Jul 23 (CT) The upcoming General Election will be unlike any held before � this time, election officials, candidates and voters will be compelled to follow unprecedented measures when carrying out their respective roles. With less than three weeks left for candidates to run their election campaigns under strict health guidelines, their respective campaign managers are left with the task of exhausting limited avenues to take the candidate to the hearts of voters. more..

July 23 (CT) Kusal Mendis is the only player from Sri Lanka to be named in Wisden�s Under-25 World Test XI squad. Less than a year into his Test career, Kusal Mendis played one of the greatest Test innings by a Sri Lankan, when he scored a magnificent 176 (the only score above fifty) to guide Sri Lanka to only their second win against Australia and paving the way for an historic whitewash, after being skittled for 117 in the first innings and trailing by almost 100. more..

July 23 (Island) Reputed middle and long distance coach Susantha Fernando who almost single-handedly made Ratnayake Central, Walala the undisputed stronghold of schools athletics in Sri Lanka and was responsible for coaching average athletes- including last South Asian Games sensation Dilshi Kumarasinghe- to become international medal winners has decided to end his long association with the school. more..

July 23 (Island) The opposition in Aotearoa is self-destructing! You may have been following developments. Newly appointed leaders lasting only a few weeks and scandal after scandal being exposed with three sitting members being summarily dismissed by the latest leader. An air of panic prevails, the main reason of course being the immense popularity of the current PM, both within the country and internationally. It is pretty much obvious that this govt is in for a second term more..

July 23 (CT) SL woman cricketer Sripali Weerakkody has decided to retire from international cricket with immediate effect, and has officially informed her intention to Sri Lanka Cricket. �I have decided to call it a day and feel this is the right time for me,� Sripali said. The decision to retire was personal, Sripali further added. She is the first Sri Lanka woman cricketer to qualify as Master and Fitness Trainer in Australia and has been certified by the Australian Institute of Fitness recently. more..

July 23 (MoD) Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said defence diplomacy and cooperation between SL and Pakistan had been growing from strength to strength through mutual trust built on political, economic, cultural and educational relationships between two countries. Referring to Pakistan�s contribution in SL�s humanitarian operations during the war, he said bilateral relations between two nations, more..

July 23 (Island) SLIM Sri Lanka Brand Excellence Awards this year will particularly reflect brand custodians who have faced multiple challenges in the past two years and positioned their brands to be relentlessly relevant to consumers. Inviting applications for this year's SLIM Brand Excellence Awards at a virtual press conference held yesterday, Thilanka Abeywardena, Vice President, SLIM (Events) said," Many SL companies have performed well amid all the chaos in the recent past. more..

July 23 (CT) Weighted average yields (WAYs) of safe-haven Treasury (T) Bills fell to historically low levels post the 1977 open economy, at yesterday�s weekly T-Bill auction, as investors flocked to invest in such risk-free instruments due to continued uncertainty. Consequently, the WAYs of the 91-, 182- and 364-day T-Bills fell by five, six and five basis points each to 4.60 per cent, 4.69 per cent and 4.86 per cent, week-on-week (WoW), at yesterday�s weekly T-Bill auction. more..

July 23 (DN) Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is going to play Lankan Premier League (LPL) T-20 cricket tournament and expected to commence the tourney from Aug 28, said CEO of SLC Ashley de Silva. �We can now confirm the LPL tournament but dates have to be decided after discussions with the Govt officials, considering the present situation of the country�. CEO of SLC also added that they are planning to include more..

July 23 (FT) Exports of tea bags have recovered in June, though overall shipments a year earlier and during the first half were down. Asia Siyaka Commodities, quoting Customs data, said Sri Lanka exported 2.19 million kg of tea bags in June. Exports of tea in this value-added form declined to 0.94 million kg during the shutdown period in April and picked up to 1.55 million kg in May. The June quantity of 2.19 million kg is also higher than the previous year�s monthly figure of 1.89 mil kg. more..

July 23 (FT) Finance Ministry has received proposals in response to the notice calling for Request for Proposals (RFPs) from domestic banks incorporated in Sri Lanka and international banks/investment houses for a proposed Foreign Currency Term Financing Facility (FTFF) for the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL). The proposals are from: Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and/or its affiliates; State Bank of India, Singapore Branch; Credit Suisse more..

July 23 (PMD) President Gotabaya Rajapaksa assured to bequeath the future generation a country free from the drug menace. Several measures are already in place to prevent drug infiltration and distribution. President emphasized the country will be freed from drugs similar to that of terrorism. President made these comments at a public gathering organized near Kiribathgoda Shopping complex today (22) to support candidates of more..

July 23 (TM) Port City Colombo, Sri Lanka�s single largest foreign direct investment and mega city development project, is to promote its investment opportunities for the Indian business community at a webinar today (21) from 3.00 pm to 4.15 pm. CHEC Port City Colombo�s Head of Strategy and Business Development Thulci Aluwihare will be speaking at a webinar titled �Opportunities for Attracting Indian Investment to Sri Lanka� this month regarding investments in relation to the Port City, more..

