Apr 9 (DN) Amasha Hettiarachchi of Girls High School,Kandy is a Grade Thirteen student in the Commerce stream and one of the best athletes in the Central Province who has excelled in hurdles and her athletic Coach is S.P. Vithana, former Athlete of the SL Army. Amasha has been selected to the Junior World Athletic championship scheduled to be held in Colombia, U.S.A. in August this year and she will compete in the 400 Metres Hurdles event. She showed her class for the first time more..

Apr 9 (FT) Calling for unity, SJB Parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne yesterday said politicians should work together for the country just as the people are united in this time of crisis. Wickramaratne appealed to the politicians to work together for the betterment of the country as the only child of the same mother at a time when the people of the entire country are taking to the streets today, overcoming all racial & religious differences. more..

Apr 9 (FT) Data shows that COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 2,806 persons on Thursday. The majority of the vaccines administered on Thursday were boosters, with 1,582 persons receiving the booster dose on Thursday. In total, third vaccine dose has been administered to 7,901,894 persons. The first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 17,016,461 persons and the second dose has been administered to 14,432,375 persons. more..

Apr 9 (DM) While asserting that it was absurd talking about any solution to the present economic crisis unless Prez Rajapaksa resigns, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today that an impeachment should be moved against the Prez, if he is not willing to quit. He told Parliament that if this political crisis is not resolved, it will not be possible to address the economic woes as well. He said all people irrespective of party politics, appeal to the Prez to resign and added that it was absurd more..

Apr 9 (Island) Wartime Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that shocking revelations made in a US court as regards former SL Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya had caused irreparable damage to the reputation of SL and humiliated the country. Wickramasuriya pleaded guilty recently to diverting and attempting to embezzle $332,027 from the govt of SL during its 2013 purchase of a new Embassy building in Washington, D.C. Bogollagama said: “It’s rather shameful and has caused irreparable more..

Apr 9 (MFA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that attention has been focused on the revision of the U.S. Travel Advisory on Sri Lanka as at 6 April 2022. The Ministry recalls that since June 2021, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka has remained at Level 3, and as such has not been newly introduced in the latest revision. In addition, the language related to ‘terrorism’ was introduced following the Easter Sunday attacks and has stayed consistent since April 2019. more..

Apr 9 (FT) The worsening economic crisis has forced the Monetary Board to effect a historic monetary tightening with the new CB Governor justifying the move as critical to ensure macroeconomic stability. The Monetary Board at its meeting under new Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe decided to increase the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the CB by more..

Apr 9 (EN) Sri Lanka’s stocks fell 1.4% on Friday (08) to an eight-month low led by banks as rising market interest rates and an economic turmoil that has now turned into a political crisis weighed on the investor appetite, brokers said. After the market closed, the central bank raised the key monetary policy rates by more-than-expected 700 basis points in what the new governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said was the “highest and tightest monetary policy” ever by the central bank. more..

Apr 9 (FT) The State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) outlined that the unavailability of storage capacities was a key reason for the ongoing fuel crisis, adding that the aim is to increase the capacities of the buffer stock in future. “One of the key reasons for the ongoing fuel crisis was that we did not have large storage facilities to maintain large buffer stocks,” CPC Sumith Wijesinghe said at a special media briefing organised by the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) yesterday. more..

Apr 9 (CT) The SJB started to collect signatures for a No-confidence Motion (NCM) against the Govt on Friday (8), and said the party would move an impeachment motion against President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, if the latter does not listen to the demands of the public. Addressing Parliament, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa presented nine proposals to solve the current economic and political crises in the country. more..

Apr 9 (NR) Private bus owners claim they are forced to use low quality diesel. President of the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Gemunu Wijeratne said it was observed that kerosene oil was mixed with diesel at filling stations. He noted that a complaint will be lodged with the IGP regarding this observation adding that samples will also be submitted. Wijeratne said the diesel imported to SL on Thursday contained quality issues, as all bus drivers complained over its usage. more..

Apr 9 (AD) A proposal to establish an all-party interim govt has been submitted to Prez Rajapaksa by a group of MPs who left the ruling party to remain independent in the parliament. They pointed out that conditions that help calm public unrest, restore people’s lives and allow the people to elect a govt of their choice should be created. Former Prez Maithripala Sirisena on behalf of the SLFP, former Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara on behalf of 10 independent parties, more..

Apr 10 (CT) “In the name of God, go!” – Oliver Cromwell, 20 April 1653, London, England. Two weeks from today, nearly 400 years ago, Oliver Cromwell sacked a corrupt British parliament (the Long Parliament) and scolded away its MPs, “”You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go”. SL has no Cromwell, but it has its people. And their will be done. The two-billion-dollar (SL’s current forex balance) more..

