Jun 19 (AD) Former MP Ven. Dr. Ellawala Medhananda Thera has refuted all claims that the Kurundi Viharaya in Mullaitivu is a kovil, asserting that the historical site is, in fact a temple. The archaeological expert alleged that despite recent claims that there was once a kovil at the site at which the Kurundi Viharaya is located, there is no truth to them. “Excavations have proved that this is 100% a Buddhist temple. Despite this, however, we have gotten to know that more..

Jun 19 (ST) More and more foreigners on tourist visas are setting up unauthorised businesses on SL’s Southern and Eastern coasts, operating freely outside of the tax net. They are also routing their earnings around the local financial system, further eroding any benefits the country may accrue from this fast-spreading brand of tourism. Among the main areas where tourist visa-holders are setting up restaurants, guesthouses, more..

Jun 19 (AD) Minister Kanchana Wjiesekera has assured that there is no shortage of petroleum products at filling stations. Taking to Twitter, the Minister stated that there is no shortage of Petrol Octane 95 or any other petroleum products at filling stations owned by both Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and Lanka-India Oil Corporation (LIOC). Revealing that the daily requirement of Petrol Octane 95 stands at a rough total of around 80 – 100 MT islandwide, more..

Jun 19 (DM) A special Gazette notification (2336/78) has been issued declaring several services as essential public services. According to the notification all services connected to the supply of electricity, the supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, all services, work or labour, of any description whatsoever, necessary or required to be done in connection with the maintenance, and reception, care, feeding and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries more..

Jun 19 (EN) Robust anti-corruption legislation will help Sri Lanka rank higher in global transparency and ease-of-doing business indices, according to a govt official who invited all parties to cooperate in passing the proposed anti-corruption bill. State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said that SL, as it progresses on the economic front, is now able to signal to the world that it is more transparent and has the capacity to address any irregularities. more..

Jun 19 (FT) In the previous part we looked at how the governance issue that includes the efficacy of the anti-corruption machinery became an important issue in SL following the grant of an extended fund facility to the country by IMF. The Fund has made it a precondition for SL to enact a new anti-corruption law implying that the existing one is defective and inadequate. In addition, a team of specialists has been fielded by the Fund to conduct a diagnostic study of the adequacy of the governance more..

Jun 19 (FT) Political fortunes in SL swing like a pendulum, today. A couple of weeks ago, the situation favoured Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. The majority of parliament approved the IMF agreement, with only a few opposing and the main opposition abstaining, most likely due to pressure from influential economic experts within the party. This lackluster approach of the main opposition created an impression that the President and the Govt were on the right track, more..

Jun 19 (EN) Ceylon Chambers of Commerce has suggested alternative finance options for the island nation that as it emerges from a currency crisis and default. The report by the Ceylon Chamber’s Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) is reproduced below: Govt of SL has currently embarked on capacity development programmes for the adoption of alternative financing mechanisms such as green bonds. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) too has developed a policy and more..

Jun 19 (NW) UNP member Rohitha Bogollagama has been appointed as SL’s High Commissioner to UK. The former Foreign Minister’s new appointment is effective from Aug 1, 2023. Rohitha Bogollagama served as the Cabinet Minister of Foreign Affairs from Jan 28, 2007. He later lost his seat in Parliament after being defeated in the General Elections held in April 2010. Rohitha Bogollagama also briefly served as the Governor of the Eastern Province from July 2017 to Dec 2018. more..

Jun 19 (PTI) Indian naval submarine Vagir, the latest indigenous Kalvari-class submarine of the Indian Navy, on Monday, began its four-day visit to SL at the same time a Pakistan naval ship is docked in Colombo. Indian HC said its operational visit is to commemorate the ninth edition of Int'l Day of Yoga (IDY) under the theme of Global Ocean Ring. Commanding Officer of the Indian Naval submarine, Commander Divakar. more..

Jun 19 (EN) Shares lowered at close on Monday on profit taking as the market saw constant gains over the past few sessions on cut down policy rates and falling inflation, an analyst said. “The positive week in the market stimulated some selling interest and profit taking,” an analyst said. The ASPI was down 0.73% or 67.32 points to 9,181.22,this is the lowest the index has been since June 14, while the most liquid index S&P SL20 was down 1.14% or 29.95 points to 2,608.87. more..

Jun 19 (CT) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has appealed to the devotees, visiting the Kataragama Esala Perahara, which starts today (19), to take responsibility for proper garbage disposal. This year, the Kataragama Ruhunu Perahara will take place from today to 4 July, attracting over 1.5 million devotees from across the country. However, this massive influx of people often leads to inadequate garbage management. In a statement, the CEA said, during this period, more..

