May 19 (AD) Dept of Irrigation has warned that the water levels of 3 rivers – Kalu, Ging and Nilwala – have reached minor flood levels, due to the heavy rainfall during the past 24 hours. Accordingly, communities in floodplains of Ratnapura, Elapatha, Kuruwita, Kiriella, Ayagama DS divisions in Ratnapura District have been advised to stay vigilant and to evacuate to safe places due to rising water level of Kalu River. more..

May 19 (EN) SL’s average coconut prices grew to 6.5% to 47,098 rupees for a 1000 nuts from 44,241 rupees a week earlier, the highest since January 2020, data from the second action in May showed. The May 16 prices are the highest seen since Jan 30, when prices hit 49,382 rupees. The key buyers at the auctions are from industrial sectors such as dessicated coconut and oil mills. Sri Lanka has been conducting coconut auctions online through zoom.com from last month as more..

May 19 (AD) Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera has left the CID a short while ago. The former UNP MP arrived at the CID this morning to record a statement for the second day. He has left the premises after recording a nearly 5-hour long statement. Samaraweera first produced a statement to the CID on May 14, over the investigations into an incident of misusing state property. He was summoned by the CID to give a statement regarding allegations of using buses belonging to more..

May 19 (AD) Govt of India, under the Vande Bharat Mission, is undertaking the largest ever evacuation of stranded Indian nationals across the world back to the country, says the High Commission of India in Colombo. As a part of this Mission, the special Air India flight (AI 0276) has been scheduled from Colombo to Mumbai on May 29. Based on the registrations received by the High Commission of India, more..

May 19 (DM) Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) has arrested an individual in connection with Rs. 3 million fraud involving face masks. The CCD commenced an investigation into a complaint by an individual in Wattala claiming that the suspect had obtained Rs. 3 million promising to supply a stock of face masks. However, 30-year-old suspect, resident of Sewanagala, neither handed over face masks nor money. Police also recovered 3.5grams of heroin from suspect's possession. more..

May 19 (DM) The air quality in Colombo has deteriorated with curfew being relaxed, said H.D.S. Premasiri, Senior Scientist of the Air Quality Unit at the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO). He said the reason for air quality to aggravate was the resumption of work from last Monday, which saw the gradual increase in vehicular movement and industrial activity. “Currently, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stands at a moderate level of around 60 in Colombo. more..

May 19 (AD) Supreme Court has postponed until tomorrow the further consideration of the Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging the date of the General Election. Further consideration of the petitions will resume at 10 a.m. tomorrow. Seven fundamental rights petitions filed challenging the gazette issued declaring June 20 as the date of the General Election 2020 and the gazette notification issued by the President dissolving more..

May 19 (Island) The Election Commission (EC) should take steps to ensure that all heads of local councils who had taken leave to contest the general election are treated equally by political party leaders, the National Coordinator of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Manjula Gajanayake said yesterday. Gajanayake told The Island that out of the 3,652 candidates contesting the coming general election through political parties, many were local council members. more..

May 19 (Island) The Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), urged the govt to reveal information about its proposed private sector venture to manufacture single triple phosphate using the Eppawala phosphate deposit. Moderator of MONLAR, Chinthaka Rajapakshe said: "At a recent Cabinet press briefing it was revealed that the govt was planning to manufacture single triple phosphate using the Eppawala phosphate mine. This is to be done with the support of a private company. more..

May 19 (DM) A total of 177 Army Officers including former Defence Attaché at SL High Commission in London Brigadier Priyanka Fernando have been promoted to their next ranks by Prez Rajapaksa coinciding with 11th National War Heroes Commemoration, the Army said. Accordingly, five Brigadiers, 4 Colonels of SL Army Volunteer Force, 39 Majors, 69 Captains and 60 Second Lieutenants were promoted to their next ranks with more..

May 19 (Island) Palestinians would continue to stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of the April 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bomb explosions, at several churches, hotels and a housing complex in Sri Lanka, says the Palestinian Ambassador Zuheir Dar Zaid. Speaking at a commemoration ceremony held at the Palestinian Embassy in Colombo recently, attended by First Secretary Hisham Abu Thaha and a few members of the staff, Ambassador Zaid said that no one could more..

May 19 (Island) Power and Energy Minister Mahinda Amaraweera is keen to fast-track the proposed two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power projects at Kerawalapitiya, considering the grave power crisis the country will have to face in the future. The Cabinet approved both projects last week. The Island reported in its February 15 edition that the Minister had done his utmost to advance the two projects before Parliament was dissolved. But the Covid-19 pandemic delayed them. more..

May 19 (AD) Deaths of two individuals have been reported from the Ratnapura District owing to the prevailing inclement weather. According to the Police, a 9-year-old boy has died as a part of a house in the Batapola area of Wewelwatta had collapsed due to an earth slip. A 30-year-old woman from Lellupitiya, Ratnapura had been killed as a tree had fallen on to a shop in the area. In addition, a mother and daughter more..

