Former police chief Pujith Jayasundara sentenced to death for failing to prevent Easter Sunday attacks Words by The Examiner Colombo high court trial-at-bar today sentenced Pujith Jayasundara, the former police chief, to death for failing in his duty to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 which saw over 200 dead. Read more →
Spotlight Judges’ retirement amendment by September says president’s office, critics fear government wants Surasena in and Kodagoda out Words by The Examiner As the Bar unanimously opposes extending judges’ terms, the government is doubling down on its constitutional amendment. The president’s office hopes to pass it by September. Lal Wijenayake, a top NPPer, understands they want “certain judges out and certain judges in.” Read more →
Why Sri Lanka’s overstaffed civil service struggles to issue passports or buy drugs Words by The Examiner From passports and driving licences to drugs and fuel, the civil service struggles to deliver. Even though it’s overstaffed thanks to politicians, the government is “always breakdown”. A key problem is the quality of top civil servants, who are paid a fraction of their Indian counterparts. Read more →
Clinics running out of TB and HIV meds, procurement delayed Words by The Examiner Despite knowing that Global Fund won’t be able to continue donating medicines, the Health Ministry’s failed to secure tuberculosis and HIV medicines. Without an alternative supplier in place, the island will run out of tuberculosis drugs in the next three weeks. Read more →
Where to go and what to read Words by The Examiner Two meteor showers light the night sky this week; for a longer run, Abhisari, at Scope Cinemas, explores the “raw and complex lives of sex workers.” The fact-y crowd descends into Macfarlane's Read more →
Spotlight Trad farmers bet on next-gen fertilisers. Should Sri Lanka too? Words by The Examiner Conventional fertilisers aren’t very effective, nor are they environmentally-friendly. The world is shifting towards “improved” varieties. But in Sri Lanka, old-fashioned subsidies are slowing down the transition. Read more →
Constitutional Council throws out candidates for police and human rights commissions, starts again Words by The Examiner Two independent commissions — police and human rights — will be selected solely via applications rather than nominations. But the Constitutional Council was so dissatisfied with the pool, it called for fresh applications. Read more →
Where to go and what to read Words by The Examiner Where to go This evening, Saint Vajra teaches at Lakmahal and art emperor Chandraguptha opens his new exhibit at Saskia’s. Then move from your head into your body at the Tamil-Afro DJ nite. Read more →