Nov 12 (CB) Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya has been reported with a suspect bowling action during the first Test against England. Dananjaya was reported by match officials at the end of the match, which England won by 211 runs. They relayed concerns about the legality of his action to the Sri Lanka team management. Under the ICC process, Dananjaya's bowling action will not be scrutinised further. more..

Nv 12 (ST) Bloomfield and Galle CC recorded first innings wins against Navy SC and Chilaw Marians in the two-day Premier Emerging League cricket tournament encounters concluded at Reid Avenue and R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. The second day’s play saw Bloomfield after bowling out Navy SC for a low score of 111. However Navy SC’s bowling pair Kavika Dilshan and Malinga de Silva shared six wickets restrict Bloomfield to a score of 170 runs. Navy SC batting the second time going in for more..

Nov 12 (FT) The founder of the SLFP, S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, in his speech made at its inauguration on 2 Sept 1951, said the day not only marked the birth of a new political party but it also ushers, in many ways, a new political era. He was not wrong. Less than five years after its founding, the SLFP won a landslide victory in the 1956 general elections and with it revolutionised politics in the country by ushering in the era of the common man. It was no easy task given the larger-than-life more..

Nov 12 (IE) Around 10 am on Oct 26, the telephone rang at the Colombo residence of Sri Lanka’s then Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa. On the line was his arch rival, President Maithripala Sirisena. The message was clear: reach the President’s home, it was time to move. Hours later, Sirisena had ensured that Rajapaksa was sworn in as PM, replacing his coalition partner Ranil Wickremesinghe. more..

Nov 12 (DN) A focus on its fundamental logistics business has enabled Expolanka Holdings PLC to post promising growth for the second quarter of 2018, with a Year on Year (YOY) revenue growth of 15%. This quarter saw Expolanka record an impressive 617% YoY growth in Profit After Tax as a result of expanding business and improving efficiency during the period. In a message to shareholders, Executive Director and Group CEO Hanif Yusoof noted that the group’s more..

Nov 12 (SO) Sports Ministry officials are perturbed over the mysterious disappearance of a photographer who had accompanied the Sri Lanka Youth Badminton team to Canada to cover the event which commenced a few days ago. Though the contingent was without a manager, frantic inquiries are being made as to how the photographer made the tour to Canada. Though he is in Canada the Ministry has not received any pictures from him or any information regarding his whereabouts. more..

Nov 12 (Island) National Election Comm. had no intention of seeking a Supreme Court ruling on dissolution of Parliament and 5 Jan election, Chairman of the EC, Mahinda Deshapriya said. "There are two opinions on the matter. UPFA & EPDP say that the dissolution is correct. UNP, JVP, ITAK say it’s wrong. SLMC has not informed us of anything. So if we go before the SC and get a verdict, one side will be disadvantaged. more..

Nov 12 (AD) A special advisory for cyclonic Storm GAJA in the Bay of Bengal has been issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre, stated the Met Dept. Deep depression over southeast & adjoining central Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 06 hours and has intensified into a cyclonic storm GAJA. The cyclonic storm laid centered at 0830am today (11) near latitude 13.5°N and longitude 88.9° E, about 1040 km northeast of KKS. more..

Nov 12 (AD) The UNP will act as a front instead of as a party and the leader of the front will not be Ranil Wickremesinghe, says UNP former MP Hirunika Premachandra. According to her, they should move forward under the theme President Ranil; PM Sajith. The hope of all UNP members is that and it will happen so in the future, she further said. This has been discussed with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as well and his response was positive, she added. more..

Nov 12 (Island) About 40 former UPFA MPs, including PM of the caretaker cabinet Mahinda Rajapaksa received membership of the SLPP yesterday as the party consolidated its position ahead of Nov 19-26 nominations for the January 5 parliamentary polls. Former Kalutara District MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena yesterday said that the decision had been taken after carefully studying the ground realities. more..

Nov 12 (ST) Softlogic Holdings PLC has announced its foray into FMCG Modern Trade Retail, with the opening of its first supermarket next week at Delkanda, Nugegoda. Softlogic Holdings said it has already established its pioneering leadership as a retail giant, leading the consumer electronics and apparel segments and innovating in the restaurant and food business, through partnering with global brands. “It is now expanding its footprint in modern trade to tap into the strong more..

Nov 12 (Hindu) President Maithripala Sirisena has dissolved Parliament after it became evident that Mahinda Rajapaksa, who he had appointed Prime Minister two weeks ago, did not enjoy a legislative majority. It is an act of desperation to prevent a likely loss of face for both leaders after Mr. Sirisena’s controversial dismissal of Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister on October 26. Sri Lanka has been roiled by political uncertainty ever since lawmakers of Mr. Sirisena’s party withdrew more..

Nov 12 (DM) Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today said the Executive Branch has seized the rights and usurped the powers of MPs who were elected to represent the people. Je said the willful disregard demonstrated by the executive towards Parliament, the engine of SL’s sovereignty, leaves the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens at grave risk of similar abuse. “Under these dire circumstances, I urge all public servants more..

