May 14 (CT) Chips have not yet fallen. Yet all bets seem to have been closed. The players are still on stage and enactment of a tragicomedy of unique style is taking a speedier pace. Players from yester-century do not show any fatigue; their despicable maneuvers and timely moves or non-moves continue to have some effects, how long they would last is yet unknown. While all these jokers have been playing an uncommon drama on this grand stage of indigenous politics, more..

May 14 (CT) The protests at Galle Face have been continuing for more than a month now. Initially aimed against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his band of brothers, the infiltration of certain groups has diluted the tone and trajectory of the demonstrations. Over the last few weeks, the country has seen an unprecedented opening up of discussions. These discussions have centred on topics like minority rights, the abduction of journalists, and the need for a clearer foreign policy. more..

May 14 (FT) President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand Chuan Leekpai handed over a cheque valued 700,000 Thai Baht to Ambassador of SL to the Kingdom of Thailand & Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Chaminda Colonne, at Parliament in Bangkok recently. While expressing gratitude for supporting his initiative taken to assist Sri Lanka at her difficult times, Leekpai highlighted that SL is the only country in the world, more..

May 14 (Island) It is being asked in some quarters why former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and some of his close associates have not been arrested and questioned over Monday’s mob violence against a group of anti-govt protesters, in Colombo. In fact, they should have been taken in for questioning immediately after the incidents of violence because the SLPP goons responsible for them rushed forth from Temple Trees, like bats out of hell, following a meeting with the then PM Rajapaksa. more..

May 14 (CT) Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and his close confidants led by MP Johnston Fernando and Sanath Nishantha provoked SLPP supporters and instigated them to attack peaceful protesters in front of Temple Trees and Galle Face, in a final attempt to retain power that resulted in a bloodbath in the country this week. Violence escalated islandwide, when a large number of Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters attacked more..

May 14 (FT) In a letter to the President, SL Administrative Service Association (SLASA) requested that only experienced bureaucrats be considered for posts of Secretary to Govt ministries, as this would improve accountability throughout the system. The SLASA noted that in recent years the Govt had appointed several retired officers and temporary officials as Secretaries to ministries, and this has impacted badly on the State service and the socioeconomic landscape of the country. more..

May 14 (DM) The price of holding meetings and events in Sri Lanka has increased significantly in the recent months and is expected to expand further, a senior representative of the hotel sector said. Hotels’ Association of SL (THASL) shared that with the escalating cost of goods and utilities in the island nation, the hospitality sector is pushed to increase its charges for events and meetings. The charges for meetings and events have gone up by about 25% and are likely to increase further more..

May 14 (FT) National Development Bank PLC yesterday released its financial results for the first quarter ended 31 March, a period that was undoubtedly a most challenging one. Director/CEO Dimantha Seneviratne in a statement said that the repository of experience the bank has gathered through the four decades of its presence, its diversified loan portfolio and strong customer relationships built over the years have enabled the bank to navigate through current challenges. more..

May 14 (ST) The lack of fuel and reports of low quality petrol being pumped at sheds are causing concern among motorists. The damage incurred, allegedly due to the pumping of low quality petrol, has forced vehicle owners to take their vehicles for repairs and replace parts. These issues have increased maintenance costs for vehicles. “We are getting complaints of different technical issues after the fuel crisis started,” said Prakash Kumar, an engineer at a leading private automobile more..

May 14 (CI) SL have played twice in Chattogram over the past 8 years, and on both occasions the matches had petered out to fairly uneventful draws. SL captain Dimuth Karunaratne was a part of both those Tests, and though he only managed to register 46 runs across three innings, the lasting memory is undoubtedly that of his peers from both sides racking up the runs. Indeed, each of those matches saw in excess of 1,400 runs scored, more..

May 14 (FT) Backed by its solid capital base and prudent risk fundamentals, Sampath Bank said it continues to prove that it is well equipped to navigate the challenging economic environment. Having sufficient capital buffers to absorb significant losses arising by reason of the prevailing stressful economic conditions, the bank’s well-diversified investment portfolio coupled with its increased vigilance and proactive risk management measures have enabled Sampath Bank to remain more..

May 14 (CB) The fate of the Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka, is likely to be decided by the end of the month, even as serious doubts are being expressed over the feasibility of the Australia-Sri Lanka series happening in June-July. Although both the boards have been maintaining the wait and watch refrain, the increasing violence and disturbances in Sri Lanka are seemingly putting paid to the chances of the series as well Asia Cup happening there. more..

