Jun 17 (FT) The UNHRC Core Group on Sri Lanka has urged the Govt to protect civil society space amidst challenges. The Core Group statement on SL was delivered by Britain’s Ambassador for Human Rights and Deputy Permanent Representative to UN Rita French on behalf of Canada, Germany, Malawi, Montenegro, North Macedonia, UK & US. Full statement: We recognise the significant challenges that SL has been facing over recent months, causing great hardship for SL people. more..

Jun 17 (FT) Amendments to the Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Bill to expedite labour disputes will be enacted shortly, Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour and Foreign Employment was informed recently. Committee met to discuss the Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Bill which was published in the Gazette dated 8 April when it met under the Chairmanship of subject Minister Manusha Nanayakkara. Under the existing Industrial Disputes Act, if the services of an employee more..

Jun 17 (DM) Sri Lanka is among the nations in the world that has the slowest roads, which indicate the economy is facing obstacles in its development effort, an IMF analysis revealed. Sri Lanka has a mean road speed of 50 Km/h, which is the same as Bolivia, and above only Bangladesh (41 Km/h) and Nicaragua (46 Km/h). Falling in the slowest roads category is also India, that has a mean road speed of 58 Km/h, Afghanistan, 57 Km/h, Mongolia, 56 Km/h, and Indonesia, 55 Km/h. more..

Jun 17 (FT) In a bid to revive tourism, the main associations Hotels Association of SL (THASL) and SL Inbound Tour Operators Association (SLAITO) in recent days have been stepping up efforts to ensure a quicker revival and boost much needed foreign exchange inflows. Tourism has been the worst hit with triple blows since 2019. However, undeterred by setbacks, the resilient industry is rallying to start more..

Jun 17 (DM) LOLC Holdings yesterday said it had acquired 9.99% of DFCC Bank PLC through the latter’s recently concluded rights issue. As of yesterday’s market filing, LOLC Holdings held little over 40.2 million DFCC Bank shares, which it had bought for Rs.2.2 billion. DFCC Bank’s recently closed Rs.6 billion rights issue concluded undersubscribed. The basis of the rights issue was 12 new shares for every 37 held at Rs. 55 per share. DFCC said shares that remain unsubscribed more..

Jun 17 (CT) Govt of SL’s face value money printing (FVMP) debt increased by 2.74% (Rs 78,154.54 m) to a record Rs 2.9269 trillion on Wednesday due to a persistent lack of revenue. GoSL’s previous record high FVMP debt was Rs 2.8959 trillion established on 27 May 2022. However, Wednesday’s increase was non-demand-pull inflationary as it was used to make settlement for the payment of essential imports led by fuel, by depreciating the country’s foreign reserves by US$ 266.81 million more..

Jun 17 (TM) Claiming that even the group that boasted about working towards the release of former SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake, who is currently serving a four year term of rigorous imprisonment upon conviction over contempt of court, have forgotten him today, SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa said that they would have to wait patiently for Ramanayake’s release under the prescribed procedure. more..

Jun 17 (FT) Excise Commissioner General M.G. Gunasiri says that some licensees are opposed to providing soft liquor sales licences to supermarkets as this may impact sales at their outlets. He said that some groups are working to create monopolies within their respective areas by blocking access to other outlets. Gunasiri charged that some of these parties are also engaged in various offences connected to alcohol sales and quality and this was one of the reasons behind their opposition more..

Jun 17 (Island) The Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) would ask Sri Lanka for a collateral to ensure the future supply of oil, a senior CPC officer told The Island. The officials said that during the past few months, India had provided Sri Lanka with fuel worth USD 700 million. The last fuel ship under the current Indian credit line arrived in Colombo yesterday with 40,000 tonnes of diesel. The SL govt is trying to secure another Indian credit line worth USD 500 million. more..

Jun 17 (TM) Rajeev Sooriyaarachchi has been appointed the new Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA), replacing former MP Duminda Silva, who is serving a prison sentence. Sooriyaarachchi previously served as the Vice-Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (SL) (Pvt.) Ltd. The CID, acting on the order given by the Supreme Court to arrest former MP Duminda Silva, following the special Presidential pardon granted to him by Prez Rajapaksa being suspended more..

Jun 17 (TM) PM and Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilisation, and National Policies Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a roadmap of economic goals will be presented to Parliament soon. Wickremesinghe had made these remarks at a meeting held on Wednesday evening with a number of Opposition MPs, including SJB MPs Dr. Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne, Kumara Welgama, Rauff Hakeem, and Rishad Bathiudeen. According to a statement from PM’s office, more..

