Jun 29 (AD) Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) says it has commenced an independent inquiry on the police shooting incident at Rambukkana on 19th April and an independent inquiry on the alleged violations of the Rule of Law on 9th and 10th May 2022. Island-wide public protests continued to occur owing to fuel, Gas, and essential food shortage in the country since April 2022. On 19th April a group of protestors gathered near a Fuel station in Rambukkana more..

Jun 29 (FT) Cabinet has approved removing the mandatory requirement of family background reports for females to take up overseas employment. Previously, it was a compulsory requirement to submit a family background report for females who have children over the age of two years or more when leaving for domestic work overseas. �Several international reports published about the protection of women�s rights decided to forgo the requirement since some individuals who do not possess more..

Jun 29 (Island) NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, has declared that an all-party govt inclusive of the JVP will able to overcome the current economic crisis. Weerawansa said that JVP�s inclusion would help the proposed administration to win the confidence of the int'l community. He noted that JVP no longer demanded Prez Rajapaksa�s resignation. Instead, it vowed to make economic recovery possible within 6 months. more..

Jun 29 (DN) CID has launched an investigation into the illegal release of water from the Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs, without using them to generate power during a power crisis in the country. Investigation is being carried out following a complaint lodged with the IGP by the Chairman of CEB. A special police team of the CID has visited the Randenigala and Rantambe reservoirs and recorded statements from 17 officers in charge of the reservoirs. more..

Jun 29 (Island) SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has said that his party is ready to accept the daunting challenge of re-building the country. Premadasa, who is also the Opposition Leader, has said that the SJB is capable of restoring the economy to pre-2019 status within five years. The declaration was made at the Opposition Leader�s Office, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, on Monday. The SJB won 54 seats, including seven National List slots, at the last parliamentary election in Aug 2020. more..

Jun 29 (CT) The number of State entities allocated to newly-appointed Minister of Technology and Investment Promotion, Dhammika Perera, has been reduced to 8 from the earlier 15 institutions. Accordingly, he would now oversee the Board of Investment, Colombo Port City Economic Commission, Techno Park Development Company Ltd, Colombo Lotus Tower Management Company Ltd, Dept of Immigration & Emigration, more..

Jun 29 (DM) SJB MP Champika Ranawaka who fell out with the party leadership and decided to sit independently in Parliament teamed up with a team of MPs from SLPP in meeting with Chinese ambassador Qi Zhenhong to discuss the current situation and to seek for more assistance from China. Along with him, MPs Anura Priyadharshana Yapa (SLPP), Kumara Welgama (SJB), Priyankara Jayarathna (SLPP), Dr. Sudharshani Fernandopulle (SLFP), Chandima Weerakkody (SLPP) went more..

Jun 29 (CT) Minister Dhammika Perera said he would utilise his personal funds to set up a new branch of the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Jaffna and thereby reduce congestion at the Colombo office. Perera said he would implement a new scheme to allow Lankans to migrate, thereby allowing the country to earn much-needed foreign exchange as well. He stated that due to the unprecedented demand by the public to seek overseas employment, scores of people are more..

Jun 29 (FT) The economy in the first quarter had contracted by 1.6%, data revealed yesterday, confirming that the country was in a bad shape long before the current crisis emerged. The dismal performance in the first quarter is despite the 2021 fourth quarter registering a 1.8% growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic and 3.3% growth overall last year. In 2021 1Q the economy grew by 4%. Agriculture and Industrial sectors more..

Jun 29 (FT) The country having gone through a heavy lockdown with the COVID pandemic is aiming for another lockdown, with Govt offices closed on Fridays and two weeks work-from-home from 20 June. The decision was due to non-availability of fuel for traveling to work. But private sector staff continue working. The issues started with daily electricity power cuts since 22 Feb with fuel shortages caused by the foreign exchange crisis. The fuel shortage resulted in queues, which are becoming more..

Jun 29 (FT) Majority of the people in SL have finally realised the country is fast approaching the precipice of a failed state and that it will in its wake inflict irreversible injuries on the people at all levels of society. The dollar shortage has caused power and fuel shortages affecting all sectors while skyrocketing prices of essential goods have disrupted life across the country. The elected rulers are under obligation to serve all the citizens by putting the country first and more..

