May 18 (BN) SL’s impending default on $12.6 billion of overseas bonds is flashing a warning sign to investors in other developing nations that surging inflation is set to take a painful toll. South Asian nation is set to blow through the grace period on $78 million of payments Wednesday, marking its first sovereign debt default since it gained independence from Britain in 1948. Its bonds already trade deep in distressed territory, with holders bracing for losses approaching 60 cents on the dollar. more..

May 18 (DN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was not satisfied with the pace at which the investigations into the attacks on protesters at Galle Face Green are being carried out, at present. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, PM said he spoke to IGP C.D. Wickramaratne over the matter. “I spoke to the IGP and asked him what the situation was currently as this matter was being raised in parliament. more..

May 18 (FT) As I watched you take oaths at the Presidential Secretariat, my mind was drawn to the last time you did so, on 16 Dec 2018, on day 52 of the 52-day coup plot that was mounted against Lankan democracy. On that Sunday morning, you were flanked by your wife, Dr. Maithri Wickremasinghe and several senior opposition MPs in what still feels like the finest hour in the history of our constitutional democracy. Several political parties rallied around you, more..

May 18 (FT) First parliamentary elections held in 1947 and 16 years long (1931 to 1947) state council system was abolished. When PM D.S. Senanayake died in an accident Dudley Senanayake formed a govt as prime minister on 26 March 1952. Parliamentary elections were held on 24-31 May 1952, and the UNP won 66 out of 101 seats in the House of Representatives. Dudley Senanayake of the UNP was re-appointed as prime minister on 2 June 1952. more..

May 18 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has sent a reply letter to SJB MPs Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara over the letter sent by them yesterday with regard to several questions before deciding how to support the new Govt. MPs sent a letter expecting answers for 7 questions including about Prez Rajapaksa’ resignation, legal action against attackers of GotaGoGama and Easter attacks, 21st Amendment to the Constitution, release of Ranjan Ramanayakae and more..

May 18 (AD) The World Bank has provided USD 160 million to Sri Lanka to pay for essentials, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told the parliament today. He said the funds received from the World Bank cannot be utilized to import fuel. However, discussions are underway to consider if the funds could be used for petroleum purchases, PM Wickremesinghe added. According to the Premier, Sri Lanka is also expecting a similar amount from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). more..

May 18 (EN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, long considered bitter rivals, shared a rare moment of apparent camaraderie in parliament on Wednesday (18), trading lighthearted barbs while agreeing to cooperate in raising funds for an essential drug. Speaking in parliament, Premadasa proposed that SJB MPs Harsha de Silva, Kabir Hashim and Eran Wickramaratne more..

May 18 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa alleged in Parliament that IGP C.D. Wickremaratne and Secretary to the Public Security Minister Maj. Gen. (retd.) Jagath Alwis had prevented Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon from using force to stop SLPP goon attacks on May 09 on those who had been demanding the resignation of the govt. Weerawansa said Tennakoon had given in to political pressure in spite of receiving specific instructions from Prez Rajapaksa to halt more..

May 18 (DM) A total number of 883 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violent incidents reported from across the country following the mob attack on the peaceful, unarmed protestors in Kollupitiya and Galle Face on May 9. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said 412 of them have been remanded after being produced in courts while 364 persons have been released on bail. He said the police arrested 219 persons in connection with the violent incidents yesterday alone and 57 of them more..

May 18 (AD) Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara has requested the general public to refrain from waiting in queues to obtain petrol as supplies are unavailable today and tomorrow (May 19 and 20). Giving an update on the fuel stocks available in the country during today’s parliamentary session, the lawmaker pledged to resolve the issue this weekend. However, diesel will be supplied continuously as sufficient more..

May 18 (AD) Prez Rajapaksa, in his message for the 13th anniversary of National War Heroes Day, says various local, and foreign groups and individuals are attempting to use the economic and political crisis as a pretext to influence national security. “We must defeat it together. Only then will the courageous war hero’s commitment to the country be preserved.” Prez also emphasized that the govt would not disregard the policy towards safeguarding sovereignty and independence of this country more..

May 18 (DM) Fundamental Rights petition filed challenging the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to allow former Prez Maithripala Sirisena to use of the residence at Paget Road was today fixed for June 29 by Supreme Court. Supreme Court today allowed the petitioner to file an amended caption to substitute the respondents following the appointment of new cabinet of ministers. On March 29, SC issued an interim order suspending the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers to allow former Prez more..

