Jun 11 (DM) Denat Paniyandoowage, SJB candidate contesting the General Elections from Galle District has withdrawn from contesting and pledged his support to PM Mahinda Rajapaksa. He has handed over his letter of withdrawal from contesting to EC Chairman yesterday. In the letter, he said he resigned from the SJB candidacy for Ambalangoda electorate in Galle and decided to do so due to gross injustice faced at the SJB district candidates meeting on June 9. more..

Jun 11 (AD) Twenty-eight more persons who had contracted the COVID-19 have recovered from the disease completely, says the Ministry of Health. These patients were receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital (7), Welikanda Base Hospital (10), Iranawila Hospital (1), Kattankudy Base Hospital (1), Welisara Navy Hospital (6), Homagama Base Hospital (2) and Minuwangoda Base Hospital (1). On that account, SL’s coronavirus recoveries count now sits at 1,150. more..

Jun 11 (EN) Jayanthi (name changed), a 48-year-old mother of two from Kandy, is one of many Sri Lankan migrant workers currently stranded in the Middle East amid the COVID-19 pandemic, desperate to return to their motherland. Middle East is the most popular destination of migrant workers from SL. Of all the countries there, Kuwait remains a favourite among Sri Lankans due to the value of its currency, the Kuwaiti Dinar, more..

Jun 11 (DN) Facilities at the Palaly international airport will be swiftly enhanced, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said. The Govt expects to sign an agreement with the Indian Govt for the development of the airport shortly. The agreement which has been planned to sign with the Indian govt was delayed as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. Since the country is gradually returning to normality, the Ministry expects to expedite the development work of the Palaly airport," Minister said. more..

Jun 11 (EN) Govt is saying it has had to delay the process of repatriating Sri Lankans abroad because the capacity of the hospitals to accommodate COVID 19 patients is being stretched due to the high number of people afflicted with the disease among the returnees. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the govt is giving the first priority to bring back all the Sri Lankans who want to return. “We are bound to protect every SL citizen and to bring them back if they are suffering any affliction in more..

Jun 11 (AD) The 8 suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Chairman of the Self-Employed Professionals’ Three-Wheeler Association, Sunil Jayawardena, have been placed in remand custody. The arrested suspects were ordered remanded until June 25 by Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court. Jayawardena, who was critically injured following an assault which took place in front of a leasing company located in Mirihana more..

Jun 11 (CT) A 35-foot banner with a photo of the Leader of the Tamil United Freedom Party (TUFP), Vinayagamoorthy Muralidharan alias Karuna Amman that was in Kalmunai Town in the Eastern Province was defaced by unidentified persons yesterday (10). Kalmunai Police suspect that the incident must have taken place in the wee hours of yesterday morning. Supporters of Karuna Amman in the Ampara District put up huge posters and displayed them in many towns in the East including Kalmunai. more..

Jun 11 (AD) Former UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana has been appointed to a new post in the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) led by Sajith Premadasa. He was appointed as the new Matara District Team Leader of the alliance by former Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa in an event held today. The relevant position was left vacant as the former Minister Mangala Samaraweera who held the post stepped down from the politics of being a member of parliament on June 09. more..

Jun 11 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa and the Cabinet of Ministers are joining a host of others in expressing their disapproval of the way Police reacted to activists staging a Black Lives Matter protest in Colombo on Tuesday. Minister Bandula Gunewardena said that Prez had advised the police to disperse the protestors based on the COVID 19 prevention regulations rather than attack them. Police grabbed many protestors and more..

Jun 11 (Island) The TNA has no intention of adhering to policies of the LTTE, former TNA MP and leader of the ITAK Mavai Senathiraja said on Tuesday. Addressing the media in Jaffna, the former MP said that the TNA would recruit rehabilitated LTTE cadres. He said that all other parties in the North were vying to enlist the support of former LTTE cadres, who had returned home after completing mandatory rehabilitation programmes, but the TNA would stay out of that competition. more..

Jun 11 (AD) Police have recovered a T-56 assault rifle believed to have been used in the shooting at a hotel in Soysapura, Ratmalana. According to Ada Derana reporter, the firearm and ammunition were found in Suwarapola, Piliyandala. A restaurant in Soysapura first came under an attack by an unidentified group of persons wielding swords during curfew hours on May 19. Three police officers were subsequently stationed at the restaurant to ensure its security and safety. more..

Jun 11 (Island) SLPP National List MP and Convenor of Yuthukama civil society group Gevindu Cumaratunga appreciated NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa’s backing for some of the constitutional reforms proposed by them. Cumaratunga was commenting on Minister Weerawansa’s recent call for far reaching constitutional reforms, including complete overhauling of the presidential system with proposal to adopt US style prez poll. more..

Jun 11 (EN) Sri Lanka’s tourist guides and drivers registered with a state tourism agency will get a one off payment as part of relief measures approved by the Cabinet of Ministers as the sector reels from the Coronavirus crisis. Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority (SLTDA) will make a one-off 20,000 rupee payment to tour guides registered with the agency and 15,000 rupees to drivers, the state information said. SLTDA charges fees from hotels and has its own funds. more..

