Jun 26 (ST) PM sounded thoroughly exasperated when he addressed Parliament earlier in the week. He said there was one set of persons saying he was downplaying the prevailing economic crisis, while another was accusing him of exaggerating it. A damned if you do; damned if you don�t situation. Coming away from talks with an IMF staff-level team in the country studying the crisis, and the legal and financial advisers retained by the Govt to negotiate with IMF, PM had probably best assessment more..

Jun 26 (TM) The PM last week confirmed in Parliament what the majority of people have been suspecting for some time now � the country�s economy is on the verge of complete collapse. He went further and warned Parliament that the country was looking at the prospect of falling to rock-bottom if help did not materialise in the next few weeks. He also outlined in detail the predicament facing the nation�s fuel supply with no one, leave alone lending, willing to touch the State-owned CPC more..

Jun 26 (Island) Dhammika Perera�s swearing last week as a National List MP of SLPP evoked a great deal of interest for a number of self-evident reasons. Among these was that fact that he has publicly claimed to be the country�s biggest taxpayer. This has been seen on youtube by 100,000 of viewers. Whether Perera claimed this in his personal capacity or whether it included the companies he controls � and there are a great many of them both listed and unlisted � has not been clarified. more..

Jun 26 (CI) "In my head I thought, 'oh no, that's going to be short and wide' but lucky enough that wasn't the case." Nathan Lyon, 23 years old with just five first-class matches and 14 wickets, who a year before was on the Adelaide Oval groundstaff, marks out his run. "Here he is, an offspinner bowling to left handers, normally offspinners like that," says Tony Greig on commentary. Lyon comes round the wicket to Kumar Sangakkara, the delivery lands perfectly around off stump, grips and dusts off more..

Jun 26 (ST) The group of ten, as they like to call themselves, had a meeting with Russian Ambassador Yuri Materiy. Their mission was to plead through him to the govt in Moscow to supply much needed fuel, coal, and fertiliser to Sri Lanka. Envoy�s answer did give them a shock. He said that their govt, by law, was forbidden from dealing with any bankrupt state. Ambassador Materiy then cushioned the shock. more..

Jun 26 (Island) In 1977 J.R. Jayewardene came to power promising a weekly eta ata or eight kilos of grain. Perceived, rather unfairly perhaps, as an unmitigated disaster, United Front govt of Sirimavo Bandaranaike was accused by several groups � including Sinhala nationalists who faulted her for caving into minority interests and minority politicians who accused her of doing the same with chauvinist elements � of mishandling economy. Jayewardene was shrewd enough not to promise more..

Jun 26 (ER) The flying visit of a team of top Indian officials headed by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Thursday, indicates New Delhi�s wish not only to be the first responder to any crisis in the neighborhood but also to be a constant companion to troubled neighbors engaged in rebuilding their economies. That the US is also anxious to help crisis-ridden SL is seen in the announcement of a visit by a high-level team from the State and Treasury departments from June 26 to 29. more..

Jun 26 (ST) At a time of distress, it was cricket that delivered a semblance of comfort to an angry and desperate public battling an economic meltdown. In Nov 2019, expectations had been high for a system change that would herald vistas of prosperity and splendour to a nation that�s burdened with institutionalised corruption across all levels. But SL has plunged into its worst economic crisis since independence with its leaders more..

Jun 26 (ST) Australians showed scant comfort against spinners on slow turners during the ODI series and hosts Sri Lanka will look to exploit this weakness again in the two-match Test series starting on Wednesday in Galle. Accordingly, selectors have brought in right-arm leg-spinner Jeffery Vandersay into the 18-man squad which includes Test regulars Praveen Jayawickrema, Lasith Embuldeniya and Ramesh Mendis. Vandersay, still uncapped, comes into the side after a strong showing more..

Jun 26 (Island) The health and food sectors are two of the most heavily affected by the ongoing economic crisis in SL, with severe medical and food supply shortages, availability of basic pharmaceuticals and overall health and wellbeing continuing to be significantly affected. In this backdrop, building on established partnerships and keen interests of various actors, the UNDP in Sri Lanka has leveraged its experience to develop a giving facility, comprising of two mechanisms; more..

Jun 26 (Island) One of the game�s modern day greats Ricky Ponting used to be a riot in his early days. Late night brawls at pubs left him with bloody nose and sanctions from Cricket Australia. It was Steve Waugh who took him to a side and told him to get his act together. Ponting went onto play a record 168 Test matches, won two World Cups as captain and today he is a successful cricket coach. Similarly, with Virat Kohli there were lots of hope when he came onto big stage having captained India more..

Jun 26 (AD) SL Ambassador to the US Mahinda Samarasinghe called on U.S. Prez Joe Biden recently, to brief him on the current situation in the crisis-hit island nation. The meeting between the two parties took place at the White House Oval Office. The ambassador also hosted the high-level delegation representing the U.S. Dept of the Treasury and the U.S. Dept of State will be visiting SL from June 26- 29. According to the SL envoy, these officials too were briefed on challenges more..

