Another 'Concrete' Money Spinner!

The Wilpattu forest reserve made headlines with massive deforestation practices taking place over the past few years. Although these activities seem to be in a dormant stage as at now, the necessary damage has already been done. Last December, the Auditor General issued a comprehensive report

Dismay as Sri Lanka’s Marine resources are exploited !

The sky  overhead is so blue that it has tinged the ocean below. The scorching sunlight is unbearable. Tourists are all over the place. They are enchanted by the sight of corals. The office of the wild life conservation department located nearby is on guard. Someone emerges from nowhere carrying some bulky items. He is a little away from the rough waves. Some tourists are seen around the person carrying the heavy burden, which contains nothi

How malpractices have crippled Srilankan

Following President Maithripala Sirisena’s announcement that he would appoint a Commission to investigate into allegations against SriLankan and Mihin Airlines, employees of the national carrier are now geared to testify before an impartial commission.

Controversy Over D. A. RAJAPAKSA MEMORIAL MUSEUM

With the Appeal Court issuing an interim order not to file charges under the Public Property Act for his role in the alleged misappropriation of Government funds worth over Rs. 60 million rupees to build a monument for his parents, former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has contested the authenticity of his signature on official documents and claimed that a ‘verbal contract’ existed in connection with his family founda

Tabs for students and teachers did successful bidder violate tenderprocedure?

High officials at the Ministry of Education are alleged to have been involved in awarding a tender to a bidder to purchase computer tabs despite the bidder not meeting the tender requirements at the time the tender was opened. 

Burning issues on GAS tenders

Questions have been raised as to why the Ministry of Public Enterprise Development is silent over Litro Gas Lanka’s alleged failure to follow government procurement guidelines in the Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) purchase.  

Alleged Threat On Anika's Brother : CID Investigation Continues

The alleged death threat levelled on Anika Wijesuriya’s family after her testimony at the Bond Commission with reference to a powerful former minister and Perpetual Treasuries owner Arjun Aloysius in connection with multimillion rupee property transactions, came to the spotlight again 

LEAD SMELTING FACTORY in Bingiriya ‘chokes’ employees

Controversy surrounds how approvals have been granted to a lead smelting factory in Bingiriya by the North Western Provincial Environment Authority bypassing the National Environment Act. North Western Provincial Environment Authority (NWPEA) has come under severe criticism for granting Environment Protection License (which is given to confirm that any hazardous emission isn’t discharged to the environment) to Nico Battery Manufacturers sit

The price of freedom Sri Lankans cry out for help from Manus Island

The crisis on Manus Island continues as 421 refugees and asylum seekers refuse to leave the refugee processing centre on Manus Island to the alternative abodes provided. Twenty one among these refugees and asylum seekers are Sri Lankans. Since 2013 Australia has denied entry to anyone 

Grand Hyatt case EPF funds misused in hotel project

It has now surfaced how Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief of Staff together with two others were allegedly involved in a misappropriation connected with tax payers’ hard earned money, regarding which the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) has filed a case (‘B’ 788/ 15) in the Colombo Magistrate Court under the Public Property Act No:  12 of 1982.  

Mounting jeep safaris make Yala animals snarl

The overcrowding issue at Yala National Park has disrupted wildlife, jeopardized the nature experience of visitors to this facility and....

BoI approval granted indian company

The local footwear industry is now on the verge of collapse due to an arbitrary decision taken by the Board of Investment (BoI), it is learned.

ENCROACHMENT ISSUES continue over Kuragala archaeological reserve

The Archaeology Department’s failure to expel encroachers from the Kuragala archaeological site in the Mahawalatenna Plateau Balangoda over the past several years has raised concerns among environmentalists and archaeologists in the country.   

Who is responsible for this SHAM?

Astonishing revelations show how the former Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management, during the previous regime, had released a mobilization advance to the tune of Rs. 4012 million to  the Chinese Contractor of the  Gin-Nilwala Diversion Project within 43  days. This secretary is now facing imminent arrest. 

LIVES OF UMA OYA VICTIMS STILL IN CHAOTIC STATE

Officials of the Badulla District Secretariat have made the lives of Uma Oya victims more vulnerable than ever. Despite of the present regime’s efforts to provide these victims with comfort, a harsh move initiated by the Badulla District Secretary has sent these helpless people sliding from the frying pan into the fire. All this is the result of an unorthodox move initiated by the secretary not to fully implement the promised relief scheme

Sri Lanka’s baby farms Inter-country adoption racket exposed !

A recent documentary by Zembla, a Dutch current affairs programme, brought to light an adoption fraud during the latter part of the 19th century. Previously in 1983 a documentary was made based on the adoption scandal by Flash, a Dutch adoption organization that made massive profits by ‘selling’ children

Ambassador Liyanage throws his weight in Doha school

The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Qatar is accused of using diplomatic powers to harass a private Sri Lankan School Doha. This issue has caused much concern among Sri Lankans living there. 

HIDDEN AGENDA REVEALED IN PRE-FABRICATED HOUSE DEAL

Speculation is rife that there is a hidden agenda behind the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Ministry’s proposed plan to award the much debated contract to a French company to install pre-fabricated houses. There is concern that these houses are to be installed at a high cost using low quality pre-fabricated material to resettle conflict affected families in the north and east.  

Delving into Welikada jail riot

The failure to promptly open and carry out a criminal investigation into the deaths of 27 inmates in Welikada prison during a riot and its aftermath on November 9 and 10 of 2012 has become a stigma to the justice system in Sri Lanka. Human rights activists and organisations had expressed concerns at the lack of a prompt and expeditious investigation and the impunity of the culprits. 

Desperate lives inside refugee camps

Typically, refugee camps are temporary living settlements that accommodate displaced persons who have fled their home countries. When it....