Jun 19 (EN) Washington-based World Bank is providing Sri Lanka US$ 56 million to take forward its fight against Coronavirus under several program, Minister Bandula Gunewardene said. Many World Bank loans have a Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) which can be released in an emergency. “World Bank is giving US$ 56 million under concessional terms several programs for the fight against Covid-19,” he said. “The cabinet had given the approval more..

Jun 19 (PTI) SL's Twenty20 captain Lasith Malinga will not be part of team''s second residential training camp, starting June 22 in Kandy, as a 24-member squad was announced on Thursday. A six-member unit of coaches and other support staff will work with the players during the camp at the Pallekele stadium. "The arrangements for the next camp is aimed at becoming the best prepared int'l team post-Covid–19 and to be ready to play at any given time," said Mickey Arthur, head coach of the team. more..

Jun 19 (DM) Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) leader Mano Ganesan scoffed rumours that his party was to leave the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and withdraw from the elections. “There was a report in the media that we were to leave SJB shortly. This is far from being the truth. We are more close to SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa than before. The TPA as one of the pioneers of SJB will never leave that alliance,” Mr. Ganesan said. more..

Jun 19 (FT) Former UNP MP S.M. Marikkar charged that Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s criticism of the Central Bank in effect reflected on the Minister in charge of the banking regulator - PM and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Marikkar told the media that considering the comments of Prez Rajapaksa on Tuesday during the meeting with Central Bank officials, the subject Minister must take the blame as well. “Only if the President didn’t factor this (Finance Minister’s responsibility), more..

Jun 19 (FT) In line with the Govt’s rapid development plans for SME, agriculture and society, Bank of Ceylon said it would extend its facilities to a number of selected sectors as well as slash interest rates. The benefit of these facilities will be extended to a wide-range of the bank’s products and services, including development loans for agriculture and SME/micro-finance development loan schemes, leasing and leasing facilities, personal loan categories including personal loans for more..

Jun 19 (CT) State Intelligence Service Director, Major General Suresh Sallay, has written to the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) offices in Sri Lanka against alleged defamatory statements made to the Press concerning him by the Executive Director of the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), Yasmin Sooka. Attorney-at-Law representing Sallay, Pasan Weerasinghe, handed over the letter more..

Jun 19 (FT) Tea exporters yesterday welcomed the Government decision to suspend tea marketing and promotion levy for six months. “The removal is a big relief to exporters and will give strength to buy more tea and create more demand at the auction. This will help boost prices at the auction,” Tea Exporters Association (TEA) Immediate Past Chairman Jayantha Karunaratne who is also the Chairman of Ceylon Tea Traders Association (CTTA) told the Daily FT. more..

Jun 19 (Island) With the objective of sustaining the lives of approximately 144,000 persons directly involved in the tourism industry and linked to establishments registered with the SL Tourism Development Authority, following relief measures have been proposed with implementation mechanisms. 1. Provide a loan at 4% to accommodation providers and destination management companies (DMCs) registered under SLTDA to pay salaries for approximately more..

Jun 19 (PMD) Today (18) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met with the EU ambassadors at the Presidential Secretariat. The discussion centered on rebuilding the economy after passing the COVID-19 crisis. The country was able to quickly deploy the public health system to address the health threat caused by the pandemic, explained President. The Public Health Inspectors with the support of the Police and Security Forces were able to more..

Jun 19 (DM) All Ceylon Jamiyathul Ulama (ACJU) had been issuing fatwas (rulings according to Islamic law) since 1979 against Sufis, considering the ACJU incorporation Act (No 51/2000), but the Act does endorse the organization to issue any fatwas against Sufis, Alhaj Abdul Jawaadh Alim Waliyyullah Trust President Simak Sinnalebbe informed the PCoI. Testifying before the Commission, he said that the Parliament did not give such powers to the ACJU through the Act to take decisions against more..

Jun 19 (EN) SL’s top 50 listed companies were moderately transparent in corporate reporting with John Keells Holdings leading the pack, but they were poor in disclosing anti-corruption program. Transparency International SL said the top publicly traded companies scored an average of 6.73 out of 10 in its first Transparency in Corporate Reporting (TRAC) report. “The purpose of conducting this review to really understand the way in which the largest corporate entities in the country more..

Jun 19 (DM) In response to former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s allegation that the 2011 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka was fixed, former SL Cricketers Mahela Jayawardana and Kumar Sangakkara demanded the names and evidence involved, be revealed. In an interview, Aluthgamage alleged that he can responsibly claim that the match was sold to India by certain parties. more..

Jun 19 (Island) Mannakanna, one of the suspects taken into custody in connection with the manna knife attack on underworld figure Kanchipan Imran’s father, on Wednesday night at Grandpass, has told police that they were trying to avenge the killing of the father of rival underworld figure Pukudukanna, in 2018. Kanchipan Imran’s father was rushed to the National Hospital with serious injuries. Police said the victim was out of danger. Pukudukanna’s father was shot dead opposite Modera post office. more..