Jun 26 (EN) Sri Lanka has raised the petrol price to 470 rupees a litre by 50 rupees and auto diesel to 460 rupees a litre by 60 rupees an energy ministry official said as the country reels from fuel shortages amid money printing. Prices at both state-run CPC and LIOC has been raised by the same proportion. Petrol Octane 95 was raised by 100 rupees to 550 rupees a litre. Super diesel was raised by Rs75 to Rs520 per litre. more..

Jun 26 (EN) A fight that broke out in a fuel station in Wellawaya, Sri Lanka, resulted in four people sustaining injuries, police said. The scuffle had taken place Friday June 24 night after a man with a grass cutting machine had threatened people and tried to jump the queue. The man had then attacked with a knife before fleeing the scene. Police are still unable to locate the suspect, the police media division said. It is unclear what the suspect was planning to do at the queue. more..

Jun 26 (Island) Renewable energy producers who generate electricity using biomass (wood chips) capable of supplying 20 MW per year to the CEB grid, have shut down because what they are paid for such power is not sufficient to even cover their variable costs for biomass and other day to day operating costs such as salaries, chemicals, etc. These producers, who have entered into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the CEB, have jointly written to CEB requesting an increase more..

Jun 26 (TM) 39 essential medications required for the treatment of patients are in short supply. Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that this shortage would only exist till August. �We have to manage for the next six weeks. From August, we will have all the medicines required,� he said. There are 654 essential medications required to treat patients in SL, and only 49 of them are currently in short supply. more..

Jun 26 (SO) Elated by their triumph in the ODI series, SL will be looking for a repeat of the home Test series against Australia in 2016 when the two teams leave aside the fanfare of white ball cricket and get down to more series stuff with the first of two Tests starting in Galle on Wednesday. SL had a 3-0 clean sweep of Australia the last time the two teams played in a Test series in the island but the difference this time will be that the home team will be without their supreme match winning spin more..

Jun 26 (TM) Dialog Schools Rugby League 2022 kicked off at Havelock Grounds with the match between St. Anthony�s College, Kandy and St. Joseph�s College Colombo. One of the most popular sports leagues in the country is back after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic which started back in 2020. When SL faced the Covid-19 outbreak back in March 2020, the League was already underway but the season was brought to a halt. Since then, there was no school rugby due to the lockdowns more..

Jun 26 (TM) The agreement between international financial and legal advisors Lazard and Clifford Chance and the Govt of SL has received approval from the AG�s Dept. Treasury Deputy Secretary R.M.P. Rathnayake said the Treasury had received the department�s approval for the agreements last Friday. �We have received the AG�s approval. Initial recommendations came a week ago. There were additions and the dept has granted approvals. We have formally agreed with both advisors,� more..

Jun 26 (SO) The find of SL-Australia ODI series 19 year-old left arm spinner Dunith Wellalage bowed out with a tally of nine wickets the highest from either side during the five matches. After he made his debut against Australia, Glenn Maxwell, one of the best all rounders in world cricket, gave his blessings to young Wellalage. His father Suranga Wellalage, the former Prince of Wales skipper, said: �My son remembers Maxwell� s words. �Hey young boy you played your debut game against more..

Jun 26 (TM) The handing over of the report by the CIABOC regarding the allegations against Nirupama Rajapaksa and her husband Thirukumar Nadesan, who were implicated in the Pandora Papers file leak in connection with several suspicious transactions including the maintenance of large cash deposits, continues to be delayed without cause. Lawyers Forum for the People Convenor Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera, more..

Jun 26 (TM) Govt has prioritised fuel supply for public transport, power generation, and industries as multiple shipments of diesel, petrol, and crude oil have been delayed due to banking and logistics issues, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. According to Wijesekera, CPC is unable to confirm the arrival dates of the planned shipments. �Limited stocks of petrol and diesel will be distributed to limited (fuel) stations throughout next week and (we) request the public not to line up for fuel,� more..

Jun 26 (ST) At least four Sri Lankans perished this week as they waited in fuel queues that stretch to unprecedented lengths, or in related incidents. At least 16 Sri Lankans have now died in fuel queues. The most recent death was in Jaffna town where a youth was assaulted near the filling station when he had argued with those who had jumped the queue. He had been beaten with helmets and was admitted to Jaffna Teaching hospital where he died on Thursday. Another youth died in A'pura more..

Jun 26 (TM) Norochcholai Coal Power Plant last week powered down one 300 MW generation unit for scheduled maintenance, despite not having all the necessary spare parts needed to complete the work at hand. If all the spares do not arrive on time, there is a high risk of the completion of maintenance being delayed and as a result, 300 MW shortage to the power grid may be prolonged, CEB engineers warned. more..

