by Maneshka Borham

A gang specialising in thefts at VIP events made away with a...

As the country mourned the recent loss of the catalyst of Sri Lankan cinema, Dr. Lester James Peries, the disappearance of the Lifetime achievement award presented to the acclaimed director by the Indian government in 2000 from the Peries residence during his last rites outraged the film industry and shocked a nation already in grief. No sooner had the cortege left the...

2018-05-12 18:30:00 0

Special treatment for Welikada Prison massacre suspects ?

Welikada Prison Superintendent confirms IP Rangajeewa and Emil Ranjan Lamahewage moved to prison hospital without court order; lawyers for victims claim suspects also have access to mobile phonesIn a shocking twist, prison authorities confirmed this week that the two main suspects in the Welikada Prison massacre of 2012 were being housed at the prison hospital without a...

2018-05-05 18:30:00 0

JVP breaks barriers at historic May Day rally in Jaffna

With a crowd of 1,500 drawn almost entirely from the Northern...

JAFFNA: On May 1, the residents of Jaffna carried on as usual, the town brimming with day to day activity. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary since the Government had ‘postponed’ May Day, as the globally recognized workers’ day had clashed with the Buddhist festival of Vesak.Only the red cloth flags lining the streets of Jaffna town from the Chundikuli ground to...

2018-05-05 18:30:00 0

Purawesi Balaya to back 20A

Civil Society movement, Purawesi Balaya along with 48 other civil society groups will fully back the 20th amendment to the Constitution to be brought forward by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in May.The proposed 20th Amendment will seek to abolish of the Executive Presidency and will be presented as a private member’s Bill to Parliament, the JVP announced last week.The JVP...

2018-04-28 18:30:00 0

Stolen paradise

PANAMA: It has been a long wait for five villages in Panama, Ampara. With over 1,220 acres of their land occupied by the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force, the villagers have been fighting a long drawn battle since 2010 to reclaim the land they once lived and farmed on.The people of Panama were overjoyed when a Cabinet decision in February 2015 ordered the release of land...

2018-04-21 18:30:00 0

Rajanganaya: The farmers’ battle-cry for water

Crop failures, mounting debt and the ever-present scarcity of water have made farmers in Rajanganaya naturally wary of a new drinking water project that will tap into the waters of their precious irrigation tank, fearing further erosion of a precious livelihood resourceRAJANGANAYA: In 1966, when R.K.H Munidasa arrived in rural Rajanganaya he had high hopes of becoming a...

2018-04-07 18:30:00 0

Civil society up in arms against revisions to NGO Act

The government this week was forced to withdraw the Bill to amend the Voluntary Social Service Organizations Act after facing a barrage of criticism from members of the civil society. Suspending the Bill, Minister of National Coexistence Dialogue and Official Languages, Mano Ganesan said, it will only be gazetted after a fair discussion is held with civil society...

2018-03-24 18:30:00 0

Twenty out of 47 complaints targeting women : SLPP accountable for most post-poll violence: Monitors

‘Police passive against Pohottuwa wrongdoers’

A spike in post-election violence has been recorded around the country, with the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a party backed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that performed well at the recently concluded local government elections largely responsible for the violations, election monitors said. Of the 47 violence related complaints received by the Centre For...

2018-02-24 18:30:00 0

Baththalangunduwa: Fishing and religion rule their lives

Around 38 kilometers or 20 nautical miles from the town of Kalpitiya off the Dutch Bay lies the island of Baththalangunduwa. A thin strip of an island about a mere five square kilometers in size, it is one of the few inhabited ones off the coast of Kalpitiya. However, despite Baththalangunduwa being a thriving fishing village, the island in its recent times has also...

2018-01-27 18:30:00 0

Rajagiriya, Ganemulla flyovers opening this week

President Maithripala Sirisena will open the Rajagiriya flyover tomorrow, increasing the driving speed along Parliament road, from approximately 2 KMPH to 16 KMPH, the President’s Media Division said.While construction of the flyover was due to be completed by the end of this year, steps were taken, under the guidance of the President, to complete the construction work 11...

