Apr 20 (CT) SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said that he has advised former MP Ranjan Ramanayake not to request a Presidential Pardon from a group of thieves. He made this statement after visiting Ramanayake, who was admitted to National Hospital, Colombo on 18 April. Rajakaruna claimed that Ramanayake also agreed to his request. “By now, 80% of his sentence has been served and there is only 20% left. It’s better to spend the rest of the 20% in prison respectfully and be freed more..

Apr 20 (CT) “To change and uplift the current situation of the country, give the ruling power to Tamil leaders and Tamil parties for one year,” TELO Leader MP Selvam Adaikalanathan said. He said that they will provide equal services to the public without division as Tamil and Sinhala communities. For years Sinhala leaders have been ruling the country. However, with the current situation in the country, we urge everyone including the Sinhala community to support us by electing us to more..

Apr 20 (EN) Sri Lanka is seeking bi-lateral loans for imports a, Foreign Minister G L Pieris said as an attempt to float the currency to halt forex shortages has not yet succeeded and talks were progressing towards an International Monetary Fund program. “Talks with the IMF are going well,” Pieris told reporters. “It will take 6 months to access IMF help and it will be also in 3-4 tranches.” “We are trying to manage the interim time period more..

Apr 20 (DM) Former Minister Namal Rajapaksa called on the govt to release the CCTV footages and video clips circulated on social media and conduct an independent investigation into the Rambukkana incident. He told Parliament that he regretted the unfortunate incident and that he did not approve of any form of attacks on the protestors. "A reasonable investigation should be conducted into the incident," he said. Namal said there were several video clips circulated in social media on more..

Apr 20 (CI) Dimuth Karunaratne, SL's Test captain, has signed for Yorkshire on a short-term deal, with the first of his three LV= County Championship appearances due to take place against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road on Thursday. Karunaratne, 33, is currently the No.5-ranked Test batter in the world, and has enjoyed a prolific run of form in recent months, with five centuries in his last eight Tests, including a career-best 244 against Bangladesh at Pallekele in April 2021. more..

Apr 21 (DM) It is seven days into the culturally and astrologically significant National New Year, celebrated mainly by Sinhala Buddhists and Tamil Hindus and four days after Easter Sunday celebrated by Christians in SL on the eve of the third anniversary of the April 21, 2019 massacre, which killed 269 devotees and hotel guests and injured nearly 500. Covid-19 onslaught compelled Sri Lankans to mark these significant events on a low key in 2020 and 2021 while more..

Apr 21 (DM) A line has been crossed. That’s the title of a note doing the rounds referring to the ongoing protests and specifically to the fatal shooting of a protester in Rambukkana. Yes, a line has been crossed. If anything marked the agitation until this point, barring of course the odd incident of mutual provocation leading to words and fisticuffs, it is the commendable determination of the agitated, especially at Galle Face, in maintaining the parameters of peaceful protest. more..

Apr 21 (DM) The souls of over 250 civilians who sacrificed their lives to the deadly Easter Sunday bombings back in April 2019 still await justice to Rest In Peace. Katuwapitiye paalu paaraka (On a Lonely Road in Katuwapitiya) a poem penned by Dr. Nandasiri Keembiyahetti, aptly portrays the tragedy of the Easter Sunday carnage. The poem, translated by Dr. Madhubhashini Disanayaka Ratnayake reads as follows; I go delivering mail; more..

Apr 21 (CT) Faced with the challenge of showing a stable govt, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a new cabinet together with a large ministerial contingent. Leaders of government in other democratic countries would have resigned for less. Sri Lanka has effectively declared itself to be bankrupt under this govt by reneging on the repayment of international debt. This has happened at a time when mass protests against the govt are gathering strength. more..

Apr 21 (GV) An opposition MP goes to the Katunayake Airport to board an aircraft bound for Geneva for a session of the UNHRC Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. At the airport, an ASP asks to examine his bags for fabricated documents likely to compromise national security interests or promote feelings of hatred or contempt to the govt. The MP says that he has documents, photographs and forms relating to deaths, disappearances and injuries caused more..

Apr 21 (TM) Three years have passed since the Easter Sunday attacks on 21 April 2019, the most atrocious attacks Sri Lanka witnessed after the end of the war. While the UNF-led Govt of the time, as well as the incumbent SLPP-led Govt that came to power after the attacks, pledged their commitment to bring the culprits to book and ensure the wellbeing of the victims of the attacks, what has happened more..