Jun 19 (AD) A total of 23 positive cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed on Thursday (18). All these patients are reportedly imported case – 19 returnees from Dubai, 2 from Qatar at the Ampara quarantine centre, 1 from London at the Rajagiriya quarantine centre and another one from Russia at the Pitipana quarantine centre. Following the confirmation of these fresh cases, SL’s COVID-19 cases tally escalated to 1,947. Meanwhile, the number of patients who recovered moved up to 1,421. more..

Jun 19 (Island) Three polls monitoring groups, namely the CMEV, PAFFREL and CaFFE warned that the electoral process could be further undermined as a result of candidates quitting the contest. Referring to three SJB candidates pulling out of the contest since June 9, monitoring groups questioned the possibility that such withdrawals were premeditated as part of a strategy to undermine a particular political party. more..

Jun 19 (AD) One suspect arrested over the stabbing attack on the father of notorious drug kingpin Kanjipani Imran has been remanded until July 02 after being before Colombo Additional Magistrate today (19). In the meantime, the court also granted permission to detain three more suspects for 24 hours for interrogation. On Wednesday evening (17), three individuals, who arrived in a three-wheeler, had attacked Kanjipani Imran’s father using sharp weapons. more..

Jun 19 (AD) Another group of Sri Lankans in Australia has been brought back to the island early this morning. A special flight belonging to the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, landed at the BIA with 98 Sri Lankans aboard. Most of these returnees are students pursuing higher education in Australia. In the meantime, 58 Indian navy men, who arrived in SL last night to work in a ship anchored at Galle Port, have been subjected to PCR testing upon arrival. more..

Jun 19 (FT) The decision reached by Mangala Samaraweera who is considered a colourful, controversial, daring and creative political figure in the old or the traditional political landscape of Sri Lanka, which is currently on the verge of decay and death, to abandon the course of traditional politics and choose to tread on an alternative path can be seen as a silver line in the pitch darkness. Despite the serious cardiac condition suffered a few days ago, I am bound to produce this brief note more..

Jun 19 (FT) There is a cottage industry of pontificating post-COVID as the unromantic realities of the sheer scale of economic devastation wrought are coming home to roost. So, as Lanka seeks to suit up and gear up, and dive into the fray, as we seek to invigorate and focus what was pre-COVID an already relatively weakened and debt burdened economy, it can seem more than daunting. Companies have to be the lifeblood of this recovery and magical thinking or patriotic slogans more..

Jun 19 (EN) Sri Lanka is amending its University Act to permit more foreign universities to set up shop on the island, President Rajapaksa has told European Union Ambassadors in Colombo. A Media release issued by the Prez Secretariat said that the Prez had informed the envoys that UGC is amending its Act to allow more universities to enter SL. In the meeting with EU ambassadors yesterday, Prez had expressed his interest more..

Jun 19 (AD) All movie theatres will be permitted to resume screenings from June 27, says the Cultural Affairs Ministry. The Secretary to the Ministry, M.K.B. Harischandra said, movie theatres will however be subjected to health guidelines introduced by the authorities. Screenings at all movie theatres were halted since early March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which interrupted the private and public sector activities as well as civilian life. However, as the country is gradually more..

Jun 19 (EN) SL’s average coconut prices fell 0.31% to 48,118 rupees for a 1000 nuts at last auction on June 11, from 48,269 rupees a week earlier, extending a two week fall. The highest price was 56,600 rupees for 1,000 nuts, and the lowest, 44,000 rupees at the auction conducted by Coconut Development Authority on June 11. Buyers offered 1,181,880 nuts at the auction and sold 572,543 nuts. SL’s coconut prices have picked up steadily from an average of 38,215 when auctions resumed more..

Jun 19 (AD) The Secretary to the Ministry of Sports has called for an immediate probe into the allegations made by Mahindananda Aluthgamage on match-fixing at the 2011 World Cup final. Mahindananda recently made a controversial statement, claiming that he does not accept Sri Lanka’s defeat in the 2011 World Cup (final) as a defeat. “According to the information I have received I believe that it was match-fixing,” more..

Jun 19 (PMD) US Ambassador in SL Alaina B. Teplitz called on Prez Rajapaksa at the President’s Office today (22). The Ambassador was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Mission Martin Kelly and the Chief of Political Officer Anthony Renzulli. The two parties were engaged in a cordial discussion. Ambassador of Japan to SL Sugiyama Akira also called on the President for a friendly discussion. The discussion was attended by the Deputy Chief of Mission Toshihiro Kithamura, more..

Jun 19 (EAF) The voyage from Serendib to Sri Lanka through Ceylon continues to be an uninterrupted tale of opportunities lost, scorned and spurned. The brutal end to the quarter-century war with the Tamil Tiger separatists in 2009 brought an unprecedented opportunity for the govt to heal the Sinhala–Tamil ethnic divide. But now a new front is opening, one against SL’s Muslim minority. Events since the Easter attacks of 2019 are reinforcing the belief that tolerance & inclusive governance more..

Jun 19 (PMD) Prez Rajapaksa stated that measures will be taken to provide govt assistance to improve the Piriven and Dhamma school education. Prez highlighted the importance of accessibility for Piriven students to learn English Language and Information Technology in addition to other subjects in their curricular. Prez made these comments yesterday (18) during the 3rd meeting with the Buddhist Advisory Council more..

