Jul 12 (ANI) At least 10 people were injured and later hospitalised following a clash at Temple Trees in Colombo on Tuesday. Nine men and one woman were admitted for treatment, of which six were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital (CNH), Daily Mirror reported. Two patients were discharged from the outpatient department (OPD) and another two patients are still receiving treatment at the OPD, it added. A clash between two protesting factions broke out at 2.45 am on Tuesday. more..

Jul 12 (ANI) Motor Traffic Department on Tuesday said that it will remain closed on Fridays and public holidays until further notice. Sumith Alahakoon, the Commissioner-General of the dept, said that the decision was taken due to transport-related issues and fuel supply restrictions. The department officers are unable to use public and private transport facilities, Alahakoon added. The decision was in accordance with the Public Administration Circulars that were issued on June 27 more..

Jul 12 (Island) Allowing mothers with children under five years of age to go abroad for domestic work will have a negative impact on child development, states Parliamentary Select Committee on gender equality. “PSC to make necessary recommendations and report to Parliament said that when women went abroad for domestic work (unskilled labour), the Divisional Secretariats conducted an investigation and give a family background report and they were given permission to go abroad based on that more..

Jul 12 (Hindu) The US rejected Prez Rajapaksa’s recent request for a visa, The Hindu learns from a top official, amid growing speculation over the besieged leader’s “attempts to flee” the country after promising to quit office. Mr. Gotabaya, formerly a dual citizen of SL and the U.S., gave up his American citizenship ahead of the 2019 elections because of a law that barred foreign nationals from running for the presidency. more..

Jul 12 (DW) Without a complete transformation of the political system, SL won't be able to eliminate the abuse of power and corruption that landed the nation in such dire straits, writes journalist Amirthanayagam Nixon. These are turbulent times in SL, with the country plunged into full-fledged economic and political turmoil. Despite the dramatic circumstances, the political class has not risen to the challenge. No politician seems to be in a position to come up with concrete solutions and more..

Jul 12 (DM) A group of officials from the Archeology Dept arrived at the President's House this morning to ascertain whether there have been any damage caused to the properties which have archeological value. The officials including the Director General of Archeology Dept Anura Manathunga discussed with the protesters who are occupying the premises. A large number of protesters stormed Prez's House, Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees last Saturday & they are still occupying premises. more..

Jul 12 (ANI) Reiterating India's support for Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the situation in the island nation is very sensitive and New Delhi is focusing on ways it can help Colombo economically at this time of need. Jaishankar said, "The situation in SL is very sensitive and complicated. Even as we speak there are developments taking place. Our commitment is to support the SL people because more..

Jul 12 (ANI) Indian Coast Guard is on alert and will ensure that no influx takes place from SL, said the Indian Coast Guard Director General VS Pathania. "We are always present along the coastline and the international boundary. Our presence is 24x7 and with the situation on the other side building up, we are just monitoring and the unit has been sensitized. We are alert and basically, our job is to ensure that no illegal immigration happens no influx happens and we are prepared for that," more..

Jul 12 (CI) While SL are third, their points percentage of 54.17 needs to improve for them to be contenders. They have four Tests remaining - two at home against Pakistan beginning July 16 and two in New Zealand - the defending champions who are out of the running this time - next year. They need to blank Pakistan 2-0 to be in with a serious chance and would still have to win a Test in New Zealand to take their points percentage to 61.11, which may be enough to qualify if other results go their way. more..

Jul 12 (FB) Amid the ongoing financial turmoil in SL that has seen the nation run out of cash, cryptocurrencies have been fronted as a possible solution to rescue the country. However, Central Bank has clarified that there is no authorisation to roll out different crypto products. In a press release on July 12, CBSL maintained that cryptocurrencies are outlawed while noting that it has not approved any Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), mining operations or crypto exchange services. more..

Jul 12 (DN) Thousands of protesters in SL have stormed the homes of the Prez and PM and are refusing to leave until they officially resign, as the president faces accusations of corruption that bankrupted the country and led to a massive economic crisis. Prez Rajapaksa is set to formally step down Wednesday and has reportedly tried to flee the country. We go to the capital Colombo to speak with Bhavani Fonseka, a human rights lawyer and a senior researcher at the CPA, more..

Jul 12 (EN) All Ceylon Bakery Owner Association said price of a loaf of bread will be increased by 20 rupees while other bakery products will also see a 10-rupee price hike from midnight July 12. Bakery Owners Association President N K Jayawardena said the increase is due to the price of wheat flour increasing by 34 rupees. “This is the victorious fourth time these prices are being increased in the last 6 months,” he said. more..

