Jun 4 (FT) High Commissioner Gopal Baglay handed over 3.3 tons of essential medical supplies donated by Govt of India for the 1990 Suwa Seriya Ambulance Service to the Suwa Seriya Foundation Chairman Duminda Rathnayaka in the gracious presence of MP Dr. Harsha de Silva, and Suwa Seriya Foundation CEO Sohan de Silva. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar was apprised of the looming shortage of medical supplies faced by the Foundation during his visit to more..

Jun 4 (DM) Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned Ambassador of SL Janitha Liyanage and had protested in connection with the detention of an Aeroflot plane at the BIA. "On June 3, Ambassador of SL to the Russian Federation, J.A. Liyanage, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry," the ministry' said. The head of the diplomatic mission received a protest in connection with the groundless decision of the judicial authorities of SL to seize an Aeroflot scheduled flight to Moscow on more..

Jun 4 (Hindu) Adani Group’s back door entry into SL’s energy sector disrupts the country’s competitive electricity generation system, the Opposition has said, accusing the Rajapaksa govt of pampering PM Narendra Modi’s notorious friends. “It is with deep regret that we note that Adani Group has chosen the back door to enter SL. Avoiding competition is not something we take kindly. It hurts our battered economy, aggravates more..

Jun 4 (MFA) Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris briefed the Colombo based Diplomatic corps on 2 June, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During his address, Foreign Minister Prof. Peiris outlined the prevailing situation in SL and the challenges encountered by the Govt which included pressing issues such as shortage of fuel, gas, essential pharmaceutical products and power cuts. Minister also detailed measures taken by the Govt to address the situation in this regard more..

Jun 4 (FT) Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has written to the Govt of Japan over the delay in the construction process of the new terminal at the Bandaranaike Int'l Airport (BIA). He said a complaint has been lodged with regards to the delay from the contracted Japanese company engaged in construction of the new terminal at the BIA. “Agreements were entered with the Japanese company for the construction of the terminal eight years ago,” Minister said more..

Jun 4 (DM) SL authorities raised objections against the Enjoining Order issued by Colombo Commercial High Court preventing a Russian Aeroflot flight from taking off within the territorial jurisdiction of SL. Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena PC appearing for Airport & Aviation Services Ltd (second defendant) urged the Court to suspend the operation of Enjoining Order issued in respect of Aerofloft more..

Jun 4 (FT) While appreciating the banks decision to respond to the discussions going on in several public forums regarding the NPA portfolio of the PB, following views are expressed to elucidate the public concerns and to throw more light on certain relevant aspects of the matter. Certain facts as given in the statement of the Bank appear to be covering half the ground of the issue if not misleading and tantamount to a confession of some sort. Hence further interpretation is necessary in public interest more..

Jun 4 (FT) It was the worst of times. The island has never faced such an economic tumult in its known history. All that has been earned in the fair-weather times have gone down the drains. Foreign currency reserves have dipped to the bottom. Unemployment has skyrocketed. The country was learning the danger of depending on a single commercial crop, the hard way. The 1880s. Ceylon. The times of Sir William Gregory were the best for coffee plantations in Ceylon. more..

Jun 4 (DM) A soldier attached to the security detail of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran committed suicide today (4). The soldier in question has shot himself using his service firearm in the early hours of the day. The incident took place at the piece of land located near the MP’s residence in Wellawatta area, the police spokesperson said. The deceased was identified as a 22-year-old hailing from Walapane. Wellawatta Police has initiated investigations into suicide. more..

Jun 4 (AD) The first consignment of syringes of life-saving Enoxaparin Sodium Injection, donated by China as a part of its grant of RMB 500 million to the island nation, arrived in SL yesterday (4). Earlier this week, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said 512,640 syringes in total worth of 10 million RMB – the first batch of China’s 500 million RMB grant to Sri Lanka – will be delivered via two consignments. The second consignment is expected to reach Colombo in the second half of the month. more..

Jun 4 (AD) Russia’s flagship carrier announced that it is suspending commercial flights to Sri Lanka after the island nation’s authorities detained the airline’s Airbus A330 jet on June 02. “Aeroflot is suspending commercial flights to Colombo for the immediate period due to an unreliable situation in terms of the airline’s unobstructed flights to SL. Sales of tickets for flights to C'mbo have been temporarily shut down” more..

Jun 4 (DM) Two elephants died last night after being knocked down by a moving train on the Batticaloa-Trinco- Colombo railway line between Habarana and Gal-Oya stations, Railways Department said. They said the elephants were found to have been dead around 7.30 pm last night after being knocked down by a train that transports wheat flour. After the accident the train derailed. They said three elephants were rammed by the train where two calves were killed and another was wounded. more..

