May 6 (FT) The tone-deaf horse-trading in the House, while the Prez and the PM remain in situ in the Executive, reminds me of the complaint of a hen-pecked husband. “Why must my wife nag me so much about taking out the trash? There’s no need to keep repeating herself everyday! I mean to say, didn’t I just do so – a year ago...” So also with SL’s much-nagged, little-loved govt of the day. Not only have they failed the people they were elected to serve and safeguard from scarcity and more..

May 6 (AD) The State Minister Prof. Gunapala Rathnasekara says that he has tendered his resignation from the position to the President. The Kurunegala District SLPP MP revealed this while making a special statement in parliament today. However, he stated that the Prez has not accepted his letter of resignation. “I sincerely admit that there is no environment to work in these ministries. Therefore, I personally handed over my resignation letter to the President last evening.” more..

May 6 (EU) The European Union (EU) is providing €200,000 (over 74 million SL rupees) in humanitarian funding for essential assistance to 80,000 poor families across all 25 districts of Sri Lanka. The current political and economic crisis has resulted in shortages of essential commodities, including of medicines, and has reduced the ability of thousands of families to cater for their basic needs. Many children have also seen their education disrupted due to power cuts and lack of more..

May 6 (AD) Bangladesh has confirmed a donation of essential medicines worth USD 2.3 million (Rs. 830 mil) consisting 56 types of essential medicines to Sri Lanka as the island nation faces one of the worst economic crises in its history. Health Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana stated that the token handover ceremony for the emergency medical supplies was held in Dhaka. At the token handover ceremony held at the State Guest House Padma, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and more..

May 6 (AD) Eleven police officers and a civilian injured and admitted to hospital following a clash between a group of people and police at the Palamuna road block in Akkaraipattu last night, Police said. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that Akkaraipattu police station operates a road block at Palamuna on the Kalmunai-Akkaraipattu main road and that a Police Sergeant and three personnel from the civil security force were on duty at more..

May 6 (EN) Speaker called a party leaders meeting Monday to discuss a debate on no confidence motion, after opposition members vociferously opposed an attempt by police to disperse a protestors outside parliament. “I have called for a report on the incident from the police chief,” Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene said after sitting resumed following a 10 minute recess to calm the house. He said a party leaders meeting will be called on Monday to discuss when to take up more..

May 6 (DM) Epidemiology Unit has decided to rollout the fourth dose against COVID-19 virus, Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said. He said the decision was taken by the expert committee on COVID-19 attached to the health ministry. Accordingly, the committee recommended the second booster vaccine for people over 60 years of age on Monday (8). The Minister said the fourth dose was recommended for people between 20 and 60 years of age and for those with more..

May 6 (FT) Sri Lanka has a lot to learn from how Fiji managed the COVID-19 crisis by borrowing smartly to ensure that debt and balance of payments remain sustainable, says Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He made the statement in response to Dr Neelesh Gounder’s, commentary on the economic and political crisis in SL. Dr Gounder said the economic and political crisis in SL should be a lesson to Fiji of what bad finance management could do to economy. more..

May 6 (AD) The marketing division of CPC has issued a special circular. It stipulates that the maximum quantity of kerosene that can be released to each consumer per a day is 05 litres. This circular has been issued in addition to the earlier circular that fuel should not be issued to portable containers such as barrels and canisters. Accordingly, when issuing kerosene to consumers engaged in the fisheries industry, a valid letter issued by the Department of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources more..

May 6 (EN) SL authorities were contemplating a state of emergency to deal with escalating anti-govt protests as the nation-wide work stoppage crippled public transport and brought the country to a standstill on Friday, sources said. Authoritative sources said the possibility of invoking the tough laws that allow the security forces to arrest and detain suspects for long periods was being discussed although no final decision more..

May 6 (FT) SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) in a statement urged the political leadership to take decisive action to ensure stability thereby helping the crucial tourism industry to survive. “Tourism is the most practical pathway to generate much needed foreign currency in the short to medium term. In order to achieve the full revival of this industry, we urge the leadership of our country to take decisive action, in order to create a positive environment that will help to rebuild more..

May 6 (Island) A 12-member delegation comprising youth activists engaged in the ongoing protest at the Galle Face met members of the Election Commission of SL (ECSL) on Wednesday. Manjula Gajanayaka Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Reforms & Electoral Studies (IRES), who arranged the meeting at the request of the ECSL, said that the discussion had been fruitful. Gajanayaka formerly of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said that more..

