Aug 15 (Island) TPNA leader MP C.V. Vigneswaran says Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is in a hurry to rope in Tamil MPs with an eye to the upcoming UNHRC session. In a statement after meeting Prez Wickremesinghe MP says: “He appeared to be in a hurry to rope in Jaffna MPs to be part of the Govt, I suppose to showcase to Geneva! I don’t blame him. Govt has so far ignored its obligations to the UN as per Resolution 46/1. Although Prez assured us that he will take action more..

Aug 15 (Island) SJB MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament on Friday that the Aragalaya campaign was very much alive and asked his fellow MPs to beware of another wave of popular uprising. Participating in the debate on Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent policy statement in the House, Field Marshal Fonseka said that some boasted that they had put an end to Aragalaya. “They are mistaken. The Aragalaya is not over. It is taking heavy blows of suppression. It will survive this suppression. more..

Aug 15 (DM) Whilst confirming that the opposition groups in Parliament have nominated his name as the new Chairman of the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE), SJB MP Eran Wickramaratne today said it is up to the govt to decide on a policy to give the chairmanship to members of Opposition. Mr. Wickramaratne was responding to the reports which said he had been nominated as the Chairman of COPE and MP Kabir Hashim as the Chairman of Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). more..

Aug 15 (FT) High Commission of Pakistan and the Pakistani community in Sri Lanka on Saturday celebrated The Diamond Jubilee of independence of Pakistan with traditional fervour and resolve to make Pakistan a strong, dynamic, progressive, tolerant and democratic Islamic welfare State. The High Commissioner of Pakistan in SL, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Umar Farooq Burki HI hoisted the national flag of Pakistan to the tune of the national anthem in a vibrant and colourful ceremony more..

Aug 15 (DM) A fuel price revision for the second quarter of this month will be made today, power and energy ministry announced earlier. According to amendments made to the fuel pricing formula, the fuel price revision is expected to take place on the 1st and the 15th of every month as per the fluctuation of prices in the global market. On Aug 1, after amending the fuel prices, CPC had reduced only the price of a litre of Lanka Auto Diesel by Rs. 10 with announcing the new retail price as Rs. 430. more..

Aug 15 (TM) Following a revelation that a total of 410 human deaths and 1,157 elephant deaths have been reported from Jan 2019 to April 2022 due to the human-elephant conflict, Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation is to complete the installation of electric elephant fences in all affected areas within the next year. A discussion regarding the prevention of human-elephant conflict in the Hambantota District was held on 13 August with the participation of more..

Aug 15 (DM) Prabodha Kumara alias 'Kadira', who was the main sniper of underworld figure and drug trafficker 'Harak Kata', was arrested by the STF in Boralesgamuwa last night. STF said the 27-year-old suspect, a resident of Weligama was lodging at an inn in Boralasgamuwa laying a trap to execute a crime under the instructions of Harak Kata. It was revealed that the suspect was wanted over the attempted murder of an individual known as 'Chuti Mama' in Weligama whom he shot at on April 5 this year and more..

Aug 15 (Xinhua) Tourism Ministry has decided to issue longer visas for tourists arriving in the country in order to revive the crisis-hit tourism industry following the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, a senior official from the ministry said. The official said that following a proposal submitted to the cabinet last week, the tourism ministry would soon permit tourist visas for up to 180 days for those who apply via Electronic Travel Authorization from the existing 30 days, whilst more..

Aug 15 (TM) Two leading teachers’ trade unions (TUs) – Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) and the Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU) – have expressed their opposition to the recent proposal of the Ministry of Labour to allow students aged 16-20 years to engage in part-time jobs, with both the TUs alleging that the proposal in question will keep children from low-income families away from schools. CTU President Priyantha Fernando charged that allowing students to work part-time is a decision more..

Aug 15 (FT) Unbeaten Isipathana College ended their long wait for the League Title when they beat Royal College by 21 points (2 tries, 1 conversion, 3 penalties) to 15 points (2 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) and win their Dialog League Under-20 rugby encounter played in front of a packed Havelock Park yesterday. This win by the Green Shirts came after 6 years of waiting for the League. With this win, Isipathana also regained the Maj. Milroy Fernando Trophy as well. more..

Aug 15 (EN) A protestor who was arrested for forcibly entering a state-run television station has been released on bail. Dhaniz Ali, an activist linked to youth-led Aragalaya (Struggle) protest movement, was arrested on July 27 aboard an aircraft at the BIA due to depart to Dubai. Ali was part of a group of protestors who had stormed the state-run Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) on July 13. He was accused of interrupting the SLRC’s scheduled programming that day and demanding the producers more..