July 23 (CI) Bangladesh men's pending three-Test series against hosts Sri Lanka could be rescheduled to October, if talks between the BCB and SLC come to fruition. The tour, Bangladesh's first 3-match red-ball series in six years and part of the World Test C'ship, was originally scheduled for July-Aug but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the 2020 men's T20 World Cup deferred by a year, both boards are keen on having the Test series squeezed into the earliest possible window. more..

July 23 (Island) Members of State Intelligence Service (SIS) of Ampara had provided CID with information about the whereabouts of a number of close associates of NTJ leader Zahran Hashim, wanted by the police, in March 2019, but no action had been taken, an SIS officer told the PCoI. The witness, whose name will not be divulged due to a request made by the PCoI, said that he had warned, at a combined intelligence meeting, more..

July 23 (Island) PAFFREL has received Rs.8.5 mn Japanese grant ahead of parliamentary polls scheduled for Aug 5. The Japanese grant followed Norway providing nearly Rs 6 mn to the same organisation. Japanese Embassy issued the following statement: "The govt of Japan has decided to provide grant aid worth US$ 47,019 (Rs.8.5 million) for the Project for Sustaining Democratization through the Implementation of Free and Fair Election in Sri Lanka more..

July 23 (Island) Attorney General has directed the CID to arrest four officials of the Negombo prison including the interdicted Superintendent Anuradha Sampayo. Among the officers listed by the Attorney General are Chief Jailers Sarath Bandara and Nishantha Senaratne and Jailor Kalinga Kaluaggala. The Coordinating Officer of the Attorney General, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne said that the AG had instructed the CID to obtain arrest warrants on the aforementioned officers and arrest them. more..

July 23 (Island) National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) has raised the inordinate delay in updating EPF (Employees� Provident Fund) with relevant authorities. EPF statements have not been made available in 2019. Council comes under the purview of the Labour Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Minister�s office confirmed the situation. In spite of NLAC interventions, the situation remained the same. more..

July 23 (CT) Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundara informed Colombo Fort Chief Magistrate, the AG�s Dept would shortly file indictments against former Minister Ravi Karunanayake, concerning the latter�s involvement in the 2016 CB Treasury Bonds scam. She said, that Karunanayake has already been charged with fraud in two CB Treasury Bonds auctions held in March four years ago, plotting towards this end and controlling the Treasury Bonds market. more..

July 23 (DM) Sri Lanka is to publish health guidelines internationally soon for tourists as a move to resuscitate the tourism industry hit by COVID-19. Secretary to the Tourism and Aviation Ministry S. Hettiarachchi said that Sri Lanka would entertain tourists only after the BIA was open for international flight operations. However, he said it is still uncertain when it could be done. �We can internationally publish COVID-19 guidelines for tourists intending to come here. more..

July 23 (FT) Govt has set up a dedicated property development and investment entity to realise the vision of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to revive stalled State-owned or underperforming ventures initially in the hospitality sector. The entity Selendiva Investments Ltd. has been incorporated under the purview of the Ministry of Finance with three Treasury nominees Director General � Public Enterprises P.A.S.A. Kumara, more..

July 23 (DN) The documents claiming that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had caused over Rs.102 million in losses to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) over unpaid advertisements during the 2015 Presidential election used by the Bribery Commission to file charges against the former President was provided by him using forged documents, the Corporation�s former Director Sanath Daluwatte said giving evidence before PCoI probing political victimisation. more..

July 23 (DM) Former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam today was responding to Director General, Department of Archeology Prof. Senarath Dissanayake that he inflicted undue influence on the former to demolish the Assembly hall of King Buwanekabahu in Kurunegala to construct a hotel and said the latter should prove it before end of elections. Mr. Kariyawasam said that Director General Archeology Dept should put out the audio clip which he claims to be holding. more..

July 23 (CT) The PCoI investigating alleged wrongdoings, irregularities and malpractices in connection with the Edirisinghe Trust Investments Finance Limited (ETIFL), was told how money in undisclosed bank accounts belonging to the Company had been spent for the personal use of Company Directors. PCoI was also told how the Central Bank did not supervise the undisclosed account called �P�. more..

July 23 (FT) Compensation payments to the depositors of ETI Finance Limited (ETIFL) and Swarnamahal Financial Services PLC (SFSP) will begin this Saturday, the Central Bank (CB) said, with applications to be handed over to selected branches of People�s Bank. CB has taken measures to pay the compensation payments to the depositors of ETIFL and SFSP from the SL Deposit Insurance and Liquidity Support Scheme (SLDILSS), upon suspension of the finance businesses of more..

July 23 (CT) Five COVID-19 patients who were receiving treatment at the Kandakadu Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre have been admitted to the COVID-19 treatment centre in Welikanda following a clash between two groups of patients on Tuesday (21), night Director of the Polonnaruwa District General Hospital Dr. Sampath Indika said. 12 patients had sustained injuries following the clash. Five of them had to be admitted to COVID-19 treatment centre in Welikanda more..

