Jun 22 (EN) India�s Petronet has made a liquefied natural gas proposal to power around 600 MegaWatts of thermal plants in the country outside of a long term generation plan. Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has said. �While a long term plan for LNG will be finalized, options for short term solution to reduce the cost of generation in the next 24 months from the 600+ MW of LNG power plants available will be pursued,� Minister Wijesekera said in a twitter message. more..

Jun 22 (DN) Northern Province Chief Secretary Saman Bandulasena said that Northern province farmers have succeeded in earning more than US$ 100,000 per week by exporting sour plantains produced in the province. He said that plans are under way to increase the income earned from the sour plantains import to US$ 500,000 within the next three months. He said that an extent of 8,000 acres of land has been identified for the distribution among young entrepreneurs for implementation more..

Jun 22 (OHCHR) The oral update, which I am honoured to present today, highlights some key developments and trends from our close monitoring of the situation in SL, ahead of the full written update that will be presented to the Council at its 54th session. SL has also been reviewed recently through the Universal Periodic Review and by the Human Rights Committee. The economic crisis continues to have a severe impact on the rights and well-being of more..

Jun 22 (EN) Shares closed over a two month high on Thursday, as the market was boosted by the crossings in Expolanka boosted the market following positive macroeconomic indicators, an analyst said. �The market is moving on green, because fears of debt restructuring and optimization had been addressed,� an analyst said. The main All Share Price Index was up 0.13% or 12.47 points to 9,307.87, while the most liquid index S&P SL20 was up 0.37% or 9.95 points to 2,667.06. more..

Jun 22 (FT) It is hard to find a business firm which has no interest in sustainability. The ability to generate profits consistently while preserving the environment and serving the society are the key focus areas of sustainability. Similarly, almost every firm uses digital technologies. Digital transformation (DT) has become a buzzword in business. Manufacturing firms attempt to reduce the impact on the environment by switching to renewable energy and recyclable inputs facilitated more..

Jun 23 (AD) A Gazette notification has been issued by Ministry of Public Security revising the fines on visa overstay of foreigners in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the fine for overstay of 07 to 14 days has been revised to USD 250 while the fine for over 14 days has been revised to USD 500, apart from visa fees. The gazette has been issued by the Minister of Public Security under Section 23 of the Immigrants and Emigrants Act, (Chapter 351) and approved by Parliament. more..

Jun 23 (DM) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva strongly criticized the SriLankan cockpit crew claiming that they refused to cooperate to operate the scheduled flight even when a co-officer was sick. �There were 20 more first officers when the first officer on duty fell ill and they were off-duty. I telephoned them and requested to fly the plane as the passengers are in distress. None of them responded positively and offered to fly the flight in the absence of their co-officer. more..

Jun 23 (DM) With a dramatic surge in shooting and criminal incidents in recent months, the Police have increased secret operations to thwart criminal activities triggered by rivalries among underworld gangs. During the last 24 hours, three individuals were killed in 3 separate shooting incidents in Homagama, Kosgama and Kottawa. Of the incidents, two had happened in the Nugegoda Police Division where two persons aged 30 & 46 more..

Jun 23 (AD) Attorney General (AG) on Thursday gave an undertaking to the court that former AG Dappula de Liver will not be arrested over his controversial statements on the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks. Accordingly, Additional Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe, on behalf of AG Sanjaya Rajaratnam, today assured the court that the former AG will not be arrested regarding a statement he had previously made on the 2019 attacks, when a petition filed by former AG more..

Jun 23 (EN) SL�s food inflation will ease to a single digit next month though the govt had been expecting it in December this year, Minister Nalin Fernando said as appreciation of the rupee, improved local food supply with chemical fertilizer application, and base effect have helped to ease the inflation. The year on year food inflation has eased to 15.8% in May from from 27.1% in the previous month as measured by National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), data showed on Wednesday. more..

Jun 23 (EN) Aviation Ministry permitted Uber and PickMe to operate at the BIA for a fee after passengers complained of harassment and overcharging by other taxi drivers, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said. Responding to a statement by opposition leader, de Silva said that a conventional airport taxi charges 6,750 rupees for a trip to Colombo from the airport whereas an Uber or PickMe cab would charge only around 3,500. more..

Jun 23 (AD) Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella says that he will resign from his ministerial post, if the funds required to purchase medicines will not be received further. While explaining the situation that arose at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital and the Children�s Hospital in Peradeniya regarding an anesthetic drug, during today�s parliamentary session, Rambukwella mentioned that the government has to take over the responsibility for such shortcomings more..

