Aug 28 (Island) The orthopaedic ward of the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital is in urgent need of critical surgical supplies. These are essential to make it less painful for children either recovering from broken bones or after surgeries to correct deformities. Anyone who has had the misfortune of having had a limb in a plaster of paris cast will know what it feels like when it starts itching. Doctors use good quality stockinette to minimise that unbearable itch. But, unfortunately, more..

Aug 28 (ST) Among four companies that had submitted unsolicited proposals for a US$ 1.47bn (Rs 524bn) long-term coal tender to SL is UAE-based Coral Energy DMCC, which is currently dominating oil supplies to the country, and China Merchant Engineering Corporation (CEMC) which has no background in supplying coal. The hotly-contested contract went this week to the bidder that offered the best price of US$ 328.22 more..

Aug 28 (ST) SL is to hand over between 500 and 700 fuel stations for retail operations by foreign oil companies as the fuel import bill soared with estimates showing the country would need more than USD 2 billion to buy fuel for the next four months. Power and Energy Ministry is considering 27 proposals from various companies, including the Sinopec Group from China and the British Shell company. “The ministry plans to short list the proposals before taking a final decision. more..

Aug 28 (EN) SL’s recent import controls are temporary and can be removed when the external situation improves, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. “These are temporary measures,” Governor said at a forum to promote inward remittances through a new application. “We have to conserve limited resources. As the situation improves we can remove these controls.” Some items like vehicles, fridges are not immediately essential, and can be delayed he said. more..

Aug 28 (ST) President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to form an All-Party Govt (APG) to ensure a speedy economic recovery have turned futile. The principal reason is the reluctance of the SJB to become a constituent. This became clear when its leader Sajith Premadasa and General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara met the President for talks on Monday. Commenting on these talks, more..

Aug 29 (CT) There was much consternation in India over the Chinese spy ship docking in SL. India expressed its security concerns over berthing the ship at the Hambantota port. The truth is that symbolism triumphed over substance. The controversial visit of China’s spy ship Yuan Wang-5 to SL’s Hambantota port from August 16 to 22 is perhaps SL’s most commented news story, next only to Prez Rajapaksa’s escape in stealth from the island-nation a few weeks earlier. more..

Aug 29 (GV) Order and stability have been the key words defining the early days of the Wickremesinghe presidency. They are touted as being the mantra that will set SL on the path to economic recovery by his backers, and have been the butt of cynicism and ridicule by critics that question his legitimacy, let alone his ability to bring stability to a country facing its worst economic crisis in history. Indeed, not many would argue that the appointment of Ranil Wickremesinghe as more..

Aug 29 (SO) Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the SLFP should take the lead in forming an All-Party Govt (APG) as it was the SLFP which presented the proposal of the APG during the tenure of former Prez Rajapaksa. Minister said the SLFP was keen to form an APG and it has the responsibility of playing its major role. When Prez Wickremesinghe has expressed his willingness to form an APG, more..

Aug 29 (CT) China’s recalcitrance to restructure Sri Lanka’s debts so that it can have recourse to an IMF loan, said to be to the tune of US$ 3 billion, to tide over its foreign exchange (FX) crisis is because it is eyeing more investments in the country, experts say. Sri Lanka’s FX crisis is exemplified by the long queues seen at fuel stations today because the Govt has either no/or lacks US dollars to import fuel, thereby fanning political and socioeconomic unrest in the country. more..

Aug 29 (DM) Europe considers itself to be among the most civilized nations in the world. Yet, here we are in the 21st century witnessing death and destruction of an unimaginable scale emerging from Ukraine, in the heart of Europe. Millions of desperate Ukrainians are fleeing bombardment of their cities, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. According to the UN, at least 12 million people have fled their homes. While over five million have left for neighbouring countries, around 7 mil others more..

Aug 29 (TM) SL politicians need to come together to form a credible govt that can regain international confidence to lead the country to recovery, TPA Leader and Opposition MP Mano Ganesan said. The trilingual member from Colombo stressed that the silver lining during the current crisis SL was facing was a God-given opportunity to change our country’s direction and urged all parties to collectively support the interim govt more..

Aug 29 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is everyone’s problem, and hostility to his presidency has been mounting from day one. He didn’t help things by cracking down on Galle Face protesters in a brutal fashion. There is a massive amount of distrust on either side. Where do we go from here? Ranil Wickremesinghe is full of contradictions, but the Aragalaya, the people’s tsunami wave which ousted the formidable Rajapaksa clan from politics, rewriting the political map in a way more..

Aug 29 (ST) The 1970s-1980’s Prevention of Terrorism (PTA) playbook wielded with consummate skill by his uncle Junius Richard will not work in modern-day SL, Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe must be categorically told. In fact, the comedy of errors where well-known sports champions to well-meaning citizens who provided food and water to young protestors are being hauled up by the CID would be funny if it was not so deadly serious. There had always been a touch of farce about the way more..

