Jun 2 (CT) Farmers in Ampara District, the nation’s rice bowl, have decided to file a case against the State and three companies for failing to provide fertiliser for the Yala Season as promised. This proposal was made by President of Ampara District Agrarian Business Committee C.H. Kumara at the season meeting held at the Resident Agrarian Management Centre in Ampara. The Govt Agent and the Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Centre in Ampara told the farmers earlier that more..

Jun 2 (CT) The JVP claims a small country such as Sri Lanka cannot stabilise through the support of the IMF. Speaking at a function today, Former MP Bimal Ratnayake said Sri Lanka will be crippled in all sectors under the present administration. Ratnayake said no country has overcome an economic crisis through the support of the IMF. Citing an example, he said Argentina is a vast country with many resources, yet sought IMF support nine times since 1998 and even sold cemeteries. more..

Jun 2 (DM) Dengue fever was fast spreading with the onset of the Southwest monsoon where some 6,483 dengue patients have been reported last month alone, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said. A total of 24,523 suspected dengue cases have been reported so far this year. “Some 313 dengue cases were reported yesterday. Most of the cases were reported from Colombo while cases were reported from Kandy, Galle, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Trinco more..

Jun 2 (Island) The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU), the scholarly clergy council, instructed all mosques that conducted Friday Jumu’ah (3) sermons to spell out the need to protect children, adults and communities from illicit drugs. ACJU General Secretary Ash Shaikh M. Arkam Nooramith said: “It is well known that our country is facing several serious problems continuously due to the increasing use of illicit drugs within our society.” He said they are greatly concerned over more..

Jun 2 (AD) SL cricket legend Lasith Malinga has reportedly been appointed as the fast bowling consultant coach of the national team for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against Australia. The former captain of the Sri Lanka ODI and T20I team had previously served as the Bowling Strategy Coach of the National Team for the team’s tour of Australia in February this year. Malinga is set to take up the new role after a successful coaching stint for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022. more..

Jun 2 (AD) Free Trade Zone Manufacturers’ Association (FTZMA) is opposing SL’s newly proposed electricity tariff hikes, warning that the move will lower the competitive advantage of local manufacturing plants which are already losing customers due to countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh. In a letter to Minister Kanchana Wijesekara, FTZMA said that BOI enterprises were going through a tough time, and that lack of more..

Jun 2 (Island) UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said that the onus was on the govt to take constructive steps to address the issue of defaulted payments on international sovereign bonds by diverting money allocated for certain other projects for settling them, and by entering into discussions to restructure such payments, without resorting to outright ceasing of such payments, as it will have a direct negative impact on the economy. Abeywardena said that the decision taken more..

Jun 2 (CT) Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath has directed that the expenses of the Eastern Provincial Council be reduced with immediate effect, until the country’s present economic crisis is resolved. According to Governor Yahampath, the present economic crisis has severely impacted everyday life of people in this country, and people in the East are facing the same issue During this crisis, the Governor has announced that fund allocations will be made more..

Jun 2 (DM) The opposition members of Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC) tabled a resolution urging Mayor Samanlal Fernando to resign from his position. MMC member Lihini Fernando said the resolution was tabled against the mayor as he caused disrepute to the citizens of Moratuwa. Seven opposition members of the council have signed a petition and tabled at the council meeting held today. The opposition members claimed that Samanlal Fernando is no longer suitable to hold more..

Jun 2 (ISland) UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara has accused SJB leader Sajith Premadasa of supporting the ruling SLPP on the sly. Former lawmaker Bandara alleged that Premadasa, the serving Opposition Leader, was supporting SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa, MP, though he publicly attacked the ruling coalition. The UNPer alleged that Premadasa was simultaneously functioning as the Opposition Leader and Basil Rajapaksa’s protector. more..

Jun 2 (DM) Thirteen suspects including SLPP MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayatilleke were yesterday ordered to be further remanded till June 8 by Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage in connection with the incidents that took place at Mainagogama and Gotagogama on May 9. President of the SL Podujana Education Services Union Wasantha Handapangoda, Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, more..

Jun 2 (DM) The A/L exam which was scheduled to be held in August, may be postponed and likely to be held between Oct and Nov, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said. While addressing the media he said discussions are underway to hold grade five scholarship examination. Schools are likely to be held this year until Dec 22 and 23 before the start of the year 2023. The Minister also stated that he is hoping to provide maximum number of school days to the children and cover more..