Nov 12 (EN) UN Chief António Guterres has expessed concern over the sudden sacking of SL's parliament and has called for democratic processes to be respected. "The Secretary-General learned with concern of Prez Sirisena's decision to dissolve SL's parliament and move to new parliamentary elections on 5 Jan 2019," his spokesman said in statement. "The Secretary-General underlines the utmost importance of respecting democratic processes and institutions and resolving more..

Nov 12 (CT) A German woman tourist fell to her death when she apparently slipped from the edge of World’s End, while attempting to take a selfie early yesterday morning, Police said, They said the 35-year-old woman, who was not identified, had trekked to the slope along with a group of friends in a bid to capture the sun rise. Police along with soldiers and officials from the Wild Life Department were involved in the search operation shortly after the incident was reported. more..

Nov 12 (Island) Chairman of the SLPP Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the constitution making process was currently on hold pending the outcome of the Jan 5 general election. Prof. Peiris said so in reply to The Island query regarding the status of the parliamentary process undertaken in terms of the understanding the previous govt had with the Geneva-based UNHRC. The Island raised the issue at a special media briefing more..

Nov 12 (CT) Finance Ministry is ready to present Vote on Account once it gets the Prez’s go ahead, said Secretary to Ministry of Finance, S. R. Attygalle. “I am ready to prepare the Vote on Account for the next three months as soon as possible once the President gives his nod,” he said. Under the prevailing situation when Parliament is dissolved only authority to direct the ministries is the Prez. Once a new govt assumes office, a fresh budget will be presented to the remainder of the period, more..

Nov 12 (Island) The govt would have to spend between Rs 4 -5 billion to hold the January’s general Election, head of the Elections commission, Mahinda Deshapriya said. However given present standards, that was not an exorbitant sum of money, he said. "Five billion rupees is not a huge amount given the present standards," he said. Deshapriya also said that President Sirisena spoke to him before issuing the gazette announcing the dissolution of Parliament and calling for elections. more..

Nov 12 (AD) Issuing a special statement, President Maithripala Sirisena addressed the nation with regard to the dissolution of the parliament. Prez states that one of the reasons behind the dissolution of the parliament was the tragic situation that the value of MPs elected by the people, was commercially evaluated. According to Prez, the second reason that led to the dissolution of the parliament is the former Speaker more..

Nov 12 (Island) Prez Maithripala Sirisena said that he had been compelled to dissolve parliament because fear had been expressed by some MPs belonging to the parties to the dispute that there was the possibility of the House being thrown into chaos and even several deaths caused on Nov. 14, when parliament was to be reconvened. Giving other reasons for the dissolution of parliament, Prez said prices had been placed on MPs following the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM. more..

Nov 12 (Hindu) MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Sunday claimed that the safety and security of Tamils in Sri Lanka will not be ensured by any of the political players who may emerge victorious from the prevailing crisis in the island nation. Responding to a query on the topic in Pudukottai, Mr. Vaiko said that the situation in Sri Lanka under current President Maithripala Sirisena was no different than that which existed during his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime. more..

Nov 12 (AFP) SL's speaker on Sunday accused President Sirisena of usurping parliament and urged public servants to defy his illegal orders, as the president scrambled to defend his controversial sacking of the legislature. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said Sirisena's actions over the past two weeks in sacking prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and dissolving parliament undermined the freedoms of the people. more..

Nov 12 (DM) Constitution of a country is supposed to be the bedrock of the rule of law in a given country. Unfortunately for SL, the constitution had been tinkered with on many an occasion. Constitution of the country - the third since independence and the second Republican Constitution - has been tinkered with and trampled underfoot by the leaders of all governing political parties all of whom have vowed to protect and defend it. During its brief 40-year life span more..

Nov 12 (DM) The changes that have happened in a dramatic manner at the helm of the state within the past two weeks or so have shaken our faith in the Constitution drastically. When I say our, I include all of us, those who occupy both the centers and the various peripheries of our polity. What we today describe as the constitutional crisis is an implosion of liberal democracy, one that is created by liberal democracy itself at the convergence of executive presidency, neoliberal policies and more..

Nov 12 (DM) For the most part of the last few weeks we have been in a suspended state of disbelief. Yes, the 2015 govt had not lived up to its expectations, some people were plotting for the next election to teach them a lesson, and then lightning struck. PM was removed in the stealth of the night replaced by the arch-rival that the President was elected to depose, Parliament was prorogued & then dissolved & a huge cabinet more..

Nov 12 (DM) Last Friday President Maithripala Sirisena dissolved Parliament creating yet another twist in the unfolding political crisis. Despite the protests, a written request by a majority of MPs and requests made by the Speaker to convene parliament, the President went ahead with a clearly undemocratic and unconstitutional move to dissolve Parliament and call for elections. According to critics the last two weeks witnessed more..