Jun 23 (DM) Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara today urged foreign employment seekers not to get duped by racketeers who promise lucrative foreign employment while indicating that they are closely connected to him, one of his family members, or his personal staff. The Minister said that foreign employment seekers should not give money to such fraudsters and added that he would not take responsibility for such actions. The minister further said that more..

Jun 22 (DM) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said at least three months will be needed to reduce the prices of eggs and chicken. He stated there is no need to import eggs due to the development of the poultry industry. The minister added that his goal is not to continue importing eggs to SL, but to transform the animal husbandry project into an export-oriented project to supply the foreign markets. The poultry industry is a significant contributor to SL's economy and the country has seen more..

Jun 22 (AD) A shooting incident has been reported near a residence in the Cross Road area in Borella this morning (June 22). An unidentified group of individuals, who arrived at the location, had fired two shots at the gate of the house using a T-56 firearm, the police said. Police revealed that the house in question belongs to the managing director of a well-known footwear company. However, the motive behind this shooting has not been uncovered so far, according to police. more..

Jun 22 (TM) Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the Ministry would seek advice of Attorney General (AG), Sanjay Rajaratnam PC on the possibility of the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill (ACB) having retroactive application with regard to making suspects liable for related past offences. He expressed these views in response to a question raised by the SJB MP Lakshman Kiriella as to whether prosecutions can be carried out more..

Jun 22 (FT) All scenarios beyond the next 18 months must necessarily be �post-Ranil� because, try as he might, Wickremesinghe cannot transcend the objective parameters of reality any more than any of us can. He is an unelected president, unelected either by the popular vote to the presidency or by popular vote to the Parliament which picked him by a majority vote to take over from Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He is, just as Prez D.B. Wijetunga was after he assumed presidential office upon more..

Jun 22 (DM) Chairman of the National Sports Council and Cricket World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga intimated that despite Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) reporting a record surplus, it was of no benefit towards the development of the sport in the country. He made this statement following SLC's revelation that it had recorded a surplus of Rs 6.3 billion in the last financial year, which it added was the highest ever in its history. "This surplus is not from playing and winning matches. more..

Jun 22 (TM) Despite the hard labour of tea-sector employees and repeated warnings by its industry experts, the overnight ban on chemical fertiliser that came into effect resulted in a loss of approximately $175 million based on the 2022 prices, Planters' Association of Ceylon Chairman Senaka Alawattegama said. He made this revelation while commenting on allegations against Regional Plantation Companies (RPC) more..

Jun 22 (DM) Former MP Hirunika Premachandra who expressed frustration on the current situation of the SJB, slammed the party leadership saying the SJB top brass trusts only two-faced crooks. �There are two-faced crooks in the SJB who stay with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa during day time but wine and dine with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe in the night. These SJBers are snakes. However, the party leader trusts only them instead of us who are committed to the party,� more..

Jun 22 (SLN) IKAZUCHI (DD-107) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit this morning. The visiting ship was welcomed by the SL Navy in compliance with naval traditions. IKAZUCHI (DD-107) is a 150.5m long Destroyer which is manned by a crew of 207. She is commanded by Commander TANAKA Hiroaki. Meanwhile, Captain of the ship called on Commander Western Naval Area, Rear Admiral Suresh De Silva at Western Naval HQ today. more..

Jun 22 (AD) The substantial increment of around Rs. 10,000 for all Army personnel, war-affected disabled Army personnel and family members of deceased Army members to their salaries beginning from April, this year has taken place, following a prolonged absence of about 4 years, under the recommendation of Prez Wickremesinghe, in response to the request of Commander of Army, Lt Gen Vikum Liyanage. This was reportedly the first time such an increased allowance was paid more..

Jun 22 (PTI) SL Navy has arrested 22 Indian fishermen on board four trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters northwest of Delft Island, Jaffna, officials said on Thursday. The SL Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters late on Wednesday. The fishermen from Tamil Nadu, reportedly hailing from Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai and Nagapattinam districts, were picked up from more..

Jun 22 (TM) The National STD/AIDS Control Programme claimed that the lack of proper sex education, addiction to pornography, having sex with strangers, not using contraceptives and increase in drug use have contributed to the hike in HIV cases in SL. Commenting on this matter, National STD/AIDS Control Programme Coordinator Dr. Geethani Samaraweera said that due to the increased testing capacity, more..

