Jul 18 (ST) Free Media Movement (FMM) issuing a press release, condemned the recent incident involving a group of protestors who stormed into the building of Sate owned Rupavahini Corporation and suspended its broadcast. Protesters had demanded the television channel run only news related to anti-govt protests and entertainment programmes. Troops guard the Rupavahini state television station which came under a temporary siege by sections of the protesters. more..

Jul 18 (ST) Royal-Thomian in all aspects and angles, is reputed for its never-a-dull moment match. Locally, the longest running and the uninterrupted series, and globally, only the second oldest match epitomises hive of activity. When the 143rd installment unfolds come Thursday (21), at the SSC grounds, it would be a stark contrast. Except for the on-field noise, only a dreaded silence would have descended down and will speak for itself. Both the teams have not had the luxury of more..

Jul 18 (DM) Police Headquarters instructed the CID to launch investigation on those publishing certain posts on social media threatening MPs. Police said it has been observed that various posts are being published on social media platforms threatening parliamentarians. Earlier, Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed to conduct an investigation into the allegations that certain individuals through social media are attempting to influence or exert pressure on MPs and more..

JJul 18 (ST) Due to a combination of spot purchases, unsolicited bids (instead of established term contracts) and miscalculation of the pricing formula, SL motorists – in recent months – are forced to pay more for fuel at the pump. Motorists are forced to pay an additional sum of around Rs.145 per litre for 92 petrol, Rs.162 per litre for 95 petrol and Rs.175 per litre for auto diesel due to the recent practice of spot purchase of fuel more..

Jul 18 (ST) Initially, the mood at Gota Go Gama (GGG) in Galle Face was upbeat on the morning of Wednesday (13) as news filtered in that Prez Rajapaksa had fled the country on a SL Air Force (SLAF) aircraft headed for the Maldives. By 8 a.m., a large crowd had already gathered at the site. People were taking group photographs and selfies wrapped in national flags. With Speaker having earlier announced that Mr Rajapaksa had conveyed his intention to step down on July 13, more..

Jul 18 (CT) Wednesday will see four MPs, among a total of 225 contesting for the Presidency as at yesterday. They are UNP Leader, Premier and acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, JJB)/JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and SLPP MP Dullas Alahapperuma. SLPP commands the majority in the House. These four will vie for the votes of the remaining 221 MPs, who will vote by secret ballot to elect the new Prez to serve the remainder more..

Jul 18 (AFP) Sri Lanka's protest movement reached its 100th day Sunday having forced one president from office and now turning its sights on his successor as the country's economic crisis continues. Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled his palace shortly before demonstrators invaded it last weekend and on Thursday resigned from the presidency. His mismanagement is blamed for SL's financial turmoil, which has forced its 22 mil more..

Jul 18 (DM) Catholic Bishops Conference today urged all MPs to set aside their political differences and agendas and come to a consensus to appoint an interim Prez and PM who are honest and able to muster everyone's confidence. Absence of such an interim Prez and PM will further aggravate the country's siruation and people will lose faith on all elected MPs," a statement signed by President SL Catholic Bishops Conference Bishop Harold Anthoney Perera and Secretary General more..

Jul 18 (DM) A 31-year-old man had been arrested with 50 tear gas cannisters which were stolen from police during protest at Polduwa Junction near Parliament on Wednesday (13). Welikada Police has initiated investigation after a group of protesters attacked a three-wheeler belonging to the police that was carrying tear gas cannisters to the Polduwa Junction protest site on July 13 where police and the army were trying to disperse protesters who tried to advance towards parliament. more..

Jul 18 (CI) The 2022 Lanka Premier League, which had been slated to begin in two weeks, has been postponed, because of the economic situation in SL. A draft had been held, foreign players supposedly secured, and preparations were underway for the tournament to be held. However, problems with securing adequate sponsorship and cooling franchise interest have led to the postponement. Whether it will be played at all this year may depend on whether SL's economic crisis eases. more..

Jul 18 (CI) The 2022 Asia Cup may be shifted out of SL, even though the nation has successfully hosted a full tour of Australia and is currently hosting a Test series against Pakistan without any major hassles. Sri Lanka Cricket will remain the official host of the Asia Cup, but the tournament, ESPNcricinfo has learned, is set to be played in Dubai and Sharjah between August 27 and Sept 11. The decision was taken at an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting this week, which remains concerned by more..