Nov 12 (JP) Thirteen Sri Lankan regime opponents have been imprisoned in Israel for two weeks and deprived of rights, according to a report by KAN Bet. The 13 reportedly fled to Israel on tourist visas after having received death threats following the October revolution in their country, and planned to apply for asylum in Israel. Following questioning at Ben-Gurion Airport, in the absence of a translator and with one member of group more..

Nov 12 (CT) The dissolution of Parliament was better than the critical situation that prevailed, said the Mahanayake of Asgiri Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thera. He told Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, on 10 Nov that an agriculture policy is needed for each and every sector of the country. The Minister, who was in Kandy to inform the Prelates of the political situation, then met Malwatte Mahanayake more..

Nov 12 (FT) Fervent accessibility rights activist Dr. Ajith C. S. Perera, Chief Executive of IDIRIYA, has moved the Court to re-activate invocation of a Fundamental Rights Public Interest Litigation of utmost importance to Sri Lanka, nationally and internationally. Its main purpose is to seek redress for a most vulnerable and fast increasing, voiceless & underprivileged marginalised group of persons with limited mobility, more..

Nov 12 (Island) President Maithripala Sirisena had given corrupt MPs a second chance to embezzle money by appointing them to the same ministerial positions they held during the Rajapaksa administration, UNP MP S.M. Marikkar told media yesterday at a press conference in Colombo. "President has renominated a man who had a case filed against him for providing state-built houses for his family members as Minister of Housing. more..

Nov 12 (ST) No heads of govt or state have so far sent congratulatory messages to new PM Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Foreign Ministry has confirmed. However, a spokesperson also said it was because the Cabinet of Ministers was only finalised on Friday and, therefore, a list had not been sent out to Sri Lanka’s missions abroad for dissemination to host nations. “Cabinet of Ministers was only finalised on Friday and more..

Nov 12 (EN) A member of the three-man independent Election Commission joined a dozen petitioners asking the Supreme Court to declare as illegal the actions of Prez Sirisena against parliament. Ratnajeevan Hoole filed a five-page petition seeking the quashing of the president’s decree sacking parliament and calling a snap election on January 5. Hoole argued that Sirisena’s actions were unconstitutional, illegal and more..

Nov 12 (DM) Sixteen MPs have been paid a total of Rs. 26,617,357 as benefits by the president fund from 2015 to up to now. The highest payment has been paid to 3 MPs in the year 2016 amount to Rs. 11,700,000. Two MPs have been paid Rs. 3,917,406 in 2015 and four MPs have been paid Rs. 8,399,287 in 2017. In 2018, seven MPs have been paid Rs. 2,600,664 as benefits. These details were obtained under Right to Information Act, more..

Nov 12 (AD) Several parties have filed petitions at the Supreme Court today against the arbitrary dissolution of the Parliament. Accordingly, 10 fundamental rights petitions have been submitted to the Supreme Court calling to declare the Prez’s dissolution of the parliament illegal. Political parties including UNP, JVP, TNA, TPA and the ACPC, as well as other parties such as the CPA and Attorney Aruna Laksiri have filed these petitions. more..

Nov 12 (CT) Several thousand families have been internally displaced from their houses in the Eastern Province and various parts in the island due to inclement weather condition with the onset of the North East Monsoon. Met Department has also issued a cyclone warning, due to a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal, to the fisherfolk and to the people particularly living in the coastal areas of the island. As natural calamities occur very frequently in the island in the form of more..

Nov 12 (EN) Sri Lanka's forex reserves rose US$ 736 million to US$ 7,900 million in Oct 2018 from a month earlier, helped by a loan from China, official data shows. In September forex reserves fell US$ 1.4 billion to US$ 7,180 million. In October Sri Lanka received the proceeds of a billion US dollar loan from China, boosting forex reserves. Interventions have also continued in forex markets, with sales of stocks and bond by foreign investors amid a political crisis. more..

Nov 12 (Island) A complaint of fraud made to the CID by a businessman dealing in tea is under investigation. Two cheque books belonging to the businessman had been stolen and cheques with forged signatures issued to unsuspecting parties, from whom sums of money ranging from Rs 2 mn to Rs 6 mn had been raised by asking them to keep the stolen cheques as security. Lenders had been allegedly told that the loans would be paid back with intetrest. more..

Nov 12 (Island) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that cabinet portfolios couldn’t be considered bribes. The SLFPer insisted that cabinet portfolios enabled lawmakers to serve the people. However, receiving money to switch sides wasn’t acceptable at all. The minister said so when The Island sought an explanation from him as to the difference between SLFP veteran C.P. de Silva along with 13 lawmakers switching sides in early Dec 1964 that led to the fall of the then govt headed by more..

Nov 12 (EN) Foreign govts have not withdrawn grants, project loans and economic programmes with Sri Lanka, said Sarath Amunugama, who was controversially appointed as Foreign Minister amid a constitutional crisis. "Certain countries have stated that they're watching the situation in Sri Lanka. That's the maximum situation," he said. "That's a standard expression of concern. more..