May 25 (AD) The father of two brothers who detonated suicide bombs at two leading hotels in Colombo in the brutal carnage on the 2019 Easter Sunday, was granted bail today. Soon after the coordinated terror attacks on the 21st of April in 2019, Mohamed Yusuf Ibrahim, a prominent spice trader in the country, was taken into custody for concealing evidence. The local spice tycoon’s two sons, Mohamed Ilham Ahmed and Mohamed Insaf Ahmed had attacked the Shangri-La hotel more..

May 25 (Island) Plans were afoot to revise the price of kerosene by providing financial assistance to those who needed relief, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. He said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation incurred a loss of Rs. 275.26 per litre of kerosene by selling it at Rs. 87 to help low income earners. Minister said that it was being planned to provide relief to low income earners including fishermen and plantation workers instead of subsidised kerosene through a committee more..

May 25 (Island) Former Foreign Secretary Admiral (retd) Jayanath Colombage says that he requested the govt that he shouldn’t be considered for re-appointment following the dissolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on May 09. Resignation of PM Rajapaksa resulted in the automatic dismissal of Secretaries to the Ministries. One-time Navy Chief said that his family wanted him to take a break, therefore he quit on his own. Prez Rajapaksa has appointed retired career diplomat Aruni more..

May 25 (EN) SL YouTuber and political vlogger Dharshana Handungoda who was summed by the CID has refused to give a statement and has requested a legal notification from the CID with express reference to the purpose of the inquiry. Handungoda, a journalist by profession, was summoned by the CID on Wednesday for questioning. His YouTube channel SL Deshaya is known for its regular and more..

May 25 (DM) In response to the remarks made by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera that the CPC still incurs a loss of over a rupee from a litre of petrol following recent increase, a group of youth in Anuradhapura has set a money till in fuel stations appealing public to put a rupee. The minister said yesterday that the cost of importing and distributing a litre of 92 octane petrol was Rs. 421.71 and that at the previous price of Rs. 338, the CPC was making a loss of Rs. 83.71 on each litre. more..

May 25 (AD) The water levels of several rivers have gone up after the recent downpours in parts of the island, the Dept of Irrigation says. Director of Irrigation (Hydrology) Eng. S.P.C. Sugeeshwara said a minor flood situation is possible in the low-lying areas of Kalu River and its tributary, especially Kuda Ganga. The water levels of several rivers, especially Kelani and Kalu, rose considerably after the heavy rainfall in the south-eastern parts of the country, Mr Sugeeshwara said further. more..

May 25 (CI) Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva collected half-centuries as SL ploughed ahead on a rain-hit day three, getting to within 83 runs of Bangladesh's total, with five wickets still in hand. The visitors lost three wickets, including that of captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 80, but are now perhaps better-placed than Bangladesh to push for a result in the match. With 39 overs having been lost to rain on Wednesday, more..

May 25 (FT) Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the reintroduction of a fuel price formula. Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the pricing formula was applied for the upward revisions announced yesterday morning. The formula has been devised based on six criteria and will be applied every fortnight or monthly to determine fuel prices. The Minister said a seven-member committee comprising officials of Ministry of Power & Energy, Ministry of Finance, more..

May 25 (EN) Stock market closed weaker on Wednesday as the market feared over tax hikes in the near future after PM was appointed as the the new finance minister, dealers said. “The market did pick up on the new finance minister’s appointment, hype but it quickly fell down on worries that there will be a fiscal consolidation to face,” a top market analyst said. “The overall market is gearing towards the downward trend due to this fiscal consolidation as the new budgets will be tax-based.” more..

May 25 (NR) The SL Private Fuel Bowser Owners Association has threatened to suspend operations without prior notice if the safety of bowser drivers cannot be ensured. Co-Secretary of the Association Shantha Silva said while ensuring the safety of drivers has been vested with the Police, the unruly behaviour of the public when obtaining fuel is continuously being reported. He said they wrote to the Inspector General of Police requesting security to be provided for bowser operators. more..

May 25 (TM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the Ministry of Health to immediately submit a document on the essential drugs in SL and the drugs which are in short supply. This was made known through the PM’s Media Division today. The discussion was held today at the PM’s office under the patronage of the PM to discuss short term and medium term solutions to the current drug crisis due to the current economic crisis. “PM said that Govts of SL & India had agreed to pay back more..

May 25 (EN) A protest calling for the arrest of SL’s former Highways Minister Johnston Fernando took place outside the CID headquarters in Colombo on Tuesday (24). The minister was being questioned at the CID over his alleged involvement in govt-backed violence unleashed on peaceful protestors on May 09 which led to retaliatory mob violence around the country. Barricades were put up near the CID building, and police and more..