Aug 15 (TM) Popular YouTuber and GotaGoGama Activist Rathindu Senarathna, alias Ratta, has said that he will lodge a complaint with the Ja Ela Police today regarding the sum of Rs. 5 million that was deposited into his account by an unknown party. He said he was going to make a complaint with the Slave Island Police initially, but that they refused to accept the complaint since his bank account branch is registered at Ja Ela. “So today I will make a complaint about this transfer, more..

Aug 15 (TM) The fuel quota issued under the National Fuel Pass system or QR system is scheduled to be updated from midnight today (14). Ministry of Power and Energy stated that after analyzing the data from the past week, the necessary changes made in the fuel quota for next week will be announced today. Fuel was issued for vehicles under the fuel quota and according to the QR system with effect from the first day of this month. With the implementation of the system, the long queues at fuel stations have ended. more..

Aug 15 (Reuters) Global ratings agency S&P Global on Monday slashed its rating on SL bonds to 'D', representing default, following missed interest and principal payments. SL, which had defaulted on a bond payment earlier this year and has $12 billion in overseas debt with private creditors, has been battling the worst financial crisis in its independent history. SL's external public debt freeze prevents payment of interest and principal obligations due on the govt's more..

Aug 15 (ANI) Hailing the ties between the two countries, India's High Commissioner to SL, Gopal Baglay said that mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation are the key aspects of enhanced security between SL and India and gifting of Dornier 228 has added to the cause. "Security of India & SL is enhanced by mutual understanding, mutual trust & cooperation," Baglay said at handing over event of Dornier Aircraft. "Gifting of Dornier 228 is India's latest contribution to this cause," Baglay said. more..

Aug 15 (DM) Members of the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have sent Letters of Demand to the newly appointed Chairman of the National Sports Council Arjuna Ranatunga, claiming Rs. 2 billion, the SLC said. The SLC said that the Executive Committee of SLC has decided to take appropriate legal action against the National Sports Council Chairman over comments and alleged accusations made by Ranatunga against the Executive Committee of SLC during a recent TV programme. more..

Aug 15 (TM) The severe foreign exchange shortage in the country has hampered the ongoing development activities of the East Container Terminal (ECT), with SLPA struggling to find dollars to pay for new equipment needed for said terminal. As a result of the ongoing forex shortage, purchase of critical equipment for the terminal has been delayed for months, as the authority lacks around $ 200 million in funds to bring down the essential equipment, it is learnt. more..

Aug 15 (AD) The revised postal charges come into effect today (Aug 15). Accordingly, Department of Posts stated that the postal rate for a normal letter which was at Rs. 15.00, is increased to Rs.50.00. It is also mentioned that the registered postal fee which prevails at Rs.30 has moved up to Rs.60. Under the facility to post letters on subsidized charges for charitable and voluntary organizations, the postage fee for a letter weighing up to 20 grams has been revised from Rs. 12 to Rs. 30. more..

Aug 15 (GT) Chinese Embassy in SL will hold a welcoming ceremony for the arrival of the Chinese Yuan Wang 5 scientific research vessel at the port of Hambantota, a source close to the matter said. "Chinese Embassy in SL will hold a simple but warm welcoming ceremony on the premise of epidemic prevention and control," the source said. According to SL's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Yuan Wang 5 was cleared to dock at Hambantota port from Tuesday (22) after the govt "engaged in extensive consultations at more..

Aug 16 (DM) The top officials of the Defence Ministry have been pushed to the level of politicians who voted for the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Amendments to the Constitution, in respect of handling the overseas SL Tamil organizations. These officials have to justify the actions of the government of the day whenever it proscribes these organizations or undoes that proscription. After the end of the war against the LTTE in May, 2009, a number of these organizations have been more..

Aug 16 (CT) A ravaged countryside is waiting to greet you. Its desolate stretches are hardly a welcoming sight. Even the usual harmonious humming of birds of rare species, how melancholy it may sound, has forsaken the landscape. Gloomy skies and a forlorn cloud cover are hanging like a shroud over an earth dying of thirst; infrequency of rain is more predictable than the irregularity of clouds turning dark as a precursor of torrents to come down to drench the soil making it ready more..

Aug 16 (DM) The street protests and the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa on July 14 was accompanied by a collapse in support for the ruling parties. The nation faces critical economic and political choices, but this did not lead to public consensus about whom to support. That is now changing, with the NPP/JVP emerging as the most popular choice of Sri Lankans. At the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), more..

Aug 16 (GV) The post war SL state’s inability to fulfil the demands of global finance capital has devastated the lives of millions of Sri Lankans. This is a country where we see the socio-economic impact of the new period of capitalist transition that emphasised the private sector, markets and openness to global capitalism for more than four decades. The other dimension that has had a wide ranging impact on society has been three decades of a military strategy to consolidate more..

