May2 (EN) SL’s worsening economic crisis cannot be solved without first resolving the prevailing political gridlock and, as his party is opposed to an interim govt under Prez Rajapksa, an election must be called, opposition JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said. Speaking at a May Day rally in Colombo on Sunday, Dissanayake said JVP or the NPP alliance it leads will not under any circumstances be party to an interim or more..

May2 (Island) A working majority in Parliament would not help solve the present crisis and therefore the leaders of political parties should not worry about securing 113 seats there, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said. Addressing the UNP’s Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya May Day ceremony at New Town Hall in Colombo Wickremesinghe said that the rulers, instead of worrying to secure numbers in Parliament, must talk to the international community and seek its assistance to get the country more..

May2 (DM) Three persons including a 14-year-old boy have been arrested by police over an accident last night involving a Defender vehicle and a motorcycle at Kuliyapitiya, which had caused the death of the motorcyclist. The accident had occurred in the Kanadulla area in Kuliyapitiya last night when the Defender had collided with a motorcycle, killing the motorcycle rider on the spot. The deceased is a 38-year-old resident of Kanadulla in Kuliyapitiya. Three persons including the driver more..

May 2 (FT) Central Bank has received $ 37,000 in humanitarian donations from overseas following a personal appeal for the same by new Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe. As of 27 April, the amounts included $ 20,114.12, 11,729.25 sterling pounds, 1,967 euros and 100 AUD. In the previous week, the amounts stood at $ 15,809.77, 10,657.70 pounds and 467 euros. The funds had been received to four of the six accounts published to the public by the CBSL. They are Deutsche Bank Trust more..

May 2 (DM) All SL private hospitals and nursing homes are seeking the assistance from overseas donors to secure the required medicines and medical equipment to save the lives of the patients hit by the acute shortages of such items, due to the ongoing foreign exchange crisis in the country. Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (APHNH) noted that the entire hospital system in SL is currently facing a severe crisis, due to the shortages of drugs and medical equipment. more..

May 2 (EN) Sri Lanka health authorities warn of a possible rise in dengue cases with data showing a spike in the cases during the first quarter with the health ministry is facing a shortage of chemicals to control dengue mosquitoes amid a severe shortage of dollars. SL is facing its worst economic crisis since the independence from the British Colonial rulers in 1948 with shortages of essentials like cooking gas, medicines, and more..

May 2 (DM) Former SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) and SL Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) chief Kishu Gomes has called for the immediate resignation of SL Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando with the recovery of tourism sector coming to a standstill as a result of continuous isolation of tourism industry stakeholders in the decision making process. “All past Chairmen will vouch for the fact that such levels of conflicts impeding the progress of the industry have more..

May 2 (AD) Mahanayaka Thero of the Malwatta chapter of Siam Nikaya, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero has decided not to allow any politicians to meet with him. The decision has been taken by the Mahanayaka Thero as no responsible persons have still responded to the proposals by the Chief Incumbents of the three Buddhist Chapters, on resolving the current issues of the country. Mahanayake Theras of the 3 chapters recently submitted a letter more..

May 2 (CT) Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) has decided to withdraw its support to the Govt and Rajapaksas, a friendship which had lasted for 15 years, General Secretary, Nuwara Eliya District MP, Jeewan Thondaman said. Addressing the CWC May Day rally yesterday, he said the decision was taken because he did not want to hold office in the current Govt, which had oppressed the people. “You and I placed our full trust more..

May 2 (FT) Shipping lines are up in arms over the sudden decision by the Government requiring settle payments to the SLPA only in dollars with effect from 1 June. The move was announced last week by new Ports and Shipping Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, following discussions with stakeholders to boost dollar liquidity in the country. “We don’t know how much research has been done prior to taking this decision. However, the shipping principals are now up in arms with this decision,” more..

May 2 (DM) Long queues could be seen in front of several fuel stations across the country due to the shortage of fuel and lack of fuel supply. Several fuel stations had been closed due to non-availability of fuel. Ceylon Petroleum Private Bowser Owners Association has launched a strike from Saturday and Lanka Indian Oil Private Bowser Owners' Association (LIOPBOA) has also refrained from fuel transportation services from midnight yesterday in support of LIOPBOA's trade union action. more..

May 2 (CT) Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) should cancel Health Minister Prof. Channa Jayasumana’s registration, for serious medical misconduct, in recommending ayurvedic concoctions for Covid-19 treatment without proper evidence, Consultant Paediatrician, Dr. Ajith Amarasinghe urged. Dr. Amarasinghe, clarifying the reasons, said the Interim Report of a Public Commission, which had been appointed to analyse the Dhammika Syrup, more..