Jun 29 (DM) A total of 26 train services including office and intercity trains which were scheduled to operate yesterday were cancelled following difficulties faced by the Station Masters (SMs) and junior staff in reporting for work due to the prevailing fuel crisis. Accordingly, two train services between Colombo Fort-Wadduwa, Colombo Fort-Veyangoda, Colombo Fort-Ambepussa, Colombo Fort -Chilaw, Colombo Fort -Madampe, passenger and mail transport trains operated between Colombo more..

Jun 29 (AD) Presidential Task Force appointed to prepare proposals on the One Country, One Law concept has handed over its report to Prez Rajapaksa. A 13-member task force, chaired by Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thero, was appointed on Oct 26, 2021, to study the implementation of the concept One Country, One Law and to prepare a draft Act. However, two of its members, Prof. Dayananda Banda and Lecturer Mohamed Inthikab later stepped down from the panel and more..

Jun 29 (AD) SL Police says that around 600 inmates of the Kandakadu rehabilitation centre at Welikanda have escaped following a tense situation due to the death of an inmate last evening. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that army and police personnel have been deployed to control the situation and apprehend the inmates who have escaped. A group of inmates had resorted to unruly behaviour following the death of an inmate more..

Jun 29 (EN) SL has sought a loan from Qatar to import oil, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has said, as an intermediate regime central bank crisis deepens. Wijesekera who is in Qatar said that he met the Deputy Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development. �Discussed possible Credit Line facility for Petroleum and Gas supply,� he said in the message. �Was informed that funds has been allocated for medical supplies and will consider the request for a credit facility and support more..

Jun 29 (AD) In-person academic activities at the University of Uva Wellassa have been temporarily from today until further notice. Vice-Chancellor of the Uni, Prof. Jayantha Lal Rathnasekara said the decision was taken due to the prevailing shortages of fuel. However, delivering lectures online will be carried on, he added. �We hope bring the students back to the university premises as soon as the fuel crisis is resolved,� the vice-chancellor said further. According to Prof. Rathnasekara, more..

Jun 29 (EN) He has backed many govts in power and he was part of some but he now comes in as a minister with more powers to give effect to his promises. Dhammika Perera, latest Minister of Investment Promotion in the crisis-hit Rajapaksa administration, made a name for himself in gaming, protected businesses and acquisitions that also brought him into banking, hotels, exports and retail. more..

Jun 29 (DM) The govt has decided to utilise 250,000 hectares of cultivatable land belonging to religious establishments to cultivate food crops under the national food production programme themed Ekwa Wawamu � Rata Dinawamu as a speedy solution to the looming food crisis. Presenting a joint Cabinet Memorandum, Ministers Dinesh Gunawardene, Mahinda Amaraweera and Vidura Wickramanayaka sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday to launch the national food more..

Jun 29 (AD) A total of 232 inmates who had escaped from the Kandakadu rehabilitation centre have been apprehended thus far. Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi stated that an operation is underway in search of more than 200 other inmates who had escaped from the rehabilitation centre and are still at large. It was reported that around 600 inmates of the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Welikanda had escaped following a tense situation that ensued over the death of an inmate more..

Jun 29 (OHCHR) President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Federico Villegas (Argentina), announced today the appointment of Radhika Coomaraswamy of SL to serve as a member of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. Ms. Coomaraswamy will join Kaari Betty Murungi of Kenya (chair) and Steven Ratner of the US, who were appointed to serve on the human rights investigative body on 2 March 2022. UNHRC created the Commission of Human Rights more..

Jun 29 (EN) Central Bank said two finance companies have been penalised for lax customer due diligence by the Financial Intelligence Unit. The central bank of SL (CBSL) said the regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), FIU collected penalties amounting to 1.5 million rupees in total for the period from 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2021. Orient Finance, a subsidiary of the Janashakthi Insurance has been fined one million rupees. more..

Jun 29 (CI) Nathan Lyon roared again in Galle, returning to the site where it all began for him in 2011, to claim his 20th Test 5-wicket haul and give Australia a slight edge on a chaotic first day of the first Test against SL. Lyon claimed 5 for 90 as SL were bowled out for 212 after winning a crucial toss on a surface that spun sharply and had balls going through the top within the first hour of play. Usman Khawaja then made a fortuitous unbeaten 47 more..

Jun 29 (AD) Dept of Motor Traffic (DMT) will be closed on Thursdays and Fridays due to the prevailing fuel shortages and transportation issues, Commissioner General of Motor Traffic says. However, the Werahera Driving License Office, as well as the district offices in Gampaha and Anuradhapura will remain on Thursdays for driving license renewals, only for clients who have made online appointments, he said further issuing a media release. more..

