Spotlight on Puttalam Aussie company buys Lankan ilmenite deposit for a pittance

The Sri Lanka Cement Corporation owned factories in Kankesanthurai, Puttalam and Galle. The factories in Puttalam and Galle were sold in 1993. The factory in Kankesanthurai didn’t operate due to the war. Although the Puttalam Ceme

Spotlight on Gal Oya National Park: Illegal mine operations threatening flora and fauna

A few weeks ago, at around 1.00 am, I received a phone call from a friend from the Department of Wildlife and Conservation (DWC). “Brother, I’m sorry....

More bitter truths surface regarding sugar scam

The sugar scam amounting up to 16 billion rupees has again become a hot topic for discussion. Those involved in this scam were accused of evading paying government tax. Businessmen with close....

Why is Public Service Commission dragging its feet on serving justice to Shani and Ranjan?

The Public Service Commission (PSC) reportedly has blocked two retired senior public officers, their due salaries/ pensions allegedly.....

Who’s pocketing the compensation from X-Press Pearl accident?

It has been a year and five months since the vessel X-Press Pearl caught fire and sank. What the islanders are left with is the massive ocean and coastal pollution which resulted from the accident involving....

Looming food shortage and farmers’ woes

Many people predict that Sri Lanka is on the verge of a famine due to an imminent food shortage in Sri Lanka by 2023. However, it seems that there is a possibility of an acute food crisis....

Yala incident: VIP ‘animals’ facing legal consequences now

We often come across reports about VIP sons and their friends sneaking into national parks of Sri Lanka in private vehicles for joyriding. A similar incident....

Indian Credit line meant for medical drugs used for fuel, other payments

A shortage of 170 drugs was reported from government hospitals recently. Many say that the severe economic crisis is the reason for this shortage. But it was revealed that the drug shortage....

Govt. delays payments to organic fertilizer suppliers

There is no national policy for fertilizer. “Our attempt is to supply fertilizer for the Maha Season. If farming becomes a success, we could manage the rest of our problems. We have to increase our.....

How the dollar crisis and import restrictions choke a nation

As a result of the ongoing dollar crisis many local industries are at risk of shutting down with around 5 million people being vulnerable....

Litro Gas’ shaky deals in purchasing LPG

Litro Gas Lanka is accused of deceiving the World Bank by abusing the funds that were provided to purchase low-cost Liquefied Petroleum....

How shortsighted and greedy Govts. destroyed agriculture

According to the latest World Bank assessment Sri Lanka ranks fifth among countries with the highest food price inflation. UNESCO recently announced that Sri Lanka has the sixth-highest and second highest rate of malnutrition among children in the world and in Asia respectively. The United States Congress said that an estimated 60% of Sri Lankans skip one out of t

Consumers ‘SHOCKED’ by CEB tariff hike

The shocking revelations that transpired at the Committee on Public Enterprises on Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) unearthed on August 9 how the latter’s annual expenditure was considered as ‘losses’ and exceeded the annual tax collection of the Department of Inland Revenue and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.

GIMMICKS IN FUEL CRISIS

The QR code system introduced to reduce fuel queues has been a success so far. However, even with such a system in place people are still waiting in queues due to the failure of the Government. At present....

End of the road for asphalt producing plants in Kalahagala, Polonnaruwa

It is the normal practice to cast aside tools used for a development activity at the end of the project. Especially machinery and vehicles can be found abandoned after taking the maximum.....

Jaliya’s confession and Gota’s failed attempts to protect him

Astonishing revelations have come to the fore about how the Foreign Ministry under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has attempted to throw the full diplomatic weight of Sri Lanka behind an effort to safeguard the President’s first cousin,

Will the next fuel shipment arrive via a company owned by a Rajapaksa?

As of now Sri Lanka has run out of fuel. According to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) sources fuel reserves have completely....

Spotlight on losses associated with so called development projects

Many of the projects aimed at developing the country have only become a burden to the regime. Mattala Airport, Lotus Tower, the Conference....

Underhand deals and mafia generate fuel queues

These days Sri Lankans can witness fuel queues across the country and they seem to be never-ending. Some fuel stations have not received fuel for weeks while some have a supply of fuel daily. Amidst the prevailing fuel crisis several irregularities have been reported. No one talks about them. Those who are connected to such irregularities never came under the spotlight. This is not something that the media is highlighting. These incidents were re

Mirihana land reclamation project leaves farmers fuming

At present reclamation activities are underway at an 80-acre paddy land close to Galwala Road in Mirihana and Pita Kotte Rajamaha Viharaya. As a result.....

Local textile trade chokes due to Chinese imports

The textile industry is among the oldest industries in Sri Lanka; hence its prominent place. The textile industry was given birth when.....

Adulteration of fuel Fuel stations rule the roost in the absence of quality checks

However instead of the Government being involved, crude oil was imported from Russia at a higher price with a private company being involved. According to Palitha the price of this fuel wa

Shocking inside stories of the sugar scam

In the backdrop of former Finance Minister Ali Sabry’s proposed plan to increase fiscal revenue to bring the country’s economy....

Hidden goods mafia spells doom in distorted economy

At present Sri Lanka is expecting a severe food shortage. The authorities are yet to find solutions to the upcoming food shortage and cite the dollar crisis as the reason behind not being able to find a solution to the issue.

Withdrawal of bribery cases against politicians and their allies raises eyebrows

Startling accusations have come to the fore alleging that the two Commission members of the Commission to Investigate Allegations.....

Nuwara Wewa under spotlight Former Ministers land reclamation activities cause concern

Former Minister of Lands S. M. Chandrasena is another VIP accused by the locals in Anuradhapura for reclaiming land and engagin

Nuwara Wewa protected area Is Semasinghe breaching the law in building a hotel?

The constructing of a hotel using both the reclaimed land in the Anuradhapura Nuwara Wewa protected area and Wewa itself became a controversial topic recently. Former State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self Employment, Business Deve

Ambitious Gnana Akka leaves environment in shambles

Soothsayer Gnana Akka has come under the spotlight for constructing a controversial hotel in the Nuwara Wewa precinct in Anuradhapura and also for instructing the authorities to build the National Sandalwood Park near the Parliament; posing a threat to the Diyawanna Oya wetland.

Anuradhapura Gnana Akka RENOWNED SOOTHSAYER'S HOTEL COMES UNDER SPOTLIGHT.’’

Can the law be made silent when shrine (Devalaya) officials enjoy limitless political powers of powerful political figures? They amass abundant wealth thanks to this political framework. A similar incident was reported in Anuradhapura city where the Shrine of Gnana Meniyo is located. It is known as ‘Sasthara Gedara’ and is frequented by politicians. She is b

Why does CEB shun renewable energy projects?

Certain acts of disruption by the Engineers Union of the Ceylon Electricity Board (EUCEB) had given rise to grave concern as the country is forced to plunge in power cuts. Ceylon Electricity.....