Priority bus lanes from Aug. 15
NewsPriority bus lanes will be in force in several areas of Colombo and its suburbs from August 15, Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Champika Ranawaka said today. He pointed out that a trial run of the priorty bus lane was implemented from Rajagiriya Junction to Ayurveda Junction several months ago and the Ministry expects to introduce priority lanes for buses in Colombo utilizing experiences gained from that trial run. Accordingly, priority bus lanes will be implemented as follows: August 15 - From Cross Junction in Moratuwa to Katubedda and from Savoy Cinema to Bambalapitiya Junction; August 22 - From Katubedda Junction to Maliban Junction and from Bambalapitiya Junction to Piththala Junction; August 28 - From Polduwa Junction in Battaramulla (Diyatha Uyana) to Ayurveda Junction and from Tower Hall Junction to Thummulla Junction; September 5 - Maradana Technical Junction to Slave Island; September 12 - Slave Island to Pettah; November 30 - Borella to Maradana. School and office transport services will also be incorporated into the project and the next step will be decided depending on the effectiveness of the initiative, the Minister further said.
Source:Sunday Times
August 11, 2017 09:11 UTC
Hong Kong democracy activist says he was 'stapled' by Chinese agents
He said he was even warned in a telephone call not to give a photo signed by Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi to the widow of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. Howard Lam, a key pro-democracy activist in the former British colony, was confronted by men speaking Mandarin, spoken in Beijing but not widely in Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong, outside a sports store, he told reporters. He was knocked out and eventually found himself dumped on a beach in Hong Kong's remote Sai Kung district. Hong Kong police and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of China's State Council were not immediately available for comment. Democratic Party member Lee Cheuk-yan displays an autographed photo of football player Lionel Messi, outside a hospital in Hong Kong, China August 11, 2017.
Source:Sunday Times
August 11, 2017 07:52 UTC
Magnitude 6.2 quake hits Philippine island of Luzon, jolts buildings
WorldMANILA (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 hit the Philippines' northern island of Luzon on Friday and was felt in the capital Manila, shaking buildings and forcing the evacuation of offices and schools. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries in the quake, which the United States Geological Survey earlier measured at 6.6. The quake struck at 1:28 pm (0528 GMT) 10.7 km (6.6 miles) southeast of Nasugbu, in the province of Batangas, at a depth of 168 km (104 miles). No tsunami warning was issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, which put the magnitude of the quake at 6.3, and said it expected aftershocks. Students use their hands to cover their heads as they evacuate their school premises after an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 hit the northern island of Luzon and was felt in the Metro Manila, Philippines August 11, 2017, shaking buildings and forcing the evacuation of offices and schools.
Source:Sunday Times
August 11, 2017 06:11 UTC
Tennis: Medhira Samarasinghe clinches National Women's Singles title
SportMedhira Samarasinghe beat Anika Seneviratne in straight sets 6/2, 6/2 to clinch her first ever national title as she claimed the Women's Singles title at the 102nd Tennis Nationals played at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) court in Colombo on Thursday (10). Samarasinghe and Seneviratne, both students of Ladies' College went into a final which was expected to be an even battle, however ended with a one-sided win. Both finalists maintained a healthy winning track on the way to the final making it an anticipated fight, but Samarasinghe claimed an easy win with her vast experience of competing at top level. Eventually Seneviratne claimed the win by 5/7, 6/2, 6/3. Samarasinghe, 18, has had a fine season and an impressive career so far, also representing Sri Lanka at the Fed Cup several times.
Source:Sunday Times
August 11, 2017 06:00 UTC
One lane in Olcott Mawatha closed due to protest
NewsOne lane along Olcott Mawatha in Fort has been temporarily closed for traffic by police due to a protest being carried out by disabled soldiers. The soldiers have been protesting in Colombo throughout this week demanding that the Government resolve their pension issues.
Source:Sunday Times
August 11, 2017 05:48 UTC
Two Lankan authors make it on the longlist for DSC Prize for South Asian Literature
FeaturesThe longlist for the $25,000 (around Rs 16 lakh) DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017 was announced by feminist writer and publisher Ritu Menon in New Delhi on Thursday, Scroll In reported. The longlist of 13 novels includes two Sri Lankan authors, seven Indian writers, three Pakistani writers, and an American writer based in India. The longlist has three debut novels and two translated entries from Tamil and Malayalam. “It gives me enormous pleasure to announce this longlist of 13 wonderful novels for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017,” said Menon, who is the chairperson of the five-member jury panel. The DSC Prize received more than 60 eligible entries.
Source:Sunday Times
August 11, 2017 03:00 UTC
Excerpt from Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake's special statement in Parliament
Now a freedom is there even to the Attorney generals department to aggressively question a minister of the same government. Those days the Attorney generals department didn’t have the freedom not to question a minister but even to open a file regarding a minister. There is an attempt destabilize the democratic process followed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe . We cannot allow power – hungry conspirators to destroy the UNP. We cannot allow to destablise the democratic process followed by President and the Prime Minister.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 13:41 UTC
Your views : On Ravi Karunanayake's resignation
Police have arrested 160 people within a span of 24 hours for illegal garbage dumping in the Western Province. Police Media Unit stated that the op... Features & AnalysisRe-launched 'CITY' with ‘new' South Asian fiction, prose and poetryA quarterly journal, 'City' covering genres of poetry and fiction inspired by contemporary subjec...Two Lankan authors make it on the longlist for DSC Prize for South Asian LiteratureThe longlist for the $25,000 (around Rs 16 lakh) DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017 was announced by feminist ...DBU's VoC Cafe launches exciting new menuThe Dutch Burgher Union is launching an exciting new menu at the VOC Cafe. The spread is said to inlude Soups...American rapper Juicy J releases 'Lit in Ceylon' mix tape with 'Road to Sri Lanka' trackAmerican rapper, songwriter and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee Juicy J recently release...
