May 8 (ST) Having a proud record of winning five international events – World Championship (2008, 2012 and 2016), World Cup (2018) and producing a World Singles Champion (2012), Carrom Federation of SL (CFSL) is eagerly awaiting the green light from authorities to go ahead with its schedule of conducting domestic tournaments. The federation, which conducts tournaments right throughout the year, says the entries for the various events is rising every year as the sport is gaining popularity more..

May 8 (EN) SL’s new no questions asked policy on deposits of foreign currency should be consistent with the country’s anti-money laundering framework, Transparency International SL (TISL) said. Recognising the need for policies to bolster foreign currency reserves, TISL expressed concern over recent steps taken by the govt in this regard. “At a time when there is an unprecedented lack of parliamentary and judicial oversight on govt more..

May 8 (CT) Former Sri Lanka head coach George Simpkin died aged 77 on Thursday in Hamilton New Zealand after a long battle with cancer. Simpkin was considered one of the best coaches in the history of the game and coached Sri Lanka in 2003/04 during which period he helped lift the game to a new level. He also coached Kandy Sports Club in 1999 and 2000, and also played a significant role in organizing the Singer Sri Lanka 7's international tournament in 2003. more..

May 8 (Island) With a dramatic loss against South Africa, it was time to regain momentum. The home team West Indies were no pushovers. With the likes of Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle in the ranks, backed by a formidable pace attack, the challenge was real, as the Windies too were looking to get their campaign going. Under a gloomy Guyanese sky Sanath Jayasuriya led the charge with his second hundred of the tournament scoring a fluent 115. more..

May 8 (Island) A request by the Secretary to the President, P. B. Jayasundara, asking the state employees to donate their May salary - fully or partially - to the govt, maybe a ruse to forestall attempts made by govt servants, to demand salary increases, secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), Joseph Stalin, says. "SL is receiving foreign aid. China has promised a lot. Other countries, too, have promised assistance. more..

May 8 (CT) Hemas Holdings PLC-controlled Club Hotel Dolphin, Waikkala, announced it has completed its fifth successful week as a dedicated COVID-19 Quarantine Centre. All operating costs during this time period is being borne by the Hemas Group and the Dolphin Hotel in the interest of supporting the Govt, frontline healthcare workers, armed forces personneland the people of the nation. Club Hotel Dolphin was handed over to the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 more..

May 8 (Island) The International Crisis Group claimed in a highly subjective statement yesterday there is rising anti-Muslim bigotry which has deep roots in Sri Lanka. It said that "in both social and traditional media, Muslims are falsely blamed for the spread of the disease and the govt is yet to take action to correct these narratives". The ICG’s full statement: "Amid COVID-19 fears, govt measures sparked concerns over intensification of crackdown on dissent, growing anti-Muslim more..

May 8 (Island) PAFFREL Convener, Rohana Hettiarachchi said that the conduct of the parliamentary election wouldn’t be possible on June 20 due to the incidence of Covid-19. Hettiarachchi, who also represents the March 12 Movement asserted that the Election Commission wouldn’t have any other option but to put off the polls at least once again. Having indefinitely postponed the polls on March 19, more..

May 8 (NR) Several trade unions have expressed their opposition to a request by the Secretary to the President Dr. PB Jayasundara to donate their salary, or a portion of it to the govt owing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. All Ceylon Govt Medical Officers Association says the request was unjustified at a time that festival bonuses, overtime payments and other allowances have been curtailed. Chairman of the Association Dr. Gishantha Dasanayake said an additional bonus should be provided to more..

May 8 (DN) The natural amount of Ozone in the lower atmosphere (ground level) in Sri Lanka has shown a significant improvement during the last few months due to the less use of motor vehicles and limit in the release of industrial emissions by major industries, CEA, Chairman Siripala Amarasinghe said. The currently existing island wide curfew has been the main reason for the reduction of motor vehicle usage and limited operation of major industries of the country. more..

May 8 (EN) Sri Lanka’s foreign reserves have dropped US$ 353 million to US$ 7,179 million, after bout of money printing led to a fall in the credibility of Sri Lanka’s soft-peg with the US dollar. Sri Lanka cut rates on Jan 30 and began injecting liquidity from late February while Coronavirus curfews brought the country to a standstill in from late March. Data in February shows a slight pick-up in credit. more..

May 8 (EN) President, PM and the cabinet of ministers could’ve set up an example by foregoing their salaries and allowances before asking govt servants to donate a portion of their salary, the opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) said. This was in response to a request made by Secretary to the President Dr P B Jayasundara last night from state sector employees to donate their salary for the month of May – or a portion of it – in a bid to reduce Sri Lanka’s budget deficit. more..

May 8 (CT) Due to the spread of COVID-19 nationwide, temples countrywide were bereft of devotees on Vesak Poya Day, which fell yesterday (7). Though in previous years, historic Buddhist shrines such as the Ruwanweliseya and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya were filled with devotees, yesterday, these places were without any devotee due to people being confined to their homes. Earlier, the Chief Prelates had instructed Buddhists not to venture out to temples to mark Vesak Poya more..