May 2 (CT) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said even though a few pieces went missing, the SLPP is still winning the game as the all-important pieces, the king, queen, rook and bishop are still on their side. He was addressing the SLPP May Day rally held in Nugegoda. Leader of the House, Gunawardena also said, just like victory in the game of chess, ultimate victory in Parliament too will be secured by the SLPP as they have the majority. “We have the biggest hold in the progressive camp. more..

May 2 (DM) SJB MP Sarath Fonseka said he had lodged a complaint with party Leader Sajith Premadasa against MP Harin Fernando who was engaged in a confrontation with him at the party’s May Day rally on Sunday. “I have lodged a complaint against MP Fernando with the party leader and I hope he takes some action,” Field Marshal Fonseka said. “Mr. Fernando should know what to say and what not to say in front of the public. more..

May 2 (FT) Tea production in March had slumped by 24% to 22 million kg from a year earlier, marking it as the lowest crop since 2009, Asia Siyaka Commodities said. It also said in 2020 when the country went into complete lockdown in mid-March and production declined to 13.5 million kg. Quoting SL Tea Board preliminary data, Asia Siyaka said first quarter production dropped by 15% to 63 million kg from 74.5 million kg a year ago. This year’s January – March figure is also the lowest since 2009. I more..

May 2 (TM) Gazette notification mandating full COVID vaccination to enter public places in SL has been amended. Previously a Gazette notification had been issued prohibiting people who had not been fully vaccinated from entering public places from April 30, 2022. However, Minister of Health Prof. Channa Jayasumana has taken steps to cancel the relevant gazette notification with effect from yesterday. Accordingly, Order 101 of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification more..

May 2 (AD) Be it the devaluation of the SL Rupee – which has seen it shed nearly 75% in a matter of weeks – the ignominy of a virtually cashless treasury, shortages of essentials, the prospect of more belt tightening measures ahead of the proposed debt restructuring programme, protracted power outages, a political minefield of dangerous proportions and ongoing demonstrations across the island one can hardly think of more..

May 2 (EN) SL is planning to change the electricity law to remove procurement impediments, Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said amid concerns that it could be a method to by-pass competitive tendering. “The change in the law will be useful to remove some impediments which delayed projects and to shorten (procurement) processes,” Minister Wijesekera said. “We will not enter into agreements which are unfavourable to the country.” He was responding to questions whether more..

May 2 (AD) Kegalle Magistrate’s Court today rejected the bail applications filed on behalf of former Kegalle SSP K.B. Keerthiratne and three other police officers, who were arrested over the shooting during the Rambukkana protest. The former Kegalle SSP was taken into custody by the CID in Colombo on the 28th of April while three other 3 police personnel were arrested at Kundasale in Kandy. Keerthiratne was produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court the following day more..

May 3 (DM) Soon after the military victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a nihilistic terrorist group of its right, Mahinda Rajapaksa, the then-president embarked on cultivating a full-pledged personal cult. That was not a fantasy that was exclusive to MR himself, many of his peers, and predecessors here and abroad had similar ambitions. Like them, he emerged from a semi-feudal, stagnant and prejudicial social setup. MR was a Jonnie come late to this cabal, more..

May 3 (TM) In his May Day message, Prez Rajapaksa said that instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what needs to be done now is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief to the public, and to go for the most appropriate and efficient programme to find solutions to the burning issues of the people. However, it appears the public feels otherwise, as they continue to demand that those who they believe created prevailing more..

May 3 (DM) SL is currently bearing the fruits of financial mismanagement, lack of planning and shortsighted decision-making ever since the incumbent govt was elected to power. Delays in seeking support from the IMF, heavy borrowings on sovereign bonds, opting for credit lines from allies has crippled. SL’s ability to attract investors. While international agencies continue to issue warnings for insurers & investors who plan to invest in SL, more..

May 3 (GV) The situation in the country is one of dynamism as well as stalemate. Dynamism on account of the determination, creativity and resilience of the Gotagogama demonstrators, the extension of their efforts to the Mainagogama demonstration outside Temple Trees to the sheer celebration of SL’s diversity and the unity of its peoples, to the presentation of the 21st Amendment in parliament by the SJB opposition and their mammoth march from Kandy, more..

May 3 (DM) The political impasse that was created by the ongoing unprecedented economic crisis seems to aggravate as the govt has failed to convince the Opposition parties in its efforts to form an all-party interim govt. On the other hand, there seems to be no agreement among the Opposition parties on their actions against the govt, despite them agreeing on ousting the govt. Meanwhile the protests at the Galle Face Green is continuing with increasing momentum day in and day out more..