May 18 (EN) Commercial banks quote the rupee at 364 against telegraphic transfers on Wednesday while the central bank set a daily guidance rate for interbank spot trade for 359.65 plus or minus 2.50. Banks could quote 2.50 rupees plus or minus under the new direction and the rate is set below the market rates. The kerb rate has also eased after spiking last week. CB stopped quoting day rates on January 23 when the rupee was floated with an interest rate correction after soft peg more..

May 18 (BN) SL is set to default on $12.6 billion of overseas bonds as its new prime minister struggles to stabilize an economy spiraling into chaos fueled by a lack of dollars and surging inflation. South Asian nation is set to blow through the grace period on $78 million of payments Wednesday, marking its first sovereign debt default since it gained independence from Britain in 1948. Its bonds already trade deep in distressed territory, with holders bracing for losses approaching more..

May 18 (AD) The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court has ordered to remand SLPP MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayatilleke until May 25. The two MPs, who were arrested in connection with the attack on the anti-govt protest sites in Colombo on the 9th of May, were produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court earlier today. The CID had arrested MP Nishantha at the Flower Road in Colombo last evening while more..

May 18 (AD) Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, who stepped down from his position amidst growing public agitations, arrived in the Parliament to attend today’s proceedings. This is the first time Rajapaksa made an appearance in the House after resigning as the PM of SL on the 9th of May. He vacated the position the same day, in the wake of nationwide public furore following an attack by ruling party supporters on anti-govt protesters outside the Temple Trees and at Galle Face Green more..

May 18 (AD) Lanka IOC has issued a statement on a fake document in circulation, with city-wise mobile numbers for the customers to convey their fuel requirements. The company said it categorically denies the reports circulated in social media and some sections of media pertaining to this fake document. It states that the customers would be informed via an SMS as soon as petrol consignments arrive at IOC filling stations. Accordingly, the customers have been more..

May 18 (DM) Disclosing that Western Province DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon told Prez Rajapaksa that the IGP had informed him not to use teargas or water cannon to disperse those attacking GotaGoGama protesters, former minister Ramesh Pathirana said that the attack was stopped even at that point due to the intervention of the Prez. He told Parliament that the attack on protesters were carried out by a small group of people who more..

May 18 (DM) Two Fundamental Rights petitions filed challenging former Prez Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to grant pardon to BBS General Secretary Ven. Galagoda Atte Gnanasara Thera were yesterday fixed for support by the Supreme Court. These petitions had been filed by Centre for Policy Alternative (CPA) and Sandhya Ekneligoda, the wife of missing journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. The SC granted permission to the petitioners to file amended captions in respect of the petitions. more..

May 18 (wsws) Today, on May 18, millions of people worldwide are commemorating the 13th anniversary of the massacre at Mullivaikal that ended SL’s horrific, 26-year communal civil war. On May 18, 2009, the SL army finally surrounded 400,000 Tamil civilians and surviving LTTE fighters in a 6km radius around Mullivaikal. SL govt had initially declared the area a no fire zone and told civilians to go there to be safe. However, the army then launched a mass artillery barrage on more..

May 18 (TM) Health Ministry’s National Dengue Control Unit has taken steps to implement special dengue control awareness programmes in selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas from today (18) till 24 May as the spread of dengue is likely to increase due to the prevalent rains in many parts of the country. Director of the Unit, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera said: “There is a risk of an increase in the spread of the dengue epidemic due to the rains that are falling across the country. more..

May 18 (EN) SL’s state-owned Litro Gas Lanka Ltd. will start distribution 80,000 cylinders per day from Thursday after unloading two cooking gas shipment of 3,700 metric tonnes each from Oman, officials said on Wednesday. People have started street protests on a daily basis by blocking roads demanding cooking gas after waiting in queues for days. Litro has stopped distribution as it did not have dollars to import cooking gas. A ship from Oman carrying 3700 metric tonnes of cooking gas more..

May 18 (CI) If day three of the first Test in Chattogram belonged to Tamim Iqbal, the fourth day was all about Mushfiqur Rahim. Not only did he become the first Bangladesh batter to reach 5000 runs in Test cricket, his eighth century in the format also made sure Bangladesh stayed ahead in Chattogram at the end of day four. Mushfiqur's 105, to go with Tamim Iqbal's 133, and half-centuries from Litton Das and Mahmudul Hasan more..