May 8 (FT) College of Medical Laboratory Science SL (CMLSSL) has raised serious concerns on the test results of suspected COVID-19 cases issued by the Uni of Sri J'pura, saying that many of the tests that came out positive from the University laboratory later turned out to be negative. CMLSSL said that serious questions have arisen about the accuracy of the reports issued as COVID-19 positive by the University lab, more..

May 8 (EN) The govt could’ve handled the COVID-19 pandemic better had it utilised the Disaster Management Act, which would also have ensured more transparency, legitimacy and accountability, former MP Karunarathna Paranawithana said. Paranavithana, representing the opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), accused the govt of making SL’s disaster management mechanism completely dormant by not using the act to fight COVID-19. The act is fully equipped to handle a pandemic more..

May 8 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa pardoned Sunil Rathnayake in March. Rathnayake is a convicted war criminal who was on death row. He was convicted of killing eight Tamil civilians, including a 5-year- SL, a country where majoritarian supremacy and impunity have long prevailed, is reiterating long-standing trends old. Releasing him from prison is outrageous and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Depressing reality is that the Rathnayake pardon isn’t anomalous. more..

May 8 (AD) As a special friendly gesture from the Government and the people of India in the ongoing auspicious Vesak week, a 12.5 tonne gift consignment of essential medicines and medical items arrived in Colombo today from India by a special flight. The gift consignment - the fourth in recent weeks - underscores the vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi, enunciated in his video conference with SAARC leaders on 15th March 2020, to jointly fight COVID-19 pandemic, Indian HC said. more..

May 8 (FT) SL and India can be considered as the only two Asian countries that have chosen and followed the democratic path since independence. Indian National Congress which led India’s freedom struggle had a very clear democratic vision from its very beginning. It can be said that the democratic outlook of the Congress had advanced further after Gandhi took over the leadership of the Congress. Congress appeared strongly for democratic values & played an important role in socialising them. more..

May 8 (DM) Despite the govt stating that curfew will be relaxed for public and private sector businesses to re-open from May 11, the Daily Mirror learns that this has caused severe confusion among the public on which businesses can function from Monday as no specific categories has been listed to date. When contacted on this, a senior official from the President's Office said the members of the Presidential Task force on economic revival more..

May 8 (AD) Two more naval personnel, who had contracted COVID-19, have been discharged following their full recovery from COVID-19 virus on Friday. They had been receiving treatment at the IDH in Angoda, SL Navy said in a statement. On that account, a total of 16 coronavirus-infected naval personnel has been discharged from hospitals so far. These two naval personnel have also tested positive to coronavirus while serving at Welisara Naval Base and admitted to IDH Hospital more..

May 8 (MFA) Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha participated in a television interview, recorded today (7), at the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) where he expanded on the Cabinet Paper presented by Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Foreign Relations, Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations regards “addressing the vulnerable sectors of the migrant labour category of Overseas Sri Lankans amidst COVID-19 pandemic by Govt of SL”. more..

May 8 (AD) The name of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appeared in the Quarterly Publication of the US Federal Register of Individuals Who Have Chosen to Expatriate. The list containing the names of the individuals who have renounced their citizenship was published in the official website of the US Federal Register today. US citizenship of President Rajapaksa came under scrutiny last year, especially in the months leading to more..

May 8 (EN) SL’s Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) said new licenses for transport of sand and other minerals would be issued under simplified process from May 11, dropping impractical rules which had led to illegal activities, an official said. The new licenses could be used from June. Under SL’s Minerals (Prospecting and mining) Act 33 of 1992, it is illegal to transport minerals without a license. The GMSB issues about 100,000 licenses a month or about 1.2 to 1.5 mil licenses a year. more..

May 8 (PMD) The SL Foreign Service Association donated Rs.2.8 million to Prez Rajapaksa to help the COVID-19 Healthcare and Social Security Fund. Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also participated on this occasion. The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council Fund, Janaka Ranawaka in Rathnapura and the Ratnapura District Medical Officers’ Association donated Rs. One million, Rs.100,000 and Rs.150,000 respectively to the Fund and the relevant cheques were handed over to Prez more..

May 8 (NR) Former State Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the statement issued by the Secretary to the President requesting state employees to donate salaries was a mere request. He said the Opposition is misinterpreting statement. He reiterated that the Secretary to the Prez Dr. PB Jayasundara made a request from state employees to donate their salary, or a portion of it only if they were willing to do so adding it was not mandatory. more..

May 8 (CT) The JVP alleged that PM Mahinda Rajapaksa had attempted to submit proposals to bring down vehicles for his Cabinet, flouting election laws and regulations. Former MP Sunil Handunnetti, claimed that the present regime had produced fake documents pertaining to the Vote on Account. "Due to the measures that have been taken by this regime to control the spread of COVID-19, several issues have cropped up. People are facing severe economic issues, while the lives of those more..