Jul 12 (DM) The SL Air Force (SLAF) today denied social media reports that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is currently staying in a private house belonging to Air Force Chief Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. The SLAF said a video released by Ajith Dharmapala, a former police officer who claims to be the president of the International Organization to Devoid SL Police from Politics, claimed that the President is staying in a private house belonging to the Air Force Commander. more..

Jul 12 (DM) Several complaints had been lodged with the Kollupitiya Police claiming that various items and equipment were stolen from the Temple Trees. The staff of the Temple Trees had lodged the complaints. Media Unit of the Temple Trees also complained that some of their equipment was stolen from the Temple Trees. However, a senior officer of the Kollupitiya Police said they were unable to ascertain what items were stolen from the Temple Trees premises as protesters are still more..

Jul 12 (GT) China will continue providing assistance for the economic and social development of Sri Lanka and support its efforts to recover the economy and improve its people's livelihoods, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. The remarks came after foreign media claimed that Sri Lanka, mired in economic and debt crises and suffering political instability, is in discussions with Japan, and possibly with China in the future, more..

Jul 12 (ANI) Veteran Australia opener David Warner has penned a heartfelt message to the people of Sri Lanka, as the residents are facing the economic and political crisis in the country, to turn out in huge numbers to witness the keenly-contested month-long series between the two countries. Sri Lanka is facing a major economical and political situation as the nation is having a huge shortage of fuel, basic items, and medicines. The star batter of Australia David Warner on Monday took to more..

Jul 12 (CI) A reality check, indeed. Pat Cummins' first defeat as Australia Test captain in Galle, by an innings inside four days, was more than just a blip on the radar. It doesn't quite warrant the vitriolic email former Cricket Australia head of high-performance Pat Howard sent from a Dhaka cafe the day after their first-ever Test loss to Bangladesh in 2017. Nor does it warrant the resignation of the chair of selectors and wholesale team changes, as happened after Australia's last Test match more..

Jul 13 (DM) On June 6, 1956, the day the Sinhala Only Bill was introduced by the then PM SWRD Bandaranaike in Parliament, the Federal Party led by SJV Chelvanayagam organized a silent protest – a satyagraha - at Galle Face Green. Around three hundred Tamils participated in the event. Out of nowhere, a mob of extremist Sinhalese attacked the peaceful demonstrators. Police and troops who were stationed in the vicinity turned a blind eye to the attack. Many were injured and hospitalized. more..

Jul 13 (DM) Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is set to become the first of many things. The first executive Prez of SL to be chased out of power through a popular uprising. The first executive president to resign. The first executive president to go incommunicado and by some accounts spent the last days of his presidency off the shores, floating on a ship. Part of a sibling trio, the first to rule with dynastic gluttony, then to resign in ignominy one after the other within a span of 2 mos. This list could go on & on. more..

Jul 13 (DM) As of now Sri Lanka has run out of fuel. According to the CPC sources fuel reserves have completely dried up. Reportedly the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) has disregarded the CPC priority list compiled to distribute fuel. According to a top level official the haphazard fuel distribution by the CPSTL saw existing stocks finishing up two days earlier than scheduled. more..

Jul 13 (ST) Prez Rajapaksa would have known when he arrived in Parliament on Tuesday (5) that he would likely meet with a hostile reception from opposition members. Nevertheless, the chants of Go Home Gota that echoed in the Chamber as he sat in the front row listening to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe speak on the prevailing economic crisis must still have stung. The chants began after Mr Wickremesinghe referred to a claim made by NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake that more..

Jul 13 (CT) We have seen Dammika Perera swearing in as an MP and a Minister, without any public mandate. He resigned after the Aragalaya victory and will carry the record as the shortest duration Minister in SL. Why not resign also as a National List MP- he has no legitimacy for that !! The few days he was active, daily he made press statements presenting his ideas for solving the crisis and then made a strong attack on Ranil Wickremesinghe that he should resign more..

Jul 13 (TM) Although resolving the foreign reserves crisis is the immediate and most effective solution to the prevailing fuel shortage, that is not really a step that will ensure the country’s fuel security in the long run, and therefore, the fuel crisis should be considered an opportunity to take long overdue steps in ensuring fuel security in the country. To do that, the authorities and the Govt should look into employing internationally more..

Jul 13 (TM) Within a matter of hours, three key buildings of national importance – the official residences of the PM (Temple Trees) and of the Prez (Prez’s House), and Prez Secretariat – were occupied by anti-Govt protestors, and they are ready to stay there until Prez Rajapaksa and PM Wickremesinghe officially resign, and perhaps until a new Govt under a Prez and a PM acceptable to the people is established. The occupation of these buildings is seen by many as a symbol of more..