Jul 18 (FT) Govt yesterday reduced the price of fuel by Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 per litre as a relief measure but the move prompted the PUCSL Chairman to question credibility, timing and the quantum. State-owned CPC first announced the reduction after which Lanka IOC decided the same. The price of standard diesel and petrol was reduced by Rs. 20 per litre and the reduction of premium variant price was Rs. 10 per litre. more..

Jul 18 (FT) Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday said efforts will be accelerated for an urgent relief program to provide fuel, gas and essential food items to the public who are struggling due to the economic pressure. He announced the move as well as several decisions following discussions with ministers and MPs. He said it has been decided to use additional money for this from the relief budget that will be presented in August. In the discussion, the Acting Prez advised to more..

Jul 18 (GT) SL has not reached any initial agreement with the IMF on debt relief, and its largest creditors -ADB and World Bank - are urged to come up with a package that would speed up its debt restructuring process, SL's Ambassador to China Palitha Kohona said on Friday, while also calling for more assistance from partners after the debt-ridden country claimed bankruptcy and imposed a state of emergency amid escalating protests and persisting shortage of daily necessities. more..

JJul 18 (TM) A large number of three-wheeler drivers are pumping fuel into their three-wheelers from several filling stations at less than Rs. 500 per litre, which is the market price, before selling it at prices as high as Rs. 2,500 per litre to desperate vehicle owners. Many people complained that these three-wheeler drivers pump fuel into their three-wheelers, after which they bottle the fuel to sell at exorbitant prices on the black market. more..

Jul 18 (AD) The security around the Parliament complex has been tightened and all the entry roads leading to it have been closed off with roadblocks. Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to convene tomorrow at 10 a.m. chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Due to the current political crisis in the country, the calling of nominations to appoint a successor prez is scheduled to be held tomorrow. Voting related to this will be held as a secret ballot in Parliament the next day (20). more..

Jul 18 (ST) The road ahead for the SL stock market, manufacturers, leisure companies, and the imports industry will be tough in the coming months due to the instability created in the past few weeks. With likely currency depreciation in the coming months, Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) will follow a similar trend in markets such as Argentina and Zimbabwe. In these markets, the index initially pulled back sharply due to accelerated depreciation of the currency, high inflation, high taxes, and more..

Jul 18 (EN) SL Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency with effect from Monday July 18. According to an extraordinary gazette issued Monday morning, the emergency was declared in the interests of public security, the protection of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community. Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Acting President on Friday (15) more..

Jul 18 (AD) A person has been hacked to death using swords in the Hinatiyana area at Mahagama in the Katunayake Police area. The deceased has been identified as a 38-year-old three-wheeler driver who was a resident of Hinatiyana, Mahagama. He had reportedly left his home last night, informing family members that he was going to obtain fuel for the three-wheeler from the filling station. On his way to the fuel station, a group of persons who had arrived in another three-wheeler had attacked more..

Jul 18 (FT) President is gone. He has left the country in shambles. Unfortunately the sycophants and those who were under obligation to follow the law of the jungle are still around. There is a total breakdown in adherence to laws, rules and regulations thanks to ministers asserting their power to hire and fire. The ministers do not respect the need for public servants to adhere to their rules and regulations. I think the most important change that has to be introduced, is to ensure that more..

Jul 18 (FT) In the middle of the 12th century, Prince Parakramabahu who later became the king of Lanka as Parakramabahu I, had a disappointing experience when he became the ruler of Dakshina Desha, roughly the present-day Western and North-Western Provinces. According to the second part of the chronicle, Chulavansa, the Prince had asked his Treasurer, equivalent to the Secretary to the Treasury today, whether he had enough resources to wage war with other rulers so that more..

Jul 18 (Island) FUTA had demanded that Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe step down immediately to prevent a disastrous constitutional and political impasse that will further destabilize this country. Secretary-FUTA Rohan Laksiri has, in a letter to Wickremesinghe, said that SL is facing a severe economic and political crisis. Although people are suffering, the political leadership of the country has miserably failed to steer the country towards any kind of stability during this time, more..

Jul 18 (BBC) SL is in the midst of a deep and unprecedented economic crisis that has sparked huge protests and seen its president quit after fleeing the country - but other countries could be at risk of similar troubles, according to the head of the IMF. "Countries with high debt levels and limited policy space will face additional strains. Look no further than SL as a warning sign," said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. more..

Jul 18 (FT) SJB warned that an arrangement of a SLPP-backed President and PM will not appease the crisis-hit masses and an all-party interim Govt will be the solution. SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella told journalists that efforts are underway to elect SLPP-backed Prez and PM and this will be against the wishes of the masses and the clergy who have been demanding for an all-party caretaker Govt till proper elections are held. He said that SJB can only muster 62 MPs hence cannot establish a strong govt more..

