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.

Sri Lanka Railways When engine drivers ‘think’ like clerks!

Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) recently announced that with the retirement of train drivers there is a shortage of locomotive engine drivers. As a result SLR had also taken steps to cancel the service of many trains...

Import of South Indian eggs: Sri Lanka walks on Indian eggshells

With the increase in egg prices the government decided to import eggs to regulate its price. Although it was a good move, there was talk....

Tariff hike puts CEB and Petroleum in trouble

The Minister of Energy recently increased the electricity tariffs by 1200 % to cover the losses of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). General Secretary of CEB Trade Union Alliance Ranjan Jayalal recently made a revelation....

US$ 36 billion of Sri Lanka’s export money held offshore

The Sunday Times reported in July (2022) about an investigation carried out by the Global Finance Integrity (GFI); a think tank based in Washington, USA operating with government support. Its task....

How SJGH operates as a haven for corruption

Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH), the multi- specialty leading tertiary care hospital in the country is accused of allowing Consultants to exert unjust professional charges on patients at their own discretion.

Water supply to Polonnaruwa threatened by planned sand mining project

It is reported that there are plans to hand over new sand mining corridors to remove sand from an area below the Polonnaruwa Manampitiya bridge (the place where the old bridge is located).

False temple documents used to lease state land in Nakolagane

There is a plan to forcibly acquire state forest lands located in the Grama Niladhari Divisions namely Nakolagane, Eriyawa, Atinimale,

Irrigation Department drags its feet as…. Corrupt officials find safe haven at Endagala Anicut

The Irrigation Department, which is allegedly branded as ‘a den of corruption’, has become a haven for its corrupt employees. They are said to be well protected by the majority of their superiors. Following the National....

Spotlight on Lahugala-Sengamuwa Reserves: Land grab in Pottuvil and improper behaviour of Govt. officials

The massive deforestation and arbitrary acquisition of reserve lands in Pottuvil area in Ampara are continuing. Day by day, lands belonging to the Wildlife, Forest and Archaeology Departments are being....

Spotlight on SL’s South Eastern University: South eastern varsity VC under scrutiny following plagiarism claims

When re-examining the research papers of Rameez Aboobacker, a sociology professor and the current Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, serious breaches of academic integrity.....

Did Police Department act irresponsibly when guarding Shani ?

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (Western Province) Deshabandu Tennakoon’s alleged failure to implement the orders given by the IGP and the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crimes and W

Mining Licence Scam Exposed at GSMB!

Employees of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau have urged the Ministry of Environment to hold an impartial inquiry to probe the frauds committed by its former acting Director General and recover....