Jun 4 (TM) Preliminary investigations into a fuel shortage at the pump have identified that 121 fuel stations have not placed any orders for resupply between 27 and 30 May, while many others have not placed adequate orders to replenish stocks, according to Minister Kanchana Wijesekera. Wijesekara, who initially denied that there was a fuel shortage, particularly for octane 92 petrol, yesterday took to Twitter to name and shame 121 fuel stations which had not placed orders for more..

Jun 4 (TM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has shortlisted audit firms PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and KPMG to conduct a forensic audit of the fuel supplier�s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which the CID suspects has been misused to pilfer large quantities of fuel during the energy crisis last year. Highly-placed officials at the Ministry of Power and Energy said that the CID in a letter dated 1 March more..

Jun 4 (ST) SL�s key state owned enterprises (SOEs) will be turned into efficient, productive and profitable ventures under several different strategic reforms prescribed by the IMF. The govt has set up the State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit (SRU) under the Ministry of Finance to divest an identified set of SOEs. SRU seeks to appoint reputed, qualified and experienced firms to provide transaction advisory services for the divestiture of SriLankan Airlines, SLT, SLIC more..

Jun 4 (ST) A limitation on damages action filed in Britain by insurers of the X-Press Pearl container vessel could force a delay in the ongoing compensation claim filed by SL in Singapore. The legal experts have informed the Govt that it would be opportune to either lay by the claims action in Singapore or ask the court for a lengthy delay until the UK case is concluded. Legal experts have informed SL authorities that it will be disadvantageous to proceed with the claims more..

Jun 4 (ST) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe wants to strengthen the military and confer more powers on Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The initiative comes as he embarks on an ambitious National Transformation road map announced in an address to the nation on Thursday. That is to be accompanied by a Presidential Delivery Bureau, all part of plans towards further economic resuscitation. It also coincides with an ongoing controversy more..

Jun 5 (CT) Politics of paranoia confronts politics of dialogue. All around us, there is a frighteningly outlandish carnival in full swing. We�re trying to rationalize our way out of a situation where we�ve been made to believe that we have no choice but meek acquiescence with the arsonists who set the house on fire who now claim that they are expert fire fighters. Our basic freedoms are under constant and calculated assault. Pied pipers and charlatans are on a ceaseless parade vilifying all dissent. more..

Jun 5 (GV) In Himali McInnes� story, Kilinochchi, which is short listed to win the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for 2023, the protagonist is Nisha, a Tamil tea plucker with a turbulent past who moves to New Zealand with her white husband. Her only son AJ, whose father is Sinhalese, goes back to fight in the civil war. Nisha returns to Sri Lanka to find him. �Nothing is ever simple, nothing is ever straightforward � except a mother�s unwavering desire to find her child. more..

Jun 5 (SO) King Buddhadasa who reigned in the 4th Century was known for his talents as an Ayurvedic healer with medical knowledge. According to historical chronicles, King was gifted a Naga Manikya (a highly valuable gemstone) by a cobra for curing it of a stomach ailment which would otherwise have inevitably led to its death. Centuries later, a cobra was cured in a similar fashion at the Uni of Peradeniya, Faculty of Veterinary more..

Jun 5 (ST) The unsightly and itchy rash of bad laws being proposed by SL Govt seems to be never-ending. Hot on the heels of the appallingly crafted Anti-Terrorism Bill and the Anti-Corruption Bill comes a proposal to establish a Broadcasting Regulatory Commission replete with major contradictions. A fundamental flaw goes to the root of the independence of the proposed Commission which I shall return to later.Minister of Justice has been quick to frame this merely as a proposal more..

Jun 5 (DM) I have written on these pages that when the fuel queues disappear and a semblance of old times dawns, Sri Lankans themselves will return to their old habits. The usual charlatans would crawl back from their hiding spots, promising to protect the country and Buddha Sasana from an imaginary enemy. Conspiracy theorists would start afresh. In their default mode, the majority of Sri Lankans tend to be mesmerized by conspiracy theories, racist dog-whistling and miracles of the sort of the cobra more..

Jun 5 (TM) Even though socio-demographic factors such as their sex, marital status and home town, and professional factors such as the years of service and the university from which they graduated from, have no impact on the attitudes of medical officers (MOs) towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, increased religiosity however has a negative impact on their attitudes towards the LGBT community. more..

Jun 5 (DM) Currently, it is apparent that the philosophy of Theravada Buddhism is being heavily distorted, misinterpreted, and misrepresented by various preachers and writers at their will. While every individual has the freedom to interpret their beliefs as they apprehend it, the problem lies in the fact that these personal opinions of orators and authors misguide audiences and readers in the name of Theravada. In simple terms, non-Theravada doctrines have emerged under the guise more..