Apr 21 (ST) A few days before the Govt is due to repay (tomorrow-Monday) part of a Chinese loan, the Central Bank together with the Treasury on Tuesday declared (near) bankruptcy saying the administration has decided to temporarily halt all foreign debt repayments until a debt restructuring process with new dates for repayment is discussed during negotiations with the IMF and by a newly appointed debt structuring manager. Last weekend, the Treasury called for proposals from more..

Apr 21 (CT) There is a major economic crisis in the country which has led to political instability and a constitutional stalemate. With the resignation of the Cabinet of Ministers barring the Prime Minister, there is an urgent need to appoint a Cabinet in addition to the four Ministers already appointed. There are serious discussions to reach a consensus on some of the proposals submitted jointly by the group of MPs who announced last week about their independent status in Parliament. more..

Apr 21 (ANI) The ruling Rajapaksa govt should learn from India in tackling the prevailing economic crisis, SL's senior journalist Sudath Jayasundra said. Referring to India when it averted a major economic crisis and placed it on a high growth trajectory during 1991 when India faced an economic crisis and was on the brink of a sovereign default, he said, "India also went through the same crisis and at that time PM P V Narsimha Rao brought the financial advisor and later who became PM of the country, more..

Apr 21 (Island) Across the world there were spontaneous demonstrations in support of the people in SL undergoing immense suffering, declaration of Emergency and a 36-hour curfew. The diaspora was united; Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim, in their expressions of solidarity for the suffering communities and condemnation of the govt. Spontaneity was also the hallmark of the small groups of people who converged in their neighbourhoods in defiance of the curfew more..

Apr 21 (Island) SLPP National List member Gevindu Cumaratunga said that Cabinet of Ministers, including PM Rajapaksa should resign without further delay to facilitate a consensual political settlement or face the consequences. Lawmaker Cumaratunga issued the warning on behalf of the SLPP dissident group, comprising about 40 members. Cumaratunga, who heads a civil society organisation, emphasized that more..

Apr 21 (FT) SL’s COVID-19 case count exceeded 663,000 following the detection of 61 COVID-19 patients yesterday. The previous day, 33 COVID-19 patients were detected. 1,685 PCR tests and 1,489 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Tuesday. SL’s COVID-19 detections total 663,006, out of which 75,373 patients were detected this year. The country’s local cases also include 483,090 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,154 persons from more..

Apr 21 (Island) On-going mass protests seem to have knocked some sense into the govt leaders who refused to heed public opinion, and sought to railroad others into doing their bidding. In a dramatic turn of events replete with irony, PM Rajapaksa, who is under pressure to resign together with other family members in the govt, has said the 19th Amendment should be brought back with some changes. It is he who made the executive presidential powers even more draconian by introducing 18th Amd, more..

Apr 21 (EN) Sri Lanka has promised an impartial and independent investigation into the death of a protester shot by police in the island nation’s central town of Rambukkana, Foreign Minister G L Peiris said. The foreign minister’s pledge came amid international pressure on Prez Rajapaksa’s govt to respect the democratic rights of protesters and intensified protests demanding Rajapaksa to step down. more..

Apr 21 (FT) Brand Finance Lanka, the pioneering brand valuation and strategy firm, released its 19th consecutive annual review of Sri Lanka’s 100 most valuable brands. Brand Finance Lanka Chairman Ruchi Gunewardene said: “Even though we saw total brand value increase by 1% this year, it is only marginal, and we have a long way to go before we can get back to the 2019 base year and begin to show healthy growth again.” Dialog retained its most valuable brand position more..

Apr 21 (ANI) Sri Lanka's current economic crisis does not seem to slow down due to its major dependence on Chinese loans as well as its inability to repay debt amid a state of emergency and intense protests in the island nation. The onset of Covid and the consequent collapse of the tourism sector are considered to be the immediate reasons for SL economic woes. The economic crisis, being the worst in decades, has put the country on hold in every sense. more..

Apr 21 (FT) UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardena yesterday said that the Govt is being urged to listen to the demands of the people and build a program that will build the country’s economy without resorting to violence, repression and using weapons for unarmed protests. Wijewardena said he was requesting the Govt to immediately conduct an independent investigation into the shooting incident at Rambukkana and reveal the true situation to the country immediately. more..

Apr 21 (MFA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the verdict by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Gujranwala, Pakistan on 18 April, 2022 sentencing six accused to death in the killing of SL national Priyantha Kumara who worked as a manager at a private factory in Sialkot, Pakistan. Forty nine year old Priyantha Kumara was beaten to death and his body set alight on 3 Dec, 2021 by a mob after being accused of blasphemy under highly controversial circumstances. more..

