Aug 10 (EN) Japan has halted 12 projects under Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in SL until the IMF provides a roadmap to the crisis-hit island, a top minister said. “Twelve projects funded by Japan under JICA will be suspended until the IMF establishes a roadmap on Sri Lanka’s debts and its sustainability because the country has been declared bankrupt,” Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament on Wednesday August 10. more..

Aug 11 (DM) It was the winds and waves of misguided economic planning, mega corruption, and foreign indebtedness which put Lanka into an economic crisis. Today, just as it appears that we could be seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, our foreign office mandarins have created a new problem which could have geopolitical ramifications. The world today is polarized. The US and its NATO allies are in confrontation with Russia in Europe. In the Asian region, the US and its allies more..

Aug 11 (DM) “The govt carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India’s security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them,” he said last month. It is reported that the Govt has requested China to defer indefinitely a stop-over at the Hambantota Port by the research vessel Yuan Wang 5. The vessel Yuan Wang 5 is said to be a ship engaged in marine scientific research, but benign though that sounds, it is also one of China’s latest generation more..

Aug 11 (TM) Since visually impaired students face difficulties in accessing library based resources, it is recommended that special services be established for them, and for library staff members and volunteers to co-ordinate with them, and help them during library working hours with regard to searching for information, reading textbooks, and note-taking, while the lending period for books should be extended. more..

Aug 11 (CT) The govt appears to have secured political stability in the short term. Political stability is necessary for decisions to be made and kept. It is a necessary element for int'l support to come in. One of the IMF’s conditions to provide the country with the multi billion dollar loan it seeks is political stability that would ensure that commitments that are made will be kept. The protest movement has not mobilized public demonstrations on the very large scale of the past after the appearance more..

Aug 11 (CT) Yesterday (10), the lead story of our newspaper ran the headline, Electricity Tariff Up by 75% From Today. But even before this hike, Sri Lanka has been facing its worst socioeconomic crisis since obtaining independence 74 years ago. A brief analysis showed that this electricity hike will not only hurt the poor even more, but SL’s struggling businesses as well. Data showed that with this tariff increase, SL’s Business electricity rates will now be on par with that of the USA, more..

Aug 11 (SO) As there is no alternative for human blood, an adequate supply of blood in SL can only be assured through regular donations. It is obvious that a sufficient supply of safe blood is an essential component for needy patients. Dr. Trilicia Withanawasam, Consultant Transfusion Physician at the Uni Hospital of KDU and Dr. Nilmini Wijesuriya, Senior Consultant Anaesthetist at Colombo North Teaching Hospital attempt to introduce more..

Aug 11 (TM) The PUCSL approved what it said was SL’s first electricity tariff hike in 9 years. The increase, which is equivalent to an average 75% price hike in the electricity tariff for all consumers, was obviously not welcomed by the public, which is already struggling amidst the economic crisis. The tariff hike was based on two proposals forwarded by the CEB. In a context where the CEB has had to use fuel to generate power, and the CEB being one of the highest loss-making institutions, more..

Aug 11 (Island) The results of an opinion survey, released recently, indicate that JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake is leading where the public approval ratings of the candidates who vied for the presidency in Parliament last month are concerned. Dissanayake leads the survey on trust in leaders to do the right thing to resolve the economic crisis, with 48.5%, followed by Ranil Wickremesinghe (36.6%), Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa (29.1%) and Dullas Alahapperuma (23.7%). more..

Aug 11 (GV) July 9, 2022 should resonate as a historic moment in Sri Lanka's political history – its Bastille Day. After months of public protests demanding that the president and PM resign amidst a deepening political and economic crisis, crowds stormed into the Presidential Secretariat, the president’s official residence and the official residence of the PM, dismantling every barrier that stood in their way. In the wake of this significant event, Prez Rajapaksa fled the country, more..

Aug 11 (Island) To be sure, SL is in a tight policy bind as a result of initially granting the Chinese high tech vessel, Yuan Wang 5, permission to dock at its Hambantota Port for a week, beginning today. The decision did not prove divisive until India objected to it; apparently, over questions relating to its national security. Consequent to India raising objections, SL has requested China to defer its vessel’s Hambantota Port visit, but quite understandably the Chinese side has taken offence more..

Aug 11 (FT) Sri Lanka still has scope to overcome the macroeconomic instability if the Govt could focus on revenue mobilisation through inclusive tax reforms based on scientific analysis, Advocata Institute Senior Research Fellow Dr. Roshan Perera opined. Speaking at the Let’s reset Sri Lanka forum recently, she underscored that the root cause of the existing macroeconomic instability was due to lack of fiscal discipline. more..

