Jun 4 (AD) Chairman of the EC Mahinda Deshapriya says that the 2020 General Election will be held before the end of the month of August. He said that one thing can be said about the date of the election. �We cannot surpass the month of August. We have told the court that,� he said. Deshapriya stated that the deadline period of 09 weeks could be reduced if need be and therefore the parliamentary polls will have to be held in either July or Aug. more..

Jun 4 (Island) District Court of Colombo yesterday issued an interim order restraining the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU) President Harin Fernando and Secretary Suresh Vadivel from using the unions finances and other resources. The petition filed by the UNP, comes close on the heels of its Working Committee (WC) suspending 99 members including Harin Fernando, for having obtained nominations from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya to contest General Election. more..

Jun 4 (DN) UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) are supporting the Sri Lankan prisons in the context of COVID-19 by distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitization items, as well as 10 computers to keep court hearings ongoing remotely. To prevent the spread of the coronavirus among prisoners and to safeguard prison healthcare staff, UNODC�s Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC-GMCP) has provided last week to more..

Jun 4 (EN) Foreign Relations Ministry officials are denying Social Media chatter that two SL migrant workers in Kuwait have taken their own lives. A spokesman for the SL Mission in Kuwait said that there have been two recent suicides of migrant workers but they were from the Philippines and India. Meanwhile, officials also said the situation in the Maldivian capital Male remains critical. A Foreign Relations Ministry press release said more..

Jun 4 (EN) Police are investigating the alleged assault of an autistic 14-year old boy at Dharga Town, Aluthgama, by Policemen on duty during the curfew last month, Police Spokesman said. CCTV footage of the incident where the 14-year-old autistic boy Thariq Ahamed is seen being attacked by police last month was posted by former MP Ali Zahir Moulana today in his Twitter account. Statements have been taken from the father of the child and Police had taken CCTV footages of incident. more..

Jun 4 (EN) SL has greenlit a USD 100 million solar energy project to power state institutions. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the renewable project will be funded with a USD 100 million loan provided by the Indian govt. The project expects to cover the electricity needs of hospitals, universities, schools, security forces headquarters and administrative offices, he said. Cabinet of ministers has also decided to arrive at agreements to build a 300MW power plant in Puttalam more..

Jun 4 (AD) The govt has decided to pay compensation up to Rs. 600,000 to all insured depositors of The Finance Company PLC (TFC) which is to be liquidated, Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. This will solve the issue of 93% of the TFC depositors, Minister said, noting that there is a 7% of depositors who had made deposits more than Rs. 600,000. Accordingly, the balance amount of these depositors will be settled after the properties more..

Jun 4 (NR) High Commissioner of Canada to SL, David McKinnon, and Representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) SL, Ms. Ritsu Nacken, signed a grant agreement of CAD 400,000 to ensure that vulnerable women and girls have access to vital services related to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health during the pandemic. Initiated in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and Social Security, this new funding more..

Jun 4 (EN) Central Bank will increase the refinancing limit previously approved to provide working capital loans for hit pandemic-hit businesses and individuals by Rs 50 billion. Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the limit will be increased from Rs 100 billion to Rs 150 billion to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the self-employed affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal by Prez Rajapaksa to increase the refinancing limit more..

Jun 4 (Island) Former Minister Vaudeva Nanayakkara demanded that Election Commission (EC) member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole quit the EC in the wake of the Supreme Court rejecting all fundamental rights petitions filed against the conducting of 2020 parliamentary polls on June 20. Petitioners, also challenged March 2 dissolution of parliament by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Although Prof. Hoole did not file a separate more..

Jun 4 (DM) Responding to BBC news report "Backlash in China after front-line doctor dies" and published on Daily Mirror website, the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said the Chinese Government and people highly appreciate the tremendous contribution of their medical workers, which is a key to the successful control of COVID-19 pandemic in China. �We attach great importance to the protection of these health professionals, and minimize any possible threat to them. more..

Jun 4 (AD) Forty new cases of Covid-19 have been identified so far today bringing the total number of confirmed cases reported to 1,789. This includes 36 navy personnel currently under quarantine at the Kandakadu and Oluvil centres. The remaining four patients include 03 returnees from India who are at the Katukeliyawa quarantine centre and a returnee from Bangladesh who is at Diyatalawa quarantine centre. 939 patients who tested positive for the virus are currently under medical care. more..

Jun 5 (CT) Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa completed six months in office on May 18. He came after the Sinhala majority voted him to power after they were disillusioned by the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe govt�s failure to deliver on their promises. The last straw was the failure of the govt in taking decisive action to stop the Easter Sunday massacre by Jihadi terrorists in spite to getting advance notice. The first-time president, an army veteran, has lived up to his image as guardian of Sinhala Buddhist more..