May 19 (Island) The task force appointed to reform the education sector and to overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19 to the education sector had failed to come up with a single solution to the issues it was supposed to address, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin told The Island yesterday. "When the committee was appointed a few months ago, we warned that nothing would come out because they got the composition wrong. more..

May 19 (AD) A Kuwait Airways flight carrying 300 Sri Lankan nationals from Kuwait landed at BIA in Katunayake, a short while ago. The group of Sri Lankans arrived in the country onboard Kuwait Airways flight KU 1451 this evening. The repatriation of Sri Lankans who have sought to benefit from the Amnesty declared by the Kuwaiti Govt for Sri Lankans who are out of status commenced today. Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who had a telephone discussion with his Kuwaiti more..

May 19 (AD) Total count of confirmed COVID-19 infections in SL surpassed the grim milestone of 1,000 today. 28 more persons tested positive for coronavirus as of 6.00 pm, while the cases tally soared to 1,020. All these patients have been identified as navy men who are undergoing quarantine at the facility in Oluvil. In the meantime, 10 coronavirus patients were discharged from IDH, Iranawila Hospital, Homagama Base Hospital more..

May 19 (Island) The JVP, on Sunday, alleged that supporters of the Rajapaksa family were slinging mud at their rivals because of their inferiority complex. JVP National Organiser and former MP Bimal Ratnayake, addressing the media via social media from the party headquarters at Pelawatte, said the government had its paid social media workers sling mud at the JVP. "They publish false news using our letterheads. They publish fake news using our photos. more..

May 19 (Reuters) The BCCI have decided that they will wait for further clarity on int'l travel restrictions before making a call on the tour of Sri Lanka in July. Virat Kohli's team are scheduled to play three one-dayers and as many T20 Internationals in Sri Lanka but the series is under threat due to measures imposed to battle the Coronavirus pandemic. "Nothing has been decided as yet, because we are not sure what would be the travel restrictions then," BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal said. more..

May 19 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa says he will not allow anyone to exert undue pressure on the country’s war heroes or harass them and also assured he will not hesitate to withdraw Sri Lanka from any international body or organization that continuously targets the country and its war heroes using baseless allegations. He made these comments while delivering a speech during the ceremony held today at the National War more..

May 20 (CT) Unless Parliament is functional by June 1, Sri Lanka may cease to be recognized as a democracy, with the current constitutional deadlock posing a greater threat to democratic governance than the 2018 coup, attorney-at-law Suren Fernando told the Supreme Court as proceedings in the eight FR cases before the courts on the matter of reconvening Parliament resumed on Tuesday. The Supreme Court must step into the resolve the deadlock before that date, the lawyer urged. more..

May 20 (CT) ‘Our heroic Sinhala Ranaviruvo have roundly defeated and decimated the Tamil terrorists in the war in May 2009’. That, in essence, is the refrain of the Southern political class in post-war Sri Lanka and the theme that sustains all bluster and braggadocio of the hardcore Sinhala ultra-nationalists. That is rather a simplistic assertion. Tamil militancy represented our collective resistance to Sinhala majoritarian oppression and tyranny. In the face of state-sponsored terrorism more..

May 20 (SO) Sri Lanka will not be facing a food shortage due to the ongoing pandemic and one of the contributing factors to this is the burgeoning home gardens, Additional Secretary of Agricultural Technology at the Ministry of Irrigation, Mahaweli Development & Agriculture Dr. Ajantha de Silva said. He was referring to the Saubhagya National Program Harvesting and Cultivation which was formally launched in more..

May 20 (Island) On May 6, 2020, President Rajapaksa instructed the Presidential Task Force in charge of the Economic Revival and Poverty Eradication to formulate a new economic model to revitalise the economy adversely affected by the COVID–19 pandemic. President also asked the Task Force to prepare plans to meet specified objectives, in different areas, and implement those plans as soon as possible. There should be plans to support new businesses & extend fullest cooperation more..

May 20 (DM) Health and defence authorities on Sunday claimed that they have contained the coronavirus threat in the country, as no infections have been reported for the past two weeks outside the navy cluster and quarantine centres which are under their microscope. Only a political hypocrite who might fear that the credit for the success in bringing the COVID-19 under control would go to the government or to the ruling SLPP – would be unhappy over this situation. more..

May 20 (TM) The WHO last week stated that the world will have to learn to live with Covid-19 as it would not be eliminated anytime soon. Like many other countries, Sri Lanka too seems to have understood this, having recommenced activities in 23 districts with the Colombo and Gampaha Districts still functioning under indefinite curfew. On Monday (11), state institutions and private establishments in the Colombo and Gampaha Districts were more..

May 20 (ST) Existential perils to the democratic, constitutional model on which the SL Republic was constructed now quickening apace, does not even have the excitement of novelty to spark the imagination. There is nothing very special in the creeping militarisation of governance that we are witnessing. From increasing numbers of miltary men who are elbowing public servants out of positions of high state responsibility sans national protest to a Prez who commands the remainder in more..