May 18 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa were engaged in an open dialogue in Parliament yesterday for the first time after the two split giving birth to the SJB, PM Wickremesinghe who started the dialogue said in a lighter vein that the SJB was not involved in the recent violence where residences and business establishments of former Ministers and MPs were destroyed. “I don’t think the SJB was involved in the violence it does not have time for more..

May 18 (DM) Failure to receive essential blood gas analyzers required to maintain the Intensive Care Units (ICU) and High Dependency Units (HDU) in all hospitals, a severe crisis has arisen in which the units cannot be maintained, the Federation of Health Professionals (FHP) said. As a result, patients who are being treated under ventilators in ICUs and HDUs are at high risk, and it could be futile to drive those units without blood gas analyzers. The Federation said around Rs. 300 million more..

May 18 (AD) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today requested SL migrant workers to transfer money through the SL banking system without following Undiyal/Hawala methods to transfer money. “We make that request as the country’s opposition. We make the request as the Samagi Jana Balawegaya,” he said, delivering a statement in parliament. SJB leader also encouraged the international community to more..

May 18 (TM) When President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family stormed to power in Colombo in 2019, Beijing had much cause to celebrate. Only years earlier, the new president’s elder brother, Mahinda, had been instrumental in heralding a new era of Chinese influence in his country — hosting an array of dazzling infrastructure projects under Beijing’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The projects had turned Sri Lanka into a strategic outpost in the Indian Ocean for Beijing. more..

May 18 (ANI) As the economic crisis in SL is worsening day by day, several people including those jobless are participating in the protest against the govt to get two-times meal for the day. Hundreds of people including daily wage labourers and those who lost their jobs due to the ongoing crisis have queued up at Galle face in Colombo to get food provided by a Colombo based trust. "We have started distributing food from April 9. We want the Prez to resign, as he is unable to take care of more..

May 18 (AD) More than 14,000 tri-force personnel have received promotions to their next ranks coinciding with the 13th anniversary of the National War Heroes’ Day. Accordingly, 396 Officers of the SL Army and a record number of 8,110 Other Ranks of the Army have been promoted to their respective next rank with effect from today (18). Meanwhile, SL Air Force said 450 of its Officers and 3,361 Other Ranks were promoted to their next ranks, concurrent to the National War Heroes’ Day. more..

May 18 (TM) The Families of the Disappeared organisation in SL is calling on the Parliament to release all the names collected by Presidential Commissions of Inquiry (CoIs) into the alleged perpetration of enforced disappearances in the late 1980s, including the list that names President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his role in the Matale District where more than 700 persons disappeared while he was in charge. “The report on Prez Rajapaksa’s alleged role in mass atrocities more..

May 18 (AFP) Thousands of Tamils killed in SL's decades-long separatist war were commemorated on Wednesday for the first time outside the minority's heartland in the north and east of the country. Clergy from Buddhist, Hindu and Christian communities offered prayers in Colombo and lit a clay lamp for those who perished between 1972 and May 2009 when the fighting ended. The ceremony coincided with the 13th anniversary of more..

May 18 (CT) While insisting the 9 May attack was State terrorism, MP Udaya Gammanpila yesterday, called for the arrest of all politicians who instigated the attack on peaceful GotaGoGama protesters to restore public faith on law and order. Speaking in Parliament, Gammanpila extended his condolences to the family of MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala who was killed in Nittambuwa and MPs whose properties were damaged during the unrest. “We have to condemn all kinds of terrorism equally. more..

May 18 (CT) A heated situation erupted in Parliament when ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam yesterday, alleged that Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena stopped him chairing Parliamentary Sitting and invited SLPP MP Shantha Bandara to preside, when he was invited to the chair by the staff. Raising a Privilege Matter in the House, Rasmanickam said, when he was invited to chair the Sitting, Gunawardena sent messages to the Secretary General of Parliament asking more..

May 19 (DM) UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed as SL’s PM last Thursday. His appointment comes at a time when the country is struggling to overcome its worst ever economic crisis, since gaining independence from the British in 1948 and in the midst of a soaring cost of living, severe shortage of essential commodities including medicines and medical equipment, domestic gas, petrol, diesel and kerosene. He has taken up the challenge of rebuilding the badly bloodied, more..

May 19 (DM) The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, one of the more literary essays written by Karl Marx famously, contains many quotable quotes which are of course frequently used in contexts that have little to do with the thrust of the man’s thinking. This, however, is apt for our times: ‘Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past.’ more..