Nov 19 (CB) Akila Dananjaya has been ruled out of the third and final Test of the ongoing series against England. SL spinner has to undergo an official bowling action assessment in Brisbane after being reported for suspect action during the series opener in Galle. Dananjaya is required to undergo testing within the next 14 days of being reported. However, as per the ICC regulations, the reported bowler is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the tests are known. more..

Nov 19 (AD) Speaker has acknowledged that the composition of MPs of UPFA is higher than that of the UNP, says Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. He stated this addressing a press conference this afternoon (19). Commenting further, he said that the Speaker was absent at the Chamber today due to an unwieldy situation. UPFA MPs have emphasized at the party leaders’ meeting that the Speaker does not possess the authority of any sort to appoint or remove a Premier, stated the Minister. more..

Nov 19 (AD) A petition has been filed seeking an order that states that the decision of the Speaker to reconvene the dissolved Parliament following the stay order of Supreme Court is illegal. The petition was filed before the Supreme Court by Rear Admiral Dr. Sarath Weerasekara. Reportedly, Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya, the Attorney General and Secretary General of the Parliament have been named as the respondents of the petition. more..

Nov 19 (DM) MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said Sri Lanka should pay a vast sum of US$ 1,000 million as debt for loans of Int'l Sovereign Bonds by January next year. He further said the interest from 5.2% to 9% will go up in this transaction with the agreement had in Int'l Secondary Market. Dr. De Silva said this loan was taken during Mahinda Rajapaksa regime and it should be paid at once. The govt has no plans to repay this loan and SL has to face severe problems internationally due to this situation. more..

Nov 19 (AD) UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa says that there is a question as to whether Sri Lanka is a democratic country. He mentioned this at a press conference held within the Parliamentary complex, today. According to Premadasa, the discipline which prevailed at the parliamentary session today was a result of not holding a vote. Meanwhile, an issue arises as to what will happen to the public in these decisions, he said. He says that these festivals will continue to happen more..

Nov 19 (DM) SL’s tourism industry stakeholders expressed concerns over the possibility of prospective tourists who would have visited SL turning to other alternative destinations due to the prolonged political crisis, as tourist bookings for the crucial winter season are already showing a slowdown. Key tourism industry stakeholders said that the current political crisis, which was triggered on Oct 26 with the ousting of PM more..

Nov 19 (AI) Responding to the transfer of Nishantha Silva, Officer-in-Charge at the CID and key investigator in high-profile human rights cases, Amnesty International’s South Asia Researcher, Thyagi Ruwanpathirana, said: “We are concerned by the seeming interference by the authorities into investigations concerning high-profile human rights investigations, including enforced disappearances and attacks against journalists. “The authorities must ensure that the current political situation more..

Nov 19 (Island) Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday denied that he had hurled the Holy Bible at an MP in the well of Parliament last Thursday when Parliament was in turmoil. The minister charged that the former PM had launched a sinister campaign against him and the religious leaders very well knew how much he (Fernando) respected his religion. He said politically bankrupt political leaders had gone to the extent of using even the Holy Bible for political purposes. more..

Nov 19 (CG) A citizens movement staged a protest at Independence Square today against the behaviour of MPs in Parliament last week. The Rise Up Sri Lanka protest saw several people comment and express outrage at the manner in which some MPs behaved in Parliament last week. “Sri Lankan democracy has reached its darkest hour. We like to remind you that this is not the first time that we have been let down by our political leadership. more..

Nov 19 (TISL) Transparency International SL observed with shock and dismay, the behavior of MPs over the past week. TISL wishes to highlight that in law, parliamentary privileges are not a cloak for criminal behavior. TISL is also concerned by the behavior of MPs towards law enforcement authorities on the premises of the parliament, showcasing a pervasive culture of impunity and total disregard of the rule of law. TISL wishes to bring to the attention of the public and the relevant more..

Nov 19 (AD) Minister Faiszer Musthapha attended the Inauguration Ceremony of the newly elected President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in Maldives and, during his visit to Maldives, he continued the ongoing negotiations to release of Lahiru Manikkandura. Lahiru has been held captive for three years in the high security Maafushi prison in the Maldives over allegations of plotting to assassinate the former Maldivian President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom. more..

Nov 19 (MAG) MAG was delighted to welcome members of the England cricket team to a landmine clearance site in Sri Lanka today. Following their test match win in Kandy, cricketers Joe Root (Captain), Jonny Bairstow, Keaton Jennings and Olly Stone visited an area where MAG is helping a community by clearing landmines close to the rural village of Periyamadu, in the north-west of the country. more..

Nov 20 (CT) This Opinion addresses the following questions presented by Mr Upul Jayasuriya, Attorney-at-law. 1. Is the purported dismissal Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe from the office of PM by the President constitutionally valid? 2. Is the purported appointment of Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM constitutionally valid? 3. Is the Prez Proclamation of Nov 9, purporting to dissolve the Parliament constitutionally valid? For the reasons herein stated, the answer to each question is negative. more..