Jun 19 (EN) A Bombayite is a guest of the SL govt, not in the sense of an incarcerated person or an invited personage. Now he is in a SL Healthcare facility because of an unusual circumstance. The passenger, according to the authorities arrived in Colombo from Mumbai on an Indigo Flight at 5:30 in the evening of Wednesday Jun 17. He was in transit and left for Doha on a Qatar Airways flight 669 in the early hours of June 18. Transit passengers are not checked for COVID 19 symptoms at the BIA. more..

Jun 19 (DM) Former MP Namal Rajapaksa has called for the International Cricket Council to look into the allegations of match fixing during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. “I implore the ICC and the Hon. Min of Sports to immediately take action on these accusations & hold an impartial investigation on the matter, based on this alleged evidence,” Rajapaksa said in a tweet. “Accusations such as these are very serious and tarnish the image of a sport that we all truly love,” he added. more..

Jun 19 (DM) Former Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said he had already complained to the ICC regarding the alleged match fixing incident in 2011 and demanded an investigation to be carried out to find out how certain cricket officials allegedly purchased car companies and started new businesses within a year of losing the the match. He reiterated that he did not refer to any players, but officials in the cricket industry. more..

Jun 19 (AD) Investigations into the coordinated terror attacks on Easter Sunday have revealed that the brother of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen, Bathiudeen Mohamed Riyaj, has had maintained direct links with the bombers, says the Police Spokesperson. SSP Jaliya Senaratne stated this, responding to a question on the progress of the probes regarding the former minister’s brother. Bathiudeen Mohamed Riyaj is currently under the custody of the CID. more..

Jun 19 (Island) Four new species of Asian jumping spiders have been found in SL. Known as Synagelides Strand, 1906, this group has been discovered for the first time in SL. This is also the first Asian jumping spider discovery in the world since Nov 2019, when in India a Gujarati researcher named a newly discovered jumping spider after cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, naming the spider Marengo sachintendulkar. In 2017, one new species of Synagelides Strand, more..

Jun 19 (DM) 23 Sri Lankans who were working in Middle Eastern countries have succumbed to COVID-19 during past three months, Foreign Employment Bureau (SLFEB) said. The highest number of deaths has been reported from UAE including 7 deaths from Dubai and 1 from Abu Dhabi. The remaining deaths have been reported from Kuwait, Saudi & Oman. “We still don’t know how many housemaids were among them. more..

Jun 19 (TM) Former SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa today said there was huge potential in the youth tourism market and that Sri Lanka should strategise to reap the full benefits of this market. Rajapaksa was addressing an event organised by SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO). He said based on UNWTO research the youth tourism market consisted of approximately 370 million tourists and was valued at $ 400 billion. He said even though the research was done before more..

Jun 19 (Island) Akhila Illankai Tamil Maha Sabha (AITMS), which is contesting the upcoming parliamentary poll in the Eastern Province in alliance with the TMVP, is seeking the rejection of the EPDP's nomination lists for the Trincomalee and Ampara Districts on the basis of a constitutional irregularity, AITMS leader Dr. Kasilingam Wigneswaran said. The constitutional irregularity or 'peculiarity in nomination' consists in the fact that an EPDP candidate (no.2) has been nominated more..

Jun 19 (MB) On June 15, Sri Lanka’s wildlife and nature lovers were finally able to gain access to several national parks, which had been closed for three months in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka ended its lockdown phase in late May, and the national parks are being reopened, albeit with some changes in procedure aimed at keeping people healthy and improving visitor behavior. more..

Jun 19 (NR) Former MP Hirunika Premachandra has questioned as to whether controversial claims charging that the 2011 Cricket World Cup final was fixed, are being made with the upcoming general election in mind. She said that SL gained int'l popularity because of the National Cricket team. She stressed that Mahindananda Aluthgamage making such controversial statements to discredit Lankan Cricketers would cause fans to question their values while also posting a bad social image. more..

Jun 19 (AD) Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) announces the following changes in S&P Sri Lanka 20 index constituents made by S&P Dow Jones Indices at the 2020 mid-year index rebalance. A revision of the S&P SL20 methodology in March 2017 established the practice of a semiannual rebalance of the index (previously conducted annually), which is set to take place during the months of June and December each year. The revision also established the inclusion of more..

Jun 19 (AD) Attorney General Dappula de Livera said today the prisons have become the playgrounds of criminals and pointed out that the prison department lacked honest and efficient officers. He said this when addressing prison officers at the Welikada Prison and claimed that a majority of the jailers were addicted to taking bribes from criminals. “It is a well known secret that prison inmates are protected by prison more..

Jun 19 (AD) Number of patients who recovered from the COVID-19 has increased to 1,446 today as 25 more virus-positive returned to health. These recoveries are reported from the IDH (10), Welikanda Base Hospital (5), Colombo East Base Hospital (1), Kattankudy Base Hospital (1), Homagama Base Hospital (3) and Theldeniya Base Hospital (5). The positive cases of novel coronavirus confirmed in the country hiked to 1,947 on Thursday as 23 more persons tested positive more..