Jun 4 (EN) State-run SriLankan Airlines had lost 170 billion rupees in 2021 and its accumulated losses had risen to 542 billion rupees, Finance Ministry report said despite the national career improving its performance in the last quarter. SriLankan Airline’s revenue fell to 71 billion rupees in 2020 in the Coronavirus pandemic triggering a 45 billion rupee loss. In 2021 revenues grew to 134.6 billion rupees as foreign travel was gradually relaxed. But the airline had been hit by high finance costs more..

Jun 4 (EN) Prez Rajapaksa has instructed to identify all underutilized lands owned by plantation companies after the central bank triggered the worst currency crises in its history and has failed to re-establish monetary stability, raising fears of food shortages. SL is still facing forex shortages due to liquidity injections making it difficult to import fertilizer. The govt suddenly banned open account imports from June raising fears that more..

Jun 4 (Island) 65 cooperative societies and associations registered with the Dept of Cooperative Development had not submitted financial statements to be audited by the Dept from 2015 to 2020, the COPA said in its recent report. It said that the Dept had not audited 25 statements that had been submitted by institutions under it. The Department has said Provincial Councils did not agree to provide financial statements that had been a main reason hampering the auditing process. more..

Jun 4 (DM) President of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Priyantha Fernando was taken into custody in connection with the alleged assault on the Principal of Pothanegama Maha Vidyalaya Ruwan Siri Herath. Police said the union leader was arrested during investigations of the principal’s complaint. The Principal has been admitted to Anuradhapura Hospital. Meanwhile, the suspect had made a lengthy statement to Anuradhapura Police regarding the incident. more..

Jun 4 (FT) The Sasakawa Memorial Sri Lanka Japan Trust this week held the ground-breaking ceremony for its new office complex. The building is expected to have a 30-month construction period and be completed in August/September 2024. It will become the new centre for the foundation. The new building represents the building of cultural ties and continuity between Sri Lanka and Japan. The ceremony was held under the presence of Chief Guest Embassy of Japan Charge D’affaires and more..

Jun 4 (EN) SL will impose power cuts of up to 2 hours and 15 minutes from June 06-08, Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL) Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said as the country is still struggling to import adequate fuel due to dollar shortage. All areas (ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW) will have power cuts of 2 hours from and 15 minutes from 8.30 am to 9.45 pm. the PUCSL said. Between 6.00 am and 8.15 am, the Colombo City center could face a power cut of three hours. more..

Jun 4 (ST) Yet another steep increase in fuel prices means the troubling effects are cascading to every sector of the economy, especially to households. The price of petrol jumped by up to 24%, while diesel prices rocketed by up to 38% on Tuesday this week. Fuel prices have more than doubled since October. State-owned CPC revised up the petrol price to a record Rs 420 a litre and diesel to Rs 400, a new high. more..

Jun 4 (ST) Sri Lankan nurses and other healthcare professionals will soon be allowed to be employed in the UK under a new agreement between the two countries. This agreement recognises healthcare professionals recruited from Sri Lanka to the National Health Service (NHS) employment in the UK and will give them an opportunity to enhance their skills and explore best practices. This is under a MoU in healthcare cooperation between the UK Govt and the Sri Lankan Govt. more..

Jun 4 (AD) The water supply for parts of Kotte Municipal Council area will be suspended for 7 hours tonight. Accordingly, Ethulkotte, Pitakotte, Beddagana, Mirihana, Madiwela, Thalapathpitiya, Udahamulla, Embuldeniya, Nugegoda, Pagoda, Wijerama areas and roads from Nugegoda junction to Open University in Nawala will be affected by this water cut. The water supply for the aforementioned areas will accordingly be interrupted from 10 p.m. today to 5 a.m. tomorrow (June 05). more..

Jun 4 (Time) Many middle-income and developing countries are now suffering from a combination of internal political dysfunction and external economic shocks generated mainly by COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine. SL provides a powerful example and a warning for countries in other regions that will face similar predicaments. SL is not a poor country. When adjusted for purchasing power, per capita GDP in this nation of more..

Jun 4 (NR) Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says he did not accept the post of PM and govern the country alongside Prez Rajapaksa, as the public demanded that the Prez resign. Speaking at an event in Amabalangoda MP Premadasa said he was ready to take over the post of PM under conditions that the Prez resigned and the post of the Executive Presidency was abolished. He said he was not willing to go against the wishes of the people. more..