May 3 (CT) Seated in the front row of the waiting area for over five hours in one the largest hospitals in the country, desperately waiting for his turn, Punyapala, a diabetes patient, lamented in a quavering voice of the long wait for medicine. Punyapala, a daily wage earner, speaking to Ceylon Today, said he had arrived at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital, most commonly known as the Kalubowila Hospital from Matara at 5:30 am more..

May 3 (CT) Sri Lanka’s near two-day-old private sector-led petrol bowser operators’ strike was called off yesterday afternoon. The strike began on Sunday May Day, otherwise known as Labour Day, a day set aside internationally to recognise the workers or the proletariat, worldwide. Meanwhile, SL Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association (SLPPTOA) Chairman Kusum Sandanayake told this newspaper that the strike was called off after reaching a compromise with the govt. more..

May 3 (Island) All politicians representing the majority community huff and puff up the hills to Kandy all the way from Colombo, from time to time, and kneel before the Mahanayake Theras, seeking the latter’s advice on almost everything. They also present the first copies of their election manifestos to the prelates and receive blessings. But they neither scruple to renege on their election pledges nor follow the Maha Sangha’s counsel. Prez Rajapaksa, PM Rajapaksa, and Opposition Leader more..

May 3 (DM) The present uprising against the govt brings to memory an incident which sent shivers through the colonial rulers ninety three years ago; the aftermath of the tramway strike in 1929. Fighting against colonial police forces and British colonial rule was no piece of cake. There were no human rights organizations constantly calling for accountability and the British had no respect towards locals. They were treated like dirt in Sri Lanka, India and all other colonies. more..

May 3 (CT) The sunset is brightening the horizon; a painted sky is glistening with the twilight’s riot of colors: crimson and orange. This dusk’s spectacle never ceases to enthrall many a being tired and weary at the end of another day. From dawn to dusk, one sea of heads, representing all walks of life, has come from the four corners of the island to mingle and show solidarity with those who suffer the insufferable hardships imposed by a collapsing economy and rotting body politic. more..

May 3 (DM) SL’s fiscal deficit reached an all-time high of Rs.2, 057.9 billion in 2021, which is equivalent to a massively unsustainable 12.2% of the total economic output as revenue plunged amid low tax rates and virus-related lockdowns, while the govt’s purse strings were kept loosened, inviting the worst economic catastrophe ever faced by the island nation. The 2021 fiscal gap is compared with Rs.3, 041 b more..

May 3 (Island) The behaviour of market forces in macroeconomics is not instantaneous. We cannot experience the impact of these forces, immediately, like fire or wind. We would feel the behaviour of market forces such as inflation, unemployment, stock markets, interest rates and exchange rates, only with a time lag. Then it may be too late. We can now feel their impact because neither the political authority nor the officialdom made a serious attempt to manage them even though many more..

May 3 (FT) 35 COVID-19 patients were detected yesterday, raising SL’s total COVID-19 detections to 663,408. The previous day, 11 persons tested positive for COVID-19. 1,023 PCR tests and 509 rapid antigen tests were conducted on Sunday. COVID-19 detections include 483,090 persons from the New Year cluster, 82,785 persons from the Peliyagoda cluster, 9,154 persons from Prisons cluster & 3,059 persons from Divulapitiya cluster. 75,790 Covid patients were detected this yr. more..

May 3 (Island) Vishmi Gunaratne scored an unbeaten century to set the stage for Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya to clinch the Inter School Under 19 girls’ cricket title as the team from Gampaha beat Anula Vidyalaya, Nugegoda by 66 runs in the tournament final played at Bloomfield ground on Monday. Chasing a target of 200 runs to win, the girls from Nugegoda could muster only 133 runs as Vidusika Perera and Nipuni Navodya did most of the damage sharing five wickets between them. more..

May 3 (Island) The Panadura High Court has handed down indictments to Ven. Dambara Amila Thera, a senior lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the Convener of the National Movement for a Just Society and another person, suspected of committing fraud by offering to send people abroad. Ven. Dambara Amila Thera and Janith Vellala were indicted in four separate cases filed by the Attorney General. One case has been filed against Dambara Amila Thera alone. more..

May 3 (ST) A young protester who was kicked in the neck by a policeman in front of Temple Trees on Friday has been admitted to the National Hospital of SL – but no official record of it had been made by the Police as of Friday night. “He sat down on the road in protest when Police took the banners out,” said a 31-year-old fellow protester, who wished to remain anonymous. The young man had proceeded to lie down on the road when more..