May 26 (CT) Former Chief Justice Sarath Nanda Silva claimed that as the Commissioner General of Elections has been vested with supervisory powers, the latter should also be granted the power to conduct elections here. He claimed further that as per Articles of the Constitution, such powers could easily be handed over to the Commissioner General. He claimed that since the Election Commission's (EC) work could reach a crisis situation as it is at the moment, the need has risen to transfer more..

May 26 (Island) The govt should empower and work with farmers’ associations, cooperatives and small mill owners if it wanted to find a permanent solution to annual rice shortages experienced by the people, Chinthaka Rajapakshe of Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) said. Rajapakshe added that during a televised meeting with large scale rice mill owners and govt officials, the former insisted that they had purchased paddy from farmers at Rs. 55 and that it was impossible more..

May 26 (AD) Steps will be taken to resume the activities of the sports sector in Sri Lanka with effect from June 01, Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said. He mentioned this attending an event for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to donate medical equipment worth Rs 15 million including a brand new PCR test machine to assist the country’s efforts to re-strengthen Sri Lankan sports sector affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. more..

May 26 (NR) SJB charges the govt of concealing the agreement with India pertaining to the East Container Terminal of the Colombo Port. Former MP Ajith P Perera said information has been revealed of an agreement being reached between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Prez Rajapaksa over the terminal. Perera requested the govt to promptly reveal the truth to the people. He claimed that an agreement of US$ 1.1 billion has been purportedly agreed between the two leaders in a phone more..

May 26 (AD) Universities will reopen on the 15th of June for the examinations of students of Medial Faculties, says the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). A media briefing on resuming functions at universities, chaired by Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, is currently taking place at the Department of Government Information. Since mid-March, all universities remained closed as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 outbreak. more..

May 26 (AD) Seventy-two fresh cases of the novel coronavirus have been identified in Sri Lanka. The new cases spike the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 1,278 cases. Earlier today, 24 coronavirus patients were identified and 19 of them were confirmed to be returnees from Kuwait who are undergoing the mandatory quarantine procedure while 05 of them were Navy personnel. more..

May 27 (CT) A commentator in Colombo Telegraph caught my eye when he remarked on 21 May: Today at the cabinet meeting Gotabaya Rajapaksa asserted that even if SC orders that Parliament be reconvened, he would not do so. He will use his presidential powers to veto, postpone, or reconvene and immediately suspend. If by directly flouting a court order or by covert means Gota subverts a verdict of the SC, it would signal a political coup; not just a de facto suspension, but an actual more..

May 27 (CT) The former MP M.A. Sumanthiran’s recent Sinhala-language interview (Truth with Chamuditha) and a selectively distorted presentation of this interview in Tamil by the Capital TV (controlled by interests close to the SL govt), seemed to have stirred a hornet’s nest. While such controversies are often viewed as unfortunate and unwarranted, they also provide unique opportunities to reassess one’s thoughts and positions on the continuing Tamil struggle for equality & justice more..

May 27 (CT) It goes without saying that COVID-19 has hampered daily activities around the world; and yet it has claimed over 325,000 lives despite the safety restrictions imposed in various countries. SL has also taken several measures to curtail the disease's spread ever since the first patient was reported in March, which led to the islandwide Police curfew imposed on 20 March that saw public transport services, schools, uni, more..

May 27 (DM) Attempts taken to create racial disharmony by certain electronic media institutions over a Muslim death in Weligama was able to be prevented because of the timely intervention by the Chairman Weligama UC, claims a fellow Muslim resident in the area. According to Hussan Marikkar, a resident in Weligama, if not for Chairman Weligama UC Rehaan Jayawickrema, his neighbour, who died of a long-standing non-communicable disease would have been cremated by more..

May 27 (DM) The rush to grow vegetables and cultivate abandoned paddy land, due to Corona pandemic, is creating a surplus of vegetables and rice in the country. This indeed is a good thing as far as paddy is concerned. After all, if the Paddy Marketing Board manages to purchase the surplus paddy and store them it can help offset any shortfalls in the next season. Due to the climate change effect, any effort to predict the weather patterns has become almost a futile endeavour. more..

May 27 (DM) Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) frontline member Dr. Kavinda Jayawardana made headlines recently over a controversial video that went viral on social media. Having been an active young politician in the UNP before he pledged support to SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, Dr. Jayawardana has climbed the political ladder while balancing his career as a doctor. Following the footsteps of his father, late Dr. Jayalath more..

May 27 (TM) When Parliament was dissolved at the height of a raging global pandemic on 2 March, the writing was on the wall that it would only be a matter of time before the pandemic hit home. And less than 10 days later, it did when the second Covid-19 patient and the first Sri Lankan to contract the virus was detected on 11 March. The first patient was a Chinese lady who was detected in January and subsequently cured with much fanfare. With the country going into lockdown by mid-March, more..