Jun 19 (AD) Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued an arrest warrant against MP Wimal Weerawansa for failing to appear before the court when the case over his 2016 protest in front of the UN office in Colombo was taken up this morning. Meanwhile, MP Weerakumara Dissanayake, who is also an accused in the case, had not appeared before the courts today while his attorney submitted a medical report to court more..

Jun 19 (DM) For the first in history, Sri Lanka will not be participating in South Asia's main football tournament South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup 2023 which begins from Wednesday (21). Sri Lanka is out of this tournament because of FIFA ban on the Sri Lanka Football administration since January 2023. India will host the SAFF Championship matches which are scheduled to be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium from June 21 to July 4. Bangalore, India. more..

Jun 19 (FT) Tradefirst Ltd, the leading material supplier that has made significant contributions to SL’s BTL advertising industry over the years, recently organised an overseas trip to Malaysia for their staff in celebration of the company’s 15 years of successful business. This fully sponsored tour provided Tradefirst’s staff, along with their CEO, a fun-packed and engaging week in Malaysia, exploring popular tourist attractions such as Genting Highland, Sunway Lagoon, Twin Tower, more..

Jun 19 (CT) Following the tragic death of another woman, who was given an anaesthetic drug, at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, during a hernia surgery, the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors (MCPA) demanded that the Prez address the issues surrounding the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) and restructure it with a scientific approach to ensure the well-being of the public. A 59-year-old school principal died on 16 June due to more..

Jun 19 (AD) Dept of Immigration and Emigration says that a total of 3,265 passport applications have been received thus far through the newly-launched online passport application system. The new system was ceremonially launched at the Homagama DS on June 15, in a bid to provide the public with the opportunity to obtain passports more easily. The new passports will be delivered to the applicant’s residence within a span of three days, under this new procedure. more..

Jun 19 (Island) SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said that calling of regular elections couldn’t be under any circumstances the prerogative of any Prez. SLPP still the party with the largest group in Parliament, should be ashamed of its response to Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe putting off the LG polls indefinitely, SJB MP said in response to The Island query regarding Prasanna Ranatunga, MP, backing the indefinite postponement of LG polls. more..

Jun 19 (AD) The UK is implementing one of the most generous preferential trading schemes in the world from today (19), the British High Commission in Sri Lanka announced. UK’s new Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) will replace the current Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) and allows Sri Lanka to trade with the UK tariff-free on 92% of goods, leading to increased competitiveness of Sri Lankan products in the UK market, according to the High Commission. more..

Jun 19 (TM) A team of six students from Sri J'pura University is set to participate in the 31st World University Games scheduled to be held in China from July 28 to August 8. Hasara Wijayaratne, a final year student of the Science Department of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce, together Hasini Ambalangodage, a third year student at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, were selected to compete in the doubles Badminton event at the World University Games. more..

Jun 19 (EN) The ruling SLPP is happy to continue to support Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe despite differences as jeopordising his administration would mean a return to queues, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said. Speaking at a party rally, Wijesekara said former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa made the right call in appointing Wickremesinghe as PM, paving the way for the latter’s presidency and a stable govt. more..

Jun 19 (Island) Ministry of Transport has decided to operate Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses without conductors on all expressways from 01 July. Tickets for passengers will be issued prior to departure. This decision has been taken following a complaint that fake tickets were issued to 34 passengers in an SLTB bus on the Southern Expressway recently. CID has been called in to conduct an inquiry. In addition to this measure, the Ministry of Transport is actively working more..

Jun 19 (TM) Elections Commission (EC) stated that there is no legal impediment for holding other elections including the Prez and Parliamentary elections without holding the LG elections which has been postponed indefinitely. The LG elections have been postponed indefinitely due to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilisation and National Policies and the general Treasury not releasing the required funds. However, there is an ongoing discussion in political circles and more..

June 19 (EN) SL’s commercial banks have called an effective insolvency regime and discussions through the central bank before changing any existing debt recovery laws, as bad loans in the banking system go up. Sri Lanka Banks’ Association (SLBA) representing all commercial banks said it is urging “policymakers to engage with commercial banks via the Central Bank to ensure a comprehensive and well-coordinated approach to alleviating the stress felt by the industrialists in loan default.” more..

