Jun 23 (DM) Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the worst President we’ve had. He is the worst leader, counting all presidents, prime ministers, ministers, chairpersons of local govt authorities and maranaadhara samithi. He is the worst Sri Lankan ever. Let’s assume. Let’s assume that as the all-powerful Executive Prez, all ills are attributable to him. Let’s assume that although this implies that he can lay claim to all positives, he had nothing to do with effectively handling Covid-19 situation, more..

Jun 23 (DM) It is a publicly acknowledged fact that Prez Rajapaksa, the PM and the Ministers in particular and SLPP govt in general should be held responsible for having failed and that too, miserably to adopt timely counter-measures to preempt the current political and economic crises engulfing SL resulting in farmers being left without fertilizer; tens of thousands of consumers compelled to languish in kilometre-long queues to obtain their quota of petrol, diesel, kerosene and domestic gas more..

Jun 22 (EN) SL’s central bank has tightened border transactions reporting with a new system in the latest control on the people as the country suffers the worst currency crisis in the history of the intermediate regime monetary authority. International Transactions Reporting System will be implemented from June 21. A new bureaucracy called the ITRS Monitoring Unit, has been set up at the central bank. “These reporting requirements are exercised based on the powers conferred by more..

Jun 22 (AD) Fort Magistrate’s Court has granted fresh bail to SLPP MP Johnston Fernando over the incidents of violence at Galle Face and Kollupitiya on May 09. Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered to release under new bail conditions the former minister, who is named as the 28th accused in the case filed over the attacks on protesters at GotaGoGama in Galle Face and MinaGoGama near Temple Trees. MP was ordered released on 2 personal bonds of Rs. 10 m each more..

Jun 22 (PTI) SL's economy has completely collapsed and it is facing a far more serious situation beyond the mere shortages of fuel, gas, electricity and food, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe warned on Wednesday, underscoring the urgency of arriving at an early agreement with the IMF to obtain an additional credit facility. SL has been facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948 which has prompted an acute shortage of more..

Jun 22 (CT) SL’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda met the External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday to discuss the way forward with regard to Indian assistance in stabilising and recovering the ailing SL economy. At the outset, High Commissioner Moragoda briefed Minister Jaishankar on the present developments in SL and thanked him for his personal involvement in continuing the assistance that India has extended to SL in the form of credits for essential more..

Jun 22 (EN) Sri Lanka is exploring the possibility of conducting tea auctions in US dollars but it requires central bank approval, Plantations Minister Ramesh Pathirana told parliament amidst the worst currency crises in the history of the 72-year old monetary authority. “We have submitted this proposal to the (Sri Lanka) Tea Board. They have said the decision to transmit dollars down the chain rests with the exporters,” Minister Pathirana told parliament on June 22. more..

Jun 22 (AD) It was revealed at the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) that the demand for liquor has decreased by about 30% due to the recent increase in the price of liquor and the decrease in the income of the people of the country. This was revealed at a recent meeting of the COPF chaired by MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa. Officials representing several institutions were contacted online to discuss plans to increase govt more..

Jun 22 (CT) Condemning the arrests of 21 protesters on Monday on charges of obstructing the entrance to the Finance Ministry premises, the Black Caps Movement said they are considering filing a FR petition at the Supreme Court against the Police. Black Caps Movement Spokesperson Buddhi Karunaratne said they will also file a complaint at the Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL). “We strongly condemn the State crackdown on peaceful protesters on the birthday of Prez Rajapaksa, more..

Jun 22 (ANI) Former Sri Lankan cricketers took to social media to express their joy after a young SL team clinched its first series win over Australia at home in three decades. Charith Asalanka scored a match-winning ton, helping Sri Lanka make history by guiding them to a thrilling four-run win over Australia in the fourth ODI at Colombo and also to their first bilateral series win at home over the mighty Aussies in three decades. Former legendary cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya took to Twitter, more..

