May 27 (Hindu) India and Japan have agreed to work together on assisting crisis-hit SL, the Japanese govt said, following a recent meeting between PMs Narendra Modi and Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. Mr. Modi and Mr. Kishida met on May 24 on the sidelines of the Quad summit and held bilateral talks on close cooperation to promote efforts to realise a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, in addition to collaboration in spheres more..

May 27 (AD) Morison Ltd., one of the pioneers of pharmaceutical manufacturing in SL since 1959, announced the commencement of commercial production at its state-of the-art WHO GMP and EU GMP compliant production facility in Pitipana, Homagama. Unveiled in late 2020 as SL’s first and largest general oral solid and liquid dosage pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, the factory marked the launch of commercial production by manufacturing and releasing its 1st more..

May 27 (CT) Jaffna Chamber of Commerce Vice President S. Vigneshwaran urged the Tamil Diaspora to invest in the Northern Province because it is strong and would provide an opportunity to demonstrate the power of the Northern People. He added that it will be a boon to improve the economic and living conditions of people in the three-decade-long war-torn region. Vigneshwaran was speaking to the media in Jaffna yesterday about the country’s current economic crisis. more..

May 27 (SLN) SL Navy managed to seize 02 suspicious local multiday fishing trawlers with 45 individuals, during patrols carried out in southern and western seas. Accordingly, SLNS Gajabahu patrolling in southern waters held a local multiday fishing trawler suspiciously plying off the southern coast with 26 persons aboard. In the same vein, Fast Attack Craft P 481 of the 04th Fast Attack Flotilla intercepted another suspicious local multiday fishing trawler carrying 19 individuals, more..

May 27 (AD) Leading SL naturalist and a taxonomist of freshwater fish of the island, Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda has been conferred the prestigious The Linnean Medal award for zoology. The medal is awarded annually by the Linnean Society of London, the world’s oldest active biological society, alternately to one or two biologists in any field, an expression of the Society’s esteem and appreciation for service to science. Any biologist, irrespective of nationality, who is not at the time more..

May 27 (OI) Ranil Wickremesinghe is not qualified to hold the post of PM as he has been rejected by the people in the elections in 2020, SL's Opposition party JVP said on Friday. The JVP, which did not participate in the discussion chaired by the PM Wickremesinghe, presented a series of proposals for Constitutional amendments. JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that through this amendment, more powers will be more..

May 27 (NR) Party Leaders have reached a general consensus on the fact that a 21st Amendment has to be passed as soon as possible. Party Leaders meeting to discuss the draft 21st Amendment was held under the patronage of PM Ranil Wickremesinghe today. The purpose of the meeting was to allow Party Leaders to present their observations regarding the draft Amendment. PM’s Media Division said a decision was made to hold a final meeting next Friday, with the TNA’s more..

May 27 (EN) SL’s listed companies can forego printing annual reports for the financial years ended 31st Dec 2021 and 31st March 2022 due to a paper shortage in the country as a result of dollar shortages. “…waiver is to be granted regarding considering the limited availability of paper in the market at present to provide printed copies of the annual report,” Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) said. However, the listed companies are required to publish their reports on CSE, company websites. more..

May 28 (CT) Ceylon Today website, quoting PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, said that as SL has no rupee revenue it will have to print another trillion rupees. He also warned that inflation would pass a record 40% in the coming months, Placing further pressure on SL households already grappling with high prices. According to CB 2021 Annual Report, of SL’s projected revenue equivalent to 8.6% of GDP last year, salaries and wages alone will have had eaten up revenue equivalent to 5% of GDP, more..

May 28 (DM) As SL is reeling from the shock and awe of a three-pronged crisis compromising the very core of its Political, Energy and Food security. The global outlook is looking far bleaker in the coming months ahead. It Seems SL has entered the crisis early but the full force of it is yet to hit us, as we are still in the midst of endogenous phase with the exogenous influences are building up. Increasing food prices, increasing global energy prices, and weakening governance regimes from more..

May 28 (DM) The first part of the article titled Ranil Returns: Remarkable Resilience of Premier Wickremesinghe published in the of May 21, 2022, resulted in my getting quite a lot of feedback during the week. Much more than usual. I was pleasantly surprised by the positive nature of the views expressed though some were negative too. The responses ranged widely from a distinguished emeritus professor and author who observed more..