May 14 (ST) Govt’s decision last week to halt all ongoing construction projects will result in massive financial losses to the industry, deprivation of tax revenue to the state, and large-scale unemployment, industry sources warned. It is estimated that more than a million working on govt projects across the country will lose jobs. National Construction Association of SL said that already the escalation of prices and non availability of more..

May 14 (TM) The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) expressed the vitality of discontinuation of riots in order to mitigate uninterrupted service to exporters amidst the foreign exchange crisis that prevails in Sri Lanka. The NCE stated: “Exports are vital, as it is the only sector currently bringing the much needed foreign currency to the country, without which the country will further plummet economically. Hence supporting to run and sustain exports is mandatory. more..

May 14 (Island) The appointment of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new PM on Thursday was an extension of the status quo ante and not the change of direction that the people yearn for, a group of politicians and activists has said. The signatories to statement include A.M. Faaiz, Bhavani Fonseka, Shanakiyan Rasamanikam, M.A. Sumanthiran, Ermiza Tegal and Jayadeva Uyangoda. The activists have urged all MPs, belonging to govt and opposition ranks, more..

May 14 (DN) Today, the writ application bearing No. 148/22 filed by the SLR was taken for support. President Counsel supported the matter and informed the Court that the said Gazette Notification was issued without any legal basis. The Court decided to issue an interim order suspending the Purported Gazette Notification issued on 01.04.22 by former Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa & stated that the WPRFU (western province) needs to appeal before Sports Minister on there voting rights. more..

May 14 (NR) Trade unionist Ananda Palitha says the fuel crisis in the country will worsen after the 17th of this month. Ananda Palitha said the threat of factories having to close due to the fuel shortage, also looms in the horizon. He accused the state mechanism of being inefficient, which has been ignored by leaders. Palitha said the govt did not import a diesel shipment from India after the 29th of April. He added that 95 Octane petrol was scarce since the 21st of February. more..

May 14 (Island) President of Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association Lakshman Perera said that SL’s fate depended on the success of the ongoing efforts to stabilise its economy. Perera said all political parties, represented in Parliament and outside, including the civil society, should realise the country was in such a bad state there would be anarchy if the bid to form an interim administration failed. more..

May 14 (EN) SL’s scheduled 5 hour power cut for May 14 has been reduced to 3 hours and 20 minutes, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said on Friday as SL is generating more hydro and wind power. The power cuts are impose after money printing by the central bank triggered forex shortages, disrupting fuel imports. Power cuts were extended to five hours for May 14 with no fuel ships arriving in the country for the time being. However, it has been again revised to 3 hrs & 20 min. more..

May 14 (AD) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says the SJB will not nominate any members to the Cabinet that is to be established by Prez Rajapaksa. In response to the Prez’s letter to him yesterday, the SJB leader stressed that he is committed to serve as the PM, in a govt formed by him in accordance with the conditions laid out in his letter dated May 12, 2022. Responding to the remarks by the Prez in his letter, Premadasa also pointed out that when he was invited to take over the post of PM, more..

May 14 (Island) Prez Rajapaksa has offered another opportunity to SJB leader Sajith Premadasa to be part of the interim administration. Prez has asked Opposition Leader Premadasa to inform him if his party is willing to accept positions in the Cabinet of Ministers to be appointed. On Thursday, Prez Rajapaksa declined SJB leader’s last minute offer to accept the premiership. In a two-page letter dated 12 May, addressed to Opposition more..

May 14 (DM) If the electricity tariff is not raised this year, the CEB will lose nearly Rs. 230 billion, Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. He said an amended proposal has been submitted by the CEB to increase electricity tariffs. "The proposals are currently being evaluated by the commission," he said. However, the PUCSL will take the decision to increase electricity tariffs as soon as the govt grants policy guidelines, Ratnayake said. more..

May 14 (Island) Trade unions would lay siege to the Presidential Secretariat if the President did not respect the wishes of the people, Joint-convener of the Trade Union Coordinating Center, Ravi Kumudesh, told The Island yesterday. Kumudesh said that the appointment of UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe as the PM, was a clear indication that Prez did not respect the wishes of the people. “He can’t understand what the people want and thus the country will become anarchical. more..