Aug 11 (ST) Is the recent rapid depreciation of the SL Rupee (LKR) against the US$ unexpected or a result of foreign exchange policies adopted by Central Bank of SL (CBSL) since 2005 to keep the depreciation at a rate much lower than the observed trend since 1977? The historical depreciation of the LKR since exchange control was introduced in the 1960s is depicted in this time series graph. The exchange rate per US$ has been plotted on a logarithmic scale to clearly illustrate full range more..

Aug 11 (TM) Alongside deaths in queues, there were alarming reports of dead bodies washing up on beaches, with at least 11 such incidents reported this year. There have also been reports of dead bodies being found in other public places, such as at a roadside in Mount Lavinia, under a bridge in Kolonnawa, and in a railway compartment in Rambukkana. The fear of such dead bodies is also in the context of tragic memories of bodies being found floating on rivers; on roadsides before, more..

Aug 11 (AD) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) vehemently refuted what it referred to as false, derogatory & malicious allegations made by MP Nalin Bandara at a recent parliamentary session with regard to the Asia Cup 2022. SLC categorically stated that the MP’s claims are baseless, frivolous and vexatious and had been uttered with zero knowledge of the subject matter. In a statement, SLC stressed that “ASIA Cup is not a tournament belonging to SLC more..

Aug 11 (FT) Dialog Axiata announced a loss of Rs. 28 billion in the first half of this year as it reported further impact due to the depreciation of the rupee though top line performance remained robust. Dialog said despite the challenging environment witnessed in Q2 2022, the Group sustained its consistent performance to record strong revenue growth across all business segments, namely, Mobile, Fixed Line, Digital Pay Television, International and Tele-infrastructure, relative to prior periods, more..

Aug 11 (Island) P&S SL Junior Golf Match-play championship, sponsored by P&S Bakers group, entered the knock-out stage, with the quarter-final matches worked off with the seeded players moving through comfortably bar the thrilling cliff-hanger match between Jacob Norton Seeded 3 in the Silver Division and Varun Fernando (6th Seed) who fought all the way to take the match to the 20th hole, where Jacob prevailed. Jacob Norton will meet second-seeded Adithya Weerasinghe (A’pura) more..

Aug 11 (CI) Eoin Morgan and Jason Roy are among 11 England players to have signed on for CSA's new T20 league, joining - as ESPNcricinfo reported last week - Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Moeen Ali. English representation is the largest among the direct overseas signings the league has made so far. With 10 players, including Niroshan Dickwella, SL is next. English players will also be the best paid. The likes of Buttler and Livingstone can expect to earn US$ 500,000 each to play in the league more..

Aug 11 (CT) Niroshan Dickwella shone with the bat hammering an unbeaten 76 as SLC Greens beat SLC reds by 8 runs in the SLC Invitational T20 League encounter yesterday. Opening the inning for Greens, Dickwella smashed 76 off 56 with eight fours to guide Green to 161 for 6 at the end of 20 overs. Opening partner Pathum Nissanka, one drop Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwanidu Fernando lost their wickets cheaply, before Dickwella added 42 for the fourth wicket with skipper Dasun Shanaka more..

Aug 11 (TM) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has written to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne, drawing his attention to complaints received by the BASL from its members relating to arrests and detentions being carried out without adherence to due process in a manner akin to abductions. BASL said it has received complaints from its members and the Colombo Magistrate’s Court Lawyers’ Association regarding the arrests of persons by more..

Aug 11 (FT) The Cabinet of Ministers this week cleared to amend the Motor Traffic Act, to include provisions and enable the registration of electric three-wheelers. The proposal to this effect submitted by Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardena was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday. Several parties have requested an opportunity to utilise electric three-wheels, to encourage vehicles running with electric power to minimise the use of fossil fuels within Sri Lanka. more..

Aug 11 (FT) Considering the power generation mix availability, the electricity regulator forecasts Sri Lanka could manage supply with below three-hour power cuts till Jan 2023. “Since February, we imposed power cuts to manage the electricity demand. At present, the bulk of the generation is via hydropower and we hope the resources can be managed till January this way,” PUCSL Chairman said. He also said that the electricity demand has come down by around 25% during more..

Aug 11 (Island) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the MPs were not immune from the Penal Code despite the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act. Premadasa said Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardane had claimed that incidents in Parliament could not be dealt with under the regular law. “This claim sends the wrong message to people. Aren’t the provisions of Penal Code more..

Aug 11 (DM) The opposition today called for a debate on the eletricity tariff hike, claiming that people would be further burdened due to this decision. Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said the electricy tarrifs of most people had gone up by over 75%. "The electricity tarrifs have gone up by 75% and over. How can people live with this ever increasing cost of living. It was earlier claimed that rulers were taken to the electric chair but now people are taken to electric chair more..