Jun 22 (CT) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the provision of railway reserve lands for cultivation on temporary basis. These lands will be used for agricultural practices and use on lease basis for a period of one year, prioritising the cultivators already engaged in cultivation in the relevant areas, residents near railway tracks and low-income earners. The proposal was presented by Minister of Highways. Total extent of the reserved lands belonging to the Department of SL Railways more..

Jun 22 (CT) A Gazette Extraordinary was issued by Prez Rajapaksa declaring all services connected to the supply of electricity, supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, as essential public services with effect from 20 June 2022. Further, all service, work or labour necessary or required to be done in connection with the maintenance, and the reception, care, feeding and treatment of patients in hospitals, nursing homes, dispensaries, and other similar institutions were also declared as more..

Jun 22 (BN) Sri Lanka was sued in the US by a bondholder after the South Asian nation defaulted on its debt for the first time in history while struggling to stop an economic meltdown. Hamilton Reserve Bank, which holds more than US$250 million of Sri Lanka's 5.875% Int'l Sovereign Bonds due July 25, filed the suit on Tuesday in a New York federal court seeking full payment of principal and interest. more..

Jun 22 (NR) Employees of the CEB have reportedly received a total of Rs.3,670 million in various allowances in the year 2020 and 2021 without the approval of the Cabinet. The matter was revealed during the meeting of COPE. Attention has been drawn to the decision to pay Rs.2,134.9 as allowances in the year 2021 and Rs. 1,544.4 million in the year 2020 without Cabinet approval. COPE Chairman MP Charitha Herath has noted that there should be accountability for the funds as more..

Jun 22 (EN) SL will maintain 2.5 hour power cut until the 300 MW Norachcholai coal-fired unit power plant is back in operation, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said on Wednesday. “Plan to maintain the 2 and half hour power cut as it is until the Norochcholai power plant is connected back to the grid,” the minister tweeted on Wednesday. He also said US$ 34 million payment was paid on Tuesday for a cargo of heavy fuel oil/furnace oil, which was expected to be unloaded on Wed more..

Jun 22 (EN) SL aims to reach a staff-level agreement with the IMF and also have a framework in place for debt restructuring by the end of July, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Representatives of the financial and legal advisory firms Lazard and Clifford Chance are now in SL to assist with the debt restructuring framework, he said, while talks will continue over the next few days with an IMF delegation already in island nation. more..

Jun 22 (AD) Youth activists Rathindu Senaratne alias Ratta, Lahiru Weerasekara and five others have been remanded until July 01 by the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court. Social activist and YouTuber Rathindu Senaratne, the national organizer of Youth for Change Lahiru Weerasekara and actor Jagath Manuwarna, who were wanted over the incidents unrest in early June, had surrendered to Maradana Police this morning. On June 17, Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered police to arrest 9 more..

Jun 22 (AD) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe says an interim budget for the year 2022 will be tabled in the parliament this August, in order to create the foundation for the path ahead. He also revealed that the budget for the year 2023 is expected to be presented in Nov 2022. “In addition to this, we will also present several new legislations in parliament that are necessary to strengthen our economy. We have already commenced discussions on these with all parties represented in parliament.” more..

Jun 22 (AD) A stock of ecstasy pills with an estimated street value of nearly Rs. 130 million was intercepted at the Central Mail Exchange in Colombo today. Customs Media Spokesman, Deputy Director of Customs (Legal Affairs) Sudaththa Silva said the contraband had been shipped from the Netherlands on March 04 via air freight. It had been sent to a fake address in Moratuwa. The consignment which contained a total of 13,640 ecstasy pills was seized by more..

Jun 22 (CT) Owing to the worsening fuel crisis, the Parliament Sittings this week have been limited to two days. Accordingly, Parliament will convene only today for this week, Committee on Parliamentary Business decided yesterday. This decision was taken despite the decision previously taken by the committee to convene the Parliament from 21 to 24 June. Meanwhile, due to the Opposition’s announcement that it will boycott this week’s Sittings, Independent MPs decided to move more..