May 6 (Island) In the wake of corruption allegations directed at politicians, officials and others, Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association has written to Attorney General Sanjaya Rajaratnam, PC, seeking specific information as regards investigations undertaken by the FCID and the CID. The following is the text of the letter addressed to the AG by the Secretary of the association Sarath Ekanayake and its President Laksman Perera: “We are writing to you on behalf of the Membership of more..

May 6 (Island) The SL Civil society organisations yesterday criticised the role of the Asian Developmnt Bank (ADB) in helping bring about economic sustainability of Sri Lanka and its failure to defend the social, economic, environmental, gender and energy justice, and livelihoods with dignity. The group comprises Hemantha Withanage of the CEJ/Friends of the Earth SL, Thilak Kariyawasam, (SL Nature Group), Dilena Pathragoda (Centre for Environmental Justice) more..

May 6 (CT) SL Immigration and Emigration Officers’ Association has decided to suspend services at the VIP and CIP lounges at all airports including the BIA, until the Got and Parliament come up with a solid plan to address the current economic and social crises in the country. In a statement, Association said, they will withdraw from duties at these lounges from today (6). The Immigration and Emigration Officers expressed their disbelief more..

May 6 (CT) Two high ranking Police Officers have been appointed to provide increased personal security to the Prez with effect from yesterday, following instructions from the Secretary of Ministry of Public Security. Accordingly, DIG R.M.N.G.O. Perera has been appointed in charge of Prez’s Security Division. DIG Perera had been the DIG in charge of Puttalam Division prior to his new appointment. Meanwhile, Senior Police Inspector J.B.T. Jayalath has been appointed more..

May 6 (AI) As the people in SL are facing a catastrophic economic crisis, the govt must protect the human rights of everyone and ensure an enabling environment for peacefully expressing dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released today. In the report, From Bad to Worse: Rights Under Attack During SL’s Economic Crisis, the organization also called for the international community to support SL in its recovery in line with obligations around int'l cooperation and more..

May 6 (EN) Hundreds of protestors including university students gathered near parliament complex withdrew from the self-styled Horugogama (Go home, thieves village) protest site Friday (06) evening promising to return once the house reconvenes on May 17. IUSF protested for nearly 24 hours since Thursday evening at the Horugogama sitefollowing a controversial vote in parliament to elect its deputy speaker. more..

May 6 (DM) A request made by police to remove the obstructions caused to the access road of the Presidential Secretariat owing to GotaGoHome protest has been referred to the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court. Colombo Additional Magistrate Shalani Perera was ordered to refer this application to be heard before Colombo Chief Magistrate on May 10. The Additional Magistrate made this order consequent to a request made by Fort Police through the Attorney General's Department. more..

May 6 (Island) Uditha Egalahewa, President’s Counsel yesterday told the Supreme Court that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka wanted to know why the Indian Credit Line to SL was being used to import steel instead of essential commodities. Additional Solicitor General Nerin Pulle President’s Counsel, who appeared for the Attorney General, told the Court that he had already filed affidavits from the Secretaries to the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Power, referring to the progress more..

May 6 (EN) SL is using loans worth 261 million dollars from the World Bank, ADB and India to ease shortages in drugs and surgical supplies and build stocks up to one year, Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said. “It is not correct to say that the health system has broken down,” he said. “There are shortages of drugs and surgical items. But supplies are beginning to come and we are opening LC.” WB has given US$ 76 million from which letters of credit have already been opened. more..

May 6 (CT) The strict bio-bubbles have made lives complicated for cricketers ever since the deadly COVID-19 made an impact in early 2020. All the teams have been following strict protocols during these testing times while many players have also complained about how taxing it can be. In fact, there have been many instances of players pulling out due to the bio-bubble citing fatigue with one of them being Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. Now, it has been reported that in order to more..

May 6 (AD) MP Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, who was re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament yesterday, says he has decided to once again resign from the position. It is reported that he is expected to officially tender his resignation to the President shortly. SLPP MP was re-elected as Deputy Speaker of Parliament yesterday in a secret ballot held in Parliament. Nimal Siripala de Silva of the SLFP had recommended the name of more..

May 7 (GV) The current political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka calls for a new strategy in the political course of the Tamils and other minorities. People have been provoked to revolt against the state because of its short sighted policies and the corrupt practices of politicians that have led to a rapid decline in the economic situation. The recent Covid-19 outbreak aggravated the crisis by affecting production, export trade and tourist arrivals, adding to the massive debt problem. more..