May 8 (CT) Govt must explain to the people as to why they decided to perform the last rites of certain individuals who passed away recently, under quarantine guidelines, even though these individuals were not identified as COVID-19 positive, asked former MP Rohini Kavirathna. Kavirathna claimed that even though certain individuals who passed away during the last few weeks were allegedly not COVID-19 positive, the Govt had carried out the last rites of these individuals under quarantine more..

May 8 (AD) Hundred and eighteen persons, consisting of 98 in Sampoor and 20 in Oluvil Naval quarantine centers, who were undergoing the mandatory quarantine period, left the respective centers after completion of their quarantine process, on Friday (08). The 98 persons who left the quarantine center established at HQ premises of Naval Marine Force in Sampoor, are residents of Gunasinghepura, Dam Street, more..

May 8 (CT) Former UNF MP, Lakshman Kiriella claimed that his son had not behaved in an unbecoming manner at the BIA being a part of the group of Sri Lankans who were brought down to Colombo by the Govt from London recently. Certain websites and social media platforms had reported that Kiriella's son had allegedly been involved in a fracas with Airport officers upon arrival with the group of Sri Lankans. Kiriella said that he had already lodged a complaint with Acting IGP more..

May 8 (FT) Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has advised exporters not to cut jobs despite the challenging times posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He made these remarks at a special meeting this week with key officials of the EDB and BOI to discuss on the way-forward strategies of exports and investment promotion. “Govt has taken a firm stand that not a single manufacturing facility should be closed down or lay-off its workers due to coronavirus,” he said. more..

May 8 (AD) SL Police said that 859 individuals were arrested for violating the curfew within the 24 hours ending from 6 a.m. this morning. Some 206 vehicles were also taken into custody during that period. Accordingly, police has so far arrested a total of 48,725 persons and taken into custody 12,654 vehicles in connection with curfew violations. Mawathagama Police Station alone has taken 70 motorcycles into custody for traveling without more..

May 8 (DM) Director of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Dr Sarath Weerabandara has been transferred to the Ministry of Health with effect from May 6. Secretary of the Ministry of Health Bhadrani Jayawardena has sent a directive regarding the transfer. Deputy Director of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Dr Chandana Kendangamuwa has been appointed as the Acting Director of the hospital. Ministry of Health has announced that the transfer has been made pending investigation into more..

May 8 (NR) US National Security Council says President Donald Trump has offered to provide ventilators to Sri Lanka. US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien yesterday spoke with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. O’Brien during the discussion reaffirmed the long history of US-Sri Lanka friendship and cooperation. The National Security Council Twitter handle said the two discussed US and Sri Lanka COVID-19 response efforts. O’Brien meanwhile had conveyed more..

May 8 (CT) A Retired Superintendent of Police (SP) has allegedly shot and killed a dog which was kept as a pet at a neighbouring house in Periyamulla, Negombo, yesterday. It was learnt that the pet dog belonged to human rights activist Brito Fernando. According to Fernando, the dog had been let out for its morning walk at about 6:20 a.m. "When we let our dog out, he usually comes back after about 5 minutes. more..

May 8 (DM) Several insurance companies had introduced health coverage through mobile operators to pay compensation to people diagnosed with COVID-19 and those killed by the disease, Insurance Regulatory Commission (IRC) Director General Damayanthi Fernando said. She said mobile operators had agreed to pay the premium and customers of the respective mobile operator will be eligible for the coverage. “The customers do not have to make any contribution. more..

May 8 (EN) Facing a storm of protest the govt is saying that the proposed pay-cut for state sector employees was a personal request made by the Secretary to the President and not an order. Earlier the Prez’s Secretary P B Jayasundera sent out a memo to heads of state sector bodies asking employees to forego all or part of their May salaries to help with the budget deficit arising from the COVID 19 crisis. His request extended to members of the armed forces and police as well. more..

May 8 (AD) Chairman of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board Premachandra Epa, issuing a press release announced that, steps have been taken to pay the Rs. 5,000 allowance, for the Farmer and Fisherman pensioners for the month of May, on the instruction of the President. Accordingly arrangements have been made for all the farmer and fisherman pensioners to obtain this Rs. 5,000 at relevant post office on more..

May 8 (EN) SJB has filed a Right to Information request to Director-General of Health Services Dr Anil Jasinghe asking for information related to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in SL. Former MP Harsha de Silva confirmed said that the alliance has submitted the request with the signatures of a number of other SJB members, many of hem former MP. The requests are trying to clear up a number of questions that have been circulating but govt officials have been refusing to answer. more..

May 8 (DM) The Health Ministry, today, set new strict guidelines for barber shops and beauty parlors to resume operations once the curfew is relaxed from May 11. According to an internal document prepared by the Health Ministry, it says only cutting/trimming of hair, dying of hair, manicure/pedicure and waxing of arms and legs will be permitted. No other procedure can be performed, the new guidelines state. Further, any owner or management who intend to open their salons should make more..