Apr 6 (EN) Frustrated with the SL’s ruling family for the govt’s failure to address the economic crisis, young protesters took into Wikipedia and edited and distorted contents with humorous statements in one of the family members. Hundreds of youth have been protesting since early last month in isolated locations, demanding the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa after the incumbent govt’s economic mismanagement resulted in shortage of more..

Apr 6 (MFA) Minister for Govt Policy Coordination of South Korea, Koo Yun-cheol, who is on an official visit to SL, called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris on 1 April. The meeting was followed by a luncheon where two sides discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explored ways to further strengthen the close and friendly ties between Korea and SL. Extending SL’s deep appreciation to the Korean Govt for the enormous support extended thus far through loan more..

Apr 6 (DM) Sri Lanka is strategically positioned and has the capacity to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets by 2050; however, the island nation needs to step up efforts in three key areas, if it is serious about turning its goals into a reality, Norwegian Ambassador Trine Jøranli Eskedal said. Three key areas SL must take into account to move towards the 70% renewable energy target are to create an appropriate policy environment, to develop innovative financial models and more..

Apr 6 (TM) Billionaire businessman, Vallibel One Chairman, and Hayleys Group Co-Chairman Dhammika Perera, who is tipped to be appointed as the new Secretary to the Treasury following S.R. Attygalle’s resignation, confirmed to The Morning Business that he has not yet received an offer from the Govt. Perera stated that neither an offer made nor a letter of appointment has been given to him, as of late last evening. more..

Apr 6 (DN) The major tournament in the SL Athletic calendar centenary National Athletic Championship is set to go forward as planned from April 8 to 10 at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Diyagama. This National Championship will function as the last selection trial for the 2022 Asian Games and it also gives local athletes to get the required qualification standard for major int'l events. The first selection trial was held in February at the Sugathadasa Stadium but the second trial, which took place more..

Apr 6 (FT) The most widespread private sector lobby group, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of SL (FCCISL) expressed concern over the current crisis and listed five proposals for urgent action by the Govt. In a statement FCCISL called for an end to violence, urgent resolution of the shortage of power and energy and appealed to the nation to unite and face the challenge. Following is the full statement. FCCISL is highly concerned about the mass unrest and certain violent activities more..

Apr 6 (FT) The arrival of Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe from Australia is awaited for the formal appointment of him as the new Governor of the Central Bank. Sources said that Nandalal was in Australia on a personal visit and had accepted an invitation from Prez Rajapaksa to take up the crucial post as the Governor of CBSL. “Upon his arrival Nandalal will be appointed as the new CBSL Governor,” sources said. The move follows the resignation of veteran Nivard Cabraal as the CBSL Governor more..

Apr 6 (FT) Army Commander Shavendra Silva has called on the IGP C.D. Wickramaratne to conduct disciplinary action against the two Police officers near the Parliament roadblock who misbehaved with the Army motorcycle crew that was on duty. “When four motorcycles belonging to the Sri Lanka Army motorcycle team approached the roadblock near the Parliament complex, two Police officers on duty at the premises misbehaved with the members of the motorcycle crew. more..

Apr 6 (TM) Archbishop of Colombo His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic clergy marched from near the Archbishop’s house to the Borella Junction yesterday, demanding the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa, PM Rajapaksa, and an urgent solution to the national crisis. Speaking to the media during the protest march, Archdiocese of Colombo Social Communications Director Rev. Jude Chrishantha Fernando more..

Apr 6 (Island) Having announced his resignation as Finance Minister, Ali Sabry, PC, has sent the following letter to Prez Rajapaksa: “When I tendered my resignation from the post of Minister of Justice on the 3rd of April, it was not my intention to take up any post thereafter. However, in order to maintain parliamentary democracy and the stability of the system and constitutional governance, in light of the multitude of requests made by the business community, professionals and some of my more..

Apr 6 (CT) The slogan Go Home Gota that could be heard in on-going protests demanding the Prez’s resignation, could be levelled against anyone in the future and it might create the same situation like in the 1988-1989 era, MP Namal Rajapaksa warned in Parliament yesterday. “Even if the Prez resigns, this slogan would not stop. It would be levelled against his successor as well. Then it would be used against anyone including public servants. This is exactly what happened in 1988-1989 era,” he said. more..

Apr 6 (TM) Trade unions within the public sector are currently engaged in discussions about launching a massive strike in which all public servants would participate, with one of the main demands set to be the resignations of Prez Rajapaksa and PM Rajapaksa. A leading public service trade union spokesperson said that the said strike is planned to be launched demanding the reduction of the cost of living (CoL) and more..

