News

Hospital to be established at Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya

Published

11 months ago

July 23, 2024

editor

The Health Ministry has announced plans to construct a peripheral hospital within the Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya premises to serve the large number of devotees and nearby communities.

A special discussion on this initiative was recently held at the temple, led by the Chief Incumbent, Ven. Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thera.

The Chief Incumbent highlighted the temple’s significant daily visitor count of around 1,000 devotees, which swells to over 50,000 on Poya days and exceeds 100,000 during Poson and Esala Poya days.

Currently, devotees who fall ill are transported to Polonnaruwa Hospital, a process that will be significantly eased with the new hospital.

Under the Health Ministry’s directives, two ambulances from Polonnaruwa General Hospital have been stationed at the temple to assist sick devotees.

The new hospital will provide much-needed relief to the local villages of Sungawila, Katuwanwala, Galkanda, and Kandakadu.

Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala outlined the facilities of the new hospital, which will include an outpatient department, an emergency treatment unit, male and female wards, and residential quarters for doctors and health staff.

This hospital will function as an affiliate of Polonnaruwa General Hospital, with staff being deployed from the main hospital.

A special Cabinet paper for the hospital’s construction is set to be presented, with an allocation of Rs.100 million for the project this year.

News

‘Suwa Seriya’ paying extra rent amid bypassed rules

Published

5 minutes ago

June 27, 2025

editor

The building housing the Suwa Seriya headquarters in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte has overcharged the rent by millions over the officially assessed value.

An audit by the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed that as a result over Rs.05 million than the officially assessed value had been paid every year.

According to the NAO report, the building’s owner rejected the government’s valuation and submitted a separate, higher assessment, which was ultimately accepted contrary to regulations.

Regulations require that when leasing a building, the institution’s head must first obtain an assessment from the Chief Valuer. As per established procedures, such disputes should be referred to the relevant ministry secretary if the Chief Valuer’s assessment is not accepted.

However, the audit found this process was not followed.

In response, Suwa Seriya management told the NAO that a decision was taken at a Board of Directors meeting in March 2025 to forward the rental matter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Health for approval.

(Source: Aruna)

News

Undergrad goes missing at Port City beach while snorkeling

Published

18 minutes ago

June 27, 2025

editor

A 24-year-old university student from Asgiriya, Gampaha, has gone missing while swimming in the sea off the Colombo Port City beach.

The incident occurred yesterday morning (June 26) when a group of students from the Universities of Colombo and Moratuwa were snorkeling and observing the seabed at leisure.

The student failed to resurface, prompting a complaint to the Colombo Port Police.

Lifeguards later recovered the snorkel believed to be belonging to the missing student.

A joint search operation involving Navy divers from the Colombo Port and Rangala Navy Division is currently underway. Further investigations are underway by the Colombo Port Police.

BIZ

Kunming-Colombo freight service takes off

Published

1 hour ago

June 27, 2025

editor

In a boost to bilateral trade, China’s S.F. Airlines launched its inaugural Kunming-Colombo cargo flight yesterday, marking a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s logistics connectivity with Yunnan Province.

S.F. Airlines deployed a Boeing 747-200 aircraft for the inaugural flight, which arrived at BIA from Kunming at 10:50 a.m. yesterday (26), carrying 22 metric tons of cargo.

S.F. Airlines – a major Chinese logistics carrier.