Mar 23 (EN) SL�s Treasuries yields rose across maturities at Wednesday�s auction with the 3-month yield up 75 basis points to 12.1%, data from the state debt office showed as the effects of two years of money printing began to be felt by the country. The debt office offered 56 billion rupees of bills and sold 54.8 billion rupees in 3-month bills. The 6-month yield went up 93 basis points to 11.98%, with 503 million rupees being sold. 12-month yield went up 85 basis points with 1,165 mi rupees more..

Mar 23 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa expressed his apology to former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at the All Party Conference over the remarks made by CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal in which he accused the former govt for the present crisis. In his speech at the conference, Cabraal has briefed the SL�s current economic situation and had palmed the blame on the former Govt for the prevailing crisis. Responding to the remarks, more..

Mar 23 (FT) One of the privileges of being a govt minister is that you have public servants paid by the taxpayers at your disposal to do the work that ordinary citizens have to do day in and day out. Including staying in a queue for hours to get fuel. This is very common in the developing world. Exceptionally, you get a few politicians like the Prez of Uruguay Jose Mujica who drove an old Beetle along the streets of his country. Nothing changed for him as Prez. There have been a few others. more..

Mar 23 (CT) Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris has been designated as the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) as a result of the Govt's decision to do so when they took office in 2019. According to the MFA, it was renamed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in February 2022 after previously being known as the Foreign Ministry. This has allegedly caused some confusion among foreign countries, who want to know whether Sri Lanka has a Foreign Minister as well as a Minister of Foreign Affairs. more..

Mar 23 (EN) Govt has decided to seek IMF assistance in the face of its worsening economic crisis but the country must be mindful of the organisation�s core policies, CB Governor Ajith Nivaar Cabraal told an all-party conference on Wednesday. �The opposition and various experts have expressed the belief that connecting with the IMF will boost investor confidence and encourage non-loan inflows. more..

Mar 23 (Island) SL�s environment is facing a looming threat owing to the haphazard disposal of millions of used face masks and personal protective equipment, reveals a recent study by the University of Kelaniya. �Mostly, face masks are made of petroleum-based non-renewable polymers that are non-biodegradable, hazardous to the environment and create health issues. It is reported that Sri Lanka generates around 14 to 70 million of face mask waste a week,� said Prof Rangika more..

Mar 23 (CT) SL Air Force launched Annual Sri Pada Clean Up March for the fifth consecutive year. The two-day clean-up programme was launched on 19 March to mark 71st Anniversary of SL Air Force. The civic project will clean up paths leading up to the peak of the Sripadasthanaya - a religious site that has been subject to reverence by people both home and abroad. The Siri Pada season starts with the Siripa Karuna period which commences after Uduvap Poya Day in December more..

Mar 23 (DM) Chief Govt Whip Johnston Fernando today threw a challenge at the Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa to mediate between the SL govt and the three Middle Eastern countries that promised to supply fuel at a concessionary conditions so that Sri Lanka could get fuel immediately. �Why don�t you talk to these three countries which have promised you to provide fuel and get it for the nation? You can earn the credit for it,� Mr. Fernando said. In his retaliation, more..

Mar 23 (DM) Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara today told Parliament that he is still a member of the govt though he is keeping away from his ministry. �We are still in the govt and we will request the President to allow us to remain as independent Members within the govt if the need arises but we will not join the opposition,� Mr. Nanayakkara said. �We are not prepared to join the present dirty opposition,� he added. Mr. Nanayakkara came out with these remarks as response to questions raised by more..

Mar 23 (AD) Sri Lanka and the United States convened the fourth SL-US Partnership Dialogue today, in Colombo, renewing their shared commitment to economic prosperity, sustainable development, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris and the Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the US Department of State Victoria Nuland. more..

Mar 23 (FT) Restructuring of foreign debt must be accompanied by a similar exercise on domestic debt to derive fuller benefits opines stockbroking firm CTCLSA. Following Prez Rajapaksa, indicating seeking IMF assistance to fix the ongoing economic crisis, CTCLSA believes the IMF may suggest a Debt Restructure for SL debt given its classification of the same stands at an unsustainable state. In a research note, CTCLSA said with SL�s Public debt to GDP ratio standing at 119% as of more..

Mar 23 (DM) An argument between former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa broke out at the All-Party Conference (APC) convened today over IMF report on SL. The altercation erupted when Wickremesinghe demanded the IMF report on SL. In response, the Finance Minister Basil clarified that SL has not yet received the full report from the IMF as yet, but said they received only the draft. "The final report will be released in due course following more..

