Apr 5 (DM) By the time you read this, the proposal for an interim govt is on the table, which I am sure, is the last attempt to save the family rule. At the same time, the Prez has declared an Emergency situation and island-wide curfew in a desperate attempt to discourage the protesters. The drama for an interim govt is nothing but another extension to dilute the aggression of the people, who came down to streets regardless of the curfew. Meanwhile, former Ambassador to the US, more..

Apr 5 (Island) The unfolding political drama is replete with irony. After Mahinda Rajapaksa�s defeat in the presidential race in 2015, people rushed to his Tangalle residence, Carlton, to pledge solidarity with him and urge him to remain in active politics. They backed him to the hilt and made his comeback possible. Today, people are protesting near Carlton, asking him as well as his family members to leave politics! What we are witnessing today would have come about circa 2017 if Mahinda had more..

Apr 5 (GV) The present economic failure in SL is a long running trajectory. The term failure is used deliberately to account for the decades of failed political leadership that has hauled the country into a race-to-bottom scenario. While the face of the political enterprise has looked different at different points in time, both the present and the past political leaders remain culpable for driving the country to its current predicament. Each successive regime has failed to blueprint a political-economic system more..

Apr 5 (Island) Political apathy is best described when a citizen is indifferent in their attitude to political activities, such as electing politicians, having opinions, and their civic responsibility. A more simplified term for political apathy would be that someone cannot be bothered to participate in their country�s political system. There is no doubt that the country is amid an economic meltdown. It is in free fall, and where it will end depends on how quickly those entrusted with country�s governance more..

Apr 5 (ST) Irosha de Silva�s marketing tech company, Creative Hub, is generally buzzing with 45 people providing end-to-end marketing solutions for countries across the world. Over the last week, however, there�s an air of idleness in office, with highly qualified IT professionals passing time playing chess and cricket. The reason: power cuts. Continued, prolonged electricity interruptions are bringing more..

Apr 5 (FT) Daily detections came up to 112 yesterday, raising the country�s total COVID-19 case count to 662,103. 106 persons tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day. On Sunday, 2,204 PCR tests and 1,346 rapid antigen tests were conducted. Since 1 Jan, 74,419 persons have tested positive for COVID-19. SL�s COVID-19 detections also include 483,090 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,154 persons from the Prisons cluster and 3,059 persons more..

Apr 5 (FT) Epidemiology Unit data shows that only 255 persons were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Sunday, when an island-wide curfew was imposed all day. Among those vaccinated on Sunday were 182 persons who received the booster dose. In total, the third or booster dose has been administered to 7,890,602 persons. The first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has been administered to 17,013,694 persons and the second dose has been administered to 14,427,279 persons. more..

Apr 5 (FT) SJB said it will not accept any positions in a govt under the current leadership, adding that the public had clearly asked for the Rajapaksa family to go and a change in leadership. Expressing their gratitude to the public for leading protests island-wide and calling on the Govt to go home, the SJB called on people to join the party for protests on Thursday morning in townships and raise black flags at home to show support. more..

Apr 5 (EN) Nandalal Weerasinghe, a retired central banker Deputy Governor will take over as its chief this week, a media report said as SL reels under an unprecedented currency crisis and political turmoil. Bloomberg Newswires reported that Weerasinghe, a former Deputy CB Governor will take-over from March 07. A monetary policy meeting where policy rates were widely expected to be raised, scheduled for Monday was postponed as Nivard Cabraal resigned with a political crisis spiralling and more..

Apr 5 (CT) A dominant performance helped Jaffna advance to the final of the National Super League 4-Day Tournament after defeating Colombo by 9 wickets yesterday in Hambantota. Earlier, after electing to bat, Colombo posted 272 runs on the back of a brilliant century from Kusal Mendis, and in reply Jaffna posted 339 runs thanks to a magnificent century from Saminda Fernando (123). Lower order batter Nipun Malinga too chipped in with 80 runs off 84 deliveries including 6 boundaries and more..

Apr 5 (Island) Defending champions St. Joseph�s are the favourites against giant killers De Mazenod while, Mahanama have the edge over Richmond when they battle it out in the semi-finals of the Under 19 Division I Tier �A� cricket tournament today. St. Joseph�s having in their ranks three SL Under 19 players are unbeaten in the tournament. After emerging as the champions in their group with victories against St. Anthony�s, Katugastota, St. Benedict�s, St. Sebastian�s, S. Thomas�, more..

Apr 5 (FT) SL Association of Inbound Tour Operators and the One Industry One Voice in a statement yesterday expressed their disappointment over Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando. �The tourism industry which is undergoing severe hardship due to the current situation in the country is disappointed with Chairperson Sri Lanka tourism who, to date, has not consulted the stakeholders who bring in tourists on how the situation should be addressed or managed,� statement alleged. more..

