Jun 3 (DM) The following is a right of reply sent by Rividhanavi (Pvt) Ltd to the Daily Mirror in response to the article titled CEB�s solar project awarding procedure raises eyebrows and published on May 9. This refers to the article written by Ms Nirmala Kannangara which appeared under the subject heading on page A4 of Daily Mirror on 9th May. There were many allegations levelled against awarding the project to us (i.e. consortium of Lakdhanavi Ltd, the Blue Circle Ltd and more..

Jun 3 (CI) It is possible that both Sri Lanka and South Africa kind of suck. Since the start of 2023, South Africa have lost nine of the 11 completed T20Is they have played. Most recently, they were thrashed 3-0 by West Indies. None of those results were close. SL, who won the T20 World Cup ten years ago, and for several years before that were arguably the best T20 outfit on the planet, have never really got close to making the semi-final of a limited-overs global trophy since then. more..

Jun 3 (FT) SL illustrator, writer and teacher, Sam Weerawardane has been announced on the longlist by a panel of judges at the World Illustration Awards 2024 (WIA). Annual WIA is a global celebration of illustration and showcases the tremendous talent of international artists with diverse views and experiences. Selected amongst over 5,000 entries submitted globally, Sam�s longlisted work is a book titled Jungle of the Jungle, picture book about a street dog that comes into more..

Jun 3 (ST) URF leader Patali Champika Ranawaka said that the country needs not a process that brings a group into power but a common political transformation. Elaborating that political and economic elements have to work concurrently, he said that was the view expressed by Aragalaya protestors. These remarks were made by Mr. Ranawaka while addressing the party�s second convention held at the Sugathadasa Stadium more..

Jun 3 (Island) With elections coming up in a few months� time � notwithstanding Palitha Range Bandara�s outrageous remarks, to which Saliya Pieris, the former President of the Bar Association, responded thoughtfully � new coalitions and alliances are cropping up. These have pulled together the unlikeliest MPs and ideologues, who you�d never put together in the same room but who have, in the aftermath of the 2022 crisis, have unified around certain issues. more..

Jun 3 (Island) The govt says that inflation has decreased significantly, but the cost of living remains unbearably high. How has this anomalous situation come about? It has been attributed to greedflation or the exploitation of inflation to make excessive profits. Politicians doubtlessly deserve all the bashing they receive, but they are not alone in causing so much suffering to the public; the blame for this sorry state of affairs should be apportioned to the business community, more..

Jun 3 (FT) Internationally acclaimed marine biologist, ocean educator and Blue Whale Project pioneer Dr. Asha de Vos has been appointed to the UN Secretary General�s Scientific Advisory Board. The appointment marks a historic milestone as she becomes the first Sri Lankan to ever join the prestigious board. The Scientific Advisory Board advises the Secretary-General and UN leaders on breakthroughs in science and technology and helps mitigate potential risks, including ethical more..

Jun 3 (TM) SL�s inflation sees upward pressure in the medium term from global energy prices, adverse weather and possible upward revisions of electricity tariffs, the Central Bank of SL (CBSL) said. According to CBSL�s headline inflation projections, there are upside risks to inflation projections stemming from factors such as the impact of possible upward pressures on global energy prices amidst uncertainty. It said that the impact of adverse weather on agricultural production more..

Jun 3 (DN) SL led by Wanindu Hasaranga wanted to start with winning mentality when they meet South Africa in their first group match of the T-20 World Cup cricket tournament which will be played today at Nassau County Int'l Cricket Stadium New York, commencing at 8 pm (SL time). Wanindu Hasaranga who is presently top of the ICC T-20 all rounder ranking as well as second of the ICC T-20 bowling ranking is confident about his team more..

Jun 3 (SO) Commissioner General of Examinations Amith Jayasundara said that 173,444, or 64.33% have qualified to apply for university admission of the 269,613 applicants who sat the GCE A/L exam in 2023 (2024). He said the largest number of candidates qualifying for uni admission this year is from the Northern Province, followed by the Western Province in second place and the Eastern Province in third place. It took less than four months to release the examination results this year. more..

Jun 3 (DN) Tharushi Karunaratne the promising middle distance athlete won her second gold yesterday when she was placed first at 800m at Taiwan International Athletic Open Championship yesterday. Tharushi Karunaratne on her road to Olympic journey came back strongly while she was placed 800m first with 2 minutes 05.74 seconds to grab the gold in grand style. Earlier in two meets Thsrushi was unable to run due to illness but she came back strongly at the Taiwan meet. more..

