May 12 (EN) SL’s Shippers Council, a body representing exporters and importers asked for international trade to be allowed to continue without disruption, and condemned violence. “The SL Shippers’ Council as the Apex body representing members involved in international trade, requests all those concerned, involved in protest and strike actions, to refrain from disrupting the activities of the SL Port, SL Customs, BoI and The Airports to ensure their uninterrupted day-to-day operations, more..

May 12 (CT) Central Bank of SL (CBSL) has taken steps to introduce new regulations aimed at curbing some of the misconduct of exporters in the SL foreign exchange market, CBSL Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said yesterday. “Exporters were asking banks to sell part of the dollars to third parties at higher prices, which is against regulations. This is to import non-essential consumer goods. This is against our regulations. We are bringing in new regulations to prevent this situation,” he said, more..

May 12 (DM) In a fresh attempt to break the current political impasse due to the lack of consensus among the parties for an interim unity govt, Prez Rajapaksa is reported to have contacted SJB MP Sarath Fonseka to offer premiership, an informed source said. However Fonseka has to prove that he has the numbers behind him to secure the majority of Parliament to govern the country in case he is appointed PM. more..

May 12 (FT) Private Members’ Bills recently submitted to the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on behalf of the SJB and Independent Members of Parliament in connection with the 21st Amendment to the Constitution can be downloaded in all three languages from the parliamentary website. The link is given here: www.parliament.lk/en/const-amendment-proposals. SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara and MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe representing more..

May 12 (CT) Not only Sinhala politicians, but also several Tamil politicians who work for the Rajapaksas, participated in the 9 May riot organised by Rajapaksa supporters, alleged Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Media Spokesman, Kanagaratnam Sugash. He claimed that Angajan Ramanathan, Douglas Devananda, Karuna, Pillayan, Viyalendiran, and others hiding within Tamil nationalist parties are to blame for the clash and must explain themselves. more..

May 12 (TM) Tourists are concerned about travelling to SL due to the tense situation in the country, and the tourists who are currently in SL, or have recently left, are not confident in recommending the country to others due to the prevailing crises. Sharing their thoughts on social media, a few tourists advised other tourists against travelling to SL, considering the current situation. “In my opinion, you would be mad to come to SL when you could go to one of the many other open countries in the region more..

May 12 (AD) The island-wide curfew, declared after tensions broke out across the country earlier this week, was lifted at 7.00 am today (May 12). The curfew order is expected to be re-imposed at 2.00 p.m. today and it will remain in effect until 6.00 am on Friday (13). Accordingly, no one is permitted to stay on a public road, railroad, public park, public playground or any other public area or any other public area or beaches except under a written permit issued by a particular authorizing officer, more..

May 12 (FT) In a day of dramatic political developments Prez Rajapaksa met with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe last night amidst speculation that the latter would be appointed as SL’s new PM. Speculation was Wickremesinghe will be sworn in today by the Prez after which the UNP Leader will firm up support from like-minded MPs. A new Cabinet comprising MPs from multiple parties is expected to be finalised more..

May 12 (ST) More than one hundred Indian bottom trawlers that were auctioned after being seized by the Navy in the past are ready to be shipped back as scrap metal to where they came from – India. In February, around 217 Indian bottom trawlers were auctioned. Among them, 130 trawlers were not in a condition to be repaired due to long anchorage at sea. Therefore, they were disposed of scrap metal and wood. Auctioned trawlers were brought to an open field workshop at Bommaiveli in Jaffna more..

May 12 (TM) The operation of all free trade zone (FTZ) areas and export companies under the Board of Investment of SL (BOI) continues to function and is bouncing back to normal conditions with employees reporting for duty despite certain setbacks that were faced in the country, BOI noted. The BOI has been communicating with law enforcement authorities to facilitate and ensure smooth transportation of all the workers to their respective factories without any difficulty. more..

May 12 (TM) Police released a special announcement to the protestors at the GotaGoGama in Galle Face yesterday evening, stating that assembly in public places is illegal under the existing curfew regulations. “Under the Public Security Ordinance, since 6 May, there has been emergency law in effect. There has also been a curfew since Monday (9), which will last till tomorrow. Thus, unless there is a letter of permission from a recognised authority, more..

May 12 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa today (11) appointed a Commissioner General of Essential Services and two Additional Commissioners. The newly-appointed officers are tasked with coordinating and initiating all activities related to maintaining the supply of essential services, the PMD said. Thereby, Senior Administrative Officer K.D.S. Ruwachandra will serve as the Commissioner General of Essential Services. Meanwhile, former Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry, Rohana Pushpakumara more..