Nov 20 (ST) The events of this week in Sri Lanka’s Parliament will no doubt be remembered for a long time to come for its infamy, but it will also be remembered for the extreme courage with which Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and Parliamentary officials who, in the face of unprecedented violence directed at them, braved it all to ensure that Parliamentary democracy did not bow down to thugs and hooligans who masquerade in the guise of elected representatives. more..

Nov 20 (CT) Sri Lanka faces a grave political crisis. There is a major confrontation between the Legislature and the Executive. The Speaker is mainly responsible as he has acted as a UNPer with extreme partiality, violating both the Constitution and the Standing Orders of Parliament. As a result the Legislature is deeply divided; leading to a level of violence never seen before in our Parliament. more..

Nov 20 (CT) I make this submission, as an appeal for your kind attention, in my capacity as a citizen living by the Lord Buddha’s pronouncement, “A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise” and believing that it is my duty to refresh your memory of your own social contracts creating public commitments and earnestly appeal for due accountable delivery of those commitments. It is usual for you to end your nationwide more..

Nov 20 (ST) It was Karl Marx who famously said in the Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon that history repeats itself first as tragedy and then as farce. Even a cursory look at SL’s political scene in the last couple of years shows that Marx was correct. Never has the country’s politics degenerated into an utter farce in such a short time. Sri Lanka, despite all the highfalutin phrases that politicians used to describetheir new method and style ofgovernance, has increasing become more..

Nov 20 (SO) Surrounded by picturesque mountains, the village of Talagune produces attractive handloom products, unique to the Dumbara valley. The handloom culture in Talagune has its roots in the distant past. The handloom craftsmen of the village have provided clothes and decorations to the Sri Dalada Maligawa and King Rajasingha’s royal palace. In an effort to find out more information about the handloom culture more..

Nov 20 (Island) Parliamentary proceedings lasted only six minutes or so yesterday, and the House adjourned till next Friday. Thankfully, the govt MPs did not have enough time to work themselves up into a frenzy and go berserk. However, another Rs. 4.5 million, being the cost of one parliamentary sitting, went down the gurgler. Chaos in the House has apparently become the new normal. Regrettably, the party leaders meeting with President Sirisena ended inconclusively, on Sunday evening. more..

Nov 20 (DN) It is quite evident that Middle East Politics is in turmoil and it poses imminent dangers to global efforts to restore peace. The Middle East conflict goes back to Biblical times and it has emerged with new dimensions. However, there is a large space left where redemption would be possible if achieved it is a triumph for the mankind that yearned for peaceful existence. In this context, the Daily News speaks to Director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies Professor more..

Nov 20 (DN) The crisis has deep national, social and psychological roots. Our island contains two consciousnesses or two types of consciousness, two competing states of mind. Contrary to myth, the periphery of our island has the longest uninterrupted colonial history in the world; 450 years, from 1505 to 1948. This has resulted in a residue, sedimentation in the consciousness. There are elites, classes, strata, who have a dependent, colonial, pro-imperialist, puppet, parasitic existence and more..

Nov 20 (DN) I wish to convey my warmest felicitations to all Muslims in Sri Lanka marking the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet Mohamed. The followers of Islam in Sri Lanka commemorate this auspicious day with religious observances, charitable deeds and contemplation of the Holy Prophet’s teachings. The Islamic nations of the world have always unconditionally supported Sri Lanka in international for a and I take this opportunity to express my gratitude for that more..

Nov 20 (ST) Baking in the scorching sun, clad in red and white, beers in hand, vibrant and vociferous, the English cricket fans were present in their numbers at the Galle Int'l Stadium cheering on their team as England played Sri Lanka in the first Test match. This is the Barmy Army, England’s travelling group of cricket supporters. There’s a story behind that name. During The Ashes, Test cricket series played between England & Australia more..

Nov 20 (Island) SL were being guided into a famous Test win by their former captain Angelo Mathews in the second Test at Pallekele and the hosts went into the tea break on day four requiring 80 runs to square the three match series with five wickets in hand. But the equation suddenly changed after the break. The whole of this series, SL have exhibited a tendency to lose a wicket soon after a break or just before a break and that’s some area their psychologist Dr. Phil Jauncy could work on. more..

Nov 20 (ST) Nishantha Fernando and Chalani Liyanage won the Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles and Doubles titles respectivel at the President Cup Carrom Chanpionship conducted by the Carrom Federation of SL concluded at their headquarters in Kohuwala recently. Nine slams were reported at this 18th edition of the President Cup event. Over 300 competitors were seen in action at this tournament which was conducted in 4 categories viz Men’s, Women’s Singles more..

Nov 20 (ST) As Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) took its first step this week towards holding their long overdue elections by appointing the mandatory 3-member election committee, and a grand coalition is being formed to challenge Thilanga Sumathipala, former president. Such an alliance could pose a significant challenge to Sumathipala at a future election. But whether it can muster sufficient support to defeat a man who more..