Aug 16 (ST) So nice to hear that Sri Lanka’s democracy, constitution and sovereignty are safe in the hands of those with pips and chips on their shoulders who manned the barricades when the 225 stout, brave and dripping with rectitude met in the House of Democracy to vote a new president into the highest seat of power. To praise them for their service to president and country, the new head of state was welcomed at the new army headquarters at J'pura, built with marble and all, more..

Aug 16 (TM) Legal experts and political analysts last week opined that the proposed 22nd Amendment to the Constitution failed to rectify the shortcomings of the 19th Amendment (19A) and may result in a political crisis like that of 2018. Veteran political analyst and academic Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda said that 22nd Amendment was not a solution to the present political crisis and that it was unclear if the Govt was addressing more..

Aug 16 (CT) Inadequate compensation paid to farmers, due to marauding elephants invading their croplands, may be the cause of the aggravating human elephant conflict (HEC) in SL, German-based ResearchGate (RG), a commercial social networking site for scientists and researchers, according to Wikipedia, said. RG quoting SL conservation specialist and zoologist Charles Santiapillai said: “It appears that SL may have more elephants than it can sustain without much more..

Aug 16 (Island) The govt has delisted some expatriate Tamil groups considered sympathetic to the LTTE’s cause, and drawn heavy flak from a section of the ruling SLPP and the nationalistic organisations that backed it to the hilt at the past several elections. SLPP leadership has chosen to remain silent on the issue, and it will be interesting to know its stance on the delisting of the Tamil groups that it once demonised. It made Ranil Wickremesinghe the Prez to do its bidding. more..

Aug 16 (DM) Small countries cannot insulate themselves from the systemic forces of a great power rivalry unfolding in their neighbourhood. But, with a little bit of common sense, they can make sure that they would not become willing captives of that competitive power dynamic. However, what SL resorted to, last week by abruptly deferring the visit by the Chinese research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5, was the escapist fallacy. And by doing so, it unwittingly became a willing captive of the more..

Aug 16 (Island) Protesters defeated the dictatorial Rajapaksa regime, making the Rajapaksas resign from their positions, premiership and presidency, of the govt. After the collapse of the dynasty, Ranil Wickremesinghe, a Rajapaksa puppet, came to power with the support of a distorted majority in Parliament. Having got himself appointed as President, without a people’s mandate, Wickremesinghe began to suppress the struggle—the very struggle that led to his ascendency. more..

Aug 16 (TM) With over 40 private companies expressing interest in entering SL’s fuel market, Govt hopes to ensure sustained supply to the market while increasing State income through fees levied on the new players. Approximately 90% of SL’s fuel demand is supplied by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), while the remaining 10% is supplied by Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC), local subsidiary of Indian Oil Corp. more..

Aug 16 (Island) Super Knights Chess Club clinched the title of the SL National Team (Super League) Chess Championship 2022 which concluded on Sunday. SL National Team (Super League) Chess Championship 2022 was held from Aug 10 to 14 at the new Chess Federation Headquarters, Torrington Square, Col 7. Ten teams competed in this premier club event organized by the Chess Federation of SL. It was held as nine rounds, round-robin event with the standard time control of 90 minutes more..

Aug 16 (DN) All rounder, Johann Peiris has been selected to lead the SL Cricket team for the first ever 60+ World Cup tournament to be held on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia from Sept 3 to 16 with the participation of 12 teams. Veterans Cricket Australia will host this inaugural 60+ World Cup according to Rod Rice, the President of Queensland Veterans who is also the tournament liaison official. Peiris, who is a pilot by profession has played Cricket in SL and more..

Aug 16 (ST) As Yupun Abeykoon lined up for the 100m final of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, few would’ve expected what came next. Having never before competed in a major final and just managing to scrape through by clocking 10.19secs, there was little hope of a podium finish. But Yupun turned on the afterburners to dip past the line with a time of 10.14secs, claiming the bronze. It was his first medal in a major more..

Aug 16 (Island) You’ll be amazed at the number of int'l sportsmen and women the Foundation of Goodness has produced. Test cricketer Ramesh Mendis is the most high profile product to come through the institute while there are others like Kavisha Dilhari, a rising star in the SL women’s cricket team and Amasha de Silva, South Asian Junior Champion in 100 and 200 meters. Seenigama, a village in Galle district, previously was only famous for Devalaya, a must stop place more..

Aug 16 (FT) The Hayleys Group yesterday reported strong growth in revenue and earnings in the first quarter of the financial year ending 31 March 2023. Consolidated Earnings for the quarter increased over four-fold to Rs. 20 billion, with strong performances in export, transportation and logistics businesses enabling greater resilience to macro-economic challenges that prevailed. Consolidated Revenue has increased by 75% Year-on-Year (YoY) to Rs. 123.64 billion, more..