Controversial charcoal production venture causes stir in Thanamalwila

Charcoal production in a country could be a major source of energy, but it also stirs controversy as its association with deforestation and adverse environmental impacts. The charcoal from wood is produced by heating it at a high temperature in a closed space without oxygen; the process known as “Anaerobic Heating.” In this process, the wood becomes bone dry at 100°C, and a further rise in temperature to 300°C initiates pyrolysis. By doing

Proposed amendments to Ayurveda Act puts ‘traditional medicine under threat’

Traditional medicine practitioners have alleged that the government is attempting to hastily amend the Ayurveda Act No. 31 of 1961 with the expectation of gaining 28 million US Dollars. Traditional medicine....

Investigations leading investigators ‘nowhere’ at Dehiattakandiya National School

The Daily Mirror newspaper recently reported on the misdeeds occurring at the only Sinhalese National School in Dehiattakandiya Education Zone of Ampara District. It is also evident that, following the article’s publication, education authorities have given these issues at the school careful consideration. At present, the Ministry of Education has entrusted Duminda Peiris, Dehiattakandiya Zonal Director of Education, with the authority to alloc

Living unsafely in the heart of Colombo Condemned public housing schemes a living hell!

Many public housing schemes in Colombo were constructed after 1973 when Sri Lanka Communist Party politician Pieter Keuneman held a cabinet portfolio as Minister of Housing and Local Government. Some of the major public housing projects in Colombo include the Bambalapitiya Flats, Police Flats in Thimbirigasyaya, Anderson Gold Links (Narahenpita), Maligawatta and Soysapura. Although they were built to provide shelter to the lower income groups in

Associates of politicians aid scrap iron racket at Cement Corporation factory

In 1950, a cement factory was established in Kankesanturai under the Department of Industries. Over a period of time this cement factory was transformed into a public corporation and operated under the regulations outlined in the Government Sponsored Corporations Act No. 19 of 1955. Subsequently, it was named Kankesanturai Cement Works. Later on, under the Industrial Corporations Act No. 49 of 1957, it was renamed Ceylon Cement Corporation. Both

Purchasing of medicine: How Health Ministry initiated ploys to enjoy lofty commissions

The country’s health sector has recently witnessed allegations of massive corruption involved in the purchase of medicinal drugs and medical....

Spotlight on Dehiattakandiya National School Promoting a questionable college culture and a low Z Score

Dehiattakandiya National School is the sole Sinhalese National School in the Dehiattakandiya Education Zone, within Ampara District. This school is also known as a special school within the Ampara district. The Daily Mirror did a probe on the school based on information that was received recently. Our probe revealed that the reputation of Dehiattakandiya National School spreads far and wide into districts outside Ampara. There are many parents

Kidney Transplant Unit, Kandy National Hospital: Kidney patients in jeopardy due to fungal allergy

During the visit to the Kidney Transplant Unit of Kandy National Hospital, this writer learned that out of approximately 200 patients....

Latest audit reveals discrepancies at the National Lotteries Board

The 2021 National Lotteries Board (NLB) audit report has revealed several instances of wasting and misuse of funds. For example, the report reveals that the NLB has spent a sum of approximately Rs. 400 million to pay the rent for the respective building over the past 7 years.

Prominent monk’s actions stir outcry

A prominent Buddhist monk convicted of child sex abuse in the United Kingdom has attracted the ire of child rights defenders for his continued engagement with young children in Sri Lanka. A group of prominent....

Minister Ranasinghe’s associates grab Mahaweli land

It has been reported that the lands in the B, C, and H zones of Mahaweli are being distributed among associates of Mahaweli officials and politicians. This distribution is taking place despite the President’s ban on the distribution of Mahaweli lands being effective since November 11, 2022. It has come to light that nearly seven hundred plots of land, ranging from 10 to 20 perches and located in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, have been d

Quartz mining licensees concerned about GSMB’s plans for the industry

Astonishing revelations have come to the fore as to how the Geological Surveys and Mines Bureau has unheeded cabinet decisions and the subsequent court ruling that ban the exporting of raw vein....

Mahaweli farmers ‘crippled’ by alleged land scams

It has been reported that there have been numerous irregularities in the allocation of land to farmers in the Mahaweli C zone....

Why did COPE oppose extension of strict legal officer?

