Jun 23 (ST) SL’s Excise Department is in the process of enhancing revenue collection and strengthening tax administration with the aim of contributing much needed cash for state coffers in the severe economic crisis, top official of the department said. It has collected Rs. 80 billion up now this year from the set target of Rs.180 billion even during the period of economic difficulty tiding over the present crisis, Commissioner General of Excise M.J. Gunasiri told the Business Times. more..

Jun 23 (CI) Commonwealth Games are a little over a month away, and SL captain Chamari Athapaththu is under no illusions as to how important the upcoming limited-overs series against India is in terms of preparation, especially for a side that is high on potential, but rather light on experience. "We have to play the Commonwealth Games in July, we're leaving on the 25th. This series against India is very important for us more..

Jun 23 (FT) Expolanka Holdings thrilled investors with a hefty Rs. 8.19 per share cash interim dividend for FY23. In FY22 Expolanka paid a dividend of Rs. 1.17 per share and 50 cents per share in FY21. The interim dividend was announced after the market was closed. Yesterday the share price of Expolanka increased by Rs. 4 (2.38%) to close at Rs. 172.25. Expolanka in FY22 announced stellar results amidst global and local shocks, reinforcing its resilience and fruition of its recent strategies. more..

Jun 23 (EN) An auction for 93 billion rupees of Treasury bills failed after most bids were rejected to fix 3, 6 and 12 month yields despite severe forex shortages triggering fuel, medicine and food shortages in the worst currency crises in the history of the central bank. The debt office offered 93 billion rupees of bills and sold only 30.7 billion rupees. Sri Lanka offered 40 billion rupees of 3-month bills at an auction on June 22 and only 19.8 billion rupees was accepted to fix more..

Jun 23 (DM) The death of a two day old infant reported from Diyatalawa during mid-May sent shock waves across social media platforms. This death had been the 86th autopsy conducted by Dr. Shanaka Pathirana the JMO at Diyatalawa Hospital. His account published on his Facebook wall read that the infant who had been feeding less on breast milk had turned yellow and due to a low sugar level he had to be admitted to hospital. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Tourism Minister Harin Fernando holds special discussions with travel agents and foreign envoys in the UK, France and Germany to promote Sri Lanka. Minister Fernando, who was in the UK on a private visit, had appealed to the travel industry there to promote Sri Lanka and to help the hard-hit economy to recover from the ongoing economic crisis. Sri Lanka High Commissioner in the UK Saroja Sirisena has made arrangements for the Minister to engage with the travel trade. more..

Jun 23 (DN) The promising off spinner Lakshitha Manasinghe had a fine figures of 5 for 82 as Austrlia’’A’ were bowled out for 254 in the first innings against SL ‘A in their second day of the second four day game played at Mahinda Rajapaksa Int'l cricket stadium Hambantota yesterday. SL ’A’ declared their overnight total of 330 for 9 wickets in the first innings and they were 27 for 2 wickets at close with a lead of 103 runs. Skipper Kamindu Mendis (14) and night watchman more..

Jun 23 (Island) Power and Energy Ministry will take steps to release 125,000 litres of diesel for the distribution of urea fertiliser provided by the Indian govt for paddy cultivation during the Yala season. A Power and Energy Ministry official said that they were looking into the request made yesterday by Agriculture, Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. The govt will take delivery of 65,000 tonnes of urea for the 2022 Yala season on 6 July under Indian credit line. more..

Jun 23 (CT) Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amerasinghe, on Tuesday approved the Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Division of the CID to summon reports from the Department of Registration of Persons, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Election Commission, National Water Supply and Drainage Board and the CEB, to ascertain the connection to a spate of crimes committed by Ganemulla Sanjeewa alias Sanjeewa Kumara Samaratunga. more..

Jun 23 (Island) The Board of Directors of the CEB has continuously made quite significant payments to its workers in violation of a decision taken by the Cabinet-of-Ministers on 14 Nov. 2008 and Management Services Circular of No 39 of May 26, 2009. This was revealed during the proceedings of the COPE on 10 June, when the CEB top management appeared before the parliamentary watchdog. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved amending the minimum age of females who plan to take up employment overseas to 21 years. The proposal to this effect submitted by Minister Manusha Nanayakkara was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday. At present, the minimum age to take up employment as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia is 25 years and, in other Middle East countries it is 23 years, whilst for the rest of the world, it is 21 years. more..

Jun 23 (Island) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament on Tuesday that the Opposition had given the govt one week to present a plan, if any, to save the country from the present crisis, or step down. “There is no use of this Parliament if it cannot find solutions for the problems of the people. It has lost its legitimacy. There is no point in sitting of this House. The govt, if it cannot solve the crisis, should go home. Opposition parties have decided to give one week’s deadline more..