Nov 20 (DN) 93rd Boxing National Championship conducted by Amature Boxing Association (ABA) will commence today at the Royal MAS arena at Reid Avenue. The finals will be held on 23rd at the same venue. According to the President of the ABA Dian Gomes all leading boxers from SL Army, Navy, Air Force and MAS Unichela, Slimline are expected to take part this major tournament. “We are expected to get the services of four neutral AIBA judges to officiate this tournament. more..

Nov 20 (Island) The political crisis that erupted unexpectedly on Oct 26 still continues and is now entering its fourth week. President Maithripala Sirisena’s unexpected decision to replace PM Ranil Wickremesinghe with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa unleashed the problem on an unsuspecting country. The problem is that the former president has been unable to show he has the support of the majority in parliament to legitimately take his new position as PM. more..

Nov 20 (PSL) President Maithripala Sirisena says the govt needs more assistance from the fields of science, technology and research to resolve the economic and development issues of the country. He made these remarks addressing the President’s Awards for Scientific Publication held in Colombo. President’s Awards for Scientific Publication were started in 2001 to recognize SL scientists with a SL institutional affiliation, more..

Nov 20 (ST) Sri Lanka now provides a classic case of “how easy it is to drive a nation into a chaos, whoever its architect was”. Although states don’t collapse overnight, the seeds can be sown and nurtured over the years or decades, driving the nation along a destructive path. I thought of writing today on the relationship between political instability and economic prosperity. There is no need to elaborate the point that it is a timely issue of the Sri Lankan nation. more..

Nov 20 (CT) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has made an initiative to promote and develop Futsal & Beach Football in the pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka. They have assigned two officials, M. Ali Targholizadeh, Head of Futsal and Beach Soccer Development and Abdul Aziz, Development Administrators from Iran and Iraq, who are here on a three day visit to evaluate, educate and promote this game of football well know as Futsal and the beach soccer. more..

Nov 20 (FT) Upping the ante after two votes on the No Confidence Motion, a group of UNP MPs yesterday presented a motion to limit access of public funds by the PM’s Office, to a quieter than usual Parliament. Adhering to the view that the no confidence vote passed in Parliament on MP Mahinda Rajapaksa last week was valid, the group of UNP MPs, which included UNP MPs Ravi Karunanayake and Navin Dissanayake, more..

Nov 20 (Island) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has not ordered bulletproof vehicles, contrary to some media reports, Media Secretary to the PM, Rohan Weliwita said. "It is being propagated in various media and social media websites that two bullet proof vehicles have been ordered for the use of PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and this news item is vehemently refuted by the Office of the PM. It is notified that no new vehicles have been ordered at present for the use of the PM," he said. more..

Nov 20 (DN) Sri Lanka Junior Badminton players excelled at the Li NING BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships to finish 16th out of 40 teams in Toronto, Canada. SL junior shuttlers are scheduled to return home today after a two week tour. They have advanced to 16 th position this year while they were 37th last time. According to the President of SL Badminton Association Nishantha Jayasinghe this time junior shuttlers came up with a superb performance to get more exposure. more..

Nov 20 (FT) The transfer of the OIC of the CID’s Organised Crime Investigation unit, Inspector of Police (IP) Nishantha Silva, has been cancelled by the National Police Commission, Office of the IGP reports. Silva was transferred to the Negombo division with immediate effect, with the orders coming directly from the President. Silva was a key figure in investigations into several major attacks on journalists during Rajapaksa administration, more..

Nov 20 (SO) Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Japan is organising a visit by an Inward Buyer Delegation from Japan, from Dec 3 to 5 with the objective of developing business links between SL companies and Japanese buyers, and increase awareness among SL exporters, regarding the Japanese market. Japan is the 13th largest export destination for Sri Lanka. The total export value from SL to Japan was US $ 207.0 million in 2017 more..

Nov 20 (NYT) Over the past few weeks, Sri Lanka has faced a moral and political crisis that threatens to undermine hope for democracy. On Oct. 26, Maithripala Sirisena, the president of SL, appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa, polarizing former president who ran Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2014, to replace the incumbent PM, Ranil Wickremasinghe. At the heart of the crisis is Mr. Sirisena’s seeking to strengthen his political future through an alliance with Mr. Rajapaksa, who is making a bid for power. more..

Nov 20 (CT) Speaker Karu Jayasuriya yesterday informed Party Leaders that he has called for a probe into the violent behaviour of MPs, including bringing sharp objects into the Chamber, using chilli powder in the Chamber, and misusing the Speaker’s Chair. During the Party Leaders’ Meeting held in Parliament, prior to yesterday’s Parliamentary sittings, the Speaker further said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against those more..

Nov 20 (Island) National Self-employed Three Wheeler Drivers’ Association President Sunil Jayawardena said that within the next few days, the starting fare of three wheelers would be reduced to Rs. 50. He said the decision had been taken following the further reduction of a litre of a petrol by five rupees after new PM Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office. He urged all trishaw drivers to effect the price reduction. He said the Transport Minister should formulate a national policy on fares more..