Jun 22 (EN) Former Minister and now independent MP Wimal Weerawansa said the island nation must not overlook traditional ally Russia in its efforts to overcome a worsening economic crisis, particularly with regard to ongoing negotiations with the IMF. Weerawansa told parliament that he and a group of independent MPs held talks with Russian Ambassador to SL Yury Materiy on Tuesday. more..

Jun 22 (AD) Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera says that a payment of USD $34 million was made yesterday for a shipment of furnace oil, also known as HFO or heavy fuel oil. He said that the cargo will be unloaded today and will be used for power generation and industries. In a twitter message, the minister further said that they intend to maintain the current two-and-a-half hour daily power cuts as it is until the Norochcholai power plant is connected back to the grid. more..

Jun 22 (DM) A top level Indian govt delegation led by Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran will arrive in SL tomorrow on a special aircraft to assess the ground situation here in pursuit of further economic assistance. The delegation will stay in the country only for three hours and hold talks with both Prez and PM. The visit is consequent to the meetings held by SL envoy in New Delhi Milinda Moragoda with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Finance Minister more..

Jun 22 (CT) Cabinet has approved the transfer of a 10-acre land in Muthurajawela to CEB in order to construct a 300 MW LNG Power Plant. The Board of Directors of the Land Development Corporation has approved the transfer of ten acres of land adjacent to the Yugadanavi Power Station at Muthurajawela to the CEB. CEB Board of Directors has also approved the purchase of the land. Meanwhile, the Cabinet also gave greenlight to update the National Environmental Policy and Strategies more..

Jun 22 (AD) Seven individuals including social activist and YouTuber Rathindu Senaratne alias ‘Ratta’ and the national organizer of ‘Youth for Change’ Lahiru Weerasekara, who are wanted over the unrest in early June, surrendered to Maradana Police today (22). On June 17, the Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered the police to arrest 09 suspects for their unruly and violent behaviour at Colombo Fort and Thalangama on the 9th and 10th of June and to produce them before the court. more..

Jun 22 (TM) SL will soon implement the National Single Window portal, after many years of delay, according to the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) signed with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2017. Cabinet approved the proposal presented by PM Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Finance Minister to implement the project in three phases at an estimated cost of approximately $ 15 million, while it is expected to secure more..

Jun 22 (DM) MP Wimal Weerawansa today revealed that a move to remove Galle Face protesters by police trucks sometime ago had to be withdrawn due to the intervention of the US Ambassador. He told Parliament that the US Ambassador had told a certain minister that if the Galle Face protesters were removed, it would negatively affect IMF discussions. "One day, during the early days of the Galle Face protest, a heavy fleet of police trucks had arrived at the Galle Face protesting site. more..

Jun 22 (EN) Stocks closed marginally higher on Wednesday, gaining for a second straight session but the trading volume slumped over 16 months low as investors awaited cues for positive sentiment amid concerns over political and economic crisis with brokers expecting the slowing trend to continue. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe during the market hours said Sri Lanka aims to reach a staff-level agreement with the IMF and also have a framework in place for debt restructuring by the end of July. more..

Jun 22 (AD) Business magnate Dhammika Perera took oath as a Member of Parliament before Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today. The parliamentary session commenced at 10.00 a.m. this morning. Perera’s name was proposed to the Election Commission to fill the National List parliamentary seat vacated by the resignation of former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa. more..

Jun 22 (AD) The members of SJB today staged a protest against PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. It has obstructed the vehicular movement on the High-Level Road near Thurstan College in Colombo. Led by former MP Hirunika Premachandra, several representatives of women’s organizations have also joined the protest. Demonstration kicked off near the private residence of the prime minister and later moved towards the Thurstan College. Reportedly, special measures have also been taken to more..

Jun 22 (MFA) Minister of Foreign Affairs G.L. Peiris will represent Prez Rajapaksa at the Commonwealth Heads of Govt Meeting (CHOGM) which will take place in Kigali, Rwanda from 21 to 25 June. CHOGM in Rwanda will be attended by the 54 Member States of the Commonwealth. CHOGM will be declared open by the Prez of Rwanda Paul Kagame on 24 June with the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the latter representing the Head of the Commonwealth more..