Jun 3 (FT) Exports, imports dipped in April month-on-month though growing year-on-year showing a mixed performance in external trade as per latest data released by CB. Earnings from merchandise exports increased by 3.4% to $ 878 million in April 2024 compared to $ 849 million in April 2023. In March merchandise exports increased by 9.8% to $ 1,139 million. Exports value in April last year was lowest since April 2021. more..

Jun 3 (DN) Dialog Axiata is once again fueling the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024. A record 84 school teams will compete across three divisions, setting a new benchmark in the history of the Schools Rugby League. The increased number of schools is a result of Dialog�s continued efforts in supporting Schools Rugby over the past years, including initiatives such as development tournaments. The much-awaited season will kick off with Div 1 Segment A clash on 14th June more..

Jun 3 (Island) South Africa themselves have a horrendous record at ICC events. To think that SL have not beaten them in an ICC competition is outrageous. Since beating them in the 2014 T-20 World Cup in Bangladesh, where SL were crowned champions, these teams have met six times in ICC hosted events and all those games have been won by South Africa. That includes three 50 over World Cup games (2015, 2019 and 2023), two T-20 World Cup matches (2016 and 2021) and more..

Jun 3 (Island) 7 persons have been killed by landslides and floods. The deaths have been reported from Matara Deiyahdara, Eheliyagoda, Bulathsinhala and Avissawella. Two person have gone missing. Three members of the same family including a seven-year-old girl drowned in a swollen canal during heavy rains at Kiriella in Puwakpitiya yesterday. The victims were a 36-year-old woman, her 78-year-old father and her seven-year-old daughter. Incident occurred between more..

June 3 (TM) The debate between the Opposition and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP leader, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake which is to take place this week is increasingly uncertain, as the NPP is yet to agree to the proposed debate between the parties' economic committees. The NPP had recently agreed to hold a public debate between the leaders of the two parties on 6 June, a date proposed by the SJB. However, they had not mentioned a debate between the parties' economic committees. more..

Jun 3 (TM) Russian authorities have indicated to their Sri Lankan counterparts that a number of Sri Lankan ex-servicemen who travelled to the country are currently members of the Russian armed forces and are engaged in combat. The confirmation comes following a high-level meeting between Russian authorities and a group of diplomats from the Sri Lanka mission in Moscow last Thursday (30) evening, more..

June 3 (PMD) Prez Ranil Wickramasinghe directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance to immediately release the necessary funds to the relevant District Secretaries to provide urgent relief to the victims of the recent disaster caused by adverse weather conditions following this year�s southwest monsoon. Additionally, Prez has instructed the concerned parties to rebuild all houses that were completely destroyed by the disaster, with assistance from the govt, tri-forces, more..

June 3 (FT) Court of Appeal will take up for consideration a petition filed by plantation companies seeking to invalidate a gazette notification issued by the Minister of Labour, which sets a minimum daily wage for plantation workers. The petition, filed by 21 plantation companies, names Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara, Labour Commissioner, and 52 others as respondents. The petitioners argue that the Minister�s recent gazette, establishing more..

Jun 3 (DM) The driver who drove a private bus along the Kelani Valley railway track at Puwakpitiya has been arrested in Embilipitiya, Police said. He was arrested following a video circulated on social media, which showed a private bus plying between Embilipitiya and Colombo being driven along the railway track apparently to avoid the traffic congestion on the road. The bus has also been taken into police custody. more..

Jun 3 (AD) The Ministry of Education has decided that all schools across the island will remain closed tomorrow, according to State Minister of Education Aravind Kumar. He said the decision has been reached in consideration of the prevailing adverse weather conditions across Sri Lanka. It was previously announced that the Provincial Education Secretaries and Directors have been authorised to make a desly announced that the Provincial Education Secretaries and Directors have been authorised to make a desly announced that the Provincial Education Secretaries and Directors have been authorised to make a desly announced that the Provincial Education Secretaries and Directors have been authorised to make a decision on whether or not to hold schools today (3). more..

Jun 3 (Island) Director General of the Interim Secretariat for the Truth and Reconciliation Mechanism (ISTRM), Dr. Asanga Gunawansa, PC, says the draft of the law to establish a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation in SL can be amended to enable the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (CTUR) to have prosecutorial and/or judicial powers. Otherwise, a special court could be established to address the need more..

June 3 (Island) The plantation industry raised its strongest possible objections to the government�s arbitrary, reckless, unilateral decision to drastically hike minimum wages for tea and rubber sector workers by an unprecedented 70%. All producer stakeholders issued a unified warning against the devastating impact the latest increase would have on the plantation sector, leading crippling operational challenges, ultimately leading to severe economic instability for the nation. more..

