Renovation of MR’s official residence State authorities in hot water for violating DM’s RTI request

The Right to Information Commission is to initiate legal action against the Information Officer and the Public Authority of the state owned Lanka Building Materials Corporation Limited for non-complying with the order delivered by them to release information to the Daily Mirror Newspaper on the renovation and modernisation of the official residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa- the Prime Minister/ Fifth Executive President at No: 117, Wijerama Mawatha, C

Mismanaging of workers’ trust Lanka Transformers Ltd in the spotlight for transferring funds, shares

Lanka Transformer Limited Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Ceylon Electricity Board has come under criticism for allegedly committing one of the largest financial frauds in the country by transferring its shares and dividends illegally amongst its top management.

Myanmar’s cyber slave camps : How job seekers are lured into a crime corridor

When *Dilshani’s husband *Priyankara, an executive officer with over eight years of experience in the IT sector, was looking for overseas employment, he was convinced to take up a job opportunity as a data entry operator in Thailand.

Is Kotte MC selling reclaimed land by bending the law?

At the end of 16th Lane on Ananda Balika Mawatha in Pita Kotte, a marshland originally designated for drainage purposes has been gradually reclaimed. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Municipal Council has constructed a 10-foot-wide road through a nearby children’s park leading to this reclaimed land. Despite protests from local residents, the council has proceeded with plans to build the 10-foot-wide road to reach this reclaimed marshland. Additionally,

Art Gallery given last rites by heartless officials

In 1887, Sir Noel Walker, the founder Chairman of Colombo Drawing Club changed the name of this institute to the Ceylon Society of Arts. The Colombo Drawing Club was originally formed in the 1880s by a group of art enthusiasts. Members showcased their artistic skills during the society’s monthly meetings.

CMC ignores UDA order to check on unauthorised construction on sanctioned street line

Although the CMC is responsible for local administration and services that includes city planning within the city limits, the UDA oversees the planning and development in urban areas including Colombo.

Airport and Aviation Services Ltd rocked by alleged irregular tender process

Another alleged fraud is said to have taken place at the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd by way of awarding a tender to a bidder that the Technical Evaluation Committee rejected, citing further evaluation. This was due to noncompliance of requirements/ specifications of the tender document. Invitation for bids (Bid No: 113/ T/ 2023) to construct a new building to enhance capacity for the benefit of departing passengers and improve t

Plans afoot to sell Pelwehera’s School of Agriculture

Sri Lanka School of Agriculture, located in Pelwehera, Dambulla, started around 1980. This school of agriculture has made significant contributions to the advancement of the agricultural sector in the country. Established under the Department of Agriculture Sri Lanka, the school had its first intake of students (numbering 50) for a residential course in the year1980. There are concerns that this academic institute will be sold to a private compan

Questions raised over building Lower Malwatu Oya Reservoir- Built using Rs 35,000 million taxpayers’ monies

​Currently, the world is not just discussing about development, but they are talking about sustainable development. Sustainable development should focus on conserving a country’s resources for the future. This approach is widely accepted at present. However, beyond this approach, many development projects continue to be implemented in this country. One such project is the construction initiative taking place across the Lower Malwatu Oya. Critics

Vehicle assembling companies deny Govt. Rs. 100 billion in taxes

State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya recently stated that 44,430 vehicles had entered the market during the ban on vehicle imports to Sri Lanka. This information....

O/L Exam mess puts Department of Examinations in soup!

The experience of sitting for an exam is competitive for a child. Having dedicated countless hours to studying, they approach....

Dharmasena’s agarwood project faces yorker from Central Bank!

Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has launched investigations into multiple complaints it has received regarding the collection of cash deposits for plantation investment projects. Recently, the Central Bank disclosed that it has obtained information

Did BASL misappropriate monies sent by JICA for anti-corruption programme?

What can the citizens of this country expect from the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), which plays a crucial role in administering justice and upholding the rule of law when its principal office bearers....

Expressway beam COLLAPSE causes Rs 66 ML loss to Govt.

The construction of the phase from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa- of the project titled ‘Expressway Network of Sri Lanka’- was completed in 2011. During its construction, a medical....

CEB’s solar project awarding procedures raise eyebrows

Startling revelations have surfaced as to how Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has offered a solar project tender to the highest bidder and created a loss of several billions of rupees in the process to the national coffers. Despite CEB’s move to increase the tariff rate of the consumers- claiming they are incurring losses- questions are raised as to why the same institution offered a tender for the solar project, which has a capacity of 100MW, to

Sportstar’s Wallapatta venture hits Sinharaja for six

The Sinharaja Forest reserve, located in the southwest of the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, spans over 11,250 hectares. Bordering the Galle, Matara, and Ratnapura districts, the Sinharaja Forest has attracted global attention and has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Being a portion of the Lowland Rainforest Eco-zone, this hilly virgin rainforest has been naturally shielded from commercialization due to p

Hair dye sachet mafia and its irremovable stains

In 2021, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) planned to issue a gazette prohibiting the production of various types of plastic, including yogurt and ice cream cups. This was....