Jun 2 (CT) A senior member of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Dr. Subramanian Swamy has invited former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa to speak at a “public gathering” in India this month. His invitation comes as the Fort Magistrate’s Court on 12 May imposed a travel ban on Rajapaksa, his son MP Namal Rajapaksa, MP Johnston Fernando, and 14 other Rajapaksa family members, following the 9 May attack on peaceful protestors at Galle Face by Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists. more..

Jun 2 (ANI) Demonstrators against Gotabaya Rajapaksa-led govt in SL have denied claims that they had met the SL Prez and alleged that false claims were being made in an attempt to scuttle the ongoing struggle at Galle Face. Protestors in the island country have been protesting for nearly two months now at Galle Face, situated near the secretariat and the protest site Gota Go Gama Village has gradually grown. more..

Jun 2 (DM) A Fundamental Rights petition filed by a protester seeking an order directing the authorities not to remove the structures set up on behalf of the protestors at GotaGoGama was today dismissed by Supreme Court. The petitioner Nuzly Hameem, a protester who took part in the protests at Galle Face Green since the inception filed this petition naming Inspector General of Police, Army Commander, Secretary to the President and Attorney General as respondents. more..

Jun 2 (ANI) Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the start of the SL tour, starting from Tuesday, June 7. McDonald tested positive for the COVID-19 on Tuesday afternoon and will not be able to fly to SL with the remainder of the team this week as he remains in isolation in Melbourne for a seven-day period. The official Twitter handle of Cricket Australia took to social media to confirm the news and wrote: "Rest up coach. Michael Di Venuto will coach more..

Jun 2 (FT) Palm Oil Industry Association (POISAL) said its members are ready to support the economy and Govt to overcome present challenges. POISAL called for liberalisation of the palm oil industry which it emphasised will help to strengthen smallholder investment in oil palm cultivation, which will create massive opportunities for economic emancipation and rural development through oil palm cultivation by smallholders. more..

Jun 2 (NR) Prisons Department has confirmed that former MP Duminda Silva, who was arrested yesterday, has been remanded. Silva was arrested yesterday by the CID while at the Sri J'pura Hospital. Prisons Commissioner Chandana Ekanayake said Duminda Silva is receiving in-house treatment at the Sri J'pura Hospital under the security of prison officials. Supreme Court on Tuesday (31) issued an interim injunction suspending the Presidential Pardon issued to Duminda Silva. more..

Jun 2 (DM) More than Rs. 600 million has been spent for a software for an inventory of medicine for the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation( SPC) which is said to be malfunctioning at the moment, it was revealed at the meeting of COPE. As per the Facebook post of MP Harsha De Silva SPC Chairman had revealed that the contract to develop the software had been given to a certain company in 2008 and it has been completed only in 2015. However an official from SPC said more..

Jun 2 (AD) The debate on the Supplementary Estimate of Rs. 695 billion which is to be presented on the 7th of June by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe will be taken up for debate on the 8th until 5.30 pm, Secretary General of Parliamentsaid. The Secretary General also said that the Resolutions under Section 8 of the Appropriation Act No. 7 of 2020 are to be passed following the debate on the same day. more..

Jun 2 (AD) The Colombo Commercial High Court has issued an enjoining order preventing a Moscow-bound flight under Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot from leaving Sri Lanka. According to the order, the Airbus A330, which was scheduled to fly to Moscow, Russia, has been detained at the BIA in Katunayake. The enjoining order was issued by Colombo Commercial High Court Judge Harsha Sethunga after hearing a complaint filed by Celestial Aviation Trading Limited, an Irish company. more..

Jun 2 (TM) Prez Rajapaksa has appointed a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to investigate and report on all types of property damage and loss of life, including arson, robbery, and murder, which took place in several parts of the country between 31 March and 15 May. CoI is Chaired by SC Judge Justice Buwaneka Aluwihare PC, and its other members are former SDIG S.M. Wickramasinghe and Additional Chief Assessor N.A.S. Wasantha Kumara. Additional Secretary to the Prez more..

Jun 3 (DM) Sri Lanka has been in the news for some time as a nation where one often hears of child murders. The latest victim was a 9-year-old child from Atalugama in Bandaragama. Sexual harassment and murder of children in SL are rampant. The situation is such that a child cannot be left unattended in society because the predator is close by. Often, the predator is a person known to the family. In some of the most disgusting incidents that get reported predator is a close relation. more..

