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

MER for jumbos obstructed by ‘land work’ Two-legged ‘white elephants’ with crooked mindset threaten Hambantota wild elephants

The focus on environmental conservation seems to be decreasing in the face of accelerated development projects in Sri Lanka. Development schemes encroaching on elephant habitats especially are far from satisfactory. Most projects have been implemented without prior wildlife study. The recent death of

Frontline cops charge negligence by high-ups worsened police cluster

The police have done an invaluable service in the frontlines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, foregoing their off-days and staying away from their loved ones while on duty.

Credentials of official raise controversy

Amila Ishan Kankanamge, the Government appointed non-Executive Director to Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd and Independent Television Network Boards, is now exposed to be a scammer. The educational qualifications he has mentioned in h

20A Critics underscore the repercussions of Eroding AG’s independence

The anticipated plan to curtail the scope of the Auditor General’s duties and functions through the proposed 20th Amendment to the Constitution, is aimed at allowing politicians and their cronies to misappropriate state funds to their whims and fancies says the Sri Lanka Audit Service Association. Before the 19th Amen

A response to DM exposé on Tea Promotion Officer

With reference to the Daily Mirror Expose article and Page 1 news item, both headlined, ‘Tea promoting officer in hot water!’ dated July 31, the Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Tea Board Dhanushka Karunaratne has sent the following response:

Tea promoting officer in hot water!

Astonishing revelations underscore how Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB), the promoter of Pure Ceylon Tea around the globe, has entrusted global tea promotional activities of the world’s renowned brand to an officer alleged to have been involved in misappropriating SLTB funds a few years ago.

PCoI criticised for entertaining complaints from private businessmen

Questions have been raised as to why the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that was appointed by the President to probe political victimisation of public officers....

RED ALERT ON MANNAR MINERAL EXTRACTION PROJECT

As a popular tourist attraction in the country, Mannar boasts of a rich cultural heritage dating back to the Portuguese, Dutch and British periods. Dotted with palmyra trees and a scenic stretch of the Northern coastal belt, it is a popular destination for nature lovers as well.

PHIs demand a shot in the arm

Public Health Inspectors (PHI) Union of Sri Lanka is to instigate a trade union action within next few days following Ministry of Health’s failure....

High hopes for farmers despite looming threats to Wilpattu

Farmers in Rajanganaya Yaya 18 in Anuradhapura District are harbouring high expectations. They feel that all their hardships would soon end with a new aloe vera cultivation project which is expected to commence operations in the near future. But the project seems to be adding fuel to the existing fire with regard to environmental concerns since there is no Environmental Impact