Jul 9 (EN) SL imposed local indefinite police curfew in some areas of capital Colombo and a town near the island nation�s main airport from 2100 hours of Friday, a day ahead of a protest to force Prez Rajapaksa to resign after his failures to ensure supplies of essentials like fuel, cooking gas, and kerosene oil. The local police curfew was imposed in the North, South, central Colombo, Mount Lavinia, and Nugegoda more..

Jul 9 (ENS) The magistrate court in Point Pedro, on Friday ordered to release the 12 Indian fishermen who were arrested on July 3. However, their boat has been retained. The fishermen were in judicial custody for four days. Five of the fishermen hail from Karaikal and seven are from Mayiladuthurai. They were fishing southeast of Kodiyakarai on July 3 when they were apprehended. The fishermen were lodged in the Jaffna prison and the boat was berthed at the Myliddy Fishing Harbour. more..

Jul 9 (Island) Former Communist Party General Secretary D.E.W. Gunasekera said that the country was in such a precarious situation that the govt had to quit forthwith to pave the way for a genuine all-party govt. Such an arrangement was a prerequisite to restore political stability urgently required to achieve economic recovery, the veteran politician said. At a Gathering of Opposition political forces in Colombo, he said was a manifestation of growing opposition to Gotabaya�Ranil administration. more..

Jul 9 (CT) A large number of Govt Ministers and MPs have already deactivated their private mobile phone connections. According to sources in Parliament, these Ministers and MPs have also changed the telephone numbers that they had given to Parliament�s Communications Unit. The sources added that this situation has emerged in the wake of the emergence of anti-Govt protests islandwide. They stated that these actions by Govt MPs had hindered the work of Communications Unit. more..

Jul 9 (Island) The STF Commandant has asked his deputies to deploy STF personnel in Colombo and suburbs on 08 and 09 July in view of the scheduled protest marches.Issuing a letter to his deputies, STF Commandant has said that the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) has organised a protest march in Colombo. On 09 July, large crowds will gather in Colombo demanding the resignation of the Prez. Therefore, STF personnel must be deployed to provide adequate security, he said. more..

Jul 9 (EN) A curfew imposed on several areas in Colombo ahead of a protest on July 9 has been lifted from 0800am, police chief CD Wickremeratne said in a statement. Curfew imposed at 2100 last night will be lifted at 0800, he said in a statement. A mass public protest against Prez Rajapaksa and PM Wickremesinghe is planned. SL�s top lawyers grouping the Bar Association has said the curfew was blatantly illegal. more..

Jul 9 (AD) Train services will resume after the police curfew is lifted at 8 am today. Ahead of the mass protests planned for today, IGP announced last night that Negombo, Kelaniya, Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia, Colombo North, South & Central police areas will be under police curfew orders from 9 p.m. yesterday until further notice. Following the announcement, SL Railways said train services to Colombo from other destinations would not operate today, due to the imposition of police curfew. more..

Jul 9 (AD) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has expressed strong protest at the imposition of a purported police curfew in parts of the Western Province ahead of the mass protests planned for July 9. Issuing a statement in this regard, BASL�s president Saliya Peiris, PC noted that the Police Ordinance does not have a provision for the imposition of such curfew, which he said is �blatantly illegal and a violation of the fundamental rights of the people of our country who are protesting more..

Jul 9 (EN) Thousands of Sri Lankans plan to march into Colombo on Saturday July 09 demanding the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa and his govt, and despite police throwing a spanner in the works by imposing a surprise curfew Friday evening, organisers are determined to go ahead. Protestors had planned to congregate in the heart of the capital and occupy the Colombo Fort area adjacent to the Prez�s House, forcing him to finally step down more..

Jul 9 (AD) The main opposition SJB has decided to boycott the meeting of political party leaders convened by PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says. As the protests made strides, PM Wickremesinghe decided to call a special meeting of political parties to discuss the ongoing situation. The party leaders are expected to meet at around 4 p.m. this evening. Earlier today, people in large numbers demanding the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa and the incumbent more..

Jul 9 (AD) The political party leaders have decided to request both Prez Rajapaksa and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe to resign and Speaker of Parliament to take over as acting President for a short period of time pursuant to the Constitution, MP Rauff Hakeem says. The urgent meeting of political party leaders, chaired by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, commenced at the Speaker�s Residence at around 4 p.m. this evening. It came after mass anti-govt protests gained more..