Jul 13 (CT) The entire world, on 9 July, witnessed with admiration how millions of SL citizens, who had been pushed to the brink of desperation for months, stormed Colombo to overthrow an uncompromising, insensitive leader. They all came armed with one rallying call, to oust Prez Rajapaksa, who had vowed only a few weeks earlier that he was determined to serve out the remaining two years of his term, refusing to bow down to growing public discontent over his increasingly unpopular policy more..

Jul 13 (Island) Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency became a huge problem, and his resignation is also likely to be problematic, for it has led to a dogfight for the post of Acting Prez. It is said that two dogs at the same bone seldom agree. Ambitious bipeds thirsting for power could become far more ferocious than the canines fighting over bones. There are said to be several presidential contenders, and a fiercely-contested election is expected in Parliament come 20 July. more..

Jul 13 (ST) A Vavuniya based kickboxing coach has been in the habit of misusing successful kickboxer’s names, overcharging his students and other unethical practices, two personal accounts said. Inthugadevi Ganesh, a gold medal-winning kickboxer early this year, is one victim and she said her fame, name and popularity has been misused to attract students from her area, Mullaitivu. Ganesh, who’s win was reported by the Sunday Times said, “Since I’m known in this area, more..

Jul 13 (DM) After the attempt by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to leave the country through the Silk Route Passenger Clearance Terminal was foiled, several details of his immediate airline ticket purchase were also brought to light. According to information from the Emirates Airlines, a first class GOLD Membership tier ticket was issued for him to travel to Washington from the BIA. The ticket was issued on July 11, 2022 more..

Jul 13 (DN) The International Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20, the day the Int'l Chess Federation was founded, in 1924. The idea to celebrate this day as the international chess day was proposed by UNESCO, and it has been celebrated since 1966, after it was established by FIDE. The Chess Federation is planning to celebrate it’s Golden Jubilee (1972 - 2022) on a grand scale with more than 500 chess players in an event with Blitz Chess Championships, more..

Jul 13 (GV) On July 9, an unprecedented number of SL protesters marched on the prez’s official residence. They demanded one thing: his immediate resignation for his role in causing the most devastating economic crisis the country has ever faced. Despite brutal retaliation by law enforcement and security forces, the protesters stormed the premises. In the face of such enormous pressure, and for the first time since island wide protests began more than one hundred days ago, more..

Jul 13 (Island) Sprinter Yupun Abeykoon, steeplechaser Nilani Ratnayake and middle-distance runner Gayanthika Abeyratne left for Oregon yesterday to take part in the World Athletics Championships which commences in the US state on Friday. While veteran coach Sajith Jayalal accompanied his athletes Ratnayake and Abeyratne, Abeykoon left Italy with his coach. At one stage the three athletes were uncertain about their participation in biennial event due to delays more..

Jul 13 (FT) Brandix Apparel has come forward to contribute towards the facility to food security related efforts by partnering to cultivate 500 acres during the mid-season under an initiative of UNDP. An exchange of letters took place today with Brandix Apparel Group CEO Ashroff Omar and UNDP Resident Representative Robert Juhkam with the participation of Brandix Apparel Group Director Natasha Boralessa, Group Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Malika Samaraweera, more..

Jul 13 (TM) Bar Association of SL (BASL), Black Cap Movement (BCM) of GotaGoGama, and Venerable Omalpe Sobhitha Thera have urged Presidential Secretariat, Prez’s House (official residence of the Prez), and Temple Trees (official residence of the PM) – which are at present occupied by protestors following the massive protest held on 9 July demanding resignation of Prez Rajapaksa, PM Wickremesinghe, more..

Jul 13 (DN) Throughout the centuries seafarers and fishermen have mesmerized us with their tales of fascinating sea creatures. In an inn, before a crackling wood fire, there was a fearsome pleasure in these blood chilling tales. These seafarers and fishermen claimed to have seen gigantic sea serpents and also the monstrous Kraken! What we do know is that the ocean plays a greater role in our lives. Not just to feed our imagination. The oceans provide us with food. more..

Jul 13 (Island) Late-night outs, multiple affairs, recreational drugs, tattoos, weird hairstyles, and social media campaigning are stuff that you associate with cricket these days. There are of course a few exceptions. The guys who mind their business and have a life beyond cricket. Angelo Mathews is one such and Dinesh Chandimal is another. Sidelined by peers for not moving with the current, you wondered whether the end is near for Chandimal. Not that he had done badly. more..