Aug 29 (TM) Issuing an official statement, St. Peter’s College Rector Rev. Fr. Rohitha Rodrigo denied media reports and all allegations over fielding an ineligible player during the recently concluded Dialog Schools Rugby League 2022. The Morning Sports reported on this matter during the week, when reports emerged that Dharmaraja College had lodged a complaint with the SLSRFA regarding a player who had taken part in their season opener against St. Peter’s College. more..

Aug 29 (ST) A recent column in a popular daily newspaper speaks of the Sri Lanka Paradox. As a country long admired in South Asia for its progressive social and economic indicators, recent trends have all but nullified its pretense of good governance. The need for accountability of public office thus rears its ugly head, and national sports is no exception. While, no paucity of talent is evident in every square mile compared to its neighbours, the shameful exploitation of sports by more..

Aug 29 (CI) Sri Lanka must ask their batters whether they were ready for the challenges Afghanistan's quicks threw at them, Dasun Shanaka said after the big defeat in the Asia Cup opener. Sri Lanka were 5 for 3 in two overs - albeit with a strange caught-behind decision thrown into the mix - and never quite recovered. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunathilaka did add 44 for the fourth wicket, but they crashed to 105. more..

Aug 29 (Island) Sri Lanka is looking for heroes. Those who made themselves out to be heroes and secured high positions have been found to be incompetent cowards. Bogus heroes have reduced the country to mendicancy over the decades. Unhappy is the land that needs heroes, as a Brechtian aphorism goes. Sri Lankans tend to see a hero or heroine in every average yet glib politician with rhetoric rolling off his or her restless tongue. Their despondency is such that they pin more..

Aug 29 (Island) Former CB Governor, Arjuna Mahendran, has responded to your editorial on Cops & Robbers, by saying that he obtained prior approval to leave the country from the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Chitrasiri. He, therefore, denies having “fled the country”. Your editor’s Note however, hits the nail on the head in the rebuttal – “Doesn’t the act of leaving the country, before legal action is instituted against you, and staying overseas, without returning to stand trial, more..

Aug 29 (DN) The on-field and third umpire made a couple of baffling decisions during the early part of the Sri Lankan innings during their Asia Cup opening match against Afghanistan on Saturday. SL spectators who were witnessed to see this open game were really disappointed stated the Hindustan Times paper. The first instance was the major one which SL left head coach Chris Silverwood and a number of the players more..

Aug 29 (DM) The Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) yesterday cautioned that there is a serious danger of technological platforms in the country breaking down due to the government’s import ban on IT devices and peripherals due to the dearth of dollars prevailing in the country at present. Issuing a statement, FITIS said that its members expect to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe and have a discussion with him on relaxing the ban. more..

Aug 29 (CT) Government of SL’s (GoSL’s) demand pull inflationary face value money printing (FVMP) debt increased by Rs 15,373 million on Friday due to a sustained lack of revenue. GoSL’s FVMP debt as a whole increased by 1.12 per cent (Rs 35,305.53 million) to Rs 3,185,059.89 million (Rs 3.1851 trillion). The country’s foreign reserves on a gross basis haemorrhaged by US$ 42.58 million (Rs 19,932 million) led by the settlement of payments for essential imports on Friday (25), more..

Aug 29 (DM) State- revenue reached pre-pandemic levels in the first five months of the year by recording 17.5% year-on-year (YoY) growth in the period, according to the Central Bank data. In the five-month period, the govt revenue rose to Rs.811.9 billion from Rs.630.1 billion a year ago supported by increases in tax rates and one-off retrospective surcharge tax on large companies. The non-tax revenue nearly doubled to Rs.101.3 billion from Rs.60.8 billion a year ago. more..

Aug 29 (Island) The Organic Food Production and Exports by SMEs in SL conference was held on 23 Aug 2022, organized as part of the Support to Small and Medium Enterprises in the Organic Agriculture Sector Programme; Multi-Donor Action (MDA) jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The conference was organised more..

Aug 29 (ST) Highways Ministry’s senior officials are pushing the RDA to finalise the award of the proposed US$ 550mn (Rs 110bn) New Kelani Bridge (NKB) — the elevated highway — to Athurugiriya to China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC) despite an official freeze on costly mega projects. These officials—who are now holding closed-door discussions with the company—are plugging the project as “a means to more..

Aug 29 (DM) The change in card balances through the end of July provided a sneak peak view of the large-scale pullback on consumer spending amid skyrocketing prices of everyday goods as SL joined the club of world’s basket cases comprising countries with runaway prices. The July credit card balance had fallen by a massive Rs.3.96 billion, the largest in recent months tipping the year-to-date change to a negative Rs.564 million, in a sign that banks are bracing for smaller loan books more..