Jun 22 (AD) Colombo Magistrate�s Court ordered that a request will be forwarded to President of the Court of Appeal to take action against State Minister Diana Gamage, over contempt of court. Order was issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis today, upon consideration of the facts presented by the CID and the lawyers of social activist Oshala Herath, petitioner in the relevant case. Herath filed a petition seeking a writ order disqualifying the state minister from holding more..

Jun 22 (CT) Jaffna District Secretary has taken a decision to prohibit private educational institutions in the Jaffna District from conducting private classes on Fridays and Sundays. This measure aims to reduce stress on children and promote stronger parent-child bonds by allowing children to spend more time with their parents. District Secretary has also urged representatives of private educational institutions and resource persons to raise awareness among parents, as requested by social activists. more..

Jun 22 (AP) SL's former Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa was accused in a report released Thursday of tampering with police records in order to hamper investigations into mass graves discovered in an area where he was a military officer at the height of a bloody Marxist insurrection in 1989. Report by activist groups including the International Truth and Justice Project, Journalists for Democracy in SL and Families of more..

Jun 22 (CT) Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has announced that 362 plots of tea land, with water sources, in the Hali-Ela DS Division of the Badulla District, have been officially designated as a Water Reservation Environmental Protection Area (EPA) under the National Environment Act. Supun Pathirage, Chairman of CEA, emphasised that the Authority has been actively working to gazette Environmental Protection Areas (EPAs) in response to pollution caused by human activity. more..

Jun 22 (Island) Dissident SLPP MP Gevindu Cumaratunga said that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe should give up the Finance portfolio to ensure that the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) could achieve the objectives it was established for. He said that political interference in PBO couldn�t be prevented as long as the appointing authority, in this case the Prez, also served as the Finance Minister. He said that having declared that the executive shouldn�t hold any ministerial portfolio, more..

Jun 23 (DM) World Yoga Day was celebrated across the world on June 21 with SL too having many events across the island to mark the occasion. The word yoga is synonymous with most Sri Lankans and there are so many institutes that teach this heath system apart from the many retreats that are advertised here. The big question is whether the SL Govt sees the potential to use this island and its most beautiful tourist destinations to build yoga centres and couple it with holiday packages. more..

Jun 23 (DM) War is a lie. Terrorism is a lie. The state is an embodiment of lies, damn lies, and statistics. As Winston Smith, the main character in George Orwell�s mind-blowing political novel 1984, finds out, even dissent is a lie. Can govts that call themselves democratic lie to the people? Lies and deception are the antithesis of democracy, yet they are part of govt. Should conscientious officials who are privy to the lies uttered by govts remain silent if the lies result in devastating consequences? more..

Jun 23 (SO) A group of SL army doctors recently managed to enter the Guinness Book of World Records after carrying out surgery to remove what turned out to be the largest kidney stone to be removed from a human. The surgeons were able to remove the stone in its entirety without causing any harm to the patient�s kidney. While the surgery was carried out at the Army Hospital in Colombo, patient is now recuperating at home. more..

Jun 23 (CT) We, as a nation, are never devoid of the ability of giving things a huge go at the beginning. The finest evidence is that the so-called foundation stone laying ceremonies that everyone goes gaga about, whenever a govt sponsored project is to be commenced. Indeed, we could turn oblivion to the fact that loads of money are spent on those trivial matters, and say that�s totally fine, but as long as the project would be taken on and completed. Yet, most of those foundation stones, more..

Jun 23 (GV) The days of white vans and enforced disappearances may be on the wane but Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and his regime have embarked on a just as insidious method to supress people�s freedom of expression, association, assembly and speech: judicial harassment. Judicial harassment includes arbitrary arrest and detention, enactment of repressive legislation and policies and all other forms of charges, prosecutions and judicial processes imposed to interfere with more..

Jun 23 (TM) Rhuani Rambukwelle is a prominent figure in the business, art, and community sectors in SL. As the founder of Enforcers of the Call Global, Hardy Centre of Art, and Chairperson of the Int'l Christian Chamber of Commerce SL, Rambukwelle has made significant contributions to various fields. Known for her visionary approach and unwavering commitment, she has carved a path of success and impact in her endeavours. more..

Jun 23 (TM) Shedding light on a pressing issue that is most likely to be on the rise owing to the economic crisis, Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe recently discussed how certain officials of banking and other financial institutions are abusing the law to rip off their clients. The law, known as the Parate law, which focuses on the seizure of unpaid property, has, according to the Minister, given unlimited powers to the boards of directors of banks and financial institutions. more..