May 17 (CT) SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said yesterday, that he is ready to take on the role of Chairman of Committee on Public Finance (COPF), stating that his joining the Cabinet as an independent MP will only worsen the political crisis. This is given the deadlock in creating an all-party govt to resolve current economic crisis in the country, as well as to give leadership to prepare All Party Economic Revival Plan as a Parliamentary proposal that is approved by the majority, more..

May 17 (TM) SL is recognised as one of the countries that is the least safe for children with regard to violence under the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Stop Child Cruelty Trust and the Child Protection Alliance claimed, citing a UNICEF global index of 180 countries, published in Feb 2021, in which SL ranks 68. Chairperson of the said Trust and Co-Convener of the said Alliance Dr. Tush Wickramanayaka claimed that Prez Rajapaksa had releasing a convicted child murderer more..

May 17 (TM) Pramodh Madushanka, a 19-year-old worker at the Katunayake FTZ, has been remanded till 20 May for his alleged involvement in the violence that occurred in the area on the evening of 9 May. A counsel appearing for Madushanka said over the weekend that he was charged for causing mischief with fire and for breaking curfew. “He has been remanded because the Police claimed that he might intimidate more..

May 17 (EN) SL will impose power cuts for May 18 up to 3 hours and 40 minutes, again after two days of continuous power supply on vesak holidays, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. All areas (ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW) will have power cuts of 2 hours from 9 am to 5 pm and 1 hour and 40 minutes from 5 pm and 8.50 pm. Between 6 am and 9 am, the Colombo City center could face a power cut of three hours. Board of Investments, Industrial zones coming under MNOXY and Z areas more..

May 17 (AD) SDIG in charge of Western Province Deshabandu Tennakoon is currently recording a statement at the CID over the unrest that unfolded near the Temple Trees and at Galle Face Green on the 9th of May. Earlier today, it was reported that the IGP has directed the CID to act in compliance with the directives of the AG with regard to the investigations into the incidents. In a statement, police media division said 22 suspects involved in recent violence have been identified so far. more..

May 18 (DM) Since the appointment of Ranil Wickremasinghe as PM some of the steam driving the main protest movements in Colombo seems to be running out. The banishing of former strongman, president and prime minister was a victory of sorts to the protestors. The rightful wrath of the mass of humanity gathered at Galle Face Green - home to the GotaGoHome movement appears to have mellowed. Though protestors still gather at the site mood seems to be more hopeful & mellowed. more..

May 18 (GV) At a small grocery store, an elderly man pointed at a particular packet of biscuits and asked what the price was – it was Rs.70. The man asked if there were biscuits for Rs.50 in the store and the cashier responded, Everything we have is above Rs.60. Inflation rates and the cost of living have become part of people’s daily worries. According to the Dept of Census and Statistics (DCS), inflation rates increased from 4.1% to 18.7% from March 2021 to March 2022. more..

May 18 (DM) SJB MP Champika Ranawaka speaks about the new Govt and the challenges ahead. Q: In the midst of the crisis the SJB, which you represent, is riddled with different views. What is your view? A: According to an opinion poll by your own newspaper 96 percent of people want the president to step down. That is the dominant opinion of the entire country. We tend to attribute this crisis to wrongful politics during past 74 years more..

May 18 (CT) A motion of censure of the Prez is expected to be debated in parliament on Tuesday 17th May. Ranil Wickremesinghe will also attend parliament on this day as the country’s new Prime minster. Will the censure motion be taken up? If it is debated, will the new PM defend the president? There are long queues for food fuel and fertilizer. Cost of living is punishingly overpowering. Yet there is freedom in the air. But the latest collapse was triggered by the frauds of the First Family. more..

May 18 (DM) We all know that the SL public service is corrupt. How corrupt it is may never surprise us. That is how corrupt it is. Nothing is beyond this historically rotten set up. The protests that have engulfed the country are partly due to the rising public anger and helplessness at this. The system is corrupt because it has been made corrupt. That is why system change became a winning campaign slogan. It is the same reason why the same slogan came back to bite the victors of the 2019 more..

May 18 (DM) Marimuththu Nirmala from Keththarama is widowed with two children. She looks after two patients and earns Rs. 350 a month. Apart from that she receives a charity allowance, but her monthly income is less than Rs. 5000. For people living in lower income segments and those below the poverty line, life is now a misery. On the one hand they are unable to make ends meet due to job losses following the COVID-19 pandemic more..

May 18 (CT) Yesterday saw the country taking the first step to be once more recognised, by the international community, as a country that respects the rule of law with the arrest of SLPP State Minister Sanath Nishantha. Sanath Nishantha is wanted in connection with the assault of peaceful protesters at MynaGoGama (opposite Temple Trees, Kollupitiya) and GotaGoGama (opposite the Presidential Secretariat, Colombo) last Monday (9 May). Those peaceful protesters were assaulted because more..

