Aug 2 (DM) The SJB will support a multi party or an all party govt if it is properly formed and an acceptable program is pursued to revive the present crisis faced by the nation today, an MP representing the party said today. SJB MP S. M. Marikkar told a press conference today that his party has no issue in supporting an all party or a multi party govt if it is properly formed and run according to a certain program aimed at resolving the present crisis faced by the govt. more..

Aug 2 (EN) SL�s cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to gazette and table in parliament a bill seeking to repeal section II of the Kandyan Marriages and Divorce Act that requires parental consent for the marriage of a minor and to remove the existing non-conformities. The previous cabinet of ministers had approved the draft bill on Oct 26, 2021, a statement from the Govt Information Dept said. Legal draftsman had prepared the bill and the Attorney General has also cleared it, more..

Aug 2 (Yahoo) Singapore has insisted that it has not provided any priviliges or immunity to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former president of SL who fled the cash-strapped nation amid anti-govt protests last month. Mr Rajapaksa, 73, along with his wife and two bodyguards fled to the Maldives on 13 July, before landing in Singapore for a private visit the next day. He was initially issued a 14-day visit pass. It was later extended by 2 weeks, more..

Aug 2 (DM) A SL athlete and a senior official have gone missing after the fifth day's events of the 22nd Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England on Tuesday. Initial reports indicate that a female judoka and the manager of the SL Judo Team have disappeared from the SL camp soon after she lost her first-round event on Monday. SL Team Management have immediately informed the relevant authorities about their disappearance and the Birmingham Metropolitan Police have more..

Aug 2 (EN) Trade union leader Saman Rathnapriya, who is affiliated with the UNP, has been appointed Director General of Trade Unions by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe. Prez�s Media Division confirmed the appointment on Tuesday Aug 2. Rathnapriya, who once represented the UNP in parliament, was President of the Govt Nursing Officers� Association. As a trade union leader, he was prominently active during the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa throughout Covid public health emergency. more..

Aug 2 (EN) Father Jeevantha Peiris, a Catholic priest prominently associated with the crisis-hit country�s youth-led anti-govt protests, has filed a fundamental rights (FR) petition with the SC seeking an order to prevent his arrest. Lasantha Nanayakkara, a lawyer closely affiliated with Fr Peiris, claimed the main reason for his anticipated arrest is a protest march held from Kollupitiya to the World Trade Centre on the 50th day of more..

Aug 2 (DM) Six passengers returning from Dubai had been arrested by the CID at the Katunayake airport with 3.1 kgs of gold jewellery and 39 iPhones which they attempted to smuggle without paying customs duties today. Police said the passengers including two women who arrived in the country on the UL 226 flight were checked by the CID officers when they came out of the arrival terminal after passing the customs area. During the inspection, the officers recovered gold which more..

Aug 2 (AD) A member of the Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha has reportedly been killed in a shooting incident at Mulleriyawa. The victim has been identified as Sumudu Rukshan, a SLPP member of Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa PS. Police said the local councillor had been targeted in the shooting, which had been carried out using a pistol. Two unidentified gunmen who had arrived on a motorcycle opened fire at the PS member near Bank Junction in Mulleriyawa this evening more..

Aug 2 (TM) The incidence of construction-related fraud � where fraudulent, so-called construction companies advertise their scams on social media, including by employing fake agreements drafted with assistance from attorneys � is on the rise. An investigation by The Morning revealed that such fraudulent construction companies use social media platforms, mainly Facebook, to advertise their services, where these parties claim to have their own construction companies and more..

Aug 2 (FT) Hayleys Fabric set a global benchmark in sustainability, bagging the coveted Sustainability Impact Award at the recently concluded Int'l Quality Awards (IQA) 2022 held in London. SL�s largest textile manufacturer was crowned winner of the new category for its unique processes and procedures established to drive sustainability across its core functions. Held annually, the internationally acclaimed IQA celebrates the achievements of exceptional quality professionals and more..

Aug 2 (DM) The application made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe that he be discharged from the proceedings in connection with the twelve Fundamental Rights petitions filed over Easter Sunday attacks should be dismissed by Supreme Court, Colombo Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said. Tendering written submissions before Supreme Court, Colombo Archbishop today maintained that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe more..

Aug 2 (TM) Noting that an intelligent and disciplined group of young people pioneered the people�s struggle or aragalaya, which demanded the resignation of former Prez Rajapaksa and his Govt, the National Movement for Social Justice (NMSJ) claimed however, that a few inappropriate people who joined it later disrupted the movement and caused violence. NMSJ Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said: �Youngsters who started the struggle wanted to create a society with justice and fairness. more..