Apr 6 (EN) SL is awaiting a new Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary after the resignation of Ali Sabry, who left a day after getting the portfolio setting a record. Among names mentioned as likely to Treasury Secretary is current Deputy CB Governor Mahinda Siriwardene who also has experience in the Treasury. Former Justice Minister Sabry said he was resigning the post to make way for a “fresh and proactive and unconventional steps” needed to be taken, and was also willing to more..

Apr 6 (Island) Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, MP, says they’ll inquire into the possibility of bringing former Governor of the CB Ajith Nivard Cabraal before the Watchdog Committee inquiring into the conduct of the Monetary Board pertaining to the current crisis. Governor, CBSL chairs the 5-member Monetary Board. Cabraal, who succeeded Prof. W.A. Lakshman as Governor, CBSL, in Sept last year, announced his resignation on Monday more..

Apr 6 (EN) Under pressure from the public to resign, Prez Rajpaksa has revoked an Emergency Law declared on April 1 after protesters attempted to enter his private residence. “I do hear by with effect from midnight of Apr 5, revoke the proclamation issued by me in terms of powers vested in me,” Prez said in a gazette issued. Prez’s decision comes as his ruling SLPP-led coalition suffered a major blow on Tuesday with more..

Apr 6 (FT) Great leaders not only take responsibility for their decisions and actions but also assume responsibility for the decisions and actions of those who directly, and indirectly report to them. Even if specifically unsaid, they acknowledge, through both word and deed, that such is the expectation which goes with the post. It is a principle which I closely relate to, and have unreservedly followed, in my corporate, sporting, and social life. Having been a leader, myself, more..

Apr 6 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa will not resign from office under any circumstance, Minister Johnston Fernando said. The remarks came during the parliamentary proceedings this morning. In response to a question raised by SJB’s MP Lakshman Kiriella, Minister Fernando said “I would like to remind the chief opposition whip that 69 lakh of people had voted for the Prez. As the govt, we would like to make it clear that the Prez will not resign under any circumstances. We will face this more..

Apr 6 (FT) The prevailing circumstances in the country can be turned into one of great and historic opportunities for this nation. It all depends, again, on the strong will and determination of the people. All the struggle and suffering the general public endured up to this stage of cataclysm will be in vain if the correct and proper strategies are not seriously looked at. Any strategy should be focused on the welfare of the people and the country. For whoever is interested, I give below a list which more..

Apr 6 (EN) SL’s rupee has plunged to a record low to become the world’s worst-performing currency, as Prez Rajapaksa struggles to contain a worsening economic and political crisis, Financial Times, a UK-based newspaper reported. In a report published Wednesday afternoon Sri Lanka time, the newspaper said the rupee was hovering near 300 per US dollar on Wednesday, down 32% year to date and lagging even Russia’s rouble, after Rajapaksa ended emergency rule just days after it was imposed. more..

Apr 6 (OHCHR) We are closely following developments in SL where in the past few days the authorities announced a state of emergency and other restrictions in response to mass protests against the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Public frustration had been rising in recent months with largely peaceful demonstrations taking place across the country. The situation has worsened over the past two weeks amid sudden shortages in fuel, cooking gas and some essential food items, more..

Apr 6 (CT) JJB MP Vijitha Herath yesterday (5), requested Govt to inform INTERPOL to arrest Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi, who left the country the same morning. Submitting public petitions in Parliament, Herath said, Senadhipathi had reportedly flown to the UAE. “He stole billions of rupees from the Sri Lankan people. Now, he and his entire family have left the country for Dubai. I request the authorities to provide his information to INTERPOL and arrest him. more..

Apr 6 (DM) Govt should not underestimate the public anger and must take immediate steps to resign immediately while forming a caretaker administration to restore the country's crisis and bring it under control, SL Ramanna Nikaya, Ven. Prof. Aththangane Rathanapala Thera said. The prelate said the Mahanayaka Theras have also requested the govt to resign immediately. "During the past 2½ years, the incumbent govt has ruined the country to its end, destroyed democracy, more..

Apr 6 (EN) Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa asked that the govt explain to parliament a now-revoked public emergency declared by Prez Rajapaksa, while TNA legislator M A Sumanthiran called for a vote on it. Addressing parliament, Premadasa said the govt provide reasons for the emergency as well for a curfew and social media block that was imposed over the April 2, 3 weekend after protests erupted more..

Apr 6 (DM) Senura Yapa Senadipathi, the son of Avant-Garde Company Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi, said that the way people continue to harass him online is disgusting. Sharing a story on his Instagram account, Senura said his family has not done anything wrong to SL and it is a shame for all the harassment given to them in return for the help they have done to so many people. “Everyone who has been harassing us, know that we haven’t done anything wrong to our country. more..