May 27 (TM) Last week proved to be somewhat of a decisive week for all those who have been closely following the holding of the 2020 general election. It is now clear that the general election on 20 June will be a no go. Given the current situation, the 2020 general election is likely to be pushed towards the month of August, sources from the Election Commission (EC) said. Ironically, it seems as if the 2020 general election would actually be held at the time when the official five-year term of more..

May 27 (GV) COVID-19 crisis took hold in SL at a time when Parliament stood dissolved ahead of a general election. The gravity of the public health emergency, and what it demands in terms of the governmental response, seems to engage those provisions of the Constitution that require the President to temporarily recall the dissolved Parliament. I have discussed these issues elsewhere (with Suren Fernando and background to the dissolution power in our more..

May 27 (Island) Former Galle District UPFA lawmaker Manusha Nanayakkara, on May 12, questioned whether Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa contested the last presidential election as a US citizen, in Nov 2019. Nanayakkara raised the issue four days after the releasing of the latest US Federal Registry that included President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the listing of individuals who had renounced their U.S. citizenship. Even up to now no one else raised the contentious issue. more..

May 27 (CT) Dr Anil Jasinghe was forced to clarify his professional position in the media after lawyers for Secretary to the President Dr P.B. Jayasundera tried to mislead court that the Director General of Health Services had signed off on the Parliamentary election being held during the COVID-19 pandemic. CT learns that lawyers for Jayasundera were issued instructions from the highest political levels to use Dr Jaasinghe’s more..

May 27 (Island) The bane of the SL body politic is racism. That’s why even when a pandemic, like Covid-19, is spreading in SL, racism raises its head. Until the disease of racism is healed no modern country can march forward. SL has a history of politically defeating (temporarily) racism. But why did SL fail to defeat it definitively? The first instance when Sri Lanka defeated racism politically was when a political movement was built up, under the leadership of Vijaya Kumaratunga (VK). more..

May 27 (Island) European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Chief Joseph Borrell is sure to incur the wrath of US President Donald Trump. He has recently told a group of German diplomats that the world is now witnessing the dawn of the Asian Century, and called upon the EU to formulate a robust strategy in respect of China. This may be taken as a call for the EU to refrain from supporting Trump’s hostile campaign against China. President Trump’s pugnacity and tendency to bulldoze his way more..

May 27 (DN) Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) will market the proposed Eravur Industrial Zone to India and China, JAAF President Arumugampillai Sukumaran said. This follows the Director General of the BoI Sanjaya Mohottala telling this newspaper in its Friday edition that there will be an Industrial Zone in Eravur for the manufacture of fabric. This Industrial Zone, which will be geared to manufacture fabric for more..

May 27 (Island) Coats Digital, Res.Q and Serai Ltd by HSBC announce a strategic collaboration that will help re-shape the future of the apparel industry. Res.Q is seeded by the Hirdaramani Group, a press release said. The release adds - ‘Leveraging its unique combined strengths, the partnership will provide companies with access to a range of inter-connected digital solutions over a single trusted platform. These solutions will not only provide real-time data and end-to-end transparency more..

May 27 (FT) SLPP said the decision to lift curfew should be considered as a positive sign that the country is returning to normalcy, and expressed confidence that the Election Commission (EC) will take these changes into consideration and hold the Parliamentary Elections without further delay. SLPP senior member and former MP Sisira Jayakodi said the public wants the election to be held without further delay, and all parties should respect the call to protect the democratic rights of citizens. more..

May 27 (Island) Athletics Association of SL has named an elite pool to commence training under auspices of the Sports Ministry more than two months after all sports action came to a halt due to covid 19 pandemic. The 28 member pool had been named taking into consideration the performances at the last South Asian Games. The AASL took the decision at their executive committee meeting where they also decided to explore the possibilities more..

May 27 (CT) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to conduct random drug tests on all national players in the wake of paceman Shehan Madushanka's incident, where he was detected with heroin in his possession by the Police. "We decided to conduct random tests on all national players to prevent that from happening again," said SLC President Shammi Silva yesterday. Meanwhile, Madushanka, who was later remanded, has been suspended from all formats of cricket, SLC said yesterday. more..

May 27 (CT) SLC President Shammi Silva said PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed SLC to build a normal grounds at Diyagama, Homagama, the land on which it was proposed to build SL's biggest international stadium. Following a site visit by Minister Bandula Gunawardene, who was accompanied by SLC President Shammi Silva, the news triggered a huge backslash, including a former cricketing great, which led to the PM arranging a meeting with all stakeholders, including more..

May 27 (PMD) The Task Force Committee entrusted with COVID – 19 control proposed to President to reopen airports for foreign tourists from 1st August as the country is gradually returning to normalcy. The Committee members pointed out that it is a remarkable achievement that not a single infected person was reported from the community after April 30th to date (26). COVID Prevention Task Force Committee was convened under more..