Jun 23 (TM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged the main Parliamentary Opposition, SJB, and NPP, also of the Opposition, to cease their protests, support the 21st Amendment and participate in the discussions with the IMF. During a special statement made in Parliament yesterday, Wickremesinghe said that international assistance will only be received if the country shows a commitment to come out of the crisis, and urged the parties to carefully consider and be vigilant of their actions at all times, more..

Jun 23 (CT) Colombo Fort Magistrate, Thilina Gamage, yesterday ordered former Minister and MP Johnston Fernando who has been named as the 28th suspect in the 9 May mayhem case, to be enlarged on fresh bail of two sureties in Rs 10 million each. He also ordered IGP C.D. Wickremaratne to take action against an ASP of the CID, on charges of failing to arrest the real suspects and then making submissions to Court in a biased and partial manner, during the mayhem more..

Jun 23 (TM) Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal vehemently denied any involvement in the lawsuit filed by Hamilton Reserve Bank (HRB) against SL, which took the nation by surprise last morning when the bank demanded full payment for the country’s International Sovereign Bonds (ISBs) it held. Cabraal, who reportedly helped Hamilton Reserve Bank’s expansion into SL, said the following to The Morning Business when more..

Jun 23 (DM) A cabinet proposal to be presented requesting permission to import electric vehicles for the migrant workers who send money to SL through legal channels, Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said. He said the facility will be granted for the migrant workers depending on the amount of money they send to the country. As vehicle imports are banned at present, the licence to import these electric vehicles will be issued only to migrant workers who send money using legal more..

Jun 23 (TM) A heated situation arose between the Police and protestors during a protest organised by members of the Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya (SVB), the women’s wing of SJB, including SVB National Organiser Hirunika Premachandra, in front of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence at Fifth Lane, Colombo 3, yesterday. Around 9 a.m. yesterday, a group of females representing the SVB, including Premachandra, had gathered near the entrance road to the Premier’s residence. more..

Jun 23 (TM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that officials from the US Department of Treasury and India will visit Sri Lanka to discuss the economic situation in the country. Making a special statement in Parliament, the Prime Minister said that a top level delegation from India is to arrive here tomorrow. “Next Monday, a team of representatives from the U.S. Department of the Treasury will also arrive in SL,” he said. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Sri Lanka’s external relations are a part of its history, often replete with myth and legend as well. Foreign relations of Sri Lanka in the modern era are mostly a function of post-independence developments in the country. Nevertheless, the impact of historical narratives on the psyche of Sri Lankans has been a factor when they react and respond to modern external developments that relate to their needs and aspirations as well as perceived values and beliefs. more..

Jun 23 (DM) According to CPC sources, the fuel price increase will take effect tomorrow. The article published on Daily Mirror on June 16 predicted that the fuel price revision would take place on June 24. Accordingly, there is a possibility of increasing the price of every fuel variety by more than Rs. 60. The power and energy ministry earlier claimed that the fuel price increase should take effect on the 24th of each month according to the dollar price in the world market. more..

Jun 23 (MFA) A bilateral meeting took place between Minister of Foreign Affairs G.L. Peiris and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Local Govt of New Zealand Nanaia Mahuta, 22 June on the sidelines of the CHOGM Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. Peiris briefed his NZ counterpart about the staff level discussions currently taking place with the IMF in Colombo and the support which the country is receiving from bilateral donors as well as multilateral institutions in respect of supplies of food, fuel & medicines. more..

Jun 23 (AD) SL’s premier private sector bank HNB PLC renewed its partnership with Bileeta Ltd., a dominant player in the local ERP space, to provide state-of-the-art ERP solutions to its SME customers at affordable rates. The exclusive collaboration between the two pioneers enables the Bank’s SME customers to streamline various functions of their business operations, such as sales and invoicing, inventory management, finance, procurement, service management, fixed asset more..

Jun 23 (FT) SL’s premier private sector bank HNB PLC renewed its partnership with Bileeta Ltd, a dominant player in the local ERP space, to provide state-of-the-art ERP solutions to its SME customers at affordable rates. The exclusive collaboration between the two pioneers enables the Bank’s SME customers to streamline various functions of their business operations, such as sales and invoicing, inventory more..

Jun 23 (PMD) The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Sri Lanka Customs was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Chairman of the Commission Supreme Court Judge Shiran Gunaratne at the President’s House, in Colombo this morning. A six-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry was appointed by an Extraordinary Gazette Notification on Feb 24, 2021 to investigate, and report on various allegations and alleged irregularities in the Customs. more..