Apr 5 (FT) JVP rejected the invitation from Prez Rajapaksa to join an interim administration and called on him and the Govt to step down. �We completely reject his offer. We will play no part in this drama being enacted by him. They must go home. This is what people are clamoring for, �JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. �Gotabaya used the resources of this country as his private property. They watched this with growing anger and more..

Apr 5 (NR) The residence of State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe was attacked last evening with several damages reported. The group is reported to have damaged objects inside the house as well. Police fired tear gas in order to disperse the group from the State Minister�s residence. Meanwhile, tear gas was also fired at protesters outside the residences of Former Minister Gamini Lokuge in Piliyandala and Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in Kandy. The groups outside MP Lokuge�s residence more..

Apr 5 (FT) Amidst rising political upheaval, the Colombo stock market suffered a fresh setback yesterday with trading halted twice though there were signs of pick up prior to the close. The All-Share Price Index declined by 2.68% or 227 points and the more active S&P SL20 plunged by over 5% or 146 points. Year to date, ASPI is down 32.5% and S&P SL20 by 36.5% prompting Bloomberg to label the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) yesterday as the second-worst performer after Russia. more..

Apr 5 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa has decided to continue the already launched IMF -based balance of payments (BoP) Assistance Program under new Minister of Finance, a Secretary and a new Governor of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL), govt sources said. CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has sent his resignation letter to the Prez yesterday. Accordingly, the rest of the members of the Monetary Board except member more..

Apr 5 (Island) Lanka IOC has extended its support to the CEB by supplying 6,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fuel for power generation in a move to bring about interim relief to the ongoing electricity crisis in the country. �The supplies are being made from LIOC�s Trincomalee terminal through a round-the-clock operation for which 33,000-litre capacity bowsers belonging to Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL) have been deployed for distribution,� company sources said. more..

Apr 5 (CT) The National Plant Quarantine Services facilitate the international movement of healthy plants and plant products for the development of national agriculture and related industries. It expects to upgrade the phytosanitary certification facility through fulfilling the requirements for precise pest diagnosis at country�s entry and exit points to strengthen the export certification as well as for inspection of imports. Govt of Japan has agreed to provide Japanese Yen 500 million more..

Apr 5 (CT) Leader of the PHU Udaya Gammanpila said, Cabinet Ministers resigning is insufficient to resolve the country�s crisis. He said, while Media reports indicate that the Cabinet has resigned, it is not valid unless the President accepts it. However, he said an all-party Interim Govt is now required to find solutions. Gammanpila was speaking during a meeting yesterday (4), at Communist Party Headquarters between the 11 constituent parties of the Govt and trade unions. more..

Apr 5 (FT) Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva yesterday told a group of diplomats in Colombo that the armed forces of Sri Lanka would uphold the Constitution. �The Army as a professional outfit is always prepared to provide security and protection to the State as necessary,� Silva said while addressing a gathering of Defence Advisers/Attaches of SL-based High Commissions and embassies, invited to the Office of Chief of Defence Staff yesterday. more..

Apr 5 (FT) Transparency International SL (TISL) said yesterday it stands in solidarity with the people across the country who are mobilising independently against the corrupt in a non-violent manner. TISL notes that the current situation in the country has been caused by decades of misuse and mismanagement of public resources on a large scale, systemic corruption coupled with kleptocracy & an overall lack of transparency more..

Apr 5 (CT) Namal Rajapaksa, who resigned from his portfolio as Minister of Sports on 3 April, had left for Dubai the same night, according to reliable sources. His family (wife, son, and in-laws) had left for the Maldives on 2 April. Many Cabinet Ministers tendered their resignations in response to protesters calling for the President's resignation, and the Sports Minister was one of those who did so ahead of many others. Rajapaksa tweeted that he had informed the Secretary to the President more..

Apr 5 (CT) The recent resignation of Cabinet Ministers is unconstitutional and has no legal effect if their letters of resignation were tendered to the PM, as opposed to the President Bar Association of SL (BASL) President, Saliya Pieris said. He said, Cabinet Ministers cease to hold office when they tender their resignation to the President and not to the PM as provided for in Article 47 (2) of the Constitution and thereby that the duo owe an explanation to the public. more..

Apr 5 (CT) Protesters who had been demonstrating throughout the country due to the escalating prices of essentials and their scarcity, attempted to enter Carlton House, the private residence of the Rajapaksa Family, in Tangalle yesterday (4). The protest was spearheaded by civil society activists and lawyers. Police tear-gassed and used water cannons to disperse protesters. It was also reported that a sword attack more..