Aug 2 (CT) On the sidelines of the 83rd anniversary of Bank of Ceylon, launched its International Customer Service Support Unit � BOC Foreign Circle today. Launched by the International Division of the Bank, the unit aims to provide maximum convenience to BOC customers who work and live overseas. In addition, the unit will also help to bolster inward foreign remittances, especially at this time of national need. R.M.N. Jeewantha, Deputy General Manager � Int'l Treasury and more..

Aug 2 (TM) More than 100 protestors at the RanilGoGama in Galle Face have been arrested so far by the Police, according to Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage, while social activist Rathindu Senaratne alias Ratta was arrested last night (1) by officers of the Colombo Crimes Division � Colombo Central for violating a court order during a protest at Bank of Ceylon Mawatha in Colombo on 21 May. Earlier in the day, Colombo Fort Magistrate more..

Aug 2 (EN) Three deaths have been reported due to prevailing weather conditions in Sri Lanka with the onset of the southwest monsoon. Heavy rains are expected to continue in the Western, Southern provinces and the southwest parts of the country, DMC officials said. Due to the heavy rains that occurred in the past few days, the DMC said, disaster situations were reported in Rathuwala, Nuwara Eliya, Jaffna, Galle and Kandy areas, with 3 deaths reported in Nuwara Eliya district. more..

Aug 2 (AD) Social activist and YouTuber Rathindu Senaratne, popularly known as Ratta, has been granted bail by the Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court. He was arrested by officers of the Colombo Crimes Division - Colombo Central on Monday (1), for allegedly violating a court order during a protest at Bank of Ceylon Mawatha in Colombo on 21 May. Senaratne had arrived at the CCD, earlier on Monday, to record a statement regarding the protest staged near the Polduwa Junction on July 13. more..

Aug 2 (TM) Public Health Inspectors� (PHI) Union has warned about the possibility of an increase in Covid-19 cases within the next two weeks. PHI Union Secretary S.I. Bopitiya said that the number of Covid-19-related deaths are also increasing in the island. Director General of Health Services yesterday confirmed another three coronavirus-related deaths for 31 July. All three deceased patients were over 60 years of age, more..

Aug 2 (DM) Norway is concerned about the food and nutrition crisis witnessed in Sri Lanka, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt said. �I am concerned about the food and nutrition crisis we are now witnessing in Sri Lanka. The grave humanitarian situation has a severe impact on women and children. Norway is providing NOK 13 million to address the acute needs,� she said. She said unless rapid action is taken, the situation could become even worse in the coming months. more..

Aug 2 (TM) In the past few decades, and in particular during the last few years, the CID has lost much of the confidence of the people, primarily because of the widespread suspicion that this institution has become highly politicised. As one of the most powerful investigation mechanisms in the country, the CID needs to have a high degree of credibility and public confidence if it is able to perform one of the most important functions for the maintaining of the rule of law, and more..

Aug 2 (TM) SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam has said that if former Prez Rajapaksa is willing to engage in politics with the SLPP after his return to Sri Lanka, the SLPP will gladly accept him, while Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the US-based Wall Street Journal that it was not the right time for Rajapaksa to return to the country, as it could inflame political tensions. Wickremesinghe has remained more..

Aug 2 (DM) As there is an escalation in the COVID pandemic spread in the country, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella advised the officials to accelerate the vaccination programme to control the situation. He said many countries around the world have been in a severe crisis in the face of this pandemic situation. Minister said that as our country was able to control it through successful vaccination process, those methods should be used very actively. more..

Aug 2 (EN) SL will impose power cuts of up to three hours from Aug 3 to Aug 5, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. All areas (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W) will have power cuts of one hour and 40 minutes between 1 pm and 6 pm and one hour 20 minutes from 6 pm to 10 pm. Between 6 am and 8.30 am, the Colombo City center will face a power cut of two hours and 30 minutes. Between 5.30 am and 8.30 am, a three-hour power cut will be imposed in BOI more..

Aug 3 (TM) The new Prez, Ranil Wickremesinghe, recently selected and appointed by 134 MPs, is the main protagonist in an unfolding morality tale, political in category, a tragedy in the making. Quite unlike in Hans Christian Andersen�s morality tale of The Emperor�s New Clothes, where no one dared to tell the emperor that he was naked, many have warned Prez Ranil Wickremasinghe that his style of governance, added to the method of his ascent, is a difficult combination to swallow, and more..

Aug 3 (Island) Sri Lanka, is the canary in the coalmine of fossil powered economic growth, that promises development. The pain of withdrawal from addiction is felt from the cooking fires of its homes, to the national energy grids. Can this pain provoke a realization that the only way to stop it from happening again, is to cease this addiction to fossil fuels and choose a new paradigm for growth and development. It is not only the pain of withdrawal from fossil energy, it is also the awful reality more..