Indian High Commission responds to Daily Mirror expose

In response to the Daily Mirror expose titled “Plantation community alleges presence of ‘scam’ behind Indian Housing Project” which was published on April 17, 2024, (on pages 4 and 5) the Indian High Commission has sent the following response - I write in response to the ‘Expose’ titled ‘Plantation community alleges presence of scam behind Indian Housing Project’ in Daily Mirror edition on 17 April 2024. At the outset, we would like to mention th

Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure responds to Daily Mirror expose

Media Secretary of the Ministry of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure, G. Krishanthan has sent the following response to the Daily Mirror expose titled “Plantation community alleges presence of ‘scam’ behind Indian Housing Project” which was published on April 17, 2024 on pages 4 and 5. I want to respond to the report published in the Daily Mirror raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the Indian Housing Project for the pla

Plantation community alleges presence of ‘scam’ behind Indian Housing Project

Although plantation sector workers accuse that credible implementation agencies weren’t appointed by the High Commission of India, to oversee the work of the proposed plantation....

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

For a long time, accusations have been made against Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, alleging that he forcibly acquired a plot of state-owned land in the Thalawathugoda area and also conducted reclamation and development activities there. The Minister’s daughter resides in a house on a land adjacent to Perera Mawatha in Thalawathugoda where the Minister’s house is located. There is no access to that house directly from P

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

The state-run loss-making State Mortgage & Investment Bank (SMIB) has revealed that there are political interferences....

Sri Lankan agricultural products have no legitimate roots!

This article is based on a discussion with Ajith Randunu, former Executive Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and an employee of the private sector.....

Aura Lankas’ aloe vera project in Rajanganaya Yaya: Controversial 18 area colony under threat of being wiped out

There have been allegations for about six years that Aura Lanka Herbals (PVT) Ltd is preparing for a large-scale aloe plantation in the Rajanganaya Yaya ‘18 area’ by destroying the buffer zone....

“Ambuluwawa Trust has not adhered to Govt. financial regulations”

The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government is accused of aiding and abetting a ruling party politician from the Kandy district in his alleged corrupt activities. Pradeep Yasaratne, the Ministry Secretary who is under the spotlight, attracted severe criticism for allegedly transferring A.D. Jayaratne the Divisional Secretary (DS) Udapalatha, Gampola, to the Ministry pool from Janu

Oyamaduwa pharmaceutical project stifled by companies, individuals with vested interest

Twenty one companies within the Oyamaduwa pharmaceutical manufacturing zone received approval from the Ministry of Health. The government does not allocate funds for the establishment of these factories; instead, the participating companies are required to cover the costs associated with this venture. An Indian company and its subsidiary, Spectrum Pharma TECH Lanka Pvt Ltd in Sri Lanka, were chosen to construct these factories through a tender pr

Progress of Oyamaduwa Pharmaceutical project resembles a sick man

In 2021, former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had a goal to produce 50% of the country’s pharmaceutical needs locally by the year 2024. This goal was set during a time when the state was spending Rs 130 billion annually to import the needed quantum of pharmaceuticals. The government’s plan was to offer high-quality medicines at affordable prices to both the foreign market and the local population. Consequently, steps were taken to establish a phar

Duminda’s pardon and what legal luminaries say in retrospect

It has now come to light how former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa acted arbitrary and unreasonably for reasons best known to him when granting pardon to former parliamentarian Duminda Silva in 2021. Although the recent Supreme Court (SC) Judgement that quashed Silva’s pardon reveals this, the former President by an affidavit dated February 3, 2023, has informed the Apex Court that he followed the due process and exercised powers duly and properly

DMT’s delayed e-motoring project now hits legal snag

It has been reported by the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) that plans are underway to initiate a project called ‘e-motoring’ which would eventually lead to large-scale frauds when implementing it. The biggest concern is that the project has been planned for without the calling of tenders. In 2018, the DMT initiated steps to introduce a new software for the project, which is an e-motoring project. The procurement process for this software was e

Controversy surrounds Semasinghe’s hotel under construction in Nuwara Wewa reserve

The law hasn’t been enforced yet against individuals who have constructed hotels on lands reclaimed within the Nuwara Wewa reserve in Anuradhapura. Some officials wielding power seem hesitant to initiate legal proceedings against such wrong doers. However, the Anuradhapura District Engineer of the Irrigation Department recently took legal measures to remove unauthorised constructions on the Nuwara Wewa Reserve. This action was taken after the ove