Mirihana land reclamation project leaves farmers fuming

At present reclamation activities are underway at an 80-acre paddy land close to Galwala Road in Mirihana and Pita Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya. As a result.....

Local textile trade chokes due to Chinese imports

The textile industry is among the oldest industries in Sri Lanka; hence its prominent place. The textile industry was given birth when.....

Adulteration of fuel Fuel stations rule the roost in the absence of quality checks

However instead of the Government being involved, crude oil was imported from Russia at a higher price with a private company being involved. According to Palitha the price of this fuel wa

Shocking inside stories of the sugar scam

In the backdrop of former Finance Minister Ali Sabry’s proposed plan to increase fiscal revenue to bring the country’s economy....

Hidden goods mafia spells doom in distorted economy

At present Sri Lanka is expecting a severe food shortage. The authorities are yet to find solutions to the upcoming food shortage and cite the dollar crisis as the reason behind not being able to find a solution to the issue.

Withdrawal of bribery cases against politicians and their allies raises eyebrows

Startling accusations have come to the fore alleging that the two Commission members of the Commission to Investigate Allegations.....

Nuwara Wewa under spotlight Former Ministers land reclamation activities cause concern

Former Minister of Lands S. M. Chandrasena is another VIP accused by the locals in Anuradhapura for reclaiming land and engagin

Nuwara Wewa protected area Is Semasinghe breaching the law in building a hotel?

The constructing of a hotel using both the reclaimed land in the Anuradhapura Nuwara Wewa protected area and Wewa itself became a controversial topic recently. Former State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self Employment, Business Deve

Ambitious Gnana Akka leaves environment in shambles

Soothsayer Gnana Akka has come under the spotlight for constructing a controversial hotel in the Nuwara Wewa precinct in Anuradhapura and also for instructing the authorities to build the National Sandalwood Park near the Parliament; posing a threat to the Diyawanna Oya wetland.

Anuradhapura Gnana Akka RENOWNED SOOTHSAYER'S HOTEL COMES UNDER SPOTLIGHT.’’

Can the law be made silent when shrine (Devalaya) officials enjoy limitless political powers of powerful political figures? They amass abundant wealth thanks to this political framework. A similar incident was reported in Anuradhapura city where the Shrine of Gnana Meniyo is located. It is known as ‘Sasthara Gedara’ and is frequented by politicians. She is b

Why does CEB shun renewable energy projects?

Certain acts of disruption by the Engineers Union of the Ceylon Electricity Board (EUCEB) had given rise to grave concern as the country is forced to plunge in power cuts. Ceylon Electricity.....

Foreign newspaper spills the beans: Myanmar-Sri Lanka rice deal smells of corruption

Focusing on the current plight of the paddy industry in Sri Lanka which runs back to 2600 years ago is a timely requirement. History bears.....

Dollar crisis driven import issues to hamper Yala season

Farmers had high hopes to cultivate during the Yala season, but their hopes have begun to shatter. Presently farmers....

Spotlight on Bibile Bittersweet responses for sugar producing project

Two hundred years have passed since the Uva - Wellassa uprising to free the country from the British colonials. The British left the country, but to this day the struggle to save the land from foreigners remains the same, locals of Uva-Wellassa say.

Spotlight on illegal sand mining in Kuchchaveli

Red Rocks beach, a great creation of mother nature, is on the brink of destruction because of the haphazard extraction of ilmenite on the beach; a task carried out by Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd. Obtaining Ilmenite by mining is legal, but that should not be carried out by destroying ecosystems, archaeologically valuable sites and natural beaches; which attr

Dambulla sacred area Jugglery in the name of development

Most local politicians are namesake Buddhists and the story about to unfold will provide evidence of that. Plans to build sacred cities began when Ceylon was under British rule. The Pilgrimages....

Rumble in the CEB Focus shifts from investigation to appointing GM

In an attempt to defend the members of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union who are accused of recent power sabotage in the country the Secretary Ministry of Power is alleged to have instructed the IGP to suspend the ongoing i

Land racket in Dambulla: Transferring Devalagama lands causes stir

Selling lands acquired illegally using fake deeds has become a practice in the country and Dambulla is infamous for such illegal....

New Diamond and X-press Pearl incidents: Underhand deals spoiling compensation claims

Seeking compensation for the environmental damage caused by the fire-stricken vessels has become almost unthinkable due.....

Spotlight on looming food crisis

According to agriculture experts, Sri Lanka is facing a food crisis and the food related shortage will be felt more in March.

Shaky deals and misdeeds in the fuel industry

The price of fuel was increased to reduce usage, but a new problem has emerged. Drivers claim that fuel available these days burns faster and the maximum speeds of vehicles have decreased and vehicles are subject to defects. Several drivers said they suspect several vehicles went up in flames in different areas due to poor quality fuel. “We are not sure whether the Governm

Wildlife officials land in trouble for opposing trench project

Authorities are yet to find a permanent solution to the Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) and wild elephant raids. Some people who were assigned with the task to find solutions suggested to name wild elephants as forest elephants.

Did absence of regulator send gas industry up in flames?

The failure of respective governments since 2012 to grant legal status to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka to regulate....

Spotlight on SMEs: Footwear industry buckles under dollar crisis

Entrepreneurs of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Sector blamed an officer of the Presidential Secretariat for attempting....

Wasgamuwa unsettled by treasure hunting, harassment activities

The ancient palace of King Parakramabahu and the surrounding historical sites with an archaeological value in Wasgamuwa Reserve are at present dominated by treasure hunters. R

Traders millers rule the roost in rice mafia

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) issuing a gazette on September 2 announced that a maximum retail price for rice would.....

Political interference at Sathosa comes under the spotlight

According to documents this newspaper is in possession of applications have been called in February this year to recruit a Deputy General Manager (Marketing), Manager HR Administration, Assistant Manager (Legal) and Assistant Manager (Engineering) for Lanka Sa

Food donations meant for inmates Apeksha Hospital officials serve themselves!

Administration blunders at Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama (formerly known as Cancer Hospital) have brought a negative impact to its day-to-day work, it is alleged.

Sri Lanka faces looming crude oil crisis

Several parties pointed out recently that the country’s crude oil reserves were sufficient only till December and this would lead.....

Focus on Laggala Gem mining big shots bigger than the law

The truth is now being uncovered regarding an illegal mining racket in state lands under the Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga Development Project (MKDP) which is a Mahaveli project in the Matale district. Influential politicians in the Government, Opposition party MPs, higher state officials and doctors are engaged in locating state lands containing gems in the area. Some of them operate mines with licenses and some obtain one license and misuse it to