Aug 3 (TM) Going on twin-engines, China has chosen Sri Lanka to take on India and the US on strategic and economic fronts, respectively � that too after months of deafening silence when the island nation was appealing for food, fuel, and forex, to which only its Indian neighbour responded. In doing so, China has told India, without naming it, that New Delhi should not interfere with Beijing�s legitimate maritime activities. more..

Aug 3 (GV) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe�s proposal for an All Party Govt (APG) seems to be in some trouble. Not unexpectedly, Prez Wickremesinghe�s bland, and sometimes combative, appeals have failed to inspire any particular enthusiasm among the opposition parties to join an APG. He has now sent out a letter to political parties inviting them to form an APG, obviously under prez tutelage. Restoring political and social normalcy and creating economic stability seem to be the priorities more..

Aug 3 (DM) On May 20, Sri Lanka defaulted on international debt repayment. Defaults happen when govts are unable to meet some or all of their debt payments to creditors. The govt owes US$51 billion and is unable to make interest payments on its loans, let alone put a dent in the amount borrowed. Tourism, an important engine of economic growth, has sputtered because of the pandemic and concerns about safety after terror attacks in 2019. Country�s currency has collapsed by 80%, more..

Aug 3 (DM) Conservationists and elephant lovers shed tears when the mysterious death of Barana, an iconic tusker that frequented the Kala Wewa-Namal Uyana sanctuary made news last week. On the same day the corpse of another was discovered. Both these jumbos were victims of illegal electrocution. Statistics show a spike in the number of elephant deaths due to electrocution and conservationists predict situation to worsen more..

Aug 3 (TM) Many supporters of the Galle Face protests had high hopes about a better SL, and in this context, of better political and economic conditions, following former Prez Rajapaksa�s resignation. However, it is now evident that the deposing of the former Prez alone is not sufficient to achieve this dream, and many believe that the protests should continue until the expected changes come about. However, protestors claim that they now fear for their lives, as a flurry of more..

Aug 3 (CT) Today, UNP leader of the SLPP Govt, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, elected, not by the will of SL�s millions of voters, but by the will of the 225-member strong Parliament, which is a record in SL�s 44-year-old Executive Presidential history, will deliver his inaugural policy speech in Parliament. This comes in the backdrop where SL is facing its worst socioeconomic crisis since obtaining independence 74 years ago in 1948. The cause of this crisis is corruption at the highest level, more..

Aug 3 (DM) The resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his succession by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the incumbent did not create political stability in SL, instead, it has led to a sinister deadlock that would explode anytime. Paradoxically enough, the developments since the self-exile of Gotabaya had reversed the limited political gains of the mass protests. The election of Ranil Wickremesinghe through a Parliamentary vote, through overwhelming support by the Rajapaksa�s SLPP, more..

Aug 3 (Island) President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make his maiden Policy Statement in Parliament today. While he is settling in, his political enemies are regrouping. It is not clear whether the SBJ will throw its weight behind its MP Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, who wants to launch what he calls the final battle against the govt on 09 August. But Fonseka is said to be determined to go ahead with his battle plan; he has vowed to oust President Wickremesinghe soon. more..

Aug 3 (FT) The SJB led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has accepted President Ranil Wickremesinghe�s invitation to meet on 5 August to discuss the implementation of a national all-party program. Confirming the party�s attendance, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara clarified the invitation was not to hold discussions to form an all-party Govt but to merely discuss the possibility of formulating more..

Aug 3 (FT) SJB MP S.M. Marikkar emphasised that an effective economic roadmap is the need of the hour to resolve the crisis faced by the country and the people. He told journalists that the priority now is to design and deploy an effective economic roadmap and provide peace and stability to the nation, rather than engage in relentless protests. MP Marikkar on calls by some of its members for the public to once again engage in protests against the current regime. more..

Aug 3 (CI) A strong opening partnership and a priceless eight-ball cameo from Lea Tahuhu, followed by some incisive bowling led by Hayley Jensen saw New Zealand beat SL by 45 runs and march into the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games. The result also helped England confirm the other semi-final spot from Group B. SL have never beaten NZ in a T20I and that record was theirs to change when the spinners were in operation in the middle overs - NZ could manage only 67 runs more..

Aug 3 (HRW) The SL govt is using emergency regulations to harass and arbitrarily detain activists seeking political reform and accountability for the country�s economic crisis, Human Rights Watch said. Since Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president on July 21, 2022, the police and military have sought to curtail protests through the intimidation, surveillance, and arbitrary arrests of demonstrators, civil society activists, lawyers, more..

Aug 3 (Roar) SL�s economy is still gasping for breath. Weakened by decades of fiscal and external deficits, pummelled by near-sighted and ill-advised tax cuts and money printing and brought right to edge by a shaking global crisis, it�s easy to be pessimistic about the country�s future. It�s easy to forget that over the last few months, we HAVE been taking steps, however tentatively, towards a resolution, however imperfect it may end up being. The upcoming interim budget is one step more..