by Manjula Fernando

The first draft of the new Constitution will be presented to the Steering Committee on Thursday, May 24, after much interruption, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, M. A. Sumanthiran told the Sunday Observer in an exclusive interview.The presentation will take place after the expert panel, advising the steering committee, concludes and finalises the draft during its...

2018-05-19 18:30:00

PC polls in peril

Polls could be delayed indefinitely unless Speaker appoints...

The Provincial Council (PC) elections could be postponed indefinitely unless the Speaker appoints a review committee on the de-limitation report as mandated by the new Provincial Councils election law within the coming weeks, National Election Commission sources said yesterday.The Provincial Councils Election Amendment Act No.17 of 2017 dictates that the delimitation...

2018-04-28 18:30:00 0

‘New LG Act fails to bring in stability to councils’

The political showdown in Maskeliya that followed the appointment of Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman and Deputy Chairman last week, clearly spelt out deeper issues intertwined with the local government election laws under the new Act, the issues that need to be addressed urgently.While the newly elected members of the Maskeliya PS exchanged verbal blows inside, an outbreak of...

2018-03-31 18:30:00 0

Big milestone, big challenges for Colombo’s first female mayor

Fact sheetColomboSri Lanka’s Financial cityThe city covers an area of 37 sq kmOver 550,000 inhabitants and 400,000 floating populationHousing Units 103,408Slums and Others 13,928Mayor Rosy Senanayake has her work cut out for her in the city of 700,000 people and she carries an additional burden to showcase that women in roles of political leadership...

2018-03-24 18:30:00 0

CID on Interpol hunt for Mahendran

The CID will initiate the procedure to lodge an application with Sri Lanka Interpol tomorrow, seeking a Red Notice to locate and arrest Sri Lanka’s former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, a senior official of the Attorney General’s Department told the Sunday Observer yesterday. The Attorney General’s Department advised the CID to apply for the Interpol Red Notice...

2018-03-17 18:30:00 0

LG Polls result : Rebuke, not repudiation says Dr Sara

The aftermath of the local government election has been fraught with political tension and the uncertainties of coalition politics.Leading civil society activist and Secretary of the Consultative Task Force on Reconciliation mechanisms, Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu says these confusions must not be allowed to overshadow the 2015 mandate for democratic and constitutional...

2018-03-03 18:30:00 0

UN anti-mine Envoy arrives today

Lanka takes lead on disarmament, accedes to Oslo Cluster...

The visiting Special Envoy of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention Prince Mired Al-Hussein of Jordan will arrive in the island today and is expected to visit Muhamalai, Jaffna in the Northern province to inspect the on going demining projects during his visit here this week.Prince Mired is the brother of Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, the United Nations High...

2018-03-03 18:30:00 0

Farewell, Una

Sri Lanka’s first female UN Resident Coordinator passed away...

The funeral of Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka, Ms. Una McCauley who passed away suddenly on Friday night will be held later this week in Sri Lanka.The UN Colombo Headquarters announced her sudden demise early Saturday. It has been reported that she was fighting a protracted illness and was on medical leave for treatment at the time of...

2018-02-24 18:30:00 0

Local Government polls: Voter turnout over 65%

Heightened interest was shown by voters, at the Local Government (LG) election yesterday with a voter turnout of over 80 percent in certain districts, according to independent polls observers.However, the official results were not issued even by the time this edition went to press around 11.00 p.m. yesterday.The Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya speaking to...

2018-02-10 18:30:00 0

Commission to probe SriLankan and Mihin Lanka

Malaysian firm offers to salvage national carrier

President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to appoint a commission to probe into issues relating to SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka including losses allegedly due to corruption and mismanagement during the previous regime.At a meeting of SLFP organisers at the President’s House on Friday, he said the appointment of this commission will be made after the report on the...

2017-12-23 18:30:00 0

Nominations for 93 councils to be called

Local Government elections

The district returning officers will issue notice calling for nominations for 93 undisputed local government bodies on Monday, the Elections Commission Chairman told the Sunday Observer yesterday, following the conclusion of a crucial internal meeting.All three members, Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole, President’s Counsel Nalin J. Abeysekera and the Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya...