Jul 9 (FT) Singapore is often cited as an example of rags to riches, or an embryonic idea for a country that blossomed into a first world equivalent success story. Here in Lanka we have a riches to rags tale, having once been among Asia�s most prosperous economies, the only economy other than Japan that once exported cars from this region. As a recent commentator spelled out quite tellingly: �In the last 45 years successive govts that assumed power, have neglected and more..

Jul 9 (EN) Protestors renewed calls for Prez Rajapaksa and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe after occupying the Prez palace, his office while party leaders met the parliamentary speaker in emergency session making similar calls. �PM Ranil Wickremesinghe has told the Party Leaders that he is willing to resign as PM and make way for an all-Party Govt to take over,� his media office said in a statement. PM Wickremesinghe was �taking this decision in view of the fact that island-wide more..

Jul 9 (CI) There needed to be no reminder of the bigger, and far more important, picture playing out in SL but on a day of extraordinary scenes around the country the cricketers managed to focus on their task at hand and put together a tremendous fightback against Australia. It started by removing Australia's last five wickets for 35 runs, left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya finishing with the 2nd-best figures by a Lankan on Test debut. more..

Jul 9 (FT) It has been a very long time indeed in coming. Only yesterday, it seemed as if many if not most Sri Lankans were slaves to their political masters, in one way or another. But today, the worm has well and truly turned. And our elected representatives are about to find out what it means when they claimed to be the servants of the people yet callously and criminally sold out on their sovereignty. I am happy to join with you all today, in what will go down in our island�s history as more..

Jul 9 (NR) Prez Rajapaksa is reportedly in safety despite his whereabouts still unknown. But an unnamed defence official told the AFP as quoted by the BBC that the �The president was escorted to safety. He is still the president, he is being protected by a military unit.� Protesters stormed the President�s House in Colombo, Fort, and the Presidential Secretariat and Temple Trees at Galleface. Protesters pushed open the gates to the Prez's House and entered in large numbers. more..

Jul 9 (DM) Religious leaders have urged Prez Rajapaksa to announce official resignation immediately reiterating his mandate was negated by the people now. Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera told a news conference that the Speaker should convene Parliament soon and take steps to form an interim govt for a short period of time until an election was held. The prelate said someone who is accepted by the whole country and the party leaders should be appointed as the President. more..

Jul 9 (DM) SL Railway Station Masters' Union (SLSMU) said 54 trains have reached Colombo Fort railway station so far from other provinces exceeding the maximum passenger capacity. They said, despite the govt's restrictions and the people's request, trains headed to Colombo. It is also reported that more people who had gathered at the stations elsewhere had lost patience to began to behave riotously. SLSMU has requested the people to exercise restraint as the association more..

Jul 9 (EN) At least 55 people were injured and one person was critical in Sri Lanka anti-govt protest clash, a hospital source said on Saturday. hours after portesters clashed with police when they attempted to enter president Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s official residence. �There is one critically injured patient and two other mild severe cases� an official at the National Hospital in Colombo told Economynext. more..

Jul 9 (DM) School holidays will be allowed to all schools in the country until next Friday (15) from Monday (11). The decision was made based on the current fuel crisis, transportation difficulties and the views of trade unions. Accordingly, schools will reopen from July 18. A discussion held on this matter at the ministry with additional secretaries including the Ministry Secretary, National Institute of Education Director General, directors and provincial directors of education through online. more..

Jul 9 (DM) Central Bank has been compelled to print money in order to prevent a total breakdown of fuel supply in the country, as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), does not have sufficient rupees to buy dollars for fuel purchases, CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said. Addressing the media on Thursday Dr. Weerasinghe said that the CPC had requested Rs. 217 billion from the Treasury for the purpose and the Treasury was unable to supply such a huge amount immediately. more..

Jul 9 (EN) Leaders of political parties that represent parliament have agreed that both Prez Rajapaksa and PM Wickremesinghe must resign immediately, making the way for Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to become acting Prez, MP Dullas Alahapperuma said. MP tweeted Saturday July 9 evening that the party leaders agreed that parliament must be convened within a week to elect a new president by parliamentary majority. In the same week, he said, a coalition govt must be more..