Jun 26 (ST) SL�s aviation fuel supplies are at critically low levels with the Civil Aviation Authority of SL (CAASL) saying it was fighting to ensure they will last till next week. There is likely to be a significant reduction in flights into and out of the country if stocks were not replenished urgently, industry sources said. Multiple carriers have already pruned frequencies over the inability of general sales agents (GSAs) and local airlines offices to remit dues to their principals for months. more..

Jun 26 (ST) A 4-member Indian team that held talks in Colombo during a whirlwind visit on Thursday indicated that, rather than offer more credit lines to SL, it was time to push for quicker implementation of Indian projects. The delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and included top Indian Finance Ministry officials. Separate talks were held with Prez Rajapaksa and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe. Team was also shopping for new Indian-led projects, Sunday Times learns. more..

Jun 26 (ST) For the last time, Cabinet of Ministers will formally approve tomorrow the 21st Amendment taking on board an amendment from Prez Rajapaksa as well as a certificate of approval from Attorney General. Thereafter, it will be published in govt gazette tomorrow. Though Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha claimed that 21A was approved last Monday, Prez had wanted a clearer definition of the composition of Constitutional Council (CC). more..

Jun 27 (DM) Since 2020, there has been a growing trend of disillusionment among young people in our country. At the prez election of 2019 and the general election which followed, they came out in droves to help elect a new president who performed well during his term as a bureaucrat. To help him implement his plans, the young people at the 2020 general elections voted into power a brand new political party of which the president was a member. Eectorate even handed the new political party more..

Jun 27 (DM) Govt revenue plummeted since Prez Rajapaksa came to power. This was driven by tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy, in a bid to increase investment and spur economic growth. Instead of vistas of prosperity and splendour, Prez Gotabaya brought the country to an economic standstill. His govt has failed the current, future and previous generations. To restart the economy, we need to earn the trust of our own citizens and of the international community. more..

Jun 27 (TM) Crisis-hit Sri Lanka needs to maintain good relations with India, while ensuring local political instability does not affect the neighbouring giant, former Sri Lanka High Commissioner to New Delhi and former Eastern Province Governor Austin Fernando said last week. Sri Lanka can benefit from India�s influence with multilateral agencies and the West to help aid the country�s economic recovery efforts. more..

Jun 27 (DM) Australian cricket authorities and players responded positively to a tour that was hanging in balance after political insecurity and the economic catastrophe that prevailed. Appreciating their gesture, spectators kept their blues in wardrobes and sported yellow on Friday; a well deserved accolade for sporting Kangaroos, ending a record five-match series victory for the Lions. The most luminous colour of the spectrum, Yellow captures our attention of happiness, more..

Jun 27 (ST) The top-level Indian delegation that arrived in Lanka on Thursday on a quickie three-hour mission to meet Prez and PM, and to assess the ground situation, flew back to New Delhi by sundown, with the former�s appeal for aid and the latter�s shopping list for bare essentials tucked in their diplomatic bag. Both plea and list have now become the sole direful lyrics in the signature blues whined over and over in Lanka�s Beggar�s Opera. But how long before world�s ear turns deaf more..

Jun 27 (TM) Concerns about fuel scarcity and what the future may hold have seen many hoard petroleum products, giving rise to a lucrative black market, while sustaining adequate supply seems to remain out of govt�s grasp. Petroleum racket keeps growing even as the country's fuel stocks reached their lowest last week, forcing it to limit State sector operations, as the Govt was unable to bring down sufficient stocks on time. more..

Jun 27 (ST) This week�s ruling handed down by the Supreme Court of SL on the main Opposition SJB confoundingly optimistic 21st Amendment Bill seeking to wholesale consign the Executive Presidency to the dustbin was predictable, some would mutter even blindingly so. The SJB Bill sought to replace the Executive Presidential system with a parliamentary democracy sans a Referendum in terms of Article 83 of the Constitution. A firm judicial No transpired to that ambitious plea. more..

Jun 27 (TM) Raving tentacles of writhing hopelessness, nourished by seething curses and boiling rage, undulating as they do, from the tributaries of languid bylanes, through to the torrents of main thoroughfares, and across the estuaries of filling stations and distributing centres, only to culminate in the rapacious maw of dispenser pumps and cylinders � this is what queues in SL, be they for fuel or gas, are. Like the American art rock band, Velvet Underground�s songwriter Lou Reed�s more..

Jun 27 (Island) Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe has had an audience with US Prez Joe Biden in the Oval Office itself. They are reported to have discussed matters of bilateral interest, and the US has pledged to help SL. No sooner had the duo met than a high-level delegation representing the US Department of State and the US Dept of Treasury flew to Colombo. The members of the delegation include Robert Kaproth, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Asia, and Ambassador more..