May 25 (CI) Sri Lanka Cricket will donate US$ 2 million to hospitals in the country, as the island nation continues to face a crippling economic crisis that has seen medical facilities run desperately short of life-saving drugs and equipment. The donation will be split 50-50 between two hospitals, SLC said: "US$ 1 million will be donated to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, to buy essential medicines required for pediatric care. And the National Cancer Hospital will be donated US$ 1 million more..

May 25 (EN) SL’s central bank has advertised for a gym instructor to continue health benefits to its staff, an official said, amid an economic crisis that is expected to prolong for years, The central bank published a tender document in print media, calling for tender “for selecting a suitable service provider for obtaining the service of an Instructor to the Gymnasium of CB on outsourced basis”. “We have the gym for about 15 years in the central bank and it is for the befit of the employees,” more..

May 25 (AD) The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration has issued a circular today to all the Secretaries to Ministries, Chief Secretaries of Provinces and the Heads of Departments on restricting the calling of staff in public institutions in order to minimize the expenses of the govt due to the dearth of resources. In the circular, Secretary M.M.P.K. Mayadunne states that representations have been made by various more..

May 25 (DM) Former PM Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa and his wife who left Sri Lanka on May 09th have returned to the country from Singapore on Tuesday midnight, through Bandaranaike International Airport’s (BIA) CIP Lounge, airport sources said. Yoshitha and wife Nitheesha Jayasekera have arrived in the country on Singapore Airlines flight SQ468 at 11.47pm on Tuesday and had come through the special Silk Route CIP Lounge of the BIA. more..

May 25 (EN) SL Police have arrested another 117 people in connection with the May 09 violent mob attacks island wide. Police Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said the police so far has arrested 1,708 suspects with regard to 852 mob attack incidents reported island wide. “On Tuesday (24) only we arrested 117. From that, 78 were released on bail and 32 are in remand prison” Thalduwa said on Wednesday. Mob attacks erupted island wide on May 09 after the former PM Rajapaksa’s more..

May 25 (DM) Attorney General today informed the Court that despite a Court order, several individuals including former PM Rajapaksa and Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon have so far failed to surrender their passports to the court custody. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Ayesha Jinasena PC appearing for the CID made these revelations when the magisterial inquiry into the mob attack on peaceful protesters came up more..

May 25 (TM) Minister of Agriculture and Wildlife Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the National Fertiliser Secretariat (NFS) to immediately investigate the incidents where a large quantity of chemical fertiliser, including urea fertiliser, was found in the homes of certain politicians during the tense situations that erupted on 9 May. An official of the Agriculture Ministry said that Minister Amaraweera gave the relevant instructions during a discussion held on Monday (23). more..

May 25 (EN) More than 100 suspects have been arrested for hoarding and selling fuel at a higher price than the market price in SL, police said, amid long queues across the country for fuel. 429 raids have been conducted island wide so far and they have arrested 137 suspects for hoarding and selling fuel at higher prices. So far we have found 27,000 liters of petrol from these raids and 22,000 liters of diesel. State owned fuel supplier CPC increased the fuel prices to record high early this week. more..

May 25 (TM) No confirmed rabies cases have been reported so far within the Colombo city limits, according to Dr. M. Ijas. Still there are people succumbing to rabies annually, adding that the main reason for this is negligence. People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch by an infected animal. Dogs are the main host and transmitter of rabies. In Sri Lanka, 20 to 30 deaths occur annually due to rabies and more..

May 25 (TM) SL medium-scale business owners are forced to shut down their businesses due to various shortages including gas. Grill Kitchen Founder/Owner Nadin Chathura Ekanayake said that he is unable to run his business anymore due to the shortage of gas. “I urge the Govt to refill the yellow coloured Laugfs Gas cylinder by Litro Gas Lanka as an immediate solution for the crisis. As a business, we are unable to operate and soon we might have to close down our business and more..

May 25 (EN) Sri Lankan Airlines has started refuelling its aircraft from Chennai, Dubai, and Singapore due to a shortage of jet fuel in Colombo amid a foreign currency scarcity, sources said. The shortage also has led the Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL) to inform foreign flights to take necessary steps in refuelling. “There is less jet fuel in Colombo. So we have been using Chennai, Dubai, and Singapore to refuel Sri Lankan Airlines’ flights,” a source from SriLankan Airlines more..

May 26 (DM) Education is a fundamental right guaranteed by UN Charter and the Constitution of SL. Yet, there are many instances in SL and elsewhere where this basic right is trampled upon. This issue surfaced recently in a video that went viral on social media, where a 16-year-old student named Nishan Prabodhana, who is currently sitting for the G.C.E O/L Exam, confronted the principal and the staff of D.A. Rajapaksa Vidyalaya in Weeraketiya on May 19 when he went to more..