Jun 4 (ST) Recent political unrest and bankruptcy have worsened a severe food shortage and the majority of Sri Lankans are now forced to spend three times as much for basic essentials including rice and vegetables. Largely self-sufficient in rice and vegetables, SL was pushed down the precipice by Prez Rajapaksa, who defied advice and common sense and banned chemical fertiliser overnight in a forced switch to organic agriculture. Soon agri yields crashed and paddy fields were decimated, more..

Jun 4 (Island) SLPP MP Prof. Channa Jayasumana said that cholesterol lowering drug Atorvastatin had been ordered by private supplier Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Ltd., under the Indian credit line made available to procure urgent requirements, including medicine. MP Jayasumana said that of USD 200 mn allocated for the import of medicine, a part had been allocated to the private sector as they, too, lacked sufficient USD to place orders. Prof. Jayasumana said so responding to more..

Jun 4 (ST) Veteran silver screen actress turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe who is still getting over the shock after mobs broke into her Nawala residence and destroyed her ancestral home in Bentota, says she still does not understand why her residences were targeted. “I never uttered a word against those taking part in the Aragalaya campaign at Galle Face. I did not organise buses to bring supporters for the May 9 meeting at Temple Trees or take part in the meeting there, but still more..

Jun 4 (ANI) SL's High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda, met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday in Chennai and discussed the relationship between SL and the State of Tamil Nadu, including the fishermen's issues. This was the first time that a SL High Commissioner met with the Chief Minister of the state of TN after 2011 and held a dialogue. "The High Commissioner and the Chief Minister discussed an array of more..

Jun 4 (CT) The SL Young Journalists’ Association (SLYJA) on Thursday informed the Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) that the attack on peaceful protesters opposite Temple Trees and Galle Face Green was an organised act carried out with the support of the Police. SLYJA was summoned by the HRCSL, following a complaint filed by them in this connection and Attorneys-at-Law Nuwan Bopage and D.M. Dissanayake together with members of the YJA Tharindu Jayawardena, Shalika more..

Jun 4 (Island) Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha said that plans were undersay to keep schools open until 22 or 23 Dec 2022.The minister said that he had spoken to all stakeholders in the education sector and everyone had agreed the need to keep schools open. “We have to cover the 2022 syllabus. We have also taken steps to prepare text books, and obtain the inputs needed such as paper and equipment for education institutions to function. more..

Jun 4 (Island) The kerosene queues will continue until the re-opened Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery commenced operations fully, a senior CPC official said. He added that during previous weeks the CPC had released a large amount of kerosene to refuel aircraft. The official said that the chemical composition between jet fuel and kerosene was negligible. By Thursday night, CPC only had 386 MT of jet fuel, he said. more..

Jun 4 (SLN) Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) contingent which is expected to take part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2022, hosted by the US Pacific Fleet, left for Australia from the BIA this morning by a special flight arranged by Royal Australian Air Force. The SLN contingent comprises 50 naval personnel including both officers and sailors. In Australia, the SLN contingent will partner with crew of HMAS Canberra of Royal Australian Navy for a two weeks acclimatization programme more..

Jun 4 (MFA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to state the following with reference to the Aeroflot passenger aircraft flight SU-289 which is currently at the BIA. On 2 June 2022, the Commercial High Court of the Western Province issued an Enjoining Order on the Aeroflot flight restraining it from taking off from BIA. The case relates to a commercial dispute between the Plaintiff, Celestial Aviation Trading 10 Limited an Irish Company against the first Defendant Public Joint Stock Company more..

Jun 5 (ST) The UN has now been approached for support to address the emergency needs of the poor and vulnerable amongst the country’s 22 million people on the brink of an acute food shortage. Once called the Granary of the East, SL is also considering tapping the SAARC Food Bank – from the buffer stocks of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. SL is not only financially bankrupt, it is facing a famine in a few months. From a middle-income country not long ago, it has come to this. more..

Jun 5 (SLG) The happenings in SL’s turbulent month of May have many wheels within wheels of political intrigue and chicanery. It has set precedents in SL history. Nationwide public protests against the Rajapaksas brought a change in govt leadership with Ranil Wickremesinghe replacing Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister. The newly installed PM had neither proven parliamentary majority nor constitutional authority is perhaps an inconvenient detail. But biggest loser was democratic polity more..

Jun 5 (TM) The inability of SL’s political class to take decisions will result in the people undergoing significant suffering, asserts LIRNEasia Chairman Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, who has been sounding alarm bells over the country’s collapse since last November. “When I look back seven months later, when I stand in a petrol queue and the petrol runs out three cars ahead of me, I see all those things I said coming true. more..