Jun 3 (DM) Claiming that corrupt and rowdy politicians who backed away after the Aragalaya have started to raise their heads again, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that if the true aspirations of the Aragalaya are to be fulfilled, a govt which maintains the true objective of the people's uprising should be established. Speaking at a NPP youth rally, he said the NPP is the only political force and the govt which could uphold the true aspirations of the people's uprising in 2022. more..

June 3 (FT) The DMC announced that severe weather conditions have resulted in 15 deaths and 23 injuries across the Sabaragamuwa, Northern, Western, Southern, North Western, Central, North Central, Uva and Eastern provinces. A total of 3,727 families, comprising 11,864 individuals, have been impacted by the adverse weather. In response, 2,611 people have been relocated to 21 designated safety locations. more..

Jun 3 (GV) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, unlike his predecessors, was not elected by the people of Sri Lanka. He was appointed by SLPP MPs to replace the ousted Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Mr Wickremesinghe is working to build a popular base, asserting that he alone stabilised the economy through an agreement with the IMF, which led to a $2.9 billion loan to help the country recover from its severe socio-economic crisis. Despite pro-regime claims of economic recovery, SL�s prospects more..

Jun 3 (CT) Addressing the high cost of shoes as the cost of living continues to rise, an often-overlooked burden falls on families struggling to afford school uniforms for their children. Among these uniform components, school shoes have become almost unaffordable for many parents, prompting a call for urgent reforms to the current school uniform policy. In Sri Lanka, it is common for children to wear the same pair of shoes for multiple years, despite their feet continuing to grow. more..

Jun 3 (AD) Former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and 7 others have been further remanded until June 14 by the Maligakanda Magistrate�s Court. They are facing charges related to the import of substandard human immunoglobulin vials. Meanwhile, the court also ordered the release of the fourth suspect of the case under a monetary bail of Rs. 100,000 and two surety bails of each worth Rs. 500,000. This order was issued when the relevant case was taken up before the Maligakanda Magistrate�s Court more..

Jun 3 (DM) Due to adverse weather conditions, the water pressure will decrease during peak hours due to the disconnection of the main water supply line near the Thummodara bridge, NWSDB said. The main water line from the Kalatuwawa water purification plant has been disconnected and the pressure of the water supply will be low between 6 am and 9 am and 5 pm and 9 pm. Accordingly, Galagedara, Padukka, Godagama, Homagama, Pannipitiya, Rukmalgama, Pelenwatta, more..

Jun 3 (AD) The Article IV Consultation and second review under the EFF for Sri Lanka are on the IMF Executive Board meeting agenda for June 12, says State Minister Shehan Semasinghe. �The session will evaluate SL�s economic policies and reform progress,� he said. He also said SL looks forward for continued support of all countries for a successful review to unlock the third tranche, which will further enhance more..

Jun 3 (CT) There are several unresolved issues at the recently opened German-SL Friendship New Women�s Hospital in Karapitiya, Galle, causing inconvenience to both staff and patients, including pregnant women seeking services. According to hospital sources, challenges include inadequate water drainage in toilets, insufficient storage facilities, a lack of designated areas for hospital assistants to change clothes, inadequate restrooms for drivers and inadequate facilities for more..

Jun 3 (CT) The ongoing strike initiated by university non -academic staff trade unions is resulting in a direct financial loss to the Govt, estimated at around Rs 150 million, stated State Minister of Higher Education, Suren Raghavan. Addressing concerns surrounding the strike, Raghavan emphasised the Govt�s commitment to engaging in dialogue with the striking unions to address their various demands. He highlighted that Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe and other govt authorities more..

Jun 3 (EN) SL�s military and the Civil Defence Force, city authorities are monitoring 300 trees in the capital Colombo, as pouring rain and gusting winds brings down large trees, State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon said. Colombo, sometimes known as the Garden City of Asia has beautiful trees, some dating back to the British period and brought from around the world. �Within CMC city limits, there are 100,000 trees. more..

Jun 3 (PMD) President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced plans to construct 250 new bridges across Sri Lanka to enhance road connectivity and maximize the benefits of national development projects for rural communities. Prez made this announcement while addressing a celebration at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo today, marking the successful completion of 750 rural bridges by Janson Bridging International from the Netherlands over the period 2014-2024. more..

Jun 3 (CT) SJB General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara, expressed his firm stance against accepting the reinstatement of his UNP membership. He characterised the UNP�s offer as absurd, given that it came after a lapse of four years, and made it clear that he would not acknowledge it. Instead, he emphasised his current affiliation with a new political party and criticised the UNP for what he termed as trivialising their statements. Maddumabandara went on to criticise more..