Aug 11 (Island) About Rs. 3,000 million had been paid as overtime for the employees of the CPC oil refinery, during the past few months, Parliament was told yesterday. Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that he had asked for a detailed report as to whom and on what grounds the overtime payments had been made and it would be submitted to Parliament. Fielding a question asked by SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella, Minister Wijesekera said instructions had been issued to regulate overtime. more..

Aug 11 (Island) On the invitation of the former Chairman of the Committee of Public Finance (COPF), Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, the Director of the Sustainable Finance Hub of the UNDP, Marcos Neto, on Tuesday (09) addressed members of Parliament on ways and means of improving revenue generation. The dialogue, Revenue Generation as a Pathway to Sri Lanka’s Economic Recovery, held at the Parliament, attracted many members from govt, & Opposition, as well. more..

Aug 11 (Island) Head of TMTK, C.V. Wigneswaran said that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe had agreed to all demands he had made, including the release of Tamil political prisoners, to secure his vote during last month’s Parliament election, to elect a Prez. He made this statement following a meeting with the Prez in Colombo to discuss the establishment of an all-party govt. “We have made several requests and if the President is ready to comply with them, we will consider taking part in the all party govt,” more..

Aug 11 (Island) Prez Wickremesinghe’s govt has reversed the appointment of retired Admiral Jayanath Colombage as SL’s Ambassador to Tokyo. Previous Foreign Secretary, Dr. Colombage, was to succeed political appointee Sanjiv Gunasekera, who resigned in June. New administration has nominated senior career Foreign Service officer Rodney Perera, as Gunasekera’s replacement. Govt has informed High Posts Committee (HPC) more..

Aug 11 (CT) Former South Asia’s fastest man Himasha Eashan, who was banned for 4 years for using prohibited substances, has left the country, his coach Chaminda Perera confirmed. Eashan, a soldier attached to the Artillery Regiment of SL Army, left the island seeking employment in Italy. South Asian Games medallist was found positive for a banned substance during a random test conducted by SLADA on 26 Oct 2021, where the Disciplinary Committee of the SL Anti-Doping Agency more..

Aug 11 (CT) Suneetha Wijesuriya, well known Chess promoter and Gold medalist at the 30th FIDE World Chess Olympiad 1992, was awarded the Outstanding Game Changer of Chess in Asia by the World Chess Federation (WCF) recently. International Chess Federation named 2022 as the year of Women Chess, and this awards ceremony was held to recognize the strength of Women Chess players and related activists. Awards were made in 13 categories – more..

Aug 11 (TM) Countering a recent erroneous statement made by Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Bandula Gunawardana to the effect that incidents involving property damage occurring within Parliament cannot be dealt with under the ordinary laws of the land, Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana clarified yesterday (10) that all MPs are subject to the country’s criminal law. This comes in the wake of sources close to Karu Jayasuriya and more..

Aug 11 (FT) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a critical contribution of NOK 5 million (approximately Rs. 189 million, or $ 500,000) from the Govt of Norway to support Sri Lankans struggling to feed their families. WFP’s emergency food and nutrition operation aims to assist 3.4 million of the Sri Lankans most at risk of food insecurity and malnutrition amid record food inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices and widespread shortages of essential commodities. more..

Aug 11 (DM) While appreciating the submission of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament, National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) said it is the responsibility of the people's representatives to ensure it is adopted unanimously. NMSJ Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said they consider it as a positive step taken to update the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. He said in a statement that It also must be noted that the step should be taken by all who value democracy more..

Aug 11 (ANI) Yuan Wang 5, the Chinese research and Survey vessel, continues to proceed to SL's port of Hambantota despite the authorities of the island country asked Beijing to defer the visit. On Tuesday, SL Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it has requested China to defer the visit of the Yuan Wang 5. However, on Tuesday the vessel increased its speed and reached a point 600 nautical miles away from H'tota port. more..

Aug 11 (FT) The writer’s attention was drawn to the recent clarion call by several political parties, opinion makers and academics harping on the urgent need to obtain a fresh People’s mandate through a general election/referendum. This urgency was triggered by the peaceful and intelligent youth at the Aragala Bhoomiya who opened the doors for radical and far reaching system changes aimed at abolition of executive presidency (Gota-Go-Home) and election of a new set of patriotic more..

Aug 11 (AD) Recommendations have been submitted to the grant presidential pardon to former MP Ranjan Ramanayake, Minister of Justice, Prisons Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe says. Addressing a media briefing convened at the ministry on Wednesday, the lawmaker said he has sought the Attorney General’s advice on the matter. “Seeking the Attorney General’s instructions is not required for a matter like this. Advice should be sought with regard more..