Mar 23 (TM) Claiming that certain parties are requesting an increase in the number of random polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and rapid antigen tests (RATs) being conducted in the community to detect the Covid-19 infected, the Health Ministry informed that such tests are not being conducted at present as the Govt�s spending on Covid-19 tests should be used in a rational manner. Health Ministry�s Communications more..

Mar 23 (Island) Water levels in some reservoirs have receded and their remaining capacity has fallen below 20 percent while the CEB is hoping for rains at least by May. Power Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi ye expressed concern that hydro power generation would be further hampered due to the low water levels in the reservoirs. Minister said the water levels in the reservoirs used to generate electricity were rapidly dropping due to the severe dry weather conditions affecting most parts more..

Mar 23 (DM) Action will be taken to increase exporting gems that could bring in a revenue of US$1 billion by the end of this year, which is currently at US $265 mn, Industries Minister S.B. Dissanayake said. He said this while attending an Inauguration Ceremony of Exporting Gems and Jewelery to the Int'l Market at the Postal Headquarters, Colombo, yesterday. National Gem and Jewelery Authority, which operates under the State Ministry of Gem and Jewelery, more..

Mar 23 (AD) Six SL nationals who allegedly tried to enter India illegally - they were stranded before being rescued by the Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday - are being interrogated, officials have said. Three of the six are children, officials added. The six Sri Lankan nationals including three children are all residents of Jaffna and Kokupadaiyan in the northern region. They were rescued from an island near Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. Sri Lankans attempted to land at Dhanushkodi in TN more..

Mar 23 (CT) The human rights violation of the upcountry working community by plantation companies should be stopped immediately, General Secretary of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU), Vadivel Suresh said. He said plantation companies were cheating employees by giving fake promises which has psychologically affected the upcountry people. Even though Ministers in charge and the authorities are aware of the daily wage issue of upcountry workers, more..

Mar 23 (EN) SL central bank has lifted a ban on forex transactions and allowed banks to sell forward to importers, in a new direction issued to lenders, ending one of several cascading policy errors that led to an economic crisis. The central bank has lifted a restriction on banks providing forward cover to importers from March 22 according to a circular issued to banks. On April 25, 2021 the central bank limited forward transactions and more..

Mar 23 (CT) Colombo Additional Magistrate, Lochani Abeywickrema, yesterday issued notice on the Police Child and Women�s Bureau (PCWB), to be present in Court, ahead of the perusal of an anticipatory bail application submitted by a female teacher from a leading Colombo school, who teaches ICT, on charges of sexual abuse of a student over a four-year period. The anticipatory bail application filed by the teacher, who is seeking bail in the event of her imminent arrest, more..

Mar 23 (Island) Former Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon asked what the role of the Monetary Board would be in case the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Prez Rajapaksa accepted the set of proposals made by an Advisory Committee especially appointed to strengthen govt efforts to overcome the deepening financial crisis. Monetary Board comprises Governor of CB Ajith Nivard Cabraal (ex-officio), Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle (ex-officio), Sanjeewa Jayawardena, more..

Mar 23 (FT) In a country with a female population of 11.2 million, which is 51.6% of the total population, a 52% tax is charged on menstrual hygiene products. This tax, often referred to as a period tax or a menstrual tax, makes essential sanitary products inaccessible, especially to persons from low income earning households. Research conducted by Advocata Institute found that SL�s period poverty rate is 50%. more..

Mar 23 (AD) Steps are being taken to pay the salary arrears and allowances to Dr. Shafi Shihabdeen of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, the Attorney General informed the Appeals Court on behalf of the Director-General of the Public Service Commission. A writ application filed by Dr. Shafi was taken up before Appeals Court Judges Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola. Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawarshane conveyed this while producing a letter from more..

Mar 23 (DM) There is a delay in printing school textbooks due to the shortage of paper and other related accessories, Educational Publications Dept Commissioner General P.N. Ilaperuma said. He said that there is also a delay in the distribution of printed text books to schools due to the current fuel crisis in the country. "The present power interruption has made significant impact on textbook printing." Printing of textbooks in the days before the COVID-19 pandemic was not an issue. more..

Mar 24 (DM) We call it an agony for good reason. As never before experienced or seen in SL, is the agony of having to spend long hours in ever lengthening queues made worse by the contradictory statements mouthed by the subject ministers, who themselves appear to be clueless as to the actual ground situation. When they say, as they have said on countless occasions, that there will no longer be a shortage of fuel or domestic gas or that there will be no more power cuts, more..