2017-11-25 18:30:00 0

Rupatadine to treat Dengue : Clinical trials begin tomorrow

The second phase of clinical trials on Rupatadine as a treatment for Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) will commence at the National Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH), Angoda tomorrow, according to Immunologist and Director of the Jayawardanapura Medical Faculty’s Centre for Dengue Research, Prof. Neelika Malavige.She told the Sunday Observer, that they had brought down the...

2017-09-23 18:30:00 0

Border protection: Navy deploys new strategy in N & E

The Sri Lanka Navy will change the mode of operation and fleet deployments in the Northern and Eastern seas to enhance border protection against poaching.The new Navy Commander Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah said, “We are looking at an operation to aid the Indian fishermen, to see that they don’t get into trouble by crossing the line.”In an interview with the Sunday Observer...

2017-08-26 18:30:00 0

Conduct of Lankan diplomats : Marapana to probe allegations

Missions have a tough job to fulfill

The new Foreign Minister, Tilak Marapana after assuming office on Friday, assured that he will initiate action to probe allegations against Sri Lankan diplomats including charges of corruption and misbehaviour.The Development Assignment Minister who was given the additional portfolio of the Foreign Ministry by President Maithripala Sirisena, said he was here to ensure...

2017-08-19 18:30:00 0

Bill to restrict polls campaign funding

Election watchdogs and civil society groups last week handed over a draft bill calling for restrictions on polls campaign funding, to the Government. The ‘mooters’ of the Bill said their aim is to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and promote more women and intellectuals to join in the fray. The effort was a culmination of a months long exercise since...

2017-08-05 18:30:00 0

Rupatadine to control Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

J’pura medical experts reach breakthrough

Medical experts attached to the Jayewardenapura University Medical Faculty are researching on a drug that would probably block fluid leakage among patients suffering from Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF).Rupatadine which is widely used to treat certain allergic conditions had shown positive results, according to Prof. Neelika Malavige, Immunologist and Director of the J’...

2017-07-15 18:30:00 0

Reduction in rate of new cases - Dengue Control Unit

Dengue epidemic:

There has been a reduction in the rate of new dengue cases reported during the past few days, an official of the National Dengue Control Unit said. Consultant Community Specialist at the National Dengue Control Unit, Dr. Presila Samaraweera said they cannot say the spread of dengue is on the decline, but there is a visible reduction in the ‘rate’ of new cases being...

2017-07-08 18:30:00 0

Control agent to be produced locally

Combatting dengue:

The National Dengue Control Unit, in partnership with a private institute, has stepped into produce locally, the dengue vector control agent, Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis), to cut down the heavy costs involved in importing the dengue control spray from China.“We have asked Bio Power Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., to give us a time-frame when it can start producing the Bti...

2017-06-24 18:30:00 0

Japanese team recommends early warning system

Natural disasters:

The Japanese disaster relief expert team which arrived in the country after the deadly floods and landslides, has highlighted the necessity for a regulated early warning system to avert loss of life due to similar natural disasters in the future.The team which was flown here on to work with local experts to unravel the causes of the recent disaster which killed over 200...

2017-06-10 18:30:00 0

Constitution making process : TNA to meet SLFP and JO representatives

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) representatives led by Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan are due to meet the SLFP and Joint Opposition representatives to discuss the Constitution making process next week, official sources said yesterday.A TNA Northern Provincial Councilor speaking to the Sunday Observer on Saturday said there is a proposal for a meeting between the two groups...

2017-06-03 18:30:00 0

Ravi blames MR cohorts for removal

‘Will reveal two names soon’

Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake said cohorts of the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime who continue to haunt the Central Bank, were behind his surprise removal from the Finance Ministry.In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer, he alleged that there was a sinister political coup led by active members of the former regime who still continue to hold leading positions...

2017-05-27 18:30:00 0