Jun 5 (TM) The health and wellbeing of our families and of ourselves is of paramount importance to any rational person. A health emergency makes even the most reliant person or family fragile and vulnerable, with quick access to emergency healthcare and hospitalisation a key necessity in any country. In SL, many could not afford an Ambulance until recently, when the Suwa Seriya ambulance service came into existence. While the introduction of the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Suwa Seriya more..

Jun 5 (Island) President Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking at the National Law Conference, in Nuwara Eliya, on Saturday, urged the political parties represented in Parliament to join forces and help rebuild the economy. One cannot but agree that all political parties are duty bound to sink their differences and unite, for the sake of the country, to put the economy back on an even keel, for all of them have contributed to the process of ruining it albeit to varying degrees. more..

Jun 5 (ST) The mush anticipated, the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023, will be staged beginning from June 14 with the game between St. Anthony�s and St. Joseph�s at the Bogambara ground in Kandy. This game welcomes seven weeks of excitement as six games are scheduled to take place each week with defending champions Isipathana College coming out as firm favourites among the rest of the contenders. The title holders of both League and Knockout competitions � Isipathana � more..

Jun 5 (CI) Despite fifties from Ibrahim Zadran and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan were rarely in the hunt as Sri Lanka levelled the series, recording a commanding 132-run win in the second ODI. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva picked up three wickets apiece, while Dushmantha Chameera put in a sterling shift at the top of the innings to pick up figures of 2 for 18 on his return the one-day side. more..

Jun 5 (CT) World Environment Day, which falls on 5 June every year, is perhaps the largest environment-related movement in the world that brings together millions of people, engaging them in the effort to protect and restore the Earth. This year�s celebrations, which fall today, marks a special milestone as this is the 50th World Environment Day the world is observing. The theme of this year�s celebrations is, Solutions to Plastic Pollution � a recurring theme regarding a menace that more..

Jun 5 (CT) 20-year-old Dumindu Abeywickrama, old-boy of Royal College, Colombo, who is ranked 197 in the world, won the bronze medal yesterday at the International Badminton Future Series played in Shimkent, Kazakhstan. On his way to the semifinals, Abeywickrama beat Lan Gabriel Vargas of Philippines by two sets to one in the pre-quarter finals. After losing the first set 19-21, Abeywickrama came back strongly to take the next two sets 21-9, 21-9. He went on to beat Akash Singh more..

Jun 5 (Island) Ratnayake Central, Walala runner Tharushi Karunaratne and Holy Cross College, Gampaha sprinter Jayeshi Uththara shared the silver and bronze medals respectively of the women�s 400 metres to give a winning start to SL�s Asian Junior Athletics C'ship campaign on day one of the event in South Korea on Sunday. Karunaratne and Uththara reached the final as the second and third fastest from the heats held in the morning and those positions remained unchanged as more..

Jun 5 (ST) The Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) has just received the US patent for slow-releasing fertiliser. Thushara Vajira Perera, Director SLINTEC, told the Business Times that this fertiliser was tested by the Ministry of Agriculture at Mahailuppallama on rice varieties. �It was found that rice grows better with this fertiliser. As the fertiliser dissolves slowly, there is no need to add multiple rounds of it, unlike in traditional fertiliser.� more..

Jun 5 (CI) SL have been a modest ODI team for years now, but in Sunday's win over Afghanistan, coach Chris Silverwood saw a workable blueprint. This was on the batting and fielding fronts at least. Having chosen to bat first, SL made 323 for 6, with Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis making half-centuries, while the likes of Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga more..

Jun 5 (DN) John Keells Holdings (JKH) expects the tourist arrival numbers to hit normal by December of this year. Booking data and growing momentum in interest suggests that the company and the broader industry would hit levels that were previously seen before COVID-19. JKH Chairperson Krishan Balendra said, �We would have about 60-65% of the arrivals in May 2018, which is pre-COVID-19. Looking at our forward bookings and the momentum we expect by the peak season in December, more..

Jun 5 (FT) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on Saturday wooed the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) to Colombo North Port Terminal as well as Trincomalee port. On a visit to Singapore the Minister met with PSA International�s Regional CEO and Head Group Business Development Wan Chee Fung and other officials. A statement quoted Wan as saying that if there are investment opportunities for development and operations in the ports of SL, they would like to apply for them. more..

Jun 5 (TM) The FUTA called for the Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha to take immediate actions to fill the numerous vacancies prevailing in the state universities. FUTA Spokesperson Charuadaththe Ilangasinghe said that around 400-500 university teachers and lecturers have left universities from January to end of May this year. He explained that the number also includes teachers and lecturers who retired in May, more..