May 18 (TM) During his address to the nation on Monday (16), newly appointed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe put voice to some uncomfortable truths. While his straightforwardness in this regard can be appreciated when compared to the manner in which former PM Rajapaksa sugar-coated and downplayed the difficult situation the country is going through, trying to deliver the impression that he is the right man for the job of saving SL simply through talking facts is not enough. more..

May 18 (DN) SL's Angelo Mathews missed out on a double hundred as he fell on 199 against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chattogram on Monday. Mathews became the third SL and 12th batsman to be dismissed on 199 in Test cricket. 34-year-old who has a Test best of 200 not out against Zimbabwe, fell one short of his second double ton to Bangladesh off-spinner Zayeem Hasan as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 397 in its first innings. Incidentally, Mathews became the third SL more..

May 18 (DM) Claiming that attacks on MPs' residences were not restricted to May 9, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said today MPs residences were being attacked from April 4. He told Parliament that some organised groups started attacking the residences of MPs after the incident where the Prez's private residence was surrounded by a group of protesters on April 3. The Minister said his residence was first attacked on April 4. "Carlton House and Roshan Ranasinghe's house more..

May 18 (FT) The manifold crises have forced the multi-billion-rupee event management industry into a destitute state, making it one of the most vulnerable sectors to any catastrophe. Event Management Association of Sri Lanka (EMA-SL) said following the multiple crises the industry endured post-Easter Sunday attacks in 2019, most of the trained staff have now moved to different sectors for livelihood. more..

May 18 (ST) The travel ban imposed on Mahinda Rajapaksa and a motley group of his supporters by the Fort Magistrate following an application by the Attorney-General suffices to buttress the widely circulating opinion that Temple Trees was where the rabblerousing originated last Monday, leaving a bloody and indelible mark on a peaceful protest movement. It was from there that the instigators allowed the frenzy to build before the mob was let loose on several hundreds of non-violent more..

May 18 (Island) Parliament has demonstrated, once again, that it does not give a tinker’s cuss about unity and collective action. While the country is burning, and yearning for political stability, govt and Opposition turned yesterday’s election of the Deputy Speaker into a political battle. SLPP sought to prove that it exercised control over the House; it fielded MP Ajith Rajapaksa, who received 109 votes, and Opposition candidate Rohini Wijeratne (SJB), could secure only 78 votes, 23 votes were rejected. more..

May 18 (FT) The country’s manufacturing and services sectors suffered a sharp dip in April as per the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) compiled by the Central Bank. The manufacturing PMI decreased by 21.4 points as against March whilst the Services PMI was down by 7.5 points. CBSL said the Manufacturing PMI declined significantly in April 2022, following the seasonal pattern & indicating a contraction more..

May 18 (FT) Leading business magazine says that “corporates continue to view the economy in an extremely pessimistic light,” adding that the economic crisis has led to extreme pessimism in business circles with expectations that the worst is yet to come in the wake of the unprecedented forex crunch. “With the youth spearheading the nationwide demonstrations and expressing their concerns, the voice of the people has started to rise and be heard,” notes Nielsen Director more..

May 18 (DM) The local tourism industry has received a dangerous signal with TUI, one of the world’s largest tour companies, halting services to Sri Lanka, sector stakeholders said. Tourism sector stakeholders said they expect the crumbling situation of the industry to further deteriorate. “This is a dangerous signal that we have received. What will happen next is that every other tour operator will follow,” said The Hotels’ Association of SL (THASL) President M. Shanthikumar. more..

May 18 (EN) TUI has cancelled all holidays to Sri Lanka departing up to and including 31 May 2022. This comes as the Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka, urging Brits not to go to the country unless it’s absolutely necessary. The change in advice comes after protests have been taking place across SL as the country faces an economic crisis. It includes shortages of medicines, fuel and food. Locals are also suffering from power cuts every day due to electricity rationing. more..

May 18 (CT) SL’s Union Bank said that its Profit Before Tax (PBT) including its equity accounted share of subsidiaries for the period under review remained flat at Rs 316 million compared to last year due to the deteriorated operating environment and increase in VAT on Financial Services from 15 to 18 per cent in 2022. In comparison to 1Q 2021, the Bank’s Profit After Tax (PAT) was adversely impacted as the corresponding year’s charge was after the one-off reversal of the overprovision more..

May 18 (AJ) Mahinda Samarawickrema, 49, will not be planting paddy this season. After a govt ban on chemical fertilisers cut his yield in half during the March harvest, the farmer, who owns eight hectares (20 acres) of paddy and banana, said he no longer has the income to maintain a farm – especially as his banana crop also looks set to fail. “It’s a total loss,” the father of five said in mid-April, standing in a field of more..