May 26 (DM) There are certain rules of thumb with regard to constitutional reform. First, such exercises should never be predicated on political expediency. In other words, one’s allegiance or otherwise to the immediate beneficiary, beneficiaries or political party/coalition should not be a factor in offering support or objecting, respectively. Secondly, one’s allegiance or otherwise to any person, political party or community losing out from proposed amendments should not be a factor either. more..

May 26 (CT) On 9 May 2022, SL experienced a different kind of riot, with angry mobs torching and damaging homes, offices, and vehicles of 76 MPs, as well as homes and vehicles of hundreds of regional politicians who openly supported politicians and political parties accused of routing the country and its people through economic mismanagement that could have been avoided. While no one condones these heinous acts more..

May 26 (DM) When tens of thousands of people in utter desperation are out on the streets languishing in queues for hours pleading for domestic gas and kerosene and motorists for fuel, came the news of 21 new ministers being sworn in – four on May 13, nine on May 20 and eight on May 23 taking the total number of Cabinet ministers to 23 counting the Prez and the PM as well. These political moves, secret moves and counter moves boil down to that of being Cabinet ministers in whatever govt is in office more..

May 26 (CT) UNP leader and a record six times Premier, Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as SL’s 39th Finance Minister by Prez Rajapaksa yesterday, thereby ending a 16-day hiatus. Previously, when the then PM Rajapaksa together with the then Cabinet resigned following the 9 May riots, there were no takers for this post among the ruling party SLPP MPs led by their fear for the wrath of the masses. The underlining reasons for the 9 May riots were due to the high cost of living; more..

May 26 (CT) Although a year ago, the Covid-19 pandemic was considered the most pressing health challenge facing humanity, the pandemic is slowly being forgotten as the world seems to have adapted to deal with the disease. The same situation can be seen in SL, and Covid-19 is not a pressing concern as before. However, local experts last week expressed concerns about monkeypox, a health threat that has been more..

May 26 (TM) As a temporary solution to manage the ongoing fuel shortage-related issues, the authorities have decided to reintroduce the work-from-home concept among public sector employees engaged in non-essential services. On Tuesday (24), Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Govt J.J. Rathnasiri revealed that a circular was to be issued in this regard. Working from home is not a new concept to many Sri Lankans. more..

May 26 (CT) It is for the first time, in SL’s political history, that a govt was directly involved in instigating political violence against peaceful protestors on 9 May, consequences of which had to be reaped within hours even those who are not directly involved in such action from the govt side. Given the economic crisis and foreign exchange difficulties the country is facing at present the consequences of these violent events that would badly affect the image of the country and the people. more..

May 26 (Island) The govt seems determined to perpetuate people’s suffering. It claims that adequate fuel stocks are available in the country, but pumps at most filling stations have run dry, and long lines of vehicles are seen everywhere. When the fuel supply was restricted, recently, despite the unloading of two or three oil shipments in quick succession, it became obvious that the govt was planning to jack up petroleum prices. What was feared came to pass; oil prices increased. more..

May 26 (ST) Newly-appointed PM Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined the dangerous state of the SL economy and the way forward, in his maiden speech last Monday. While the public is faced with increasing shortages of essential supplies and sky-rocketing prices largely due to the lack of foreign exchange for payments, the Prime Minister mentioned the challenge for the Treasury even to find one million dollars. At the same time, it was reported this week that there are a couple of more..

May 26 (FT) Sri Lanka United National Business Alliance demanded immediate action from Govt to protect the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), without ignoring the 4.5 million people engaged in the sector. They expressed serious concerns on the adverse effects brought on its members and all sectors of the economy as a result of the worst economic crisis since independence. more..

May 26 (Roar) The protesters of Gota Go Gama in Matara have set up a donation cupboard (උදවු අල්මාරිය) as a way to help those in need during the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka. The donations cupboard is open to anyone with the primary goal of providing for those in need; individuals can leave anything they have in excess and take what they need. At the moment, the cupboard consists of various items such as stationery, dry rations, sanitary products, several basic medicines more..

May 26 (CT) The Grandbell Hotel Colombo, a BOI approved USD 60 million worth Japanese investment visible in the heart of Colombo, recently opened its doors welcoming all to experience a fusion of Japanese and SL hospitality. The hotel is also another feature that depicts the traditional bond shared by the two countries, which goes beyond business. In a situation where SL has undergone major economic setbacks, the BOI, as the apex organisation for promoting FDI in SL, more..