Jun 30 (Island) Is the Head of State and Govt, the Commander-in-Chief of forces one who is mentally suitable to hold such office? Recent statements by President Sirisena have raised major questions about the status of mind of the person, and his commitment to both the process and the principles that saw his election as President of this country. Most striking of these is his call to remove both the 18th & 19th Amendments to the Constitution. more..

Jun 30 (ST) In Sri Lanka’s political firmament, one thing certain about is its uncertainty and fast changing scenarios. What is in focus this week would be different from what it was last week. Like in a movie, the main star is President Sirisena. In the recent months and weeks, for him, the drama has centred on his political future. SLPP, now a major political party, refused to make him a presidential candidate together with his SLFP. more..

Jun 30 (EN) SL's current spending of up to 40,000 rupees are kicking in from July 01, the finance ministry said, amid a import fall coming from monetary instability 2018, though cut in capital expenditure may help balance cashflows. Most the measures were already in expenditure outlined for 2019 in the budget. Easter blasts may also cut revenues from tourism and related areas, while compensation payments are also being more..

Jun 30 (BBC) At a funeral for one of the victims of SL's Easter Sunday bombings, a grief-stricken relative wailed and shouted: We need Gota, We need Gota. She was referring to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the wartime defence chief who played a leading role in crushing Tamil rebels in a bloody civil war which ended 10 years ago. SL's minority Tamils loathe Mr Rajapaksa but he's celebrated as a hero by many in the majority Sinhalese more..

Jun 30 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena claims to have been duped into approving the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, but the UNP says that it is the first step towards abolishing the Executive Presidency which Sirisena has failed to take. Sudarshana Gunawardana, head of Development Communications Unit at PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Office said, that constitutional changes had been implemented more..

Jun 30 (CT) The UDA plan to hand over the project to build houses for middle-income Govt employees in Borella and Thalawathugoda to a Chinese Company has come to a sudden halt. If this project is stalled mid stream, UDA will suffer a severe loss. However, Chinese Company had made this request due to investors in the construction sector facing difficulties as a result of the U.S. imposing economic sanctions on China, more..

Jun 30 (AFP) SL's president is facing fresh legal challenges in his attempt to end a 43-year moratorium on capital punishment and start executing drug convicts, officials said Sunday. Two petitions were filed in Court of Appeal (CA) Friday seeking an order quashing any move by Maithripala Sirisena to resume executions, which have not been carried out since the last hanging in June 1976. "The CA will have a preliminary hearing next week. more..

Jun 30 (ST) A draft copy of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), now under negotiation between the US & SL, obtained by Sunday Times, reveals a number of Washington’s demands that would impinge on SL’s sovereignty. US is seeking that aircraft and vessels of the US Govt to be free from boarding and inspection. This means none of the state security arms, like the Navy, Coast Guard or the Customs more..

Jun 30 (ST) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) trade unions have threatened to cut off fuel supplies to the CEB over a dispute involving electoral politics and pipelines requiring urgent repairs. Union leaders charged yesterday that Minister Ravi Karunanayake was insisting that the CPC must pay compensation to the squatters before it started any renovation work.on the pipelines. They said they had notified the Prez, PM, more..