Bittersweet memories of a ‘City that never slept’

At the heart of Eastern Province lies a now abandoned ghost town punctuated with towering structures, uninhabited housing, dilapidated buildings,

Spotlight on agriculture; Contaminated fertilizer tailor-made for Sri Lanka

Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage said in Parliament recently that compost, bio-liquid fertilizer and potassium fertilizer would be provided prior to cultivation during the Mah

Spotlight on Attorney General’s Department and Public Service Commission

Certain acts by the Attorney General’s Department and the Public Service Commission during the past few months to promote certain officers of the department bypassing the Scheme of Recruitment has given rise to grave concerns of conflict of interest.

GOVT’S FERTILIZER DEAL A HIGH-RISK ADVENTURE?

The much controversial fertilizer tender, that was offered to China without analyzing samples to check its compliance with the standards published by the Sri Lanka Standard Institution, has been suspended due to the continuous failures in proving the samples are free of microorganism.

Spotlight on Somawathiya Reserve Merrymaking trespassers see the blues!

Revelations about groups trespassing reserves amidst the Covid-19 pandemic were reported from Polonnaruwa recently. They have reportedly trespassed Somawathiya Reserve and the Flood Plains National Park. Wildlife officers recently nabbed seven people, including the former UNP MP of Polonnaruwa District Sidney Jayarathna, who were fishin

Battle between preserving history and people's health

The construction of a jogging track on the breakwater of the Parakrama Samudraya has been a controversial topic for some time.

Waiver of registration questioned: Import of covid related drugs, products shrouded in controversy

The National Medicines Regulatory Authority- the independent authority that regulates medicine and medical devices in the country.....

Spotlight on Meegahapallama Commercial farmers demand bridge

Around 350 - 400 families live in Paranigama W.27/A Grama Niladhari Division in Ampara district. More than 350 acres of cultivation lands....

Rumble in the Sri Lankan gas market

Following the ‘manmade’ gas shortage in the country there is public opinion to say that this was allegedly manipulated by the Ministry of Trade....

New hospital short-staffed COVID priority cripples Polonnaruwa Kidney Hospital

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and former President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated the China – Sri Lanka Friendship National Hospital of Nephrology on May 11.

Kumbuk felling racket despite rumblings of annoyance

Kumbuk is a tree found in the dry zone which lives up to 300 years. The tree has the ability to purify water by reclaiming saline.

Development moves cause stir in Yala

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa recently revealed about an attempt to acquire 12000 acres from Block 1 of the Yala National Park which comprises 14,101 hectares with the support of the Government.

Govt. hand surfaces from rice mafia saga

Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella recently announced that 100,000 metric tons of rice was to be imported to control rice prices in the market. This was confirmed by Minist

How powerful Acting Principals rule the roost

Vacancies for Principals in local schools are yet to be filled. Trade Union representatives complain that many issues have arisen....

Company promising life care breaches customs defense

Dehiwala Police conducted a raid at Matrix Lifecare Pvt Ltd situated at No 52/13, Rubber Watta area in Nedimala,

Officials act salty as ‘Lanka Salt’ is exposed

The media exposed an incident involving the breaking the seal on a lorry loaded with 20 tons of salt dispatched from the Hambantota....

Is Litro Gas above the regulator?

After an in-house battle among members of the top management of the Consumer Affairs Authority during the past few weeks whether....

Deaths at Kandy, Theldeniya Hospitals: Covid patients denied of oxygen see blue

At the beginning of the second wave of the pandemic in Sri Lanka, there were only 38 ICU beds for COVID-19 patients despite other parties....

Litro Gas causes stir in market with Hybrid Cylinder

Startling revelations have surfaced as to how the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Affairs Authority-the apex government institution....

Environmentalists wading through Polluted waters of Kelani River

Kelani River is continuously contaminated with various chemicals, feces and carbonic matter

Badulla district rocked by rice mafia

Medium scale rice mill owners complain that many issues have arisen with regard to the purchase of paddy harvest this season.

EXPERTS CONCERNED OVER TREMORS IN KANDY

Commenting on earth tremors in Digana, Anuragama, Alutwatta, Haragama, Talatu Oya, Gurudeniya, Sinharagama, Mailapitiya and Kundasale....

Seenigama Shrine funds make bogus Covid tour

The trustee of the Seenigama Devalaya (shrine) is alleged to have converted to other uses funds in the shrine to the tune of one million rupees.....

Locals oppose sand mining in Malawenna

Locals from Number 65 Grama Niladhari division in Malawenna in Hikkaduwa Divisional Secretariat said sand mining activities....

Financial racket alleged at St. Joseph’s Balika Nugegoda; Helpless parents breath fire on removed principal

Concerns are raised whether pressure was exerted on Investigation Officers of the Ministry of Education Western Province who were in the process of preparing a report regarding the questionable activities of a principal of a school in Western Province in connection with grade one admissions.

42 trees felled; Ambagamuwa PS Chairman - a law unto himself ! Unjust enrichment via natural resources

Ambagamuwa Pradesha Sabha (PS) Chairman Jayasanka Perera was allegedly accused of haphazardly felling 42 trees prior to widening Diyagala – Nallatanniya road without informing any state institute. We reported on this in the Daily Mirror recently.

Ginigathhena town disturbed by construction racket

Folks in Ginigathhena are concerned because a junior politician of the Ambagamuwa Pradesha Sabha is causing harm to the environment through one of his questionable activities. It is reported that lumps of earth have been removed from a construction site ignoring recommendations by environment authorities; thus causing concerns about possible landslides in the ar

Disruptive activities of a Coal Power Plant; ‘Norochcholai’ too hot for marine life

Whilst the world’s coral reef sanctuaries are facing the threat of being destroyed due to rising sea temperatures, local environmental groups.....

Ambagamuwa big boss fells trees and flexes muscles

Under the 100,000 kilometre road development project based on a concept by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa the relevant institutes received....

Destruction of archaeological sites in Trinco

Many archaeological sites in the Trincomalee district—some dating back 3000-5000 years—are on the brink of destruction at present. Ironically, this destruction increased after the war concluded in 2009. The Department of Archaeology has discovered many historical sites in the Pulmude area. Residents informed archaeological officers that land grabbing i