Jun 5 (CT) Dewald Brevis� blistering 98* helped South Africa �A� register a thrilling 4 wicket win against Sri Lanka �A� in the first unofficial ODI worked off at Pallekelle International Stadium yesterday. Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 264-8 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to half centuries from Nishan Madushka and Janith Liyanage. In reply, the visitors chased down the target in 41.1 overs, riding on a brilliant cameo by Dewald Brevis. Lasith Croospulle opened the innings more..

Jun 5 (FT) Vidullanka PLC has reported a Profit After Tax of Rs. 913 million for the year ended 31/03/2023 up by 5% from the previous year. The total revenue of the company for this period was reported to be Rs. 3.83 billion, a 49% increase in contrast to the last year�s figures of Rs. 2.56 billion. The dwindling growth of profits, despite the healthy increase in revenue, can be attributed to the massive increase in Cost of Sales and Finance Costs borne by the company. more..

Jun 5 (FT) Net credit to the Govt from the banking sector swelled by half a trillion in April pushing the outstanding amount to cross the Rs. 8 trillion mark. As per provisional data released by the Central Bank, Govt borrowed Rs. 523 billion in April whilst total outstanding as at end April was Rs. 8,091 billion. As at end 2022, the outstanding value was Rs. 7,471 billion. Last week the CB said net credit to the Govt by the banking system that notably expanded in 2022 is expected to moderate more..

Jun 5 (DM) In the wake of the recent upsurge cases in little-known respiratory virus called HMPV spreading in the US, SL Health authorities said they keep a close eye on the new developments of the virus and have gone on alert. Dr. Anwar Hamdani from Health Ministry said the Ministry has always been on alert on any new disease spreading in a foreign country as it could pose a threat to SL. "As far as the virus spreading in the US is concerned, we are monitoring the situation," more..

Jun 5 (TM) The SJB highlighted an urgent need for the govt to introduce legislation to remove MPs from their Parliamentary seat if there was misconduct on their part. The call comes in the wake of the Speaker of Parliament, recently stating that no action can be taken against Puttalam District MP Ali Sabri Raheem regarding the recent incident of the latter being caught smuggling in consignment of gold and mobile phones. more..

Jun 5 (EN) Manila based Asian Development Bank has picked Sri Lanka as a priority country to pilot a new financing approach to conserve and build natural capital, Kenichi Yokoyama, Director General, South Asia Department said. Natural capital could include forests, wetlands, marine eco-systems and also agricultural areas. The ADB has set up a division focusing on natural capital and climate, is drawing up a blueprint on how the lender can help enhance such assets. more..

Jun 5 (ST) The shipping agent and captain of the X-Press Pearl cannot be charged in the same indictment, argued the counsel appearing for the shipping agent when the case was taken up at the Colombo High Court on Thursday. Representing the shipping agent, Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Sarath Jayamanne, PC, argued that the shipping agent and the captain could not be charged in the same Indictment. He submitted that the Code of Criminal Procedure Act only allowed for more..

Jun 5 (FT) Theravada Buddhist monk Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso wants Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to focus on building a better SL with more forgiveness than initiating a probe over the minor issue of the former missing a flight at BIA. Ven. Ajahn Brahmavamso made this observation during a talk at the Vesak Day and 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia yesterday. The monk who was in SL for two weeks for multiple engagements missed the Singapore Airlines more..

Jun 5 (EN) State run Litro Gas said it will cut the price of 12.5 kilogram cylinder of liquefied petroleum gas (LP gas) by 452 rupees to 3,186 rupees from midnight of June 04. The price of a 5 kilogram cylinder will be cut by 181 rupees to 1,281 rupees, from the existing 1,462 rupees. A 2.3 kilogram cylinder will be reduced by 83 rupees to 598 rupees, from the previous price of 661 rupees. The prices are being on a an newly introduced formula based on global prices, the firm said. more..

Jun 5 (TM) The Police department is to submit a report into the alleged death threats directed at TNPF Chairman and MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam last Friday, to the courts today. The report into the incident was called by the Ministry of Public Security regarding the allegations made by Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam. A video of the MP having a verbal argument with a group of persons, including Police officers in Jaffna more..

Jun 5 (AD) Ada Derana�s Ukussa helped uncover another skin-whitening racket in Rajagiriya involving the administration of Glutathione, a drug banned in SL. Accordingly, a luxury salon in Rajagriya with a high-profile clientele of actresses and other elite members of society was raided by Ukussa today, after information of another Glutathione racket was received. Upon inspection of the premises, the Ukussa team, together with the Food and Drug Inspectors more..

Jun 5 (DM) At least 23 people have been arrested for allegedly entering the Green Lanka building in Nawam Mawatha in Colombo in the early hours of today and damaging its property on several floors. SSP Nihal Thalduwa said the suspects had damaged the property as the building was under a dispute over its ownership. It was reported that two Embassies are also situated in the building. There was a dispute over the ownership of the Green Lanka building and there was a case ongoing more..