Jun 17 (TM) Following the decision to provide a holiday on Fridays for three months for public officers to have an opportunity to plant food crops in their home gardens, it has been decided to supervise their efforts through Agriculture, Research, and Production Assistant Officers or Economic Development Officers engaged in the respective divisions. “Encourage the officers to engage in home gardening or cultivating short-term crops more..

Jun 17 (TM) A suspicious parcel, which, according to the Police, contained a smoke bomb, was found yesterday on the road leading to the St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, which was one of the targets of the series of bombings on Easter Sunday on 21 April 2019. Police Media Spokesman, SPP Nihal Thalduwa said that despite reports that a parcel containing explosives was found near the St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, it was a smoke bomb, which was not live. more..

Jun 17 (DM) Prez Rajapaksa and PM Wickremesinghe reportedly informed there was no necessity of the country going for total lock down or curfew due to the severe shortage of fuel, as more fuel shipments were expected to arrive in the country next week. Some ministers and officials had inquired the Prez and PM if a lockdown or a curfew was necessary. But both leaders had reportedly responded negatively. However, the govt is considering introducing the online system for more..

Jun 17 (TM) PTUC has claimed that the Govt has no choice but to close the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery by 28 June, allow it to operate as a white elephant, or hand it over to some other party, given that there is no idea as to when a crude oil tanker will arrive in SL. PTUC Convener Ananda Palitha said: “At present, Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery is operating at a daily capacity of 3,400 metric tonnes (MT). In this situation, current stock of more..

Jun 17 (FT) At this point SL is lying on the verge of falling into a more dreadful abyss from what it is now in. So much so, the country will inevitably fall into a state of primitivism not easy to recover from unless appropriate and prompt measures are taken to prevent it sinking further down from the present abyss it is now in. But, the aggressive forces and the society that demand and advocate for a change of the political system and current regime does not seem to realise the horrible reality facing SL. more..

Jun 17 (NR) Prez Rajapaksa has issued directives to ensure the systematic distribution of fuel to filling stations through stocks that are due to arrive in the country in the coming days. Prez said the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of SL must work together with state and private banks to facilitate the sufficient requirement of fuel and issue Letters of Credit. A discussion was held today under the patronage of the Prez pertaining to the distribution and import of petrol, diesel, and gas. more..

Jun 17 (DM) After introducing special passenger transportation plans from June 15, Railway Dept has launched an intercity luxury express train service from Mount Lavinia to Jaffna today. They said the transportation plans were implemented due to the recent increase in transport costs and bus fares following the fuel price increase. The train will start its journey from Mount Lavinia to Jaffna every weekend from today. The train will leave from Mount Lavinia at 10 pm and reach Jaffna at 5:30 am more..

Jun 17 (AD) Four university students have been arrested for engaging in unruly behaviour near the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Among the arrestees are three male students and one female student, aged 24 and 28 years. They were identified as residents of Akuramboda, Kurunegala, Koslanda and Kekirawa areas. The intoxicated students in question had berated and threatened the police officers who were checking the entry tickets of the spectators entering more..

Jun 17 (EN) Activities at several key economic sectors requiring transport are slowly grinding to a halt as forex shortages from continued money printing is making it difficult to finance oil imports, hitting passenger, goods transport and fisheries. SL’s rupee collapsed from 200 to 360 to the US dollar after two years of money printing and a failed float with a surrender requirement. Liquidity injections and interventions are continuing more..

Jun 17 (Island) Allianz Lanka has announced a landmark partnership with Nations Trust Bank for Bancassurance, as the bank’s Preferred Partner for general insurance. A synergistic opportunity for Allianz Lanka to expand its reach, and Nations Trust Bank to add value to its offering, the new partnership is expected to help both partners win together, during the 3-year partnership journey, while potentially being the largest Bancassurance partnership in Sri Lanka. more..

Jun 17 (EN) A guidance rate for interbank transactions determined by the central bank appreciated to 359.75 on Friday from 359.85 on Thursday as the the country’s transport sector slowly ground to a halt due to forex shortages. The rupee was quoted by commercial banks against telegraphic transfers at 367 to the US dollar on Friday. The guidance rate was 359.75 to the US dollar +1.00, or – 4.0 for interbank deals, down from 359.85 to the dollar. more..

Jun 17 (BBC) Sri Lanka could have avoided its current economic turmoil if it had gone to the IMF for a bailout sooner, the country's central bank governor says. Nandalal Weerasinghe said that the delay in seeking outside help was a mistake. The country has said it needs $5bn this year in support from the international community, including the IMF. Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt for the time in its history last month. more..