Jun 11 (Island) Extending support to the govt in the national interest including on overcoming the Coronavirus disease, did not mean that the UNP had struck a deal with PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Galle District UNP MP Vajira Abeywardena said. He recalled that an example, was its support extended to former Prez Chandrika Kumaratunga against the LTTE, via the Liam Fox Agreement. Some UNPers who were criticising the leadership were the ones who had struck deals with the Rajapaksas more..

Jun 11 (DM) The stray dogs at Viharamaha Devi Park have been in the news from time to time. During the curfew period they once again made headlines as animal welfare organisations claimed that a few dogs were taken away by Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) officials. Following these observations, a few activists staged a protest in front of the Mayor’s residence and voiced their disapproval against the move. more..

Jun 11 (AD) An accomplice of the underworld figure and drug racketeer Weli Rohan has been arrested at the Wellampitiya area, stated the STF. The suspect has been arrested in a raid based on a tip-off received by the Organized Crime Prevention Unit of the STF. Reportedly, 1.5 kilograms of Kerala Cannabis was also found in the possession of the suspect. STF said that the arrested suspect is the main accomplice who operates the drug racket of underworld figure Weli Rohan. more..

Jun 11 (Island) For the first time since the widely condemned suicide bombings of 21st Apr 2019, evidence has surfaced disclosing 13 reasons claimed by the bombers as their motivations for the 21/4 murderous acts. A study of the motivations that may have guided or misguided the attackers is a welcome and vital move, without in any manner seeking to legitimize the terror attacks. A dispassionate and honest analysis of these latest revelations therefore become an essential more..

Jun 11 (EN) SL’s power regulator has released a study of externalities, where an attempt has been made to give a cash value to the pollution caused by thermal power plants such as coal, which will tend to push up costs. Sri Lanka plans new power plants based on least costs which tends to give a higher weighting to coal and now liquefied natural gas plants, and mature technologies such as large hydros where available. more..

Jun 11 (AD) Attention has been drawn to the relocation of prisoners sentenced to death or convicted of serious crimes to an island in Batticaloa, stated Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva. The Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Law Reforms mentioned this at a press conference held yesterday (10). The aforementioned island reserved for leprosy patients in Batticaloa currently accommodates only two patients; and they too are in the process of recovery, he said. more..

Jun 11 (Island) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa had rectified the error caused by the former Prez Sirisena by transferring the SL Rupavahini Corporation back to the purview of the Ministry of Communication from the purview of the Defence Ministry, two petitioners, told the Supreme Court yesterday, before withdrawing their petition. Former UNP MPs Prof. Ashu Marasinghe and Saman Ratnapriya de Silva withdrew the fundamental rights petitions they had filed in the SC, more..

Jun 11 (PMD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa says the Govt is ready to give its fullest support to the export sector to realize its full potential through correctly identifying and rectifying prevailing grievances and obstacles faced by it. The challenge before the exporters is to show results by expanding the export sector which is at present limited to a range of few items to greater heights aiming the international market, President said. more..

Jun 11 (AD) Covid-19 infections confirmed in SL have jumped to 1,875 as two more persons tested positive for the virus this evening. The Health Ministry says the latest virus-positive patients are two navy men under quarantine at the facility in Mullaitivu. Accordingly, a total of six fresh Covid-19 cases have been detected so far within the day. The other 4 patients were also confirmed from the Navy. Meanwhile, 28 more persons who had contracted virus recovered from disease earlier today. more..

Jun 11 (AD) At least 30 police officers including the Kollupitiya Police OIC, who were on duties near the US embassy in Colombo to disperse the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) protesters, have been sent for quarantine, the Police said. They said the officers were sent for Aththidiya Quarantine Centre. Police dispersed several activists of the FSP when they attempted to stage a protest outside the US Embassy in Kollupitiya against the killing of African-American George Floyd. more..

Jun 11 (CT) Chief Food and Drug Inspector of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA), Amith Perera said that they had yet been unable to control the abuse of the neuropathic drug Tramadol in SL, as a majority of it was smuggled to the country by sea or as baggage items. Perera said that the NMRA, as a measure of controlling the misuse, had restricted the prescribed sale of Tramadol hydrochloride to outlets of Osusala. more..

Jun 12 (CT) Just as we have been predicting the utter crushing of the UNP under the crooked and dictatorial masquerading of the lying and manipulating leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe, it must be confessed that putting to print our tragic headlines on that demise of SL’s once world-famous political party even came along with much abhorrence. We say abhorrence because Wickremesinghe, and his stool pigeons, as we now predict, will very soon be leaving behind them more..

Jun 12 (DM) There is much talk about stray dogs these days and the authorities have come under the spotlight for treating some of these friendly four-legged animals in a cruel manner. Of course there are the pros and cons when it comes to handling this issue; where in some areas it is considered a menace. For the record, in areas like Crow Island there is said to be around 2000 stray dogs and some are said to be aggressive. As a result there have been complaints, which have been made to more..