Apr 5 (CT) SLFP General Secretary MP Dayasir Jayasekara said, that 14 SLFP MPs decided to quit the Govt and are expected to function as an independent group in Parliament henceforth. He said, a decision had been taken during its Parliamentary Group Meeting held last afternoon. Jayasekara added, SLFP State Ministers had also tendered their resignations. He noted that they had acceded to the wish of majority SLFP activists by resigning from their Cabinet and State more..

Apr 5 (DM) It was reported that Avant-Garde Company Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and his family members had left the Katunayake Airport for the Maldives this morning. They had left the airport on a SriLankan Airlines flight UL-102 bound for the Maldives at 08.20 am today. At that time, the computer system and security camera system at the airport were jammed, and the group had made arrangements to enter the aircraft through the departure terminal at Katunayake Airport. more..

Apr 5 (FT) Prez Rajapaksa�s Govt faces a crucial day in Parliament today with the ruling SLPP likely to lose its majority in the House with both its constituent parties as well as dissident groups within it slated to function as independent MPs. SLFP which has 14 MPs announced yesterday it is leaving the Govt and will function as an independent group while the 16 MPs of the 10-party alliance of which former minister more..

Apr 5 (FT) Vox Populi, Vox Dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God. That may not always be true, but this is one of those times that it is. If Prez Rajapaksa does not heed the voice of the people and go, the awakened citizenry will ensure he cannot stay. Prez and his inner circle of securocrats were taught a singular lesson by the citizens on Sunday (3). While the 20th amendment makes for an autocratic presidency, this Constitution, like the previous one, defines SL as a democratic more..

Apr 5 (NR) MP Chandima Weerakkody says the same individuals who brought the present administration to power are taking away the public mandate. Speaking in Parliament today, MP Weerakkody said the current political arena has collapsed before the international community. PM said public representatives must understand that the public who voted them in are facing shortages of fuel, gas, medicine and fertiliser while tea factories are unable to purchase tea leaves. more..

Apr 5 (AD) Party leaders have decided to call for a debate in Parliament on the current situation in the country and to take a decision. SLPP MP Prasanna Ranatunga said that the party leaders decided to hold the debate on Wednesday (April 06) and Thursday. The decision was reached during a special meeting of the leaders of political parties represented in parliament, which was held a short while ago at the parliament complex. He said that the focus of the meeting was on how more..

Apr 5 (EN) Power cuts of up to 6.5 hours have been approved in SL from April 6 to April 8, PUCSL Chairman said as severe foreign exchange shortages to import fuel were temporarily eased with fuel on borrowed money from India. Areas A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K and L will have power cuts of 4 hours from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm and 2.5 hours from 5 pm to 10pm. Areas P,Q,R,S,T,U,V and W areas will have power cuts of 4 hours from 10.00am to 6pm and 2.5 hour power cuts from 6pm to 11pm. more..

Apr 5 (AD) The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S. R. Attygalle has resigned from his position. He has reportedly tendered his letter of resignation to the Prez. Mr. Attygalle was appointed as the Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance effective from 19th Nov, 2019. Prior to being appointed to this post, he held the position of Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of SL (CBSL). He also held the position of Assistant Governor of more..

Apr 5 (FT) I and my village of islanders of all ilks did not go to Mirihana (Gotaland). But we did conduct a peaceful protest at the top of our road in the environs of Nugegoda (Mahinda�s erstwhile stamping grounds for politically charged rallies) on Sunday (3). Sorry if it was a tad too noisy for our more respectable fellow citizens in these politically emblematic neighbourhoods. Or sorry.lk � since there is a tide in the affairs of an oppressed people; which, taken at the flood, more..

Apr 5 (Reuters) IMF said on Tuesday that it is monitoring political and economic developments in SL very closely as public unrest in the island nation grows amid its worst economic crisis in decades. Prez Rajapaksa on Monday dissolved the cabinet and appointed a new finance minister, while also seeking a new central bank governor. "IMF staff is looking forward to program discussions with the authorities, including during the visit of the newly appointed Finance Minister to Washington more..

Apr 5 (EN) SL�s freshly appointed Finance Minister Ali Sabry on Tuesday resigned from the position barely a day after his appointment and expressed his willingness to vacate his parliamentary seat if Prez Rajapaksa wishes to appoint a minister from outside the legislature. Sabry was appointed Finance Minister by Rajapaksa Monday morning after the entire cabinet of ministers handed over letters of resignation to PM Rajapaksa more..

Apr 5 (Island) SJB lawmaker Manusha Nanayakkara says the main Opposition party wouldn�t, under any circumstances, accept the so-called SLPP dissident group�s proposal to form an interim administration. SJB parliamentary group comprises 54 members, though one of its National List nominees Diana Gamage has switched her allegiance to the SLPP. Responding to Prez Rajapaksa�s plea for political parties, represented in Parliament, to join an interim administration for the sake of the country, more..