Apr 6 (DM) The IGP C.D Wickramaratna has expressed regret over the incident in which a verbal clash had taken place between police officers and several army personnel attached to Army motorcycle squad at the roadblock near the Parliament complex during a public protest yesterday, police said. An investigation was launched yesterday after Army Commander General Shavendra Silva requested the IGP to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The incident took place when the Army motorcycle more..

Apr 6 (DM) Police officers who were at Poluwa junction near the parliamentary complex should not have assaulted the army officers who approached the area by motor cycles on Tuesday, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament today. “I would have even opposed the army officers if they assaulted police officers,” Field Marshal Fonseka said. “At the same time I would like to say that Army officers should not have come in motor bikes without number plates. more..

Apr 6 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa has refused to accept the resignation letter submitted by parliament deputy speaker Ranjith Siyambalapitiya to resign from that post he had held and requested him to continue. The group of MPs representing the SLFP have decided to leave the govt and act independently and resign from their respective posts. Parliamentary democracy must be safely carried forward, Prez stated and declined to accept the letter submitted by Ranjith Siyambalapitiya to resign from more..

Apr 6 (EN) SL’s apparel exporters have called for urgent action to seek IMF assistance to avoid severe hardships on the people as the economy deteriorates due to forex shortages triggered by money printed to keep interest rates low. SL has been wracked by protests calling on Prez Rajapaksa to go home, leading to resignations of ministers, and officials. “The current crisis has been brewing for several months, and more..

Apr 6 (CT) ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiransaid Parliament should take a vote on the Emergency Regulations immediately. “There is a notification tabled today on the proclamation of the Emergency. According to the Constitution, this must be placed before Parliament and approved or rejected at the earliest possible opportunity. We heard Maithripala Sirisena, MP say their party does not approve the proclamation of the Emergency. I want to ask Govt to place this tomorrow for Parliament more..

Apr 6 (PTI) Slamming privatisation of public sector units, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday stated that the decisions of the Indian govt is likely to take the country into a Sri Lanka like situation. The Congress leader said, "The inflation is continuously increasing across the country and the govt is selling the public sector enterprises which indicate that in the coming time, and I fear, in the coming time our country will be in a situation like Sri Lanka." more..

Apr 6 (DM) SJB MP Harin Fernando said that if no one was willing to lead the country, Harsha De Silva could be made a caretaker Prez for 6 months and the country could be handed over to him. Harin said, today his children were ashamed to call their father an MP and all opposition political party leaders must unite to achieve the people's demands. He also called on these leaders to leave aside their personal political more..

Apr 6 (DM) Railway Dept cautioned motorists and pedestrians to be watchful when using the railway crossings during the power cuts where the railway gates do not function, Railways Superintendent A.D.G. Seneviratne said. He said the majority of the railway crossings are equipped with Bell and Light, which are operated by electricity. During power outages, those rail gates used to function on battery power. But the battery capacity often gets drained due to the long hours of power cuts, he said. more..

Apr 6 (DM) The law fraternity has decided to bring in an impeachment motion against the Attorney General through some members of Parliament, MP Wijedasa Rajapaksha said today. “It is not only the legislature and the Executive who are responsible for the present crisis in the country but the Judiciary too is responsible,” Rajapaksha told Parliament. “The law fraternity is of the opinion that the Attorney General had failed in his duty when it comes to certain cases. more..

Apr 6 (Island) SJB MP Kumar Welgama told Parliament that it was he who HAD first said Gota, go home and now the entire country was saying so. “When Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s name was proposed as the presidential candidate, I openly opposed it. PM Rajapaksa, too, was there when I raised objections. I said that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had no political experience and had never been at least a PS member, and therefore a senior member of the party had to be nominated as prez candidate. more..

Apr 6 (DM) During the first school term of 2022, which begins on April 18, the school term in all govt schools will be extended by one hour, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said. In view to cover the lost academic activities due to COVID-19 pandemic in the country and having to postpone exams, it was proposed to make this change to adjust the normal school time frame as the mechanism related to the previous routine schedule has changed, he said. more..

Apr 6 (EN) A wave of resignations of ministers and officials in SL has raised policy uncertainty at time when the country is reeling from a currency crisis and shortages and has debt repayments, Moody’s, a rating agency has said. “Protracted political uncertainty is likely to hinder progress in obtaining external financing from key development partners or attracting foreign direct investment, or both, because of SL’s reliance more..