Jun 29 (TM) It won�t be long before we join in the struggle with the people who are protesting and we might join the protests as well because this govt is refusing to listen to the people of the nation and we are not in agreement of the clauses made to the 20th Amendment, says SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara. �We had several concerns raised about the 20th amendment and the clauses within that amendment. There was an amendment where it states within the 21st amendment, more..

Jun 29 (CT) The visiting Test skipper of Team Australia, Pat Cummins, said they have certainly seen the effects of the economic crisis in SL. �We are so lucky to come here and experience SL pretty normally to how we would have experienced it. I was on a call yesterday and was chatting to some young girl cricketers. They�re down to one meal a day and are going to school a couple of days a week because the teachers can�t get to school. They�re from a fishing village and a lot of them more..

Jun 29 (CT) High Commission of India in Colombo announced scholarships for SL nationals under the Ayush Scholarship Scheme of Govt of India for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses in Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy for the academic year 2022-23. Govt of India selects meritorious SL nationals for the award of these scholarships in consultation with SL�s Ministry of Education. These scholarships cover full tuition fees and a monthly sustenance allowance for more..

Jun 29 (DM) The govt is suppressing the media to prevent them from exposing the corrupt and fraudulent activities of the govt by not allowing them to obtain fuel under essential service category, Samagi United Trade Union Force (SUTUF) convener and media spokesman Ananda Palitha said. He told media that fuel for buses, school vans, and office transport services are not classified under essential services. more..

Jun 29 (DM) US Embassy in SL yesterday announced regarding an on-the-spot demonstration alert of a countrywide vehicle protest which is scheduled today, from 10 am to 3 pm. They said such protests have been widely circulated on social media, encouraging people to participate. The protest calls for all vehicles to stop on the roads wherever they are at the time of the commencement of protest, blocking traffic for a five-hour period. Although organizers request emergency more..

Jun 29 (AD) PM Wickremesinghe in his capacity as Finance Minister has made his recommendation to the President to extend Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe�s tenure as Governor of the CB for a new term. PM has reportedly informed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in writing recommending Dr. Weerasinghe for another term as CB Governor. There has been uncertainty about whether Dr. Weerasinghe, who replaced previous governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in April, will be reappointed more..

Jun 29 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa has discussed the island nation�s fuel crisis with the Russian Prez Vladimir Putin and is expected to visit the UAE in the near future, his close ally Mahindananda Aluthgamage said. SL is witnessing a gradual shutdown as the country does not have scheduled any fuel shipment in the foreseeable future. The govt has already asked over 1 million of its state sector employees to work from home while more..

Jun 29 (TM) As much as India has been supportive towards SL and doing its best to help the nation, Indian Govt needs to also pressurize for a provincial council election to be held so that the opinion of the people is made known, says SJB MP Mano Ganesan. �As much as an election must be pushed forward for, due to the lack of funds, the Indian govt and other nations must support financially for an election to be held. The other nations of the world are reluctant to help SL at the moment as more..

Jun 29 (TM) China is facing a dilemma over helping Sri Lanka, having to decide whether it will allow a restructuring of SL�s debt and thus risk having to change its lending practices, or instead damage its ties with the island nation, noted a top international economist. Speaking at a webinar held by the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) yesterday, National University of Singapore Senior Fellow Dr. Ganeshan Wignaraja said that China is in somewhat of a dilemma over bailing out debt-ridden SL. more..

Jun 29 (DM) Britain on Monday said that, while SL is a human rights priority country for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, its assessment was that a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against those responsible for alleged human rights violations in SL would not have the required support from members of the UN Security Council. Vicky Ford, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) was responding more..

Jun 29 (AD) An impartial investigation will be carried out into the death of an inmate at Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Welikanda, the Commissioner-General of Rehabilitation says. Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi also assured if anyone is found guilty, they will be punished accordingly. Earlier today, it was reported that 600 inmates of the Kandakadu rehabilitation centre had escaped following a tense situation that ensued over the death of an inmate last evening. more..

Jun 29 (DM) PM�s advisior Sagala Ratnayake today said that a Diesel shipment containing 30,000 metric tons was due between July 11-15 and a Petrol shipment from India is due by July 22 although the govt is trying to source a Petrol shipment by July 10. Speaking at a media discussion he said only 11,000 MT of diesel, 30,000 MT of furnace oil, 800 MT of jet fuel and 5,000 MT of petrol are available at the CPC storages. more..