Jun 12 (CT) The world is currently battling both the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of misinformation and disinformation of the virus. While the spread of inaccurate information is common in several aspects, especially on social media, in view of COVID-19 however, this practice has been extremely harmful resulting in the death of many. Alain Labrique from the Department of Int'l Health of the John Hopkins Uni stated more..

Jun 12 (CT) Lawyers for Democracy (LfD) has condemned Prez Rajapaksa’s task force to create a virtuous society saying it is an affront to the constitution of SL and democracy. “The promulgation of a task force with wide powers which override Parliament, PM and Cabinet, Judiciary and the Public Service is an affront to the constitution and democracy,” the statement signed by Lal Wijenayake on behalf of LfD convenors noted. LfD raises concerns that Task Force has been directed more..

Jun 12 (DM) Two and a half months after entertaining nominations for this year’s parliamentary election, the National Elections Commission (NEC) had published its Code of Conduct for Political Parties /Independent Groups and Candidates contesting Elections on June 3 in the Gazette. And on Wednesday the NEC announced that the Parliamentary election would be held on Aug 5. The threat posed by COVID-19 seems to have freed the NEC from all legal more..

Jun 12 (DM) With curfews relaxed and normalcy being restored, hospitals countrywide are facing a new challenge in coping with the sudden influx of patients seeking medical check-ups and tests which were delayed during the lockdown period. Further, new safety guidelines are making it hard for hospital staff to control large crowds while ensuring people maintain a safe one-metre distance from each other as they wait their turn. more..

Jun 12 (CT) Living in challenging times can be a blessing if changes during that time move one’s country towards a fair and progressive era. Otherwise its society will be cursed for electing charismatic strong men who offer much, but actually ruin the country, as has been the case in countries like the USA, Brazil and the Philippines, just to mention a few. Since independence in 1948, SL has been ruled in turn by leaders that came from the two majoritarian parties, the SLFP and the UNP, more..

Jun 12 (DN) Political neutrality is an important feature of the public sector at all times, but it is especially important in the lead up to an election, and during the pre-election period – commencing from the filing of nominations and up to General Elections now slated for August 5. For meaningful democratic governance, it is essential to ensure neutrality, in the sense of political non-partisanship in public administration. A healthy relationship between the two is of extreme importance as more..

Jun 12 (Island) It’s back after a century, The Pandemic. Pity that the WHO delayed in declaring the virus as a global pandemic. Many lives may have been saved if a timely declaration was made. We hear of many organisations that are questioning their viability post-pandemic, especially those in the apparel, travel, hotelkeeping, events and entertainment sectors. We also hear of companies accelerating their growth because their value propositions are in high demand; more..

Jun 12 (Island) Election Commission (EC) having scheduled the general election for 5 Aug 2020, polls campaigns are bound to hot up in the coming days. Supreme Court (SC) permitted the EC to go ahead with polls preparations even as it took up for examining the fundamental rights petitions against the latter’s previous decision to hold the general election on 20 June, and the gazette issued by the Prez dissolving Parliament. The EC chose to drag its feet, and did not take prompt action more..

Jun 12 (Island) Recently, it was widely circulated in the media that there had been interferences in the decision- making process of the judiciary in relation to some high profile cases, where politicians were, involved. Series of audio recordings of phone conversations, alleged to have taken place between a MP and several high ranking officials, in SL, including the former Director of CID and some senior Judges, have been leaked more..

Jun 12 (Island) The recently established task force, for the survey and preservation of archaeological sites, in the eastern province of SL, is a worthwhile endeavour as the preservation of a peoples’ cultural heritage is an important one. The implementation of this project requires a proper understanding of the historical background in which these structures, i.e. Buddhist Stupas and Vihares, and Hindu Temples were built, and the composite Buddhist/Hindu heritage of the earlier era. more..

Jun 12 (CT) Sri Lanka, at the time of writing, is going through an interlinked epidemiological, economic and ecological crises imposed by the neoliberalist phase of global capitalism (1980- 2020). Although, in first appearance, the three crises appear to be separate from each other, they are distantly related and superimposed. In an excellent article in the Monthly Review (June 2020, Vol. 72, No 2), John Bellamy Foster and Intan Suwandi have illustrated how the three crises are inseparably linked more..

Jun 12 (Island) For the purpose of protecting jobs, the govt should consider subsidizing wages for a period of 12 months in the tourism, travel and apparel sectors in particular. Besides, it should encourage and support local businesses that create import substitutes and curb the outflow of foreign exchange, Deputy Chairman & Managing Director, Aitken Spence PLC Dr. Parakrama Dissanayake said. more..

Jun 12 (FT) DIG Waruna Jayasundara assumed duties as the new Commandant of the STF yesterday. Jayasundara is the 13th Commandant of the STF and had joined the Police Dept on 1 Feb 2001, as an ASP. He joined the STF on Apr 25, 2002. DIG Jayasundara, who was in-charge of the Western Province (North) was appointed as the STF Commandant on Tuesday after the transfer of DIG M.G.L. Gunathilaka, who held the post of STF Commandant, to Trincomalee Police Division. more..