Apr 10 (CT) On any other day I would have been driving my daughter to work in my orange MG. Today I seem free of everything and everyone. I can see them all, but they don’t seem to notice my presence, not even my family. Feeling like a feather I am drifting everywhere sometimes at my own volition and at other, without much control. I am enjoying the newfound freedom immensely. The deluge of humankind that hit streets of all corners of the country has ebbed away this morning more..

Apr 10 (SO) Former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said some Opposition political parties which are not in a position to come to power democratically are attempting to create an unstable situation in the country to grab power. The former Minister said the people have the right to conduct peaceful protests. However, they should realise that the situation which prevailed during the tenure of the former Yahapalana Govt has also led to more..

Apr 10 (SO) It would not be incorrect to say that SL is at a crossroads now. The people are out on the streets, calling for swift solutions to their woes and a complete change in the country’s political system. This is perhaps the worst crisis faced by the country in its post-Independence history, even allowing for the debilitating 30-year terrorist battle. If one analyses the current wave of public protests, two trends become clear. Apart from calling for a leadership change at the top, more..

Apr 10 (TM) Even though life is full of uncertainties, there are some things that are written in stone and one such is the concept of karma or retribution. It was almost three years ago to the day that the Easter Sunday terror attack took place, and the biggest allegation levelled at the then Govt at the time was that despite credible warnings of an impending attack, it took little or no action to prevent it. A week later, the incumbent Prez announced his candidature and the rest is history. more..

Apr 10 (SO) Former Bar Association Prez and Presient’s Counsel U. R. De Silva, PC says the country would be led down a path of destruction, amplified by a Constitutional crisis if the Govt and the Opposition fail to work in unison in Parliament to resolve the current crisis. ‘This is not a time to attempt to grab power or hold on to power, we must at all costs avoid a situation like in 1971, 1983 or 1989, he cautioned last week more..

Apr 10 (Island) Whether Prez Rajapaksa is going to hang on to the executive presidency he won comfortably in a free and fair election in 2019 or not remains an open question. The Gota go home pressure is mounting by the day and whether or not the proportions it is expected to reach over the weekend, after this comment has been written, will force the president to throw in the towel remains to be seen. But the whole country must clearly understand that Gota going home is more..

Apr 10 (Island) I’d like to say this is the beginning of the end, but it’s not. The latest spate of protests to hit the country has now been going on for more than a week. These protests have targeted one thing and one thing only: the Rajapaksas’ exit from power. While some argue we need to go beyond this objective and ask all MPs to resign, others point out the difficulty or impracticality of such campaigns. Meanwhile, Colombo’s middle-class teenagers are busy formulating plans for the future. more..

Apr 10 (ST) The Avurudu koha (Asian koel) has appeared to herald the traditional New Year, adding to the cacophony of voices on the streets demanding the ouster of the Prez Rajapaksa. The bird heralds the arrival of springtime and a bountiful harvest, but not so this year with the disastrous fertiliser ban by the Prez ruining the country’s agricultural sector. It must surely be asking how on earth this middle income country of yesteryear has plunged into a state of bankruptcy. more..

Apr 10 (SO) Football Sri Lanka (FSL) is in danger of being shown the red card if it fails to hold the annual election of office-bearers before May 31 as directed by the Department of Sports Development (DSD). FSL president Jaswar Umar attempted to continue in office for four years citing an amendment to the Sports Law in 2017 when he was elected for a term of only one year at the AGM held in June 2021. He even got the approval of 53 members of the FSL at an unprecedented Council meeting more..

Apr 10 (ST) Hoteliers handling foreign guests have been going through some embarrassing moments these days. First, it came with the power cuts, and now with the protests. Some hotels found their own ways to pull out from the difficult situation. Candlelight or beachside events during the power cuts were among the options. Last week’s sudden 36-hour curfew was one of the instances that caused inconvenience to tourists. more..

Apr 10 (SO) Rugby, perhaps the only sport in Sri Lanka that was spared of bureaucracy and political interference, has been subjected to an off-field political scrum that some analysts call foul after the Sports Ministry sacked its elected membership and took over the sport’s controlling body last week. Rugby followers, the majority of who are lay people, have been left in a confused state unable to fathom what has taken place or why Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has been placed in the custody of more..

Apr 10 (ST) My dear Nandey, I am writing to you this week after hearing that you were returning to our little island which was once a Paradise. That is to accept the post of Governor of the big bank, the same bank where you spent almost all of your working life. In this time of doom and gloom that is a rare piece of good news. Although I do not know you personally, and have only seen you and heard you from afar, I hope you don’t mind me calling you Nandey as I am sure your friends do. more..