May 12 (FT) Defence Secretary General (Retd) Kamal Gunarante assured that SL will never resort to military rule, while noting that the situation in the country is returning to normalcy. “SL will never resort to militarisation, I will guarantee,” the Defence Secretary assured during a media briefing. He also said that in the event there are no reports of incidents of violence, a decision will be taken to lift the countrywide curfew. more..

May 12 (TM) Party Leaders’ meeting held yesterday ended inconclusively, although most of the Party Leaders reportedly called for the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa. During the meeting, which was held via the Zoom platform yesterday, most of the Party leaders asked Speaker Abeywardena to convey to Prez Rajapaksa that he must step down. Another Party Leaders’ meeting is due to be held today. Initially, Abeywardena had said that the meeting could not be held due to security reasons. more..

May 12 (NR) A party leaders meeting will take place at the Parliamentary complex at 9:30am today. The party leaders were due to convene via zoom yesterday. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had informed last week that Parliament will once again convene on the 17th of May. Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena and Chief Government Whip Prasanna Ranatunga and several other govt members have meanwhile informed the Speaker that they will not participate in the discussion more..

May 12 (TM) SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has agreed to assume the post of PM in an interim govt to be formed, while the JVP-led NPP proposed that it be allowed to appoint an interim govt through Parliament, with both parties insisting on Prez Rajapaksa stepping down from his post. SJB MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara stated that the matter was discussed at length during the meeting of Working Committee more..

May 12 (FT) SL is being reborn. Inch by painful inch at Galle Face green, which is rising from the dirty-grey ashes of reprehensible state-sanctioned thuggery. And elsewhere, square foot by fiery square foot, as angry mobs – who? whose? what enraged monsters in masks lurk behind the furious faces? – raze their erstwhile governors’ mansions to the ground. It is by far from being the best of times. Despite the naive and sentimental protestations of the civilian Struggle that has suffered more..

May 12 (DM) There is sufficient diesel in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) storage, the CPC Chairman Sumith Wijesinghe said. While rejecting the rumours spreading about diesel shortage, he told the Daily Mirror that adequate volume of diesel being released from the CPC storage. Fuel distribution was halted temporarily as a result of the police curfew, but fuel was released for essential services. He said another diesel shipment would arrive next Monday (16). more..

May 12 (FT) This is an Intifada, a nationwide uprising, unarmed but hardly non-violent any longer, which can only end or begin to end with the exit of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. That is likely to be delayed unless the exit is negotiated. A titanic revolutionary, Mao Zedong, cautioned that an enemy must never have its back pushed to the wall and an avenue for retreat must be provided. Batista, the Shah of Iran and Marcos all flew out of their countries and died in exile. more..

May 12 (AD) SJB MP Harsha de Silva urged the Governor of CB to remain patient as his party is working around the clock to resolve the political crisis in the country. MP stated this in response to CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe’s statement that he would step down from the position if political stability is not established in the country within the next two weeks. “Governor of CB has said that the economy is in a critical condition and has warned that he will resign. more..

May 12 (AD) The Leader of the UNP, Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn in as the new PM of Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe took oath before Prez Rajapaksa at the President’s House this evening. Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath and Prof. Maithree Wickramasinghe were also present on the occasion. Wickremesinghe has served as PM of Sri Lanka on five previous occasions. more..

May 12 (DM) Conducting coaching or tuition classes aiming at 2021 (2022) GCE O/L Exam aspirants will be prohibited from May 17 night until the date where the exam is concluded. Commissioner General of Examinations said all arrangements have been completed to conduct the above examination on May 23 until June 1. He said organising, conducting subject-oriented lectures, seminars or classes, printing exam oriented papers, distribution and giving publicity or via electronic media, more..

May 12 (EN) SL’s commercial banks quoted the rupee at between 375-380 to the dollar for telegraphic transactions on Thursday while bond maturities were inactive ahead the 35 billion bond auction today, participants said. The CB’s indicative spot was quoted at 360.00 against the US dollar on Thursday, up from 364.76 against the US dollar on Wednesday. At the time of filing, central bank had not published the TT rate for Thursday. The last quoted TT rate of central bank was more..