May 14 (NR) Island wide curfew will be lifted once again at 6 tomorrow (14) morning for 12-hours. However, curfew will once again be re-imposed at 6 pm tomorrow and will once again be lifted at 5am on Sunday (15). Curfew was first imposed island wide on Monday (9) according to provisions of Article 16 of the Public Security Ordinance following Monday’s unrest. Accordingly, no one will be permitted to remain on public roads, railway lines, parks, playgrounds, or public beaches, more..

May 14 (AD) The SLPP says it will support all the steps taken by a govt under PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to resolve the economic crisis, while safeguarding the party’s right of independence. This was expressed by SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam today (13). Meanwhile the SJB, JVP and SLFP have opposed the appointment of Wickremesinghe as PM. The SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has said the party will not nominate any of its members to more..

May 14 (CT) Diplomatic missions of Sri Lanka are in talks to raise some US$ 3 billion from the respective countries over the next few months, Govt sources said. “Sri Lanka needs a few more bridge financing options to close the funding gap until a programme with the IMF takes effect,” they said. According to the Central Bank, it will take at least 3 to 6 months to finalise an IMF arrangement subject to local political conditions. more..

May 14 (FT) Just when you thought we had run out of an inventory of reality averse, magical thinking saturated, self-inflicted body blows to our national wellbeing, there came the tragic actions of last Monday. We had mental and moral collapse, the outright insanity of instigating or actually mobilising and paying for thugs, in a concerted national pincer movement (evidenced at least also in Kandy and Galle), to attack innocent protestors holding aloft the patriotism, the hope and the aspirations of a betrayed, bankrupt, besieged nation. more..

May 14 (FT) The appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe to head a Rajapaksa cabinet exposes what’s best and worst about the socio-political milieu in our late great republic. But before we condemn realpolitik – politics based on practical rather than moral or ideological considerations – out of hand, it’s best to reflect on the state of the nation for a little longer than it takes to rant #GotaGoHome (or now, #RanilGetGoingToo) at NoDealGama. And one will readily admit, more..

May 14 (EN) Disaster Management Centre (DMC) on Friday issued landslide and flood warnings to several parts of the island due to an increase in rainfall. Showery conditions over the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in the Galle and Matara districts of the island are expected to intensify while wind speeds may increase over the Northern and North-Western provinces and in the Hambantota district, the DMC said. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in more..

May 14 (AD) Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung and leader of JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake met today (May 14) to discuss the most urgent challenges faced by the island nation. In a tweet, the US envoy noted that she continues to meet with a wide range of political representatives to encourage the SL govt’s efforts to move towards sustainable, inclusive solutions to the economic crisis. Reportedly, the US envoy and the JVP leader were joined by MP Vijitha Herath. more..

May 14 (FT) What is the reason I am not cooperating with the new govt which is formed by avoiding the power of the United People? Making this explanation because many are questioning why I’m not joining the new regime that is going to form against the public opinion. Here, it should be briefly mentioned how the current economic and political crisis occurred. One of the main reasons for this crisis is the disgusting political culture more..

May 14 (DM) The former Consul General in Sydney, Australia Lakshman Hulugalle passed away in Sydney this morning (14) at the age of 66, family sources said. He has been receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit for nearly two weeks due to an illness. Hulugalle also served as the Director General of the Media Center for National Security during Mahinda Rajapaksa's presidency. Sources said that steps have been taken to bring the body of Mr. Hulugalle to Sri Lanka. more..

May 14 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa appointed four new Cabinet ministers today to maintain the affairs of the Parliament and other functions of the country legitimately and stably until a full Cabinet is appointed. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the President’s House in Colombo this afternoon. The following parliamentarians were sworn in before the Prez: Prof. G.L. Peiris – Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dinesh Gunawardena – Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, PCs more..

May 14 (EN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday wrote to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa inviting his party the SJB to be part of a proposed new govt. In his letter addressed to Premadasa, Wickremesinghe invited the SJB leader to join hands with him in his and the new govt’s collective effort to bring economic, social, and political stability to SL with the help of the international community and to find speedy more..

May 14 (EN) SL’s private credit has started to slow after interest rates went up and there were indication that imports are also slowing, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. “At these interest rates new credits are not growing, there’s is a slowing down,” Governor Weerasinghe said. Governor Weerasinghe raised policy rate from 7.5% to 14.5% to bring them in line with the budget deficit and over credit which would reduce money printing, central bank credit driven imports & inflation. more..