Apr 10 (ST) The country’s rugby is in a state of uncertainty, following the suspension of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) by the Sports Ministry and handing it over to a competent authority — the Director General of Sports Development of the Ministry of Sports, Amal Edirosooriya, without a proper explanation. But overriding the decision taken on April 1, 2022 by the now vacant Minister of Sports, National Olympic Committee more..

Apr 10 (Island) There are many good things about writing for The Island and one of them is that you get to see every game that Sri Lanka plays at home, every Test match they play overseas and all major ICC events. One of those memorable tours was Zimbabwe 2004. On the cricket field, Sri Lanka whitewashed Zimbabwe and Murali claimed the World Record for the first time breaking Courtney Walsh’s record for most wickets in Tests. Off the field, the SL reporters had a firsthand more..

Apr 10 (ST) Confusing, chaotic, comical, frustrating and even surreal are some of the words that come to mind when describing this week’s extraordinary Parliament sessions that occurred in the backdrop of mass scale protests calling on the Prez and his Govt to step down. This week’s Parliament proceeded with just four Cabinet Ministers after the entire Cabinet except the Premier resigned on Sunday following street protests spurred on by the crippling economic crisis. more..

Apr 10 (ST) Oshada Fernando’s fine form of yet another century (109) and bowlers keeping Jaffna under check ensured his team Kandy remained on top with a big lead of 269, when bad light forced premature stumps at day-03, yesterday, in Galle. The hill country capital was 52 for one, after dismissing Jaffna for 227, in the concluding National Super League four-dayer. The Northerners resuming on their overnight score of 42, did not have their batters backing them, as a result neither more..

Apr 10 (TM) Economic crises are difficult to solve. In the case of a natural disaster, we know that it will come to an end at some point. We just have to manage for a short period until everything settles. By contrast, economic crises are different. They generally come in a package of five separate but intertwined crises if not managed well. It is clearly best to avoid crises, but when the crisis hits, and if we fail to manage it, the situation becomes significantly worse. more..

Apr 10 (CI) Chris Silverwood, the former England fast bowler, has been signed by SLC on a two-year deal as head coach of the Sri Lanka men's national team. His first series in charge will be the team's upcoming two-Test tour of Bangladesh in May. Silverwood was until February the head coach of the England men's team, but parted ways with the ECB in the wake of the side's 4-0 Ashes series defeat in Australia. more..

Apr 10 (ST) The 143rd Battle of the Blues between Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, has been confirmed for July 21, 22 and 23, but will be subject to SSC clearance, the traditional venue of the blue riband schools big match encounter, the Sunday Times learns reliably. An insider said, that as it is, the Joint Organising Committee is waiting for the usual host to be available during the allotted window, as the national team is prioritised. This is because Pakistan is scheduled to come down during more..

Apr 10 (ST) For a second time in a span of two years, Spirited Touch, now owned by MGMR Racing, and ridden by Indian jockey P.S. Kaviraj, outsmarted Alcazaba, the chestnut mare owned by Deepthika Jayakody, to snatch the RTC Magic Million Cup held last Tuesday at the Race Course in Nuwara Eliya. A close finish and an exciting race was obviously anticipated, as the battle for supremacy in the 1600metre Terms race for Class I horses with penalties, was expected to become a close more..

Apr 10 (TM) The CEB and the Ministry of Power are pushing to source $ 32 million in funding in the next few days which is needed to open two Letters of Credit (LCs) for two coal shipments that Sri Lanka needs to unload in the next two weeks before adverse sea conditions prevent supply. SL’s energy and power crisis continues to deepen due to the forex shortage, with a Line of Credit (LOC) of $ 500 million for fuel issued by India expected to more..

Apr 10 (ST) Time is running out for Sri Lanka to start talks with the IMF at its spring meetings in Washington on April 18 -24 as the country is yet to restore political stability. Political stability of a country is essential to reduce the risk of default on loan repayments and minimise moral hazards as most IMF lending arrangements are conditional on the member country involved agreeing to implement a set of economic policies approved by the IMF, IMF sources revealed. more..

Apr 10 (ST) Sri Lanka is facing its worst crisis and just when the tourism industry was trying to raise its head tourists are calling to cancel their holiday plans on the back of harsh travel advisories. The industry is wandering in the dark with no one to turn to as the Minister has resigned. Transporting tourists has become an issue, as was the case this week with one such driver who had headed to Ella with a group of tourists and had run out of diesel. To continue on their tour to Tissamaharama more..