May 18 (CT) Govt of SL’s (GoSL’s) face value money printing (FVMP) debt increased by Rs 86,754.74 million (3.14%), Friday (13) over the immediately preceding day, Thursday, to a record high Rs 2,848,834.11 million (Rs 2.8488 trillion) due to a sustained lack of revenue, CB data showed. However, this increase was non-demand pull inflationary causing as it was used to meet GoSL’s external commitments. The previous MP record of Rs 2.77 T was established on Wed (11). more..

May 18 (TM) A discussion was held yesterday between the Special Committee on Fertiliser appointed by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the officials of the relevant Ministries regarding the provision of fertiliser and agrochemicals to farmers for cultivation during the Yala cultivating season. Committee’s Head, Akila Viraj Kariyawasan said that the discussion focused on importing organic and chemical fertilisers and other agrochemicals required by the farmers as soon as possible more..

May 18 (Island) The SJB is ready to support newly elected PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to build an all-party consensus on an ambitious economic revival plan, but it will not accept any minsterial positions. The SJB secured 54 seats, including one National List slot, at the last parliamentary election in August 2020. Its National List member Diana Gamage later switched her allegiance to the SLPP, but for some reason more..

May 18 (Island) On the invitation extended by Sheikh Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al- Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League and President of the Organisation of Muslim Scholars to participate at the Forum titled Promoting Common Values Among the followers of Religions, organised by the Muslim World League, an International Islamic NGO based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia meant for religious leaders and senior scholars, a delegation led by the Most Venerable more..

May 18 (ST) SL is still in dire need of medicines and medical supplies and the Health Ministry has now formulated three ways in which donations can be channelled (please see graphic for details). “Roughly we need about US$ 30-40mn per month on drugs,” said Dr Anver Hamdani, the Director Medical Technology Services of the Ministry of Health who is coordinating healthcare donor activities. Around 85% of drugs and medical supplies are imported and the sector is severely affected by dollar shortage. more..

May 18 (FT) Bar Association of SL (BASL) said yesterday that the IGP and senior officers in charge of the CID have informed that the suspects who attacked the peaceful protesters in front of Temple Trees and at Galle Face Green on 9 May will be arrested within the next two days. BASL President Saliya Peiris PC said the IGP gave this assurance when he and BASL Deputy President Anura Maddagoda met with the IGP and a group of senior officers in charge of the CID on Monday more..

May 18 (DM) Former top cop and crime expert Retd. DIG Priyantha Jayakody yesterday said the killing of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen has been an unsolved mystery to date, and it is high time the perpetrators should be brought to book, even after 10 years of his murder. Taking part in a protest march held at the GotaGoGama last evening to commemorate the 10th death anniversary of SL rugby union player Wasim Thajudeen, who had a tragic end involved with a suspicious motorcar accident, more..

May 18 (TM) In a sharp verbal assault, ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran PC accused PM Ranil Wickremesinghe of shameless conduct in Parliament, claiming that the latter voted against a proposal to debate a motion of displeasure against the Prez yesterday, despite earlier having agreed to vote in favour of it. “The only thing that has changed between today and that day is that he (Wickremesinghe) has got a job as the PM. more..

May 18 (DM) The UK said on Monday that it is closely monitoring the concerning economic situation in SL, including issues of food security and livelihoods. “We are closely monitoring the concerning economic situation in SL, including issues of food security and livelihoods. The IMF has assessed SL’s debt as unsustainable,” Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said during a debate in UK's House of Lords on SL. more..

May 18 (DN) PM’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake has decided to cut the expenditure of the PM’s office by 50%. “PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is of the view that his office should cut spending and set an example to other public offices in the face of an economic crisis”, an official of the PM’s office said. He hoped that other public offices will follow suit. Twenty six employees who were attached to the PM’s office have been sent to their original places of work and 16 vehicles which were taken over by more..

May 18 (TM) No discussions have officially started yet on privatisation of the national carrier SriLankan Airlines, however, SriLankan has a plan on how the privatisation should be carried out if the Govt is to go ahead, stated SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage. He said that PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his national address on Monday (16), had said what was best for the country and announced what he wanted to be done. more..

May 18 (TM) National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection alleged that the Govt is working to increase fuel prices and electricity tariffs. “Addressing the nation on 16 May, the new PM Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the Govt is currently losing Rs. 84.38 per litre of petrol, Rs. 131.55 per litre of diesel and Rs. 294.50 per litre of kerosene and that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) can no longer afford this situation. It was further stated that a unit of electricity costs Rs. 48 more..