Jun 3 (ST) Every morning as he wakes up nowadays, Aldoris, the choon- paan karaya, fires a round of calls. “Has kerosene arrived; has petrol arrived; has the diesel bowser come; and is there cooking gas (LPG)?” He is asking these questions not only on his behalf but also on behalf of his customers, many down our lane. When he gets a positive response, he informs his customers who then rush to the particular queue to wait their turn – often many hours, to fill the vehicle tank or more..

Jun 3 (DM) The recent appointment of a new PM and a new Cabinet has drawn mixed reactions. PM Wickremesinghe and the Cabinet have been accused of attempting to protect Prez Rajapaksa despite growing calls for him to step down. One of the key positions in the new Cabinet is that of the Minister of Justice. The main focus of Justice Minister Dr. Wijeydasa Rajapakshe is to push the 21st Amendment through Parliament. more..

Jun 3 (CT) All sloganeering has fallen silent; defiance has lost its antagonists; crowds have thinned down; parents are too busy prepping their children for exams and the youth seem to be astray and for the umpteenth time, without an identified leader. Gota, instead going home is continuing to occupy the helm. A new PM who is neither new nor very able was sworn in. A Cabinet of Ministers whose resumes look woefully inadequate and physiques yet bloated are controlling more..

Jun 3 (TM) SL, once called The Great Barn of the East, is now a land where some are left wondering how to find their next meal, let alone three meals a day or a nutritious diet, while the Govt is warning of a possible famine in the next few months and is asking people to grow as many food crops as possible to avoid the impacts of a famine. Hunger is the most pressing immediate challenge associated with a food shortage. However, malnutrition is a much bigger challenge that can have more..

Jun 3 (TM) After a long pause, GCE O/L Exams were held this year, and students who were distressed due to the disruption to their education could breathe a sigh of relief. However, unlike in the pre-Covid-19 era, these exams were held amidst multiple challenges, and some of those challenges are yet to be addressed. These challenges came to light recently, when photos of an exam hall that was flooded during this rainy season were more..

Jun 3 (CT) UNP leader, Finance Minister and Premier of the SLPP Govt, Ranil Wickremesinghe, is following in the footsteps of his uncle J. R. Jayewardene by transforming SL from an import licensing Raj to a taxation regime to clinch an IMF loan targeted by him to be on board by the middle of the month. These recent changes in the financial landscape coincided with the Govt concluding technical discussions with the IMF only a few days ago. Among several import taxes, more..

Jun 3 (Island) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera seems to have evinced a keen interest in preparing the country to face the impending food crisis. A prerequisite for achieving this goal is to make fertiliser and fuel available to the farming community and ensure that all arable lands are cultivated throughout the country, as a national priority. Associations representing farmers in major food producing areas have said they can help avert a food crisis if fertiliser and diesel are made more..

Jun 3 (DM) If con is the antonym of pro, then constitution is the antonym of prostitution. So goes the joke. But in Sri Lanka, since the introduction of the 1978 constitution, constitution-making has been, perhaps, like visiting a house of ill repute. It satisfies an individual’s lust for power. Against the backdrop of countrywide protests, consensus is growing now on the need for a comprehensive constitution that will strengthen democracy, promote national unity and ensure, among other things, more..

Jun 3 (Island) During the course of a special televised statement, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is reported to have stated among other Amendments to 21A, an Amendment to make the Prez and Cabinet of Ministers responsible/answerable to Parliament. Since other Amendments proposed are limited to reorganising one organ of govt, Parliament, what is addressed herein involves the relationship of two separately elected organs of govt to which the Peoples of SL assigned more..

Jun 3 (DM) SL’s consumers splurged on foods and beverages and shifted more into modern trade from general trade in the six months through March 2022 amid strong consumer demand and changing consumer behaviour, but it all came to an abrupt halt with the hard landing of the economy, perhaps reversing any gains made thus far in the broader economy. The soaring costs and commodities shortages in construction field more..

Jun 3 (DN) The Australian cricket team is ready to conduct their first practice session today at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. They will focus on the T-20 series (3 matches) first of which will be on June 7 at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, commencing at 7 pm. Australia team members reached Sri Lanka in three groups while the last batch of the team was scheduled to arrive yesterday night. All team members will be accommodated at the Hotel Cinnamon Grand more..

Jun 3 (ST) Companies are bracing for a major margin decline and drop in consumption in the coming quarters owing to runaway inflation. The high inflation will impact purchasing power and the cost increases in the input raw materials will impact company margins, Krishan Balendra, Chairman John Keells Holdings said. Firms that don’t have an export income are worse off, analysts say. However, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General, Yohan Lawrence told more..