Jul 9 (Island) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena alleged that the main reason for the severe economic downturn faced by the country was that there were highly corrupt politicians in high positions in successive govts. Abeywardena castigated the political leaders for accommodating such people in their parties and offering them key portfolios at the expense of the country. Speaker said that those elements had only lined their pockets. The veteran politician said SLPP govt was no different more..

Jul 9 (MK) SL is witnessing unprecedented people�s movement as protestors stormed into the Presidential Palace in Colombo on Saturday (9), and forced Prez Rajapaksa to flee from his residence. It is not just commoners but elite cricketers from SL too joined the mass movement against the SL Govt. Sanath Jayasuriya, the former SL captain, World Cup winner and minister, joined the protestors on the street and later wrote more..

Jul 9 (Island) CPC was planning to sell another 500 gas stations including 300 run by local businessmen, to Lanka Indian Oil Corporation, President of Petroleum General Employees Union Dr. Ashoka Ranwala said. There were 1,200 filling stations that receive fuel from CPC, he said. Only 200 petrol sheds were under the direct control of the CPC. �The other 1,000 are operated by SL businessmen who have used their own capital to establish and develop gas stations,� he said. more..

Jul 9 (DM) SJB said a new all party govt has to be formed only after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe resign from their posts. SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said in a statement that the proposal put forward by his party has been approved by majority of party leaders. "We proposed that both President and PM should resign. Speaker should be appointed as acting President and an all party govt should be formed," Mr. Madduma Bandara said. more..

Jul 9 (Island) 49 elephants had been killed in the Polonnaruwa District between 01 Jan and 30 June 2022, Wildlife Dept officials said. During the same period 17 persons had also died due to the human-elephant conflict. Officials pointed out that the deaths of both humans and elephants had increased significantly compared to the first six months of last year. 36 elephants were killed in the District between 1 Jan and 30 June 2021. Nine humans too were killed by elephants in the same period. more..

Jul 9 (Island) A million people employed in the tea sector might lose jobs if the govt doesn�t provide adequate stocks of diesel and petrol to plantation companies, Planters Association Spokesman Dr. Roshan Rajadurai says. He said that plantations needed large amounts of fuel to operate machinery and transport purposes. �Due to power cuts, we need to run generators. A million people are directly and indirectly working in the tea industry. If the tea industry collapses, workers will lose more..

Jul 9 (N18) Embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled from his official residence in Colombo amid mounting protests and is onboard a naval ship, SLNS Gajabahu. A Sri Lankan naval official said the President will stay out in the sea until it�s safe for him to return to the mainland. Reports have surfaced that luggage was rushed onto the ship anchored at the Colombo Port. Sources said this was contingency plan more..

Jul 9 (AFP) SL is mired in a deep political and economic crisis and on Saturday (9), the country's president was forced to flee his residence not long before it was stormed by a huge crowd of protesters. The island nation of 22 million people has suffered months of lengthy blackouts, acute food and fuel shortages and galloping inflation in its most painful downturn on record. Months of protests have demanded the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa, whose govt has been blamed for more..

Jul 9 (CT) The draft of the relevant law regulating three-wheelers has been held back at the Legal Draftsman�s Department for over a year, Director General of the National Transport Commission, Dr. Nilan Miranda said. He said several irregularities have been observed in the operation of three-wheelers in line with the fuel crisis adding however that due to the delay at the Legal Draftsman�s Department, the amendments required to regulate three-wheelers have also been delayed. more..

Jul 9 (EN) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed regret over the assault of a television crew in front of his residence while police chief Chandana Wickremeratne will take immediate action, police sources aid. Four journalists from Newsfirst channel were brutally assaulted and hospitalized, TV network said. �The PM expresses grave regret over the assault on journalists who are covering the ongoing protests, by security personnel,� a statement from Prime Minister�s office said. more..

Jul 9 (AFP) Anger at Sri Lanka�s dire economic crisis has been simmering for months, with many laying the blame for widespread shortages and runaway inflation squarely at the feet of the ruling Rajapaksa family. On Saturday, that anger boiled over, with hundreds of thousands of protesters massing around the residence of Prez Rajapaksa, forcing him to flee under military guard just before the crowd overran the home and stormed his nearby office. While a top defence source told AFP that more..