Apr 21 (FT) COPA Chairman and MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa blamed the former Governor of CB Ajith Nivard Cabraal for taking unilateral autocratic decisions to float the rupee bypassing concerns raised by others in the Monetary Board. Yapa, who is among a group of 10 SLPP MPs who decided to sit in opposition on Tuesday, said the Committee had summoned officials of CBSL and Monetary Board more..

Apr 21 (EN) Justifying brutal way of controlling a protest, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the police shooting and killing of a protester in the island nation’s central town of Rambukkana saved over 300 lives. A protester was shot dead in a clash when a protest turned into violence in Rambukkana on Tuesday. Another 24 have been injured with two are treated for critical injuries, hospital sources have said. Protest was staged by thousands of local area people against fuel shortage & price hike. more..

Apr 21 (EN) Sri Lanka is in the process of bringing in 1 billion US dollars through budget airlines with the help of private sector investment, newly appointed State Minister of Tourism D V Chanaka told the parliament on Wednesday. Responding to an opposition question over an agitation by the main Katunayaka International Airport employees, Chanaka said the initiative is done through some corporate leaders including Sri Lanka’s leading entrepreneur Dhammika Perera. more..

Apr 21 (TM) The Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has summoned IGP Chandana D. Wickramaratne, the Central Province (CP) Senior DIG, the Central Province DIG, the Kegalle Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), and the Kegalle and Rambukkana Police Station OICs to appear before the Commission tomorrow for investigations about the shooting at Rambukkana on Tuesday. more..

Apr 21 (FT) In a progressive move, first by a corporate, MAS Holdings announced its backing of the call for change and good governance in the country and urged leaders to heed the voice of the people and act on it. “As a responsible organisation, we unconditionally support the call for change and good governance, and earnestly request the nation’s leaders to heed the voice of the people and act on it, whilst respecting legal and Constitutional due process,” said a statement by MAS Holdings, more..

Apr 21 (FT) CB Former Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal yesterday reiterated that flotation of the rupee was a decision by the Monetary Board and the new regime too was sticking to the same course. Making a statement to clarify the background of the decision to provide greater flexibility in the exchange rate as announced by the CB on 7 March 2022, Cabraal said it is to be noted that the Monetary Board decided on 7 March to “allow the market to have a greater flexibility in the exchange rate more..

Apr 21 (Island) Parliamentary sittings had to be suspended following an uproar by SJB MPs condemning the govt for the Rambukkana shooting. MPs of the main opposition party SJB staged a protest in the House chamber hoisting placards with various slogans. SJB MPs came to the House yesterday wearing a sticker saying No to bloodshed on their dress. When the Chief Govt Whip and Public Security Minister got up to make a statement on the incident, the SJB MPs shouted at him. more..

Apr 21 (Island) The second shipment of coal is scheduled to be unloaded at the Norochcholai Coal Fired Power Plant Complex today despite rough seas; it is the first of the two shipments of 120,000 metric tonnes. However, despite Minister Kanchana Wijesekera’s twitter statement that USD 38 million had been settled as payment for two shipments of 120,000 metric tonnes of coal, only a part of it had been paid for. Fortunately for SL both coal shipments had come from Russia, more..

Apr 21 (AD) Chief Prelates of all three Buddhist Chapters called on Prez, PM, Opposition Leader and all MPs to implement the proposals put forward by the Mahanayake Theras to resolve the present crisis in the country. Chief Prelates also warned that a Sangha Convention would be declared if the political leadership fails to do so. Mahanayaka Theras have issued also called on ministers, MPs and officials to dedicate more..

Apr 21 (FT) SJB MP Harsha de Silva said a forensic audit should be carried out with regards to Int'l Sovereign Bond (ISB) payments made recently in which businessmen linked to the Govt allegedly benefitted. de Silva said he when the Govt was readying to pay $ 500 million ISB payments in January, he had strongly advised the Govt against it, as the country would run out of money to finance our essential imports. However, the Govt had ignored the warnings and was determined to make more..

Apr 21 (TM) Claiming that the Opposition could not trust any Police investigation into the Police shooting at a protest in the Rambukkana area – in which one person was killed and more than 30 were injured on Tuesday (19) – Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a panel of inquiry comprising of retired Supreme Court (SC) judges to investigate the said incident. He stated: “We do not accept the Police investigations into this incident. more..

Apr 21 (DM) Church of Ceylon (Anglican Church) and the Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo yesterday expressed its concerns on the death and injury during the incidents in Rambukana on Tuesday. Presiding Anglican Bishop of Colombo Rev Keethsiri Fernando and Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith condemned the killing in Rambukana. “We are deeply saddened and concerned by the deaths and injury to many as a result of incidents in Rambukana on Apr 19th” more..