Sunday Observer

23 September, 2018 0

Alleged conversations of DIG Nalaka Silva: Recordings to Singapore for analysis

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) may seek a court order to send recordings of an alleged conversation between TID DIG Nalaka Silva and a police informant to Singapore for expert analysis, the Sunday Observer learns.The police informant, Namal Kumara who calls himself Director Operations of an anti-corruption force, has accused the senior cop of plotting to assassinate the President and former...

23 September, 2018 0

President to address UNGA this week

President Maithripala Sirisena, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday (25), will be one of the prominent speakers at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit to be convened tomorrow (24).Held in honour of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, the Peace Summit is scheduled to adopt the Nelson Mandela Political Declaration.On Tuesday (25)...

23 September, 2018 0

Ex-leader has no explicit plan, but claims he will ‘rescue’ the economy: Hand the country over to me: MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday demanded to be allowed to run the country to rescue Sri Lanka from the current economic ‘crisis’, but refused to outline strategies to address the problem at a media briefing at his residence yesterday.The Joint Opposition held a media conference at the former President and Kurunegala District MP’s official residence at Wijerama Mawatha last morning, primarily...

23 September, 2018 0

Right to Information: A journey from secrecy to openness

Eighteen months in operation, Sri Lanka’s Right to Information law is empowering citizens all over the island – from newsrooms to tiny village hamlets. Bolstered by a powerful and public-oriented Commission set up to hear appeals when information from a state entity is not forthcoming, the law is the first of its kind to serve the people rather than officialdom and a critical milestone in the difficult...

23 September, 2018 0

The battle against homophobia in Sri Lanka

As LGBT communities in India celebrate the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships in the world’s largest democracy, the grim reality is that Sri Lanka has a long way to go, and news-creators and opinion shapers may be part of the problem, media watchers explainAbout one year ago, on September 5, 2017 a 33-year-old was beaten to death at a private van park in Dambulla town in the wee hours of the...

23 September, 2018 0

Fuel prices still lower than regional peers: FinMin

Petrol and diesel prices revised from September 10

Amidst the recent hike in domestic fuel prices, Sri Lanka’s current retail prices are comparatively lower than many regional peers, a recent analysis by the Finance Ministry has showed. While Petrol and Diesel were revised in Sri Lanka with effect from September 10 Oetrol 2018 to Rs. 161 and Rs. 123 respectively, prices in India currently stand at Rs. 190 (Petrol) and Rs. 171 (Diesel), Bangladesh - Rs. 173...

23 September, 2018 0

‘Retired Hurt’ Mahanama on a mission to mend

‘You cannot change what refuses to change’

Heads turned the moment Roshan Mahanama pushed open the glass door and walked into a crowded Sinhalese Sports Club hall. It was not his club, but the former World Cup champion batsman was at home and quick to recognize old faces.Few of Mahanama’s multitude of fans had seen him in public after he quit cricket in 1999, chronicled a book ‘Retired Hurt’ and took up a job at the International Cricket Council (...

23 September, 2018 0

CB will intervene aggressively to maintain exchange rate - Governor

If necessity arises the Central Bank will intervene very aggressively to maintain the exchange rate, Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy told the gathering at the ‘LankaPay Technnovation Awards 2018’ in Colombo last week.He said the exchange rate has become a hot potato in the country today and what is funny is the unusual attitude about it.Many think it is the only factor that decides the fate...