2018-01-06 18:30:00 0

No cyclone threat as yet, says Met Dept

The Department of Meteorology urges the public not to panic over news reports of a possible cyclone threat to Sri Lanka in the coming days, Director General of the Department of Meteorology, Sarath Premalal Kehelella told the Sunday Observer. The department is monitoring what he called an ‘indication of a development’ in the South Andaman Sea. According to him, no cyclone...

2017-12-02 18:30:00 0

Reining IN the road hogs

Tourist friendly three wheelers soon

Three Wheelers, more popularly known as Tuk-Tuks, continue to be a favoured mode of transport for tourists and locals alike in the Asian region. While its cheap rates, speed and ability to weave through traffic jams makes it an integral part of the public transport system in Asian countries such as India, Thailand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, foreigners are often attracted...

2017-11-18 18:30:00 0

Stern action against rumour-mongers

Situation under control says Sagala

Stern action will be taken against anyone attempting to resort to racist propaganda following the tense situation reported from Gintota on Friday, warned Minister Sagala Ratnayake.According to the Minister of Law and Order, certain political elements are now attempting to disseminate false videos and news on social media platforms to stir up communal sentiments.“I am...

2017-11-18 18:30:00 0

Trash avalanche over Sripada trail

The trail to Sri Pada through the Nallathanniya trek was blocked...

The landslides destroyed a large number of steps leading to the Uda Maluwa while its force had twisted the iron railings that had been long installed to support travellers and pilgrims. The owners of a stall located on the trail had been alerted to the danger by the first landslide, and had only just escaped with their lives as they fled to higher ground. While the area...

2017-10-28 18:30:00 0

Police to revamp under top British expert

Sir Orde meets PM, Sagala on reform process: First report...

The Sri Lanka Police is to undergo extensive reforms next year under the guidance of top international Police consultant Sir Hugh Orde.The Sri Lankan Government has now sought the assistance of the British expert to introduce reforms on a wide range of areas, including intelligence, training, best practices, equipment, hardware and software.The former President of the...

2017-10-28 18:30:00 0

Ethul Kotte housing complex residents evacuated

All residents of the Ethul Kotte Angampitiya New Housing Complex have been evacuated to temporary shelters pending a full report by the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) regarding the condition and stability of the houses.According to Kotte Municipal Commissioner Vasantha Ratnapala, 12 families have been relocated tothe Angampitiya Medical Health Clinic while...

2017-10-14 18:30:00 0

Six taken into custody

Mob attack on Rohingya refugees:

Five suspects in connection with the mob attack against a group of Rohingya refugees last week, were arrested yesterday by the Police, bringing the number arrested to six. The latest suspects to be arrested were Liyanage Abeyrathne, Suresh Priyasad alias Dan, Janitha Niroshana Deepagey, Nawalage Don Chinthaka Sanjeewa and Nanayakkara Godakanda Kankanamlage Gayan...

2017-09-30 18:30:00 0

New bill to tax lanka’s president

Govt’s aim is to do what is right by the people - Dr. HARSHA DE...

Moving away from the years-long tradition of not taxing the President, the current Inland Revenue Bill now paves the way for the President of Sri Lanka to be taxed, Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera told Parliament last week.This was stated by the Minister before the passing of the new Inland Revenue Bill while responding to a query by MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake of...

2017-09-09 18:30:00 0

Two more bus lanes in Colombo and suburbs

The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development will introduce two new bus priority lanes in Colombo this week.The new lanes will come into operation on Tuesday, August 22 from the Katubedda Junction in Moratuwa up to the Maliban Junction in Ratmalana on the Galle Road, while on the same day, a lane dedicated for buses will be enforced between the Bambalapitiya junction...

2017-08-19 18:30:00 0

Bus Priority Lanes in Colombo and suburbs

The Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development will introduce nine Bus Priority Lanes (BPL) in the coming days, under its Transport Development Project, Ministry sources said.The first two are due to be implemented on August 15. The bus lanes will operate from Kurusa Junction in Moratuwa to Katubedda junction and on the Galle Road section starting near the Savoy Cinema...

2017-08-05 18:30:00 0