May 12 (EN) Two prominent clergymen in SL on Thursday expressed opposition to the widely speculated appointment of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM, claiming that it would be contrary to the wishes of the people. Chief Sanghanayake in the SL Amarapura Sec Omalpe Sobitha Thero and head of SL’s Catholic Church Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith expressed their opposition to the proposed appointment Thursday evening mere minutes more..

May 12 (EN) With a widely speculated return of former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said to be hours away, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa wrote to Prez Rajapaksa Thursday afternoon expressing his willingness to take up the position on four conditions including the prez’s resignation during a specified time period. Referring to a previous telephone conversation between him and Rajapaksa where the latter had asked him to accept the premiership, Premadasa said as the leader of the SJB, more..

May 12 (CNA) Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Thursday (May 12) advised Singaporeans to defer all non-essential travel to SL after clashes broke out there. "Singaporeans who are in SL are strongly advised to exercise vigilance and take all necessary precautions for their personal safety," said MFA in a travel advisory. An economic crisis in SL led to more than a month of mostly peaceful demonstrations, but public anger exploded into violence this week. more..

May 12 (DM) Head of State Intelligence Service Major General Suresh Sallay has been summoned to the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) today over the recent unrest at Galle Face and other areas. Also, Commissioner General of Prisons Thushara Upuldeniya and several officials have been summoned by HRCSL to inquire into allegations that a group of inmates at the Watareka Prison were used to attack protesters on May 9. Meanwhile, Western Province Senior DIG more..

May 12 (NR) MP Patali Ranawaka claims the solution to the prevalent economic and political crisis does not lie in a flawed Rajapaksa rule, but in an interim-all party short-term govt, that is committed to help the public recover from the current situation. In a statement to media MP Champika Ranawaka called for the resignation of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa to make way for such a govt. The MP added a limited time period should be announced by the President pertaining to his resignation. more..

May 12 (EN) A magistrate court in SL issued travel bans on 17 individuals including ex-PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, his son and MP Namal Rajapaksa and nine other govt MPs as well as a senior police officer on Thursday over an unprovoked attack on peaceful anti-govt protestors on Monday. Fort Magistrate issued the bans on 13 legislators representing the ruling SLPP including Johnston Fernando, Sanath Nishantha, Pavithra more..

May 12 (DM) A group of individuals have returned several items that were looted from hotels in Negombo and other areas following the recent unrest, to the Katana police station. Videos were circulated on social media showing that many individuals were carrying several items from the hotels and houses in Negombo and several other areas which had been set on fire. Police said mattresses, freezers, chairs, various electronics were among those items returned. more..

May 12 (AD) Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa has congratulated the newly appointed Premier Ranil Wickramasinghe. In a twitter message posted on his official account, Rajapaksa also extended his best wishes to the UNP leader as he navigates these trouble times. “Congratulations to the newly appointed PM of SL, Ranil Wickremesinghe. I wish you all the best as you navigate these troubled times,” the post said. Leader of the UNP, Mr. Wickremesinghe was sworn in as new PM more..

May 12 (EN) Sri Lanka will have to print money to pay state worker salaries unless taxes were raised, CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said as the country struggles with low revenues after taxes were cut for output gap targeting. “State workers salaries are paid by money in the Treasury,” Governor Weerasinghe said. “The reason money was printed all this time is because there aren’t enough revenues. more..

May 12 (AD) Leader of JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake says the UNP leader and former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has always been the saviour of the Rajapaksa family. Following a meeting with Venerable Dr. Omalpe Sobhitha Thero today, JVP leader said the Prez and the UNP leader have reached decisions without heeding the mandate of the people. Stating that Wickremesinghe has always been the saviour of Rajapaksas, Anura Kumara claimed that he secures power to ensure more..

May 12 (EN) The sudden eruption of violence in SL on Monday that changed the nature of peaceful protests could tarnish the country’s image as a liberal market country that respects principles of democratic governance, SL Institute of Marketing (SLIM) said. “The latest wave of turmoil shows a disturbing trend since the suffering general public are compelled to go through an unprecedented tense situation in the country that impedes their livelihoods and social functioning, more..

May 12 (CT) SLFP Jaffna MP Angajan Ramanathan urged Tamils not to engage in violence and destroy the peaceful atmosphere in the North. MP Ramanathan’s Jaffna office was partially burnt on 10 May, but he warned the public to be wary of petty politics and those inciting violence in the country. He said ordinary citizens should be cautious because violence will only affect them. He also claimed that his SLFP office was partially damaged, but not completely destroyed, and more..