The Department of Railways has received approval to recruit 140 train drivers for the first time in 10 years. Applicants must have passed the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination in the Mathematics stream and hold either an NVQ qualification or a Technical Diploma. Recruitment will take place under five different categories. Although the Department of Railways…
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) recommended last week that the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Act be amended. According to the COPE recommendations, four representatives of foreign employment agencies currently serving among the 12 members of the SLBFE’s Board of Directors should be removed. Additionally, the powers of the Minister of Foreign Employment…
Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, traditionally dominated by men, is witnessing a start of transformative shift as women assume leadership and operational roles in a few key resorts, challenging entrenched gender norms. Despite comprising 52% of the population, women represent only about 10% of the 200,000-strong workforce in the hospitality industry. Two pioneering resorts—Amba Yaalu and…
Ever heard of the “Dead Horse Theory”? It’s a hilarious way to explain how people, companies, and even whole countries handle obvious, hopeless problems — by doing everything except admitting the problem is unsolvable. The basic idea is simple: If you realize you’re riding a dead horse, the smartest thing to do is get off…
The Attorney General informed the Court of Appeal today that a program will be formulated to maintain air quality across the island, including the Jaffna district. This was revealed during the reconsideration of a petition filed by Dr. Umasugi Nadarajah, a resident of Jaffna, seeking a directive for the Minister of Environment and other respondents…
The UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Marc-André Franche,has called for urgent and concrete action to achieve gender equality, marking 30 years since the landmark Beijing Platform of Action. Franche highlighted the significant progress made by women and girls over the past three decades, noting that they have shattered barriers, defied stereotypes, and demanded their…
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa clarified the government’s proposed salary and allowance increases for healthcare professionals, who are preparing for trade union action tomorrow (6). Dr. Jayatissa detailed the increments as follows: Grade 3: The basic salary for a Grade 3 supplementary medical professional will increase from Rs 32,800 to Rs 54,120,…
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva have regularly been a focal point of controversy for Sri Lanka. Since 2009, the year the thirty-year internal war ended, the country has been the subject of multiple resolutions aimed at addressing human rights violations and war crimes committed during and after the war. These…
Colombo: Women’s participation in Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality industry remains below 10%, according to Russell Clements, the General Manager of Public and Cultural Relations at Uga Ulagalla Resort. Clements highlighted that parental concerns about safety and the challenges of sustaining a career in the hospitality sector discourage many young women from entering the field. ““Parents’…
The Department of Railways has announced a revised train schedule on the Batticaloa line, aimed at preventing collisions with elephants.This measure is part of a broader effort to ensure the safety of both wildlife and train operations. The department stated that additional speed limits will be enforced on trains operating at night to reduce the…