May 27 (CT) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva said that the unfinished Polonnaruwa Cricket Stadium had cost them a staggering Rs 92 million, though pictures suggest that the grounds is not fit for playing. Silva further said they are scheduled to play a match at the venue on 24 July, though the grounds say a different story. The project was announced in the latter part of 2016 and SLC was granted some 43 acres land in Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa for the purpose. more..

May 27 (CT) Four ambulances which were transporting 24 persons who were confirmed as COVID-19 positive from the Minneriya Army Camp Quarantine Centre to the Homagama Base Hospital met with an accident yesterday opposite the Homagama Army Camp, Homagama Police said. No one was injured in the accident. While these patients were being transported in one 1990 Suwaseriya Ambulance and three Ambulances belonging to Govt hospitals, to the Homagama Base Hospital, more..

May 27 (EN) The govt will hold a meeting today to formulate a new plan to repatriate migrant workers from the middle-east after many returnees were found to be COVID 19 positive, and one 51-year old woman died from the disease. This came after a prominent governing party politician accused the Kuwaiti govt of sending COVID 19 infected people to Sri Lanka. Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said more..

May 27 (AD) Prevailing showery condition in the South-western part of the country (particularly in Southern, Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces) is expected to continue further, Dept of Meteorology said issuing a red warning for heavy rain. Very heavy falls above 200 mm will be expected at some places in these areas. Due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of SL, the prevailing showery condition is expected to enhance over SL during the next few days. more..

May 27 (TM) Kingsbury Colombo and Taj Samudra Colombo each initiated the delivery of food and beverages to consumers as an alternate source of revenue during the over-two-month curfew that Colombo was subjected to due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In letters addressed to the CSE, officials from the two hotels had stated that these services, named The Kingsbury Indulgence and Hospitality @ Home, were introduced to ensure the continuity of their businesses during the pandemic period more..

May 27 (Island) The Head of the high-powered Presidential Task Force spearheading economic revival and poverty eradication Basil Rajapaksa on Monday said that the govt was exploring ways and means of overcoming a drastic revenue shortfall as a result of unprecedented economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He acknowledged that corona had dealt quite a blow to Prez Rajapaksa’s agenda more..

May 27 (AD) The retired Superintendent of Police, who was arrested for shooting a pet dog to death, has been remanded until May 29. The case was taken up before Negombo Chief Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya today (26). A pet dog named Max was shot dead in Dalupotha area in Negombo, on the Vesak Full Moon Poya Day (May 7). Negombo Police had launched an investigation, following the report of the incident. A retired police officer was later placed under arrest upon more..

May 27 (DN) Panelists at a recent Federation of Information Technology Industry SL webinar said that they do not see any legislation preventing companies from holding digitally-enabled annual general meetings. The webinar was held on May 23. The electronics transactions act facilitates the use of digital methods to comply with the companies act. Director BOI Dr. Harsha Cabral said, “I understand there will be teething problems at the outset. Anytime you introduce a new thing more..

May 27 (CT) JVP Leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake while noting that there is an issue regarding electricity and water bills at present, claimed the Govt was using the Ceylon Electricity Board and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to place a massive burden on the people and to collect money from them, he said. Plantation workers were promised Rs 1,000 but there is no discussion regarding that at present, more..

May 27 (FT) Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said last night he is deeply shocked to learn of the sudden and sad demise of Minister Arumugam Thondaman. “Deepest condolences. Difficult to believe. Had met him today afternoon,” the New Indian HC said in a tweet. He added that the CWC leader was a respected leader of SL and his community. During their meeting yesterday morning, High Commissioner and Thondaman discussed bilateral cooperation for more..

May 27 (CT) The bail order given in connection with Retired Superintendent of Police Clement Fernando, subsequent to having been arrested for killing Max the pet dog of a neighbour close to his home on St. Anthony's Road, Negombo, on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day, has been annulled by the Chief Magistrate of Negombo Rajindra Jayasuriya yesterday and the suspect was ordered to be remanded till 29 May. This case was filed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance more..

May 27 (PMD) A new mechanism is to be formulated to repatriate Sri Lankans who are stranded or faced with various difficulties in the wake of COVID – 19 pandemic. The nature of the new system will be decided at a meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow. Flights in June to bring back Sri Lankans home will be planned accordingly. The programme to bring back Sri Lankans who are undergoing many hardships due to the global more..

May 27 (AD) Two more persons have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing Sri Lanka’s infections tally to 1,319 as of 11.30 pm on Tuesday (26). Sri Lanka witnessed the highest daily surge of virus cases on Tuesday with a record total of 137 new infections. Out of these cases, 127 were returnees from Kuwait who are at quarantine facilities while 10 of them were navy personnel, who are also under quarantine. In the meantime, the count of recoveries reported in the country has reached 712. more..