June 19 (TM) Sri Lanka should renegotiate past tax holidays given to corporations in order to get a much higher tax revenue income while VAT exemptions should be removed, member of the Presidential Advisory Group on Debt Restructuring Dr. Sharmini Coorey said. Dr. Coorey, the former Director of the IMF said that a big problem in Sri Lanka when it comes to taxes, is the very rich not paying sufficient taxes and the number of tax breaks given to the corporations which are very well off. more..

Jun 19 (Reuters) World Bank is likely to approve $700 million in budgetary and welfare support for SL at its next board meeting on June 28, biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit island nation since an IMF deal in March. Economy of the country of 22 million is expected to shrink 2% this year before returning to growth next year, the govt estimates, following last year's record contraction of 7.8% after foreign exchange reserves hit more..

Jun 19 (DM) With the increase in the number of vehicles operating on the road, a total of 8,875 road accidents were reported and 1,043 lives were lost due to accidents reported during the past six months. Most of these accidents were caused by buses, motorcycles, and three-wheelers, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna said. According to the statistics issued by the police, the number of vehicle accidents and deaths due to accidents had considerably increased by June 18 this year. more..

Jun 19 (EN) Trade Minister Nalin Fernando has placed wheat flour on a specified goods list of the Consumer Affairs Authority by a gazette notice. CAA is the agency that usually impose price controls and trigger shortages and black markets in essential foods and other items. Wheat flour has been put on the specified goods list because it is deemed essential for the lives of the general public, Fernando said in the gazette notice. Liquefied petroleum gas has been dropped. more..

Jun 19 (TM) Electricity Consumers Association (ECA) alleged that the Govt is delaying the appointment of a Chairperson to PUCSL to avoid the implementation of the proposed electricity tariff revision, which is expected at the end of the month. Following the removal of Janaka Ratnayake, the position of its Chairperson is still vacant. As such, PUCSL is yet to approve the proposed electricity tariff revision proposed by CEB. more..

Jun 19 (EN) SL plans new regulations to control a nascent gig economy and slap new taxes, according to discussions that had taken place at a parliamentary sectoral committee discussion. “The gig economy is now expanding and a it was proposed to introduce a legal framework to regulate the activity and also introduce a new digital services tax” statement said. Ironically the new regulation and taxes had been proposed at a parliament’s sectoral committee on ease of doing business. more..

Jun 19 (CT) An initial discussion, focusing on the construction of an environment and climate quality plan, was held at the request of the Chairman of the Colombo Provincial Development Committee Yadamini Gunawardena, at the Ministry of Environment in Battaramulla. Minister of Environment, Naseer Ahamed, presided over the discussion. The primary objective of the discussion was to formulate a plan addressing various environmental concerns in Colombo. more..

June 20 (GV) As the UNHRC prepares to gather from June 19 to July 14, the situation in Sri Lanka is once more on the agenda. An oral update from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, is scheduled for June 21, while a Universal Periodic Review report on Sri Lanka is due to be discussed on July 10. The regime is likely to face tough scrutiny in view of its dismal failure, by and large, to improve how it treats the people it is meant to protect and serve. more..

June 20 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, during his address at the national ceremony for awarding teacher appointments, to National Education Diploma holders for the 2018-2022 academic year, emphasised on quite a few necessary, timely, and rather up-for-debate reforms the education sector should have, in order to be on-par with up-to-date, advanced, and effective education systems of other more developed nations. Among them were the importance of ensuring the children receiving more..

June 20 (DM) 20 million. That’s the number of plastic bags (or shopping bags) that are dumped into the environment on a daily basis in Sri Lanka. These bags are neither reusable nor recyclable. Of the many plastics that are dumped into the environment only 3% is recyclable. But even the PET bottles that can be recycled are randomly thrown away without being disposed to collection bins. more..

June 20 (CT) Forty one (41) pages; thirty seven criminal charges and one other conspirator, three basic elements of the indictment the Federal Grand Jury issued to Donald Trump, former President of the United States of America (USA). One time Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USA; rightfully elected former President and the current front-runner of the Republican Party for nomination for Presidential Elections scheduled for November 3, 2024. more..

June 20 (DM) The govt seems to have placed the fate of the country totally on the success of the programme sponsored by the IMF. However, it, no doubt relies on the success of the govt’s professed plans of eradicating corruption. The IMF also has underscored the importance of addressing corruption vulnerabilities throughout its discussions with the SL authorities. According to Peter Breuer, IMF’s Senior Mission Chief for SL, the reform program supported under global lender’s EFF more..