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 12:22 UTC
CSE’s CDS relocates operations to Rajagiriya to support expansion
NewsThe Central Depository Systems (Pvt) Ltd (CDS), a fully owned subsidiary of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), in a move aimed at supporting the expansion planned for the organization going forward, has relocated its operations to a larger premises located at the M & M Centre, No.341/5, Kotte Road, Rajagiriya from Thursday. The change of address will not have an impact on any policies or procedures presently maintained by the CDS, the CSE said in a media announcement. Through the expansion, the CDS intends to enhance the services offered to all stakeholders and to encourage investors to take an active role in the management of their investment portfolios. The relocation is set to support the CDS to further strengthen its depository infrastructure and to diversify operations into selective value-added business ventures, it said. A number of technology driven value added services including a range of online services for CDS account holders through the CDS e-connect portal, SMS alerts and eStatements have already been introduced.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 11:37 UTC
10,000 title deeds will be present to Mahaweli settlers
NewsThe presentation of title deeds of the lands to the farming community in Walawa zone and Mahaweli ‘’H’’ zone under the National Programme to offer 100,000 title deeds to Mahaweli settlers will be held today and tomorrow under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, Presidential Secretariat said. This is the first time such a large number of title deeds are to be presented, giving solution for a prolonged issue faced by the Mahaweli settlers. On 11th, 5,000 title deeds will be presented to the farming community in the Walawa zone at 10.00 a.m. at the Embilipitiya Gam Udawa grounds, and another 5,000 title deeds will be presented to the farming community in the Mahaweli ‘’H’’ zone on 12th August at 10.00 a.m. at the Talawa Pradeshiya Sabha grounds under the patronage of the President. According to the policy of giving each and every Sri Lankan citizen right to own a land and a house, and under the directive of President Maithripala Sirisena these title deeds will be presented to the Mahaweli settlers and through this initiative they will get an opportunity to prosper their lives.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 11:03 UTC
Former Navy Spokesperson D. K. P. Dassanayake further remanded
Police have arrested 160 people within a span of 24 hours for illegal garbage dumping in the Western Province. Police Media Unit stated that the op... Features & AnalysisRe-launched 'CITY' with ‘new' South Asian fiction, prose and poetryA quarterly journal, 'City' covering genres of poetry and fiction inspired by contemporary subjec...Two Lankan authors make it on the longlist for DSC Prize for South Asian LiteratureThe longlist for the $25,000 (around Rs 16 lakh) DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017 was announced by feminist ...DBU's VoC Cafe launches exciting new menuThe Dutch Burgher Union is launching an exciting new menu at the VOC Cafe. The spread is said to inlude Soups...American rapper Juicy J releases 'Lit in Ceylon' mix tape with 'Road to Sri Lanka' trackAmerican rapper, songwriter and record producer from Memphis, Tennessee Juicy J recently release...
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 10:52 UTC
DBU's VoC Cafe launches exciting new menu
FeaturesThe Dutch Burgher Union is launching an exciting new menu at the VOC Cafe. The spread is said to inlude Soups/Salads, pastas, seafood platter, mixed grill, grilled tiger prawns. Action station dishes such as Nasi Goreng, mixed fried rice and noodles and string hopper pillau are just some of the latest dishes to be launched at the Cafe from today.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 09:56 UTC
Exclusive: U.S. destroyer challenges China's claims in South China Sea
WorldWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy destroyer carried out a "freedom of navigation operation" on Thursday, coming within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, U.S. officials told Reuters. It was the third "freedom of navigation operation" or "fonop" conducted during Trump's presidency. The Trump administration has vowed to conduct more robust South China Sea operations. In July, a U.S. warship sailed near a disputed island in the South China Sea claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam. China's claims in the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes each year are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 09:56 UTC
Sampanthan commends Ravi K's decision to resign
NewsCommenting on the statement made by Foreign Minister Ravi Karunanayake in Parliament that he was stepping down from his post, Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan commended the MPs's decision. Terming Mr Karunanayake's decision to resign as a 'bold step,' Mr Sampanthan noted in Parliament a short while ago that Karunanayake has not been found guilty of wrongdoing in any competent court. He appreciated his decision to resign in the interest of country and government which came to office under the banner of Good Governance.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 09:11 UTC
Is it ever too late to learn? Thai granny completes university degree at 91
LatestA 91-year-old woman from Thailand who says it's "never too late to study" has completed her bachelor's degree after more than 10 years of work. According to the BBC's Thai Service Kimlan Jinakul had always wanted to go to university but as a young girl simply did not have the opportunity. But almost a lifetime later and after seeing most of her own children through university, she decided to enrol and on Wednesday finally picked up her degree. Four of her five children got a masters degree and one even went on to receive a PhD in the US. A good and happy lifeWhen one of her daughters - who was already working at a hospital - took a course at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Kimlan decided to get on board as well.
Source:Sunday Times
August 10, 2017 08:37 UTC