May 28 (DM) It is indeed a great privilege and honour to pen this article celebrating the life and service of Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Thera on this landmark occasion of his 72nd birthday, which also happens to coincide with the Vesak Poya Day this year. I have had the honour of associating with Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero very closely for the last few years, and he has played an instrumental role in shaping my spiritual knowledge of Buddhist philosophy over time. more..

May 28 (DM) With SL’s worst ever Aragalaya or public revolt continuing for its 50th day with large crowds gathering at the GotaGoGama or Galle Face Green to demand the resignation of the Rajapaksa Govt and the abolition of the executive presidential system, SL is not able to give top priority to a key issue that could destroy the world. The battle against climate change—which former United States’ Prez Donald Trump described as a Chinese hoax—the world gave less attention to this vital issue more..

May 28 (CT) UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe took office as PM with the agreement that all economic responsibilities in the country should be placed under his control. Wickremesinghe also told the Prez that if the Finance Ministry portfolio was not taken over by someone who has public faith, he should take that over too. However, no one was willing to accept the Finance Ministry portfolio and more..

May 28 (CT) The core demand of aragalaya is to bring about systemic change in the country’s political governance and economy. Gota-Go-Home and No 225 are only means to that end. Although there had been widespread support for the core demand especially within the intelligentsia, civil societies and even sections of the media and Sangha, yet, during the last few weeks, and since the resignation of the previous PM, a counter struggle seems to be on foot led by the old guards to preserve status quo. more..

May 28 (FP) Many Western leaders are behaving as though there is one crisis in the world: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While some are waking up to the widespread knock-on effects for food and energy security, there is little bandwidth, it seems, to address the underlying looming crisis: a global economic unwinding driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate breakdown, and degradation of the international political and economic system that has been at least a decade in the making. more..

May 28 (Island) Reports that the public sector workers will be given a pay hike from the budget to be presented in a few weeks have stirred up a lot of controversy. One cannot bring oneself to be critical of a pay hike for workers, but the question is whether the govt which is even without funds to pay the public workers their salaries will be able to grant them a pay hike. Is it planning to print more money? The govt seems to have got cold feet due to adverse criticism of the alleged offer of a pay hike to more..

May 28 (CT) “Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation.” The above words of former South African Prez Nelson Mandela show the importance of children to a country and also why they must be protected. In SL context, it is believed that children must be educated in a disciplined environment though it is somewhat unclear. For many decades, it has been a very controversial topic whether students more..

May 28 (CT) Sri Lankans are today caught in a vicious trap of fuel shortages. It all started with a delay in processing a batch of fuel supplies due to a paucity of dollars in the Govt’s control. Thus, a shortage developed, which is now worsening day by day with little sign of abating. Because of the persistent long lines for fuel islandwide and at each fuel distribution station, many temporary jobs are created, more..

May 28 (Island) Some of Cassandra’s readers may ask whether she is out of her right mind to see glimmers of hope for the country. She assures them she is as sane as can be; she does cling onto these straws like the dying man does. How else exist? How else get through these dire times? Sirisena leaves Paget Road mansion in accordance with SC interim injunction. And who was instrumental in righting this wrong? The CPA and its Executive Director Dr Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu. more..

May 28 (GV) There are various dire predictions of the expected amount of paddy this Yala season, which will result in insufficient rice to feed the country, although there is some confusion as to how much is in storage from prior cultivations. What we are talking here is an expected yield of 500,000 tons when the normal is more like 1,850,000 tons. The past volumes of paddy production for the Yala season from the DCS are given here. The three largest paddy producing districts in SL are more..

May 28 (FT) It is 10am and the queue outside a petrol station in one suburb of Colombo is already hundreds of people long. At the front is Malar Peter, whose family has taken turns to keep their place for 12 hours already. A few paces behind her is Padmasiri, who arrived at 1am. And right at the back of the queue stands Arumugam Annaletchumi, 50, who expects to be there for the rest of this hot, humid day. more..

May 28 (DM) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed confidence that SL’s relationship with India would not be impacted as it reaches out to China for further assistance to bail out the crisis-hit economy. Wickremesinghe dismissed concerns that additional funding from China could complicate the ties with India. The neighbouring giant has continued to extend support to the island nation with financial assistance and also advocated with the IMF to facilitate the much-needed loan programme. more..

May 28 (Island) CEB 2022 is projected to lose Rs. 500 billion by December, and the Management had to go for an immediate tariff hike, a top official said. The tariff hike had to be at least 100%, he said. “We have no materials for any new connections. The operations have come for a standstill. Lanka Transformers, and Kelani Cables aren’t providing cables due to shortage of aluminium and copper in the local market,” he said. CEB now depends on salvaging used items for parts just to more..

