K-D-10.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;500 quot; height= quot;343 quot; / gt; lt;/p gt; lt;p style= quot;text-align: left; quot; align= quot;center quot; gt; lt;strong gt;By L.B... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/new-supplier-to-begin-issuing-licence-plates-630858.html 7 February 2026 @ 7:59 pm With nearly 400,000 official vehicle licence plates well overdue, the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) is preparing to resume issuance following Cabinet approval to award the task to a private firm, Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Kamal Amarasinghe said. South Asian Technologies (Pvt) Ltd has been selected to produce and issue licence plates, paving the way to clear a vast backlog that ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/polythene-proves-lethal-for-amparas-gentle-giants-630838.html 7 February 2026 @ 7:54 pm lt;img class= quot;alignright wp-image-630853 quot; title= quot;ICQC_Cuboid_non_scaleable_28-Aug-2017 quot; src= quot;http://sundaytimes.lk/260208/uploads/2026/02/ICQC_Cuboid_non_scaleable_28-Aug-2017.jpg quot; alt= quot; quot; width= quot;240 quot; height= quot;160 quot; / gt;Wild elephants are dying in Ampara District after consuming carelessly disposed waste, environmentalists claim. They ... http://www.sundaytimes.lk/260208/news/tourism-bodys-unit-against-illegal-guides-missing-in-action-630821.html 7 February 2026 @ 7:45 pm The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority's (SLTDA) enforcement unit members have not met since it was formed in October last year, lt;em gt;the Sunday Times lt;/em gt; learns. The unit was set up as an undertaking to the Supreme Court mdash; following a ruling in July mdash; to curb illegal guiding and tourist accommodation, but is yet to meet. Despite the undertaking given to the Supr...