BIA one of the safest airports from bird strikes in the world

01 Jan 2025

18

In the wake of Jeju Airlines plane crash that killed 179 presumably due to a bird strike, the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is considered one of the safest from bird strikes in the world, an official said.

Solution to rice crisis a litmus test for Govt.

01 Jan 2025

0

The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) has been in power for more than 100 days. It is a significant milestone for the new government. The NPP’s first time governing experience is watched over by many including the opposition parties, media, the international community and more importantly the citizenry of this country.

Angry mob lays siege to two NPP MPs, hurls abuses

31 Dec 2024

68

Two ruling party MPs- Wijesiri Basnayake of Kurunegala and Ajith Gihan of Puttalam- came under mob violence when they came out in their separate vehicles after a meeting with the management of an apparel factory in the Bingiriya area.

African Swine Fever virus entered through an unlawful consignment?

30 Dec 2024

7

In the wake of African swine fever triggering fears about possible extinction of Sri Lanka’s wild boar population in addition to the damage on the pork industry, Sri Lanka’s biosecurity surveillance is under question since the virus is suspected to have entered the country through an unlawful consignment imported into the country during the time of the previous government in 2023.

Govt. to convert FCID to a fully-fledged investigative arm

28 Dec 2024

6

The government has decided to revamp the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) and convert it into a fully-fledged investigative arm like the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), operating under a senior DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police), Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said.

African swine fever

Sri Lanka risks loss of entire wild boar population

27 Dec 2024

1

Sri Lanka faces the risk of its entire wild boar population being wiped out because of African swine fever that has already killed around 100 of them as observed by the wildlife authorities, an official said yesterday.

Cable thefts on Katunayake Expressway leaves RDA facing Rs. 900 mn in costs

27 Dec 2024

25

The Road Development Authority (RDA) is poised to sustain a cost of Rs.900 million for the restoration of damage done to the electrification system of the Katunayake - Colombo expressway by drug addicts in their acts of thefts of copper cables, an official said yesterday.

What can the recent Speaker’s resignation teach us about politics in the digital era?

27 Dec 2024

5

With the advent of media and social media, people today are flooded with information, misinformation and disinformation, and it entails both upsides and downsides, particularly in a democratic society.

Govt. has not yet decided when to assign official vehicles to MPs

26 Dec 2024

14

The government is yet to assign vehicles to the MPs of the new Parliament though it has taken a policy decision to do so.

Govt. gives up on Amul

25 Dec 2024

21

The new government is unlikely to follow the previous government’s model in tying up with India’s Amul in the development of dairy sector, an informed source said yesterday

Govt. to probe organic fertilizer blunder during GR’s time

24 Dec 2024

31

The government will conduct fresh probes into the scams involved in the import of a stock of biofertilizer from China and in the introduction of organic farming during the time of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a minister said yesterday.

Electricity Act to be amended ensuring 100 per cent government stake in transmission, distribution

23 Dec 2024

10

The Energy Ministry will continue with the electricity sector reforms process and necessary restructuring and unbundling of electricity generation, transmission and distribution functions, and the newly established Power Sector Reforms Secretariat (PSRS) is heading to complete the transfer plan and unbundling by June 2025 following the proposed amendment to the Electricity Act, an official said.

Economic crisis stalls five high-rise buildings

23 Dec 2024

7

Construction work of five high-rise buildings have been ground to a standstill because of the economic crisis that hit the country in 2022, and the Ministry of Urban Development is now at a loss to decide how to resume them since the project companies have either been declared bankrupt or mutually terminated projects, a top source said.

Land surrounding Yala National Park unlawfully cleared

23 Dec 2024

20

Controversy surrounds the illegal clearance of a plantation belonging to the Forest Conservation Department in the Lunugamwehera range adjacent to the Yala National Park.

Licence ready, Elon Musk’s Starlink yet to import devices to start operation

23 Dec 2024

8

Despite Elon Musk’s Starlink, the satellite unit of SpaceX, being granted licence to operate in Sri Lanka, the organization is yet to apply for the import of devices to be used in connecting to the service, a top source said.

Indo-Lanka ties intact, tightrope walk ahead for Sino-Lanka ties

19 Dec 2024

5

In the overall context, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s state visit to India can be viewed as reaffirmation of the already existing blueprint for furtherance of bilateral relations.

Passport crisis brews further, Govt appoints committee to seek solution

18 Dec 2024

24

The crisis involving the issuing of passports brews further with the available number of copies being sufficient only till July next year.

Plan to relocate President’s House, Temple Trees to Sri J’pura Kotte put on hold

18 Dec 2024

10

The new government led by the National People’s Power (NPP) has put on hold plans by the previous rule to relocate the President’s House, Temple Trees, the Prime Minister’s office and the Presidential Secretariat to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, a top source said.

US re-emphasizes importance of IMF programme,encourages continuous engagement

12 Dec 2024

3

In the wake of the visit of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu as the first highest level engagement with the new government in Sri Lanka, the United States said it views the IMF (International Monetary Fund) programme as essential to Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and resilience and encourages continued engagement to drive sustainable growth and improve livelihoods.

No annual bonus for CEB employees

09 Dec 2024

30

Despite request by the ruling party - affiliated Ceylon Electricity Employees’ Union, the director board of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has not approved bonus for its workers this year, an informed source said.