News

Northern Railway line will be opened

Published

4 months ago

September 13, 2024

editor

The construction of the railway line from Mahawa to Anuradhapura was completed and officially handed over to the Railway Department. Project Director Chinthaka Jayasekara handed over the relevant document to Railways Acting General Manager Keerthi Hewawitharana in the presence of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana and other officials.

Renovation of the Anuradhapura–Mahawa railway line, which was implemented at a cost of US$ 92 million with the aim of establishing a regular and efficient transport service in the country, has been completed and was officially handed over to the Sri Lanka Railway Department recently.

The renovation work of the Northern Railway Line which was operated under the loan scheme of the Government of India was carried out in three stages – Anuradhapura–Omanthai, Anuradhapura–Mihintale, and Anuradhapura–Mahawa, Project Director Chinthaka Jayasekara said.

The renovation of the Anuradhapura–Mahawa section was started in January this year under the patronage of Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha and the Railway Department is confident that the train service from Mahawa to Anuradhapura will be operational again from tomorrow (14).

Jayasekara said that the main benefit resulting from this is that the travel time from Colombo to Kankasanturai will be reduced from seven-and-a-half hours to five hours with the renovation of the railway line.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

Committee appointed to revise certified rice prices

Published

2 minutes ago

January 22, 2025

editor

The Paddy Marketing Board says that a committee has been appointed for the amendment of the certified price of rice.

Its chairman, Manjula Pinnalanda says that the committee comprises representatives from several institutions, including the
Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute and the Institute of Post Harvest Technology.

This committee is set to conduct a review of the application prices used for paddy cultivation.

The Paddy Marketing Board says that subsequently, the certified price of rice at which stocks will be purchased this season will be decided through this committee.

During the previous Yala season, the certified price for Nadu rice was Rs. 105 per kilogram, Samba rice was Rs. 115 per kilogram, and Keeri Samba rice was Rs. 130 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, the Paddy Marketing Board also says that storage facilities for the Maha season’s harvest, have already been prepared.

It was also announced that the purchase of stocks of harvest for the Maha season is scheduled to commence next month.

(News1st)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

“Better if MR vacates residence on his own accord”

Published

12 hours ago

January 21, 2025

editor

It is better for former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to leave his residence before he is asked to do so, Cabinet spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said today (Jan. 21).

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet briefing, Dr. Jayatissa stated that the people have given a mandate to the government to abolish privileges of politicians and ease the politicians’ burden on the people.

He explained that according to the provisions of the Presidents’ Entitlements Act, former Presidents or their widows are entitled to one-third of their salary.

“Although Mr. Rajapaksa was not in the Parliament that passed this Act, he had been in several governments and therefore, should understand its provisions… If he understands this, it is better for him to leave on his own accord without waiting until he is told to vacate the residence,” he said.

News

Several politicians linked to Papaverine supplying company – Nalinda

Published

13 hours ago

January 21, 2025

editor

Cabinet Spokesman – Minister of Health and Mass Media – Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa today (Jan. 21) stated that several politicians are linked to the company which had supplied the ‘Papaverine’ injection.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet briefing held today (Jan. 21), he said that government has spent Rs. 342.49 million to import the drug from 2019 to 2023.

“There was no pricing formula earlier and the government had purchased the medicines at the price determined by the companies,” he added.

He also said that an investigation will be initiated to find out how approval was given to this company to purchase the drug at such higher prices.

Dr. Jayatissa further said that he also will make a special statement in this regard at Parliament tomorrow (Jan. 22), as the Health Minister.

Earlier, it was reported that the vaccine, which was once sold for Rs.76,000 now being reduced to Rs. 370.