Mar 24 (DM) There are calls, obviously from oppositional elements, for snap elections. There are of course constitutional provisions for holding parliamentary elections and those who make such demands cannot be ignorant about them. It�s therefore empty rhetoric. There are elections that have not been held, though, which not many seem to be concerned about. Yes, even the wide-eyed democracy advocates who lose their voices when their political masters/friends are in power, more..

Mar 24 (DM) The pandemic is still a hot issue here in Sri Lanka and around the world. Although we see a drop in numbers the issue is still being discussed and a lot of precautions are being taken. The vaccination drive in SL has been spoken of highly by both the Govt and the WHO. However, the attempt to force the public to get vaccinated has raised some concerns and has also been challenged in court. more..

Mar 24 (DM) This month (March 2022) had seen widespread discontent by many Sri Lankans from all walks of life on new and old social � economic � political concerns, leading to more than 100 street protests across the country, though many of the protests and protesters remain disconnected. On March 1, eight youth decided to protest by holding placards and lighting candles at Kohuwela junction as their neighbourhood was in darkness due to widespread power cuts, amidst shortages of more..

Mar 24 (TM) Recently, several prominent Buddhist monks, in a letter addressed to Prez Rajapaksa, put forward several suggestions to help manage the prevailing economic crisis, which included a number of steps concerning public funds, policies, renewable energy, business, and investment. Religious leaders playing an active role in politics and governance, either with politicians or as politicians, is not a new phenomenon in SL. However, this is the first time in recent memory that religious leaders more..

Mar 24 (CT) Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna, has a vision for the SLPA and is in the process of completing numerous projects despite the economic crisis, with the goal of making the Port of Colombo (PoC) a regional maritime hub. He has made roughly 15 proposals, with some of them receiving Cabinet approval. He said maintaining a port is an international business that cannot be pursued more..

Mar 24 (Island) The much-advertised All-Party Conference (APC) on the economic crisis got off to a somewhat bumpy start yesterday with some participants, true to form, coming close to locking horns. UNP leader and former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe took exception to a remark CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal made about the economic downturn during the yahapalana administration. Interestingly, former Prez Maithripala Sirisena, who was the head of previous govt, more..

Mar 24 (CT) With three queue deaths due to natural causes led by exhaustion reported from fuel stations at the time of writing, there is an urgent need for Govt of SL to deploy health personnel to give first aid to queue crowds if needed, while waiting for hours at fuel stations for their stocks of diesel, petrol and kerosene at the mercy of the elements. State-owned CPC and LIOC together operate a minimum 665 fuel stations countrywide, their splits, CPC 466 and LIOC a minimum 199 fuel stations. more..

Mar 24 (DM) The recent trends in public rallies and protests showed that people�s thoughts and ideas do matter. The Rajapaksa regime has to realise very quickly that the thin line called patience that divides tolerance and bursting point in people doesn�t exist anymore. People are taking to the streets intermittently and the most aggressive agitators are those belonging to lower income families. Very soon the rich who have joined them will increase in their numbers. more..

Mar 24 (GV) The month of March has seen widespread discontent expressed by many Sri Lankans from all walks of life on new and old social, economic and political concerns leading to more than 100 street protests across the country, although many of the protests and protesters remain disconnected. On March 1, eight youth decided to protest by holding placards and lighting candles at Kohuwela junction as their neighborhood was in darkness due to electricity cuts amid more..

Mar 24 (ST) The waters of the Amban Ganga on either side, we crossed the towering Moragahakanda dam, the latest addition to the Accelerated Mahaweli Scheme. And on the eastern side of the threatened Knuckles forest range is the Kalu Ganga dam. Internationally-funded multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects are development keystones in countries like SL. But rapid decline of environments, bad planning, more..

Mar 24 (FT) SL�s COVID-19 case count exceeded 660,000 following the detection of 292 COVID-19 patients yesterday. The previous day, 281 persons tested positive for COVID-19 and 2,752 PCR tests and 2,303 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Tuesday. A total of 660,151 COVID-19 patients have been detected in SL to date. Out of this, 72,292 patients have been detected since 1 January. 483,090 patients from the New Year cluster, 82,785 patients from the Peliyagoda cluster, more..

Mar 24 (FT) COVID-19 vaccines were administered to 14,041 persons on Tuesday as the country�s COVID-19 immunisation program continues to administer vaccinations to persons over 12 years. 16,995,787 persons have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 14,387,077 persons have received the second vaccine dose. Third dose has been administered to 7,719,703 persons. This includes 7,629 persons vaccinated on Tuesday. Pfizer COVID vaccine is being administered more..