Jun 23 (FT) Given the dire struggle for fuel and gas worsening by the day across the country and the serious multi-facetted ominous impact on food supplies cum transport caused by the woefully irregular and paltry supply of fuel, the question arises as to why PM Wickremesinghe had not directly broached SL’s humanitarian crisis with the Saudi govt or any of the other oil exporting Gulf states for assistance to obtain essential fuel on humanitarian terms or credit basis, more..

Jun 23 (Island) Justice for 2019 Easter Sunday victims and their families remains a high priority for Archbishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. In spite of the incumbent dispensation dragging its feet, on the issue much to the disappointment and ire of the Catholic Church, the prelate is determined to continue his struggle. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, emphasized his resolve and that of the Catholic Church to bring more..

Jun 23 (DM) A policeman attached to the Warakapola police came under physical attack by an army officer at the Dummaladeniya filling station in Warakapola last night, Police said. They said the injured policeman was admitted to the Warakapola base hospital. The attack had taken place following a verbal feud between the Army lieutenant and the policeman who were providing security to the filling station. According to the Warakapola police, the policeman was critically injured in the attack. more..

Jun 23 (AD) The shipment of 40,000 metric tons of petrol which was scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka this morning (June 23) is delayed by one day, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara says. Taking to his Twitter account, the lawmaker announced that limited volumes of petrol and super diesel will be distributed in the country today and tomorrow. However, auto diesel stocks are distributed at full capacity island-wide, he added. more..

Jun 23 (AD) SL Customs says that five luxury cars have been seized from a warehouse in Orugodawatte which had been brought into the country declared as vehicle spare parts from the UK. The detection had been carried out today by officials of RTF-Personal Baggage Examination Unit of SL Customs. He said that on information received, the officials detected the used cars inside a container consigned from the UK. The vehicles seized include Mercedes-Maybach, Audi A1 and a Fiat car. more..

Jun 23 (EN) 21st amendment proposed to SL’s constitution, if passed, will come into effect only after the current and ninth parliament and thus the president’s executive powers and the status quo will stay in tact till then, opposition leader Sajth Premadasa said. Responding to an allegation by PM Wickremesinghe that an opposition boycott of parliament was delaying the 21st amendment, Premadasa tweeted that the proposed amendment will be of no consequence to our current more..

Jun 23 (EN) The higher level Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra met Prez Rajapaksa and PM Wickremasinghe held discussion on Thursday in which importance of promoting bilateral investment in the fields of infrastructure, connectivity, renewable energy and deepening economic linkages. The talks come as SL has sought more loans for its neighbour to face the ongoing economic crisis that has led to more..

Jun 23 (Hindu) The second ship, carrying over 15,000 tonnes of relief materials donated by the Tamil Nadu govt, sailed from the VOC Port here to Colombo Harbour on Wednesday. Minister for the Welfare of Minorities and Non-Resident Tamils Gingee K.S. Masthan; Food Minister R. Sakkarapani; Minister for Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Anita R. Radhakrishnan; and Minister for Social Welfare P. Geetha Jeevan flagged off the merchant vessel VTC Sun that carried more..

Jun 23 (CI) SL have never beaten India in a T20I at home. They last won a T20I against them in 2014, which was just one of their three wins in 19 encounters against India in the format. India ensured this record stayed intact by beating the hosts by 34 runs in the first of 3-match series in Dambulla. Jemimah Rodrigues at No. 5 made a crucial 36* first to help India get to 138 for 6, before the spinners applied the brakes on the SL batters. India didn't get desired start after opting to bat. more..

Jun 23 (EN) Hundreds of Sri Lankans, battered by the country’s worst ever forex crisis, took to Twitter to vent their frustration at Prez Rajapaksa this week when he tweeted a congratulatory message to the national cricket team which won a five-match cricket series against Australia. A young SL cricket team won the fourth game held in Colombo by just four runs to secure a series win after conquering the five-time more..

Jun 23 (EN) SL’s commercial banks were offering US dollars for telegraphic transfer at around 368 to 370 dollars for small transactions as the country is facing severe forex shortages from a broken peg. Banks offered to buy inward remittances at 357.90 rupees. A guidance rate for interbank transactions announced by the central bank was also was unchanged at 360.90 on Thursday. On Wednesday the guidance rate was strengthened 95 cents despite severe forex shortages for imports. more..

Jun 23 (DM) A 63-year old man who had been waiting in a fuel queue at a filling station at Batagoda in Anguruwatota has died, police said. It was reported that the victim was waiting in the queue near the fuel station to get diesel for his vehicle for at least five days. He was found dead inside his tipper truck. The death toll in queues now stands at least ten and all the victims were men between the ages of 43 and 84 years. Majority of death reported in queues were due to cardiac arrests. more..