Questions are raised as to why the Secretary Ministry of Environment was accused by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) for not obtaining the service of a Legal Officer when there is sufficient proof that the former failed in all his attempts to obtain necessary government approvals to recruit a permanent legal officer or to reinstate the retired Chief Legal Officer on contract basis. The matter was taken up at the COPE where its officials

World Heritage Bogambara Prison now a beverage store

It was recently reported that the Urban Development Authority has taken steps to demolish the ancient buildings of the Bogambara Prison, which has been designated as an archaeological monument as well as a world heritage site. Anyone can see it when entering the Bogambara prison grounds. The Urban Development Authority maintains that permission has been received from the Department of Archeology to demolish these buildings, which critics point ou

Low-income farmers deprived of Govt. paddy purchasing programme

The government’s target to achieve its primary goal of enriching the economy of the low-income paddy farmers and small/ medium paddy millers through the paddy purchasing and distribution programme has failed in the Batticaloa district.

New substance spill from X-press Pearl causes concerns

As Sri Lanka marks the second year of the X-Press Pearl inferno, the Indian Ocean’s worst ever marine ecological disaster witnessed in Sri Lankan history, the marine body and the fishing community are continuing to suffer due to a n

Neglected plantations of Monaragala cry in silence

Although the economic crisis that the country is currently facing has affected many layers of the society, the communities that have been marginalised for various reasons have experienced most of the pressure. The Kandurata esta

HR Attorney threatened not to mess with the ‘Minister’

A renowned human rights lawyer has been threatened by a caller and it’s alleged that a minister is connected with the issue. Civil rights activist, writer and attorney-at-law Priyalal Sirisena received the threat by an unknown caller who demanded

No proper food for one-third of schoolchildren

Based on recent reports from the Central Bank, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization, Sri Lanka is currently facing a deeply distressing situation, with children being the most affected. A concerning situation revolves around the future of Sri Lankan children who are grappling with malnutrition. In response to this issue, K. B. Gunaratne, former Director of Agriculture, said that there would be a

Indian eggs imported to crush Monopoly hits a snag

Imported eggs from India have begun to appear in Sri Lankan markets priced at 35 rupees per egg. Though initially intended for use only in the cake and biscuit industry, later these eggs became available to consumers as well. Importing eggs from India were intended to address a shortage of local eggs and to provide consumers with eggs at a more affordable price at a time when local eggs are sold at higher prices. According to some sources, the de

N’Eliya patients can’t believe their eyes after surgery

Nuwara Eliya General Hospital Director Dr.Mahendra Seneviratne issuing a statement on May 8 said that 10 patients who had recently undergone eye surgery at the hospital have experienced a complete loss of vision. According to him the cause of the issue was the presence of germs in the medication prednisolone acetate, which was administered to the patients following their eye surgeries at Nuwara Eliya Hospital in April. This medication had been im

GoSL yet to approvefree Korean investment initiative

Cho Sung Lea, President of the South Korea Disaster Relief Foundation (SKDRF), has visited Sri Lanka 20 times over the past eight years to provide Sri Lanka with investment and employment opportunities....

KDU Under Scrutiny

Many employees of the University Hospital of the Kotelawala Defence University (UH-KDU) are in a quandary about how decisions.....

Discrepancies and doubts associated with WFP initiative

Recently, the “Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Sri Lanka” was approved by the Executive Board of the World Food Program (WFP) for the period....

Fake drama with a Fake account holder to distract disaster damage?

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s controversial statement in the Parliament on April 25 that US dollars 250 million has been deposited to an account in connection with the X-Press Pearl disaster....

All roads lead to politicians’ houses

The national coffers are reported to have incurred huge losses when implementing Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s rehabilitation/improvements of the 100,000 km road programme,

UN probe on Lankan women auctioned as sex workers in Oman

Shanthi Pushparaja (Real name withheld), mother of three children who was taken to Oman promising a job as a house maid is one of those nearly 90 Sri Lankan women who went to the Middles East and ended up in Oman with no way to come back home. Shanthi’s husband who was living in the North and looking after the three children, died suddenly leaving no one to look after the three kids.

Lawmakers paying 36% as tax and their salaries exposed !

The government has introduced different income brackets under the ‘Pay As You Earn Tax’ (PAYE) system. If you earn between 100,000 to 141,667 rupees per month, you’ll be charged 6% in taxes....

Truth behind the tragedy of modern agriculture

Once a self-sufficient and prosperous nation in terms of food, Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry has now changed completely.