News Room : Urban poverty triples in Lanka – The Island
By Meera Sirinivasan As Sri Lankans continue braving their worst economic crisis since Independence, urban poverty on the island has tripled in the last year, from 5% to 15 %, according to a recent World Bank report.Sri Lanka is experiencing “its highest poverty rate since 2009 , and an erosion of the steady gains in welfare made between 2006 and...
News Room : Executive presidency needed to deal with terrorism? Balderdash says Eran – The Island
Seeks rehabilitation of cabinet Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Thursday came under a scathing attack in parliament during the debate on the 22nd constitutional amendment with TNA legislator M. A. Sumanthiran accusing the highest judiciary of swinging like a pendulum. In his blistering speech on Thursday, the TNA lawmaker accused the supreme court justices of inconsistencies and said they appeared...
News Room : Government lost majority! First time since Prez. elected :134 now less than 100!
It has been confirmed that the government led by President Ranil Wickramasinghe has lost the majority of 113 MPs for the first time in the voting held to adopt the 22nd constitution. Although 179 votes were received in favor of the 22nd amendment, it received the support of only 93 MPs from the ruling party. Although 134 members of the Parliament...
News Room : Mother remarried! Dad refused! A 15-year-old served a neighbor! beaten for 4 years !
An incident where a child was brutally beaten and tortured for 4 years was reported from Kelaniya Dippitigama area. During the police investigations, it was revealed that the owners of the house where the child grew up had beaten and molested the child. Due to the child’s mother’s remarriage, the mother decided to hand over the child to a neighboring house...
News Room : Power sector reform proposals to Parliament next month: Power Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st) – Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera says that proposals for the restructuring of the power sector are expected to be submitted to the Parliament next month. In a Twitter message, the Minister said that he has received the report of the Cabinet Appointed Committee on Power Sector Reforms. The Minister added the report will be handed over...
News Room : Open verdict on the death of the university Kabaddi team captain
The body of Sabaragamuwa University Kabaddi team captain Lasanta Harsha Dhananjaya, who was in his last year studying in the Department of Sports Science and Physical Education and died under suspicious circumstances, was brought to his residence in Palpola, Paragasthota, Kalutara early this morning (22). Yesterday morning (21st), the student Lasanta Harsha passed away while sleeping in the university dormitory....
News Room : One dead after house collapsed in Grandpass
COLOMBO (News 1st) – One person has died after a wall collapsed into a house down St. Joseph's Street in Grandpass. Police said a 55-year-old resident of Grandpass was found dead in the incident. The victim had visited a nearby house last night to take care of an elderly person. Police said that the wall of the house had collapsed onto the...
News Room : Showers over 75mm predicted for evening
COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Meteorology Department says that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western and Northern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts on Saturday (22). Accordingly, fairly heavy showers above 75 mm may be expected at some places. Showers or thundershowers may occur elsewhere over the Island during the afternoon or night, and...
News Room : Report on restructuring energy sector within two weeks: Power Minister
COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera informed the National Council that the report of the committee on to the restructuring of the energy sector will be submitted to the National Council within two weeks. At the same time, the Minister informed that the National Council is also expected to be informed about the proposed...
News Room : Chicken prices down by Rs. 250
COLOMBO (News 1st) – The All Ceylon Poultry Businessmen's Association says that steps have been taken to reduce the price of one kilogram of chicken by Rs. 250/-. Its Chairman Ajith Gunasekara said that the new price of a kilogram of chicken is Rs. 1,200. Previously, chicken was being sold at Rs. 1,450/-. The decision has been taken due to an increase...