May 28 (NF) A donation of anesthetic & respiratory medicines from the French Govt was received by SL on Thursday, and Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that these medicines will be sufficient for a period of three months to address the existing shortage. The French Govt donated a stock of medicine worth €300 000 (Rs. 115 million) following the request of the SL Govt. The ambassador Eric Lavertu met the Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella and discussed more..

May 28 (TM) Wing Commander Pradeep Kannangara was appointed President while 14 other members were appointed to the Executive Committee of the Industrial Security Foundation (ISF), in uplifting the standards of the private security industry in SL. ISF which acts as the sole organisation in SL to represent the private security industry having been incorporated by an Act passed in the Parliament, Act No. 51 of 1999, elected Wing Commander (Retd.) Pradeep Kannangara as more..

May 28 (CT) The public, once every five years, select MPs to represent them in Parliament. Parliament sittings are held four days for a week during two weeks every month. However, the recent behaviour of MPs has come under criticism, as the people clearly witnessed their representatives continuously failing to address the concerns of the public. The public do not see genuine attempts to solve their problems and as a result more..

May 28 (DN) Deputy President of the Western Province Netball Association Caryl Tozer has come forward to contest the President post of the National Netball Federation at the election which is scheduled to be held on May 31 at the Sports Ministry Auditorium. Former National Netball player Caryll played for Ceylon schools team against England. Having played for the SL team against Seychelles in Seychelles in 1976 she also got a chance to play against Singapore, British Speed birds team. more..

May 28 (SLN) Continuing with the Mangrove Conservation Project of the Navy, two mangrove planting drives were conducted in the coastal area of Mannar and Arugam Bay Lagoon on 20th and 21st May. SL Navy has been conducting this timely project under the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, with a view to promote mangrove ecosystem in n coastal saline. Accordingly, naval establishments in the command, planted 1200 mangrove saplings more..

May 28 (CB) Niroshan Dickwella, the wicketkeeper-batsman, said the Test series victory against Bangladesh has come as a relief for SL who have been facing hardship back home. SL arrived in Bangladesh amidst political and economical turmoil in the Island Nation, with the hopes of bringing smiles on the faces of their countrymen going through trying times with a series win. The visitors managed to accomplish their goal by earning more..

May 28 (FT) Existing Director Jayantha Wickremarathne, a former IGP, has been appointed as the Chairman of Sanasa Life Insurance PLC from 1 June. He succeeds T. Karunasena who has decided to step down from 1 June but will continue as an Independent Director until 30 June. Wickremarathne has been serving in the Sanasa Life Insurance board as an Independent Director since 2017. He was formerly Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Defence and more..

May 28 (FT) Leading tourism industry associations put forwarded a 17-point Revival for Survival to overcome the multiple crises. Members of the SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO)-led One Industry One Voice initiative in tourism together with The Hotels Association of SL (THASL) proposed the plan at a meeting held with Tourism Minister Harin Fernando. During the meeting it was agreed to immediately rollout a marketing campaign in risk averse markets such as more..

May 28 (DN) Eric Rajapakse Opticians, SL’s leading eyecare specialist with over 100 years of expertise, is celebrating its 105-year journey by organizing free eye and hearing checkup camps in all branches. The checkup camps are currently available at the Kollupitiya, Wellawatte, Dehiwela, Malabe, and Kiribathgoda branches and will continue till the end of June. With SL citizens undergoing economic hardships, these checkup camps will provide them with the opportunity to take better care of more..

May 28 (FT) Colombo stock market saw a lacklustre week with weak investor sentiment prompting indices to close on a mixed note. ASPI gained 49.94 points (0.60%) and the S&P SL20 declined 17.87 points (0.65%) during the week. Turnover averaged Rs. 1,980 million, declining from Rs. 2,457 million last week. Asia Securities said the market ended the week on a low note on Friday amid generating a moderate turnover as retail and HNI investors took to the side-lines awaiting directional cues. more..

May 28 (CT) The JVP will back the 21st Amendment to the Constitution if it is amended to strengthen democracy, JVP Leader, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. The JVP also believes that the Constitution, which has been amended on various occasions, should be completely amended and a new system of governance should be introduced. However, Dissanayake said the amendments shouldn’t turn out to be a hoax. more..