July 23 (CT) Maddumage Lasantha Chandana Perera alias Angoda Lokka has been poisoned to death in Bangalore, India, reliable sources revealed. The sources also said a woman who worked closely with him is being charged with the killing. His body was later taken to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where the remains were reportedly cremated. It is also reported that one of his sisters was given the opportunity to watch more..

Jul 23 (FT) Democracy in SL came to rest on stable two-party system much before it did in India. When Yahapalanaya distorted that system by hooking the moderate-(statist) nationalist SLFP up with the neoliberal-globalist UNP, a breakaway from the SLFP was inevitable. With the UNP failing to produce an elected leader of the country for 30 years, a breakaway from that party was long overdue. This situation has given birth to two breakaways, the older, nationalist, SLPP and more..

Jul 23 (DN) Attorney General Dappula de Livera yesterday advised acting IGP to submit investigation reports on the demolition of the historic building in Kurunegala before July 31. He said further investigations are necessary into the demolition of the historic building with archaeological value of Buwanekabahu II who ruled the Kingdom of Kurunegala. Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General, State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne told the media that the AG made this decision more..

Jul 23 (AD) Two suspects have been placed under arrest over the murder of an owner of a small hotel in Kesbewa. They were taken into custody following the investigations carried out by the officers of Mirihana Police Special Crimes Division. One suspect was arrested in Arachchikattuwa area on Wednesday and the information he had divulged led to the arrest of the other suspect, who was identified as a former army soldier. The second suspect was apprehended in area of Giritale Yaya-3 area, more..

Jul 23 (FT) President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa placed prison reform on the govt�s public policy agenda following an unannounced visit to the Welikada prison complex in February 2020. While this might appear progressive, particularly given the dysfunctional prison system in Sri Lanka, the govt�s understanding of prison reform and the strategies the govt proposes cause deep concern. The concern stems from the govt�s failure to take note of the root causes of the dysfunctional prison system. more..

Jul 23 (Island) The argument that result of the last presidential election would determine the outcome of the parliamentary polls was wrong and it was the Samagi Jana Balawegaya led by Sajith Premadasa, consisting of 95% of the UNPers and five of their leaders, that would win the August 5 general election, said SJB candidate for the Kandy District and leader of the SLMC Rauff Hakeem at an election meeting more..

Jul 23 (EN) State-run Industrial and Commerce Bank of China and State Bank of India are in consortia that responded to a call for dollar term loans to SL. State Bank of India, Singapore Branch, bid with Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Credit Suisse AG, Singapore Branch. Industrial & Commerce Bank of China (London) Plc bid with SL�s Acuity Partners (Pvt) Ltd. SL called for Foreign Currency Term Financing Facility (FTFF) of up to US$ 500 m more..

Jul 23 (Island) SL Bureau of Foreign Employment has received complaints about a scam where bogus job agents have obtained money from unsuspecting job seekers promising employment as security guards in Thailand after placing advertisements in the newspapers and on the Internet. When the SLBOFE made inquiries from the Lankan Embassy in Bangkok, the officials there confirmed that there were no such jobs available for Sri Lankans. A SLBFE official said it had asked the CID to more..

Jul 23 (AD) SL Police are investigating reports alleging that notorious underworld kingpin Lasantha Perera alias Angoda Lokka has been killed by poisoning in India. Police Spokesman stated that Lasantha Perera is a suspect wanted by the police and that he was believed to have escaped overseas. He added that several cases against the suspect over multiple crimes are pending in courts. more..

Jul 23 (Island) A ban on Sri Lanka�s imports was understandable in the context of the country�s foreign currency limitations, but a long-term import ban would make Sri Lanka the only country in the world with a wide-ranging ban on imports in the end, J�rn Rohde, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Sri Lanka told The Island recently. Rohde made this comment in response to a question posed by The Island on the ban imposed by Sri Lanka on a wide variety of imports. more..

Jul 23 (EN) While SL defeated the Tamil Tigers in 2009 and the Coronavirus in 2020 � the battle is not yet over � it is rapidly losing the war with monetary stability, and the country is in a trade and foreign exchange lockdown that was not seen during the height of the civil war. SL�s central bank is printing unprecedented volumes of money, despite upcoming foreign debt and downgrades the country has suffered. In 2018, Sri Lanka suffered a downgrade despite tax hikes and the deficit being more..

Jul 23 (AD) Attorney General Dappula de Livera has obtained an order from Kurunegala Magistrate�s Court to protect and prevent the access to the demolished historic building site pending investigations, says the AG�s Coordinating Officer State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne. The prevention order has been issued against the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kurunegala, Municipal Councillors, Municipal Commissioner, and more..

Jul 23 (Island) The govt has got its propagandists to reinterpret the Kurunegala kingdom�s history following the demolition of historical Raja Sabha Mandapa (Royal Audience Hall) of King Buvanekabahu II, says the JVP. Former JVP member and NPP Anuradhapura District team leader Wasantha Samarasinghe addressing the media yesterday said: "The govt is now in the position of a cat that defecated on a rock. It cannot undo what it has done. more..