Jun 17 (Island) The All Ceylon Health Trade Union Federation (ACHTUF) had decided to launch a series of protests opposite main hospitals across the country from 12 noon on 20 June, ACHTUF General Secretary Mahinda Guruge said. Guruge said that they were protesting against the reduction of health staff and allowances, the increasingly severe medicine and equipment shortages, transport issues that health workers faced and the drop in the standards of food given to resident patients. more..

Jun 17 (AI) Amnesty International has raised concerns regarding human rights protections in countries that have received assistance from the IMF in times of economic crisis in the past. To ensure that the verbal commitments above translate into real and effective protections in these difficult times, human rights must be central to any future economic reform program negotiated between the IMF and the SL govt. Protections for the vulnerable and poor must translate into well designed more..

Jun 17 (FT) As one of the world’s foremost international humanitarian organisations, the United Nations has pledged to provide food and medicines to cash-strapped Sri Lanka – a country suffering from a major financial crisis. As of last week, a UN team, led by the Resident Coordinator in Colombo, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy has appealed to international donors for more than $ 47 million in life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people in a country with a population of over 22 million. more..

Jun 17 (AD) Ministry of Education today announced conditional relief measures for teachers, taking into consideration the difficulties in transportation services. Accordingly, teachers will be temporarily assigned to schools nearest to their place of residence. These appointments will be effective until 31st of Dec, ministry noted in a press release. It also stressed that these temporary appointments should be made with the written sanction of the principals of both schools, more..

Jun 17 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa and PM Wickremesinghe have no real working partnership and there is a clear lack of coordination between them, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena said. Sirisena said the two leaders have competing approaches to governance. He likened it to his own experience as president with Wickremesinghe as PM from 2015 to 2019. There were also tensions between then Prez Kumaratunga and PM Wickremesinghe more..

Jun 17 (CI) Australian quick Mitchell Starc is still holding out hope of featuring in the ODI series against Sri Lanka, but only if it doesn't compromise his chances of playing in the Tests. Starc sliced open his left index finger on his shoe spike during his follow through in the T20I series opener last week. The 32-year-old has been able to bowl full steam at training in recent days, but ICC rules preventing bowlers from using tape on their fingers means Starc hasn't been able to feature in games. more..

Jun 17 (DM) Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) President Rizly Illyas has been suspended by the Asia Rugby Executive Committee following investigations into a potential breach of Asia Rugby’s Code of Conduct. Asia Rugby said in an announcement that the Asia Rugby Executive Committee has approved the suspension of Rizly Illyas from officiating any rugby duties, activities and responsibilities within the jurisdiction of Asia Rugby until the pending investigations are concluded. more..

Jun 17 (DM) Four persons have been arrested by the STF during raids at Sea Street in Pettah and Maligawatta yesterday with over Rs 18.6 million and equivalent to over Rs. 400,000 in foreign currencies. They were arrested on the charges of money laundering. STF said following an alert from the Gonahena STF camp, the raids were conducted on four jewelry shops at Sea Street and Nooraniya Street in Maligawatta. Four suspects, aged between 25 and 51, who were from Wellawatta and more..

Jun 17 (EN) Stocks plunged over 3% on Friday to close at their lowest in six weeks as fuel shortage, which compelled the govt to restrict the public services for two weeks, weighed on the sentiment, dealers said. After the market closed, Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular with limits on calling public sector employees to work for the next two weeks. The limit of public services is likely to slowdown the business activities of most of the private sector companies, analysts said. more..

Jun 17 (AS) Public prosecutors will drop their case against senior officials from the Nagoya Regional Immigration Services Bureau over the death of a SL woman at an immigration detention facility, according to sources. Wishma Sandamali, 33, died in March 2021 at a facility run by the bureau, in a case that sparked widespread outcry over her mistreatment. Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office launched an investigation more..

Jun 17 (TM) Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has requested the Ministry of Health to declare Saturday as a holiday in addition to the existing holiday on Sunday. This was made known via a letter by the AMS today. “We wish to propose this as an interim remedial measure to ease the burden on health care delivery system as well as health care personal only until the current fuel crisis is over. This will definitely ease the demand for fuel with regard to national consumption more..

Jun 17 (Island) The govt has planned to deploy 3,000 prisoners to boost agricultural production along with Army, and Civil Defense Force personnel, it was revealed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture recently. Committee members also discussed the need to encourage people to start home garden cultivation and to use land at all govt institutions for growing food. They said that people were now keen to cultivate in view of the feared food crisis. more..