May 20 (ST) Tomorrow the Supreme Court is set to take up several fundamental rights applications challenging the decision of the Election Commission to hold the postponed general elections on the 20th of June in the midst of a raging coronavirus conflagration which has kept a fear stricken populace locked behind closed doors under a two month long curfew and brought the economic life of the nation to a grinding standstill. The petitioners’ contention, among other issues, more..

May 20 (DM) Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 outbreak has indicated a silver lining. In fact, it has paved the way for budding inventors to put their knowledge into good use during the lockdown period to innovate new equipment to help medical staff and other officials in the frontlines to battle against the deadly virus. So far the SL Inventors Commission (SLIC) has received over 250 such inventions where some are being evaluated while others have been patented or already sent for production. more..

May 20 (Island) SL brought the war to a successful conclusion, on May 19, eleven years ago, on the banks of the Nanthikadal lagoon. Victory was achieved, following a relentless nearly 3-year-long campaign that crushed the conventional military capability of the LTTE, which, the pundits had been claiming for years, as something not within the capability of the SL security forces. Unfortunately, SL’s triumph triggered an unprecedented political turmoil, in wake of heavy foreign interference, more..

May 20 (DM) Daily Mirror spoke to Brito Fernando, a well-known long-standing Human Rights activist and trade unionist who recently waged a battle for animal rights after his pet dog Max was brutally shot and killed on Vesak Poya day. Q: What made you become a human rights activist? A: I was involved in left politics with the NSSP and trade unions since 1977. We were tear-gassed, baton-charged, imprisoned and some of our group more..

May 20 (Island) The current national health emergency has crippled every business but the narcotic trade, which continues to thrive. There have been several successful drug-busting operations, in different parts of the country, since the imposition of lockdowns and curfews, the latest being the detection of 225 kilos of heroin on 14 May. This alone is proof that the supply of narcotics has not dwindled in spite of restrictions on transport and the heavy military and police presence on roads. more..

May 20 (CT) World Bank's (WB) Board of Executive Directors on Monday approved a US$ 69.33 million credit facility to Sri Lanka for use in launching the Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal (KMTT) Development Project, the WB said. This loan includes a US$ 64.33 million concessional credit facility under a 30-year repayment period and a five-year grace period, as well as a US$ 5 million non-concessional credit facility under a 10-year repayment period with a 5-year grace period. more..

May 20 (ST) SL economy is set to face a modest recession of around – 0.6 or a slow growth of 1.4% if the coronavirus is contained within two or three more months under moderate global recovery even with high overall impact on SL, economic analysts said. The COVID-19 economic shock is now affecting govt revenue with almost half of the income (revenue) flowing from import taxes (much reduced now), and 1/3rd from taxes more..

May 20 (Island) Dankotuwa Porcelain PLC, renowned for its luxurious and elegant porcelain tableware donated some units of their all new steam inhalers to the Healthcare Sector in Sri Lanka. Designed and advised by Dr. Charith Nanayakkara, lecturer attached to the Department of Surgery, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University and who specializes in Neurosurgery, this modified steam inhaler is ideal for individuals affected by any respiratory tract infections. more..

May 20 (CT) The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy is similar to what it suffered on the eve of the LTTE's defeat, ie in 2008, which year coincided with the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the Great Recession (GR). Merchandise exports led by garments, Sri Lanka's second largest foreign exchange ( FX) earner, remittances, its largest FX earner and services exports led by tourism, the country's third largest FX earner have all taken a hit due to this pandemic. more..

May 20 (CT) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that his Ministry would give the greenlight to the inter-provincial bus service with effect from today, but not in areas which have been identified as high risk to COVID-19. He however asserted that the public transport service has only been approved by the Govt to accommodate the State and private sector workers to their workplaces and to return home. more..

May 20 (Island) A principal challenge faced by JKH currently in its consumer foods sector is the change in consumer behaviour in the new normal. The reduction in disposable income may result in a negative trend in indulgence goods and impulse purchases which will have an impact on our product range', chairman, John Keells Holdings PLC Krishan Balendra said. On the question of how private sector businesses could help in reviving the local economy currently, the JKH chairman said more..

May 20 (TM) Dialog Axiata has announced that it is reimbursing up to Rs. 1,000 for every bill paid by its customers, in a bid to encourage them to settle large outstanding bills. SL’s leading mobile service provider on 15 May announced that for the first reload or bill payment made through their app, customers would get a payback of 100% up to Rs. 1,000. The announcement came last week following the easing of curfew restrictions as unpaid voice and data bills accumulated during curfew period. more..

May 20 (CT) Daughter of the Election Commission (EC) Member, Prof Ratnajeevan Hoole, who had been undergoing the 14-day mandatory quarantine process at the Jetwing Blue Hotel in Negombo upon her return home from the UK, had reportedly arrived at the EC along with her father and sibling on 18 May. Ililini Hoole had allegedly arrived at the EC Office accompanied by her father and at a time when more..