Aug 29 (FT) In a significant breakthrough, SL’s tea exports to the Polish retail market will increase from 2022 onwards with the expanded supply of Ceylon tea to Poland’s largest retail chains Biedronka (Ladybird) and Auchan. Biedronka has already sourced a total of 109,699 kilos of Ceylon tea, valued at $ 754,641.12 from the new SL export partner between February and July 2022. This is an important opportunity for further expanding the Ceylon tea footprint in Polish retail market, more..

Aug 29 (FT) The hospitality industry is fearing a complete shut down following the recent ban on imports. The Hotel Suppliers Association (HSA) President Azad Mansoor said that 95% of its members are of SME category providing 200,000 direct employment and a further 500,000 indirectly and the latest import ban spells doom for the industry. It was pointed out that items such as food and beverage, toilet rolls, more..

Aug 29 (Island) It is time for Sri Lanka to make a series of economic decisions with important consequences, and making state owned enterprises (SOEs) directly accountable to the people rather than politicians is key among them, Shanta Devarajan, a professor of the Practice of Development at Georgetown Uni said. “Economic reforms in Sri Lanka used to be a solitary concern weighing on the mind of the IMF in the past. But today it is interesting to note that Aragalaya, more..

Aug 29 (DM) 3 suspects were arrested with a large haul of dangerous drugs, namely 1 kg of cocaine, 24.5 kg of ash and 8 kg of kush during a raid in Peliyagoda this morning. Police also seized a jeep and a three-wheeler along with Rs. 3 million in cash. Policemen attached to the Peliyagoda Police on duty near the SEC on the Peliyagoda- Negombo road noticed some goods were being loaded into a jeep and a three wheeler which were parked in the vicinity, caused some element of doubt. more..

Aug 29 (DN) The new consumer Electric Shock tariff announced by PUCSL, which increased consumer tariffs by up to 75% is a result of not giving priority and helping to implement Renewable Energy (RE) projects and also losses of the CEB. Even with this tariff revision CEB losses will continue with the rupee depreciation and world fossil fuel prices increasing. When SL commissioned the Lakvijaya Norochcholai Coal plant, the exchange rate was Rs 113 to the US $ and coal cost per MT was under US$ 80. more..

Aug 29 (AD) Ishara Heenkenda of Kendagolla Maha Vidyalaya in Badulla has been ranked the first in the island in the Arts stream at the G.C.E. A/L exam 2021 (2022). Meanwhile Neranda Kumarasinghe of Mayurapada Central College in Narammala in the island’s first in the Technology stream. Thamilvannan Thuwaragesh of St. Michael’s College, Batticaloa is ranked first the Biological Science stream. The results of the 2021 G.C.E. A/L exam were released online through more..

Aug 29 (DM) A Chinese fertilizer company involved in a dispute with SL, has refused to budge and had demanded that SL respect the spirit of the agreement reached between both parties. Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group reminded the SL authorities of a supplementary agreement reached between both parties in Feb 2022. “According to the supplementary agreement reached between our company and SL side in Feb 2022, more..

Aug 29 (HT) After leaving Hambantota Port on Aug 22, the Chinese satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 is currently mapping ocean bed 400 nautical miles (741 km) south-southeast of Dondra Head, the southernmost tip of SL. According to information, the military ship is expected to head towards its home port Jiangyin near Shanghai as per details provided at Hambantota. However, it is not clear whether the ship will make another port call while on the way back to China. more..

Aug 29 (FT) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa says SL got swept up by the Gotabaya popularity wave that eventually led to its destruction. “The country was caught up in the popularity wave of Gotabaya Rajapaksa and today the whole country has been destroyed by that wave,” he said. Premadasa blamed the majority of the people for going along with that wave to vote in the SLPP. “6.9 million voted at the Prez election while 6.8 million voted at general election to bring this clan more..

Aug 29 (TM) Noting that there is no great need to deploy police officers to manage protests and places like filling stations and gas distribution centres in the current situation, Police has stated that it is now taking steps to deploy officers at full capacity for normal duties such as crime prevention and investigations, including those pertaining to the combatting of underworld activities. Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said: more..

Aug 29 (FT) SL’s quest for companies from petroleum-producing countries to engage in importation, distribution, and retail activities, has received an overwhelming response, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera confirmed. “A total of 24 companies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, US, China, India, Russia, UK, Malaysia, Norway, and the Philippines have submitted proposals for the Expression of Interest (EOIs) to engage in the petroleum businesses in SL,” he noted. more..

Aug 29 (ST) Japanese embassy has requested the Jaffna Municipal Council (JMC) to refund the money spent for the import of four reconditioned waste-collection trucks after the project was delayed for more than three years. The embassy has written to the council to refund Rs 14.3 million (USD 83,432) which was given for the import of the four trucks. “It is greatly regrettable that the project has already been three years late over the schedule and you were unable to implement the project,” more..