Jul 18 (DM) One shipment of Petrol reached the country is presently undergoing quality sampling and unloading will begin tomorrow, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. He said the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd (CPSTL) will commence delivery to the remote depots by trains and trucks tomorrow. Meanwhile, the unloading process from the two diesel freighters have been completed at the Colombo ports, while the unloading process from another tanker freighter is in progress more..

Jul 18 (AD) The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa says that he cannot lie and promise that relief can be given to the people immediately, within the current economic bankruptcy the country is facing. A special meeting between representatives of the citizen’s struggle protest movement and the opposition leader took place this morning at the opposition leader’s office. During this week, process of appointing the successor more..

Jul 18 (AD) Six persons including two children and a pregnant woman have been injured and hospitalized after a train collided with a car this morning at an unprotected railway crossing near the Anula Devi Balika Vidyalaya at Magalle, Galle. According to reports, the car which was transporting a group of persons returning from a wedding ceremony had attempted to pass through the railway crossing despite the signal light flashing red. Six persons including a pregnant woman, two children more..

Jul 18 (FT) GotaGoGama activists and trade unions have declared tomorrow as National Protest Day to exert pressure on Acting Prez Wickremesinghe to step down. Aragalaya activist Wasantha Mudalige and trade union leader Joseph Stalin along with others announced the countrywide protest and hartal if Wickremesinghe does not quit. They argued that the people’s revolution was to oust Rajapaksas and those who helped them to stay in power or protected them despite warnings issued over 3mos ago more..

Jul 18 (CT) SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam is yet to respond to the criticism levelled against him over his statement that the SLPP will support Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe at the upcoming Parliamentary vote for Presidency, and SLPP Media spokesperson said. While a faction of SLPP MPs have criticised the statement, issued by Kariyawasam, SLPP Chairman, Prof. G.L. Peiris, in a letter, expressed his disapproval over the statement while questioning the basis on more..

Jul 18 (CT) Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed the security forces to investigate incidents where individuals are engaged in exerting undue pressure through social media, which would affect the election of the next Prez. He pointed out that there were reports on influential social media posts shared that would hamper the legislators’ ability to vote freely during the elections to select the successor Prez. Acting Prez’s instructions, to the relevant security agencies, also said more..

Jul 18 (CI) Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando set a platform with their 91-run partnership, the middle order then thrust SL onward in an urgent middle session, and Dinesh Chandimal gave SL command of the first Galle Test, hitting 86 not out off 121 balls while putting up lively stands with the tail. Mohammad Nawaz wheeled his way to a maiden five-wicket haul, and Yasir Shah produced some spectacular legbreaks, but more..

Jul 18 (ANI) Highlighting the ongoing political turmoil in Sri Lanka, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Saturday warned countries with high debt levels to take lessons from Sri Lanka and said that it is a warning sign for nations with limited policy space. The IMF Chief made these straightforward remarks at the hybrid meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) held in Indonesia which kicked off on July 15. more..

Jul 18 (Island) All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) said that considering the current state of unrest prevailing in the country, people should ensure that the democratic people’s struggle was not hijacked by evil forces. ACJU General Secretary Akram Nooramith appealed to the public to remain calm during this critical situation and to avoid engaging in violence and damaging public property while urging the political leaders to convene Parliament without further delay and to establish political stability more..

Jul 18 (AD) The Acting Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered a special statement today and touched on several topics including the present economic crisis, the shortages of essentials as well as the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. He said that everyone should come together and rebuild SL and this country can be rebuilt. Wickremesinghe said that when he accepted the premiership on May 13, a number of issues more..

Jul 18 (NR) The Public Utilities Commission of SL’s Chairman Mr. Janaka Ratnayake emphasized that Sri Lanka should establish a transparent method to determine the fuel price which will enable people to see the real cost and its fairness. Mr. Ratnayake states that he has also submitted the related information to the Committee of Public Enterprises (COPE) in this regard. The price of a liter of fuel in Sri Lanka should further decrease in accordance with the actual prices in the world market. more..

Jul 18 (Island) Manohara de Silva, PC, says the rejection by the US of a visa application by Gotabaya Rajapaksa towards the tail end of the latter’s presidential term may allow Western powers to arrest him in terms of the Geneva Resolution. He emphasised that the Geneva Resolution authorised universal jurisdiction by accepting the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on SL. High Commissioner conducted that investigation, in terms of the Geneva Resolution more..