May 7 (DM) The political impasse in the country continues with various groups except for very few suggesting various solutions keeping their individual interests in mind. The anti-govt protests which in most places seem to be purely spontaneous and triggered by the economic mess the people have to undergo are also continuing. The unceasing skyrocketing of prices and scarcity of essential items do not allow any respite in those protests. The current rebellion against the govt is more..

May 7 (DM) Actress turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe grabbed media attention a few weeks ago when she spoke out strongly in support of Prez Rajapaksa. SLPP Galle District MP who enjoyed much popularity as a successful actress for many years had been appointed State Minister of Culture and Performing Arts by the Prez on April 18. Geetha Kumarasinghe addressed Parliament for the first time in her State more..

May 7 (DM) In the face of our country’s unprecedented political and economic crisis -a result of govt corruption and mismanagement- which led to the near bankrupting of the country, a majority of trade unions, agricultural workers unions and civil society, came together to call for a Hartal on May 6. Adverse effects of the Covid pandemic hastened the financial crunch which was already in the making. Today large numbers of ordinary people have taken to the streets demanding the govt resign. more..

May 7 (CT) Often, we hear the argument that there is a problem in SL in relation to the Political Culture. This is a reference to the way elected politicians function when performing their roles in the govt rather than the govt or the system itself. Indirectly, it implies that the system is fine so long as the politicians elected to various roles behave according to the democratic norms and rules. Nonetheless, we all can agree that there is a problem in the political culture or the way of living, more..

May 7 (CT) In a dramatic turn of events, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, who resigned from the post of Deputy Speaker, after the SLFP decided to be independent in Parliament, was re-elected to the post on Thursday, following a vote. Independent MP Nimal Siripala de Silva nominated Siyambalapitiya for the post and Susil Premajayantha seconded. SLPP supported Siyambalapitiya’s nomination. SJB MP Ranjith Maddumabandara nominated more..

May 7 (CT) Marie-Antoinette (1755-1793), Queen of the last King of France Louis XVI, is purported to have said, “If the people have no bread, let them eat cake,” after she was told that the French peasantry had no bread. Prez Rajapaksa and his Govt’s apathy to the present socioeconomic problems facing the masses are similar to that of Marie-Antoinette’s. This newspaper’s lead story of Friday, which quoted the SL Immigration and Emigration Officers’ Association (SLIEOA) said, more..

May 7 (ST) Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recommended to the IMF and the World Bank to tag Sri Lanka with low-income status, according to an April 24 report in India’s Business Standard newspaper. In other words, it means that Sri Lanka should be downgraded from its current middle-income status to low-income status. After all, after SL’s economy has been brought down due to today’s crisis, what is the use of wearing a ridiculous middle-income tag, I thought. more..

May 7 (DN) Convenor of the SL women's cricket Apsari Tillekaratne said we have already formed an under 19 Cricket pool to focus on this major tournament. My duty is to pick players for this pool and I have done my duty long ago. Actually those days ICC had planned to conduct Under 19 World Cup. But when I was appointed by SLC I had to work hard to develop women's cricket. I was very keen to go all over the country including Northern and Eastern provinces and the talent search more..

May 7 (CT) Relations between SL and China, long believed to be iron-clad, being based on mutual interest and cooperation, have come under strain lately. The relationship is at the cross roads, calling for mutual understanding and deft diplomacy to put it back on track. Three points of friction are (1) SL’s approaching rival India, the West and institutions like the IMF, to save it from economic collapse caused by a severe foreign exchange shortage, (2) SL’s reluctance to accede to China’s request to more..

May 7 (HM) The past several decades of Southasian cinema have introduced technicolour spectacle, summoning vivid evocations of romance, action and history. This is one of the biggest film industries in the world, and today it has transformed into iconic categories of its own. And yet, while uniquely observant, Southasia’s cinematographic gaze often objectifies women, representing them as transcendent symbols more..

May 7 (DN) SL 14 member Junior Table Tennis will leave for Maldives tomorrow to take part in the South Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship in Male, Maldives from May 9 to 11. According to a senior official of TTASL, SL Junior and Cadet teams will leave for Male to take part in this South Asian Junior and Cadet table tennis championships. The six south Asian countries India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka will use this event for juniors exposure. more..