Jun 5 (Island) Unlike Vesak, which is celebrated on different days at different times and with different festivities in different countries throughout Asia, Poson is specific to SL and India. Briefly, it celebrates the coming of Buddhism to the island through an embassy or retinue of five monks, one samanera, and one layman, led by Mahinda Thera, the son of Asoka Maurya from his second wife, Vedisa-Devi. Dipavamsa and the Mahavamsa are the main literary sources from this country more..

Jun 5 (ST) A dire national need��and long before those like supermarkets in the business of providing essentials got activated, a well-known wedding florist got cracking, using innovation, creativity and everything at his command to do a turnaround to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Lassana Flora was into flowers and gifts such as cakes when COVID-19 gripped SL but stepped in to take up challenge of distributing essentials more..

Jun 5 (Island) The coming of Arahant Mahinda from ancient Jambudeepa with a retinue of five monks and a layman to Sri Lanka on a full moon day popularised later as Poson bringing the noble teaching of compassion and peace was a turning point in the history of this thrice blessed country. Under normal circumstances literally thousands would have flocked to Missaka Pabbata or Mihintale where Arhat Mahinda encountered King Devanampiya Tissa, the Lord of the land. more..

Jun 5 (CT) Poson Poya marks the arrival of Arahat Maha Mahinda Maha Thera in SL along with the message of the Sakya clan�s Great Son Gotama Buddha. By admiring with respect and following the Buddha�s impeccable words, Emperor Asoka who governed Maha Bharata � ancient India, profoundly launched a Dhamma missionary programme in many countries. After the successful accomplishment of his considerable numbers of enlightened disciples, more..

Jun 5 (CT) The statue of late CWC Leader, Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman, erected within the Presidential Secretariat premises (the old Parliament building area) alongside the statues of other legendary Sri Lankans such as former Solicitor General of Ceylon, Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, first PM of SL, D.S. Senanayake and Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, will highlight how much the late CWC Leader, more..

Jun 5 (DM) Tissa, Tissa! The King was shocked as nobody would dare identify him by name. Samanamayam maharaja - dhamma rajassa sravaka Thameva anukampaya - Jambudeepa idagatha. O, great King! We are Bhikkhus, Disciples of the Lord Buddha, Through compassion towards you, We came from Jambudveepa Mihintale, the perfect sanctuary for the sons of Buddha that they could find throughout the length and breadth of Ceylon: HCP Bell (former Dir. of Archaeology) more..

Jun 5 (DM) The migrant workers� affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and stranded mostly in the Middle East is a matter of concern. Accusations are aimed at the Govt of SL for the lukewarm interest it shows in bringing down these workers. The regime however was quick to bringdown some workers from Seychelles during the height of the pandemic. Talking point right now relates to the SL workers stranded in Kuwait. Figures reveal that as many as 19,000 SL workers are stranded in Kuwait. more..

Jun 5 (Island) With the words of Most Revered Mahinda Thera, son of mighty Emperor Asoka and invited guest to SL reverberating in our calmed minds, we spend today, Poson Poya, again locked down but in silent veneration and meditation. On meeting King Devanampiya Tissa in Mihintale, the monk from India introduced himself and the five accompanying him. "Samaṇas are we, O great king, disciples of the King of Truth (Dhammar�ja). With compassion are we come hither from more..

Jun 5 (Island) Sri Lankan elections, save the presidential polls, are apparently jinxed; they are not held on schedule. In 1975, an SLFP-led govt postponed a general election by two years. Five years later, a UNP govt went to the extent of replacing a general election with a heavily rigged referendum to retain its five-sixth majority, which it abused to its heart�s content. UNP-led yahapalana govt postponed local govt elections by nearly 2 years and put off PC polls indefinitely. more..

Jun 5 (Island) The first three months of the lunar calendar of the Sinhalese: Bak, Vesak, and Poson (roughly corresponding to the months of April, May and June in the Gregorian Calendar, which is in common use today) are each marked by one of their three most important annual celebrations. The month of Bak has the Sinhala Aluth Avurudda, an age-old harvest festival. It is organized according to traditional astrological more..

Jun 5 (TM) Earth Day Network, first established in 1970 and based in Washington DC, America, is an international environmental organisation that operates in more than 190 countries. The network has recently appointed SL actress Michelle Dilhara as the SL Ambassador for the network. Michelle is also an author, philanthropist, and climate activist and was awarded the Asia Inspiration Award at the South Asian Youth Summit held in Colombo in 2018 for her contribution towards social invisibility. more..

Jun 5 (TM) Teardrop Hotels is delighted to announce that its collection of hotels reopened their doors from Monday (1). The collection will lead the way in the East in a game-changing move to open up the Indian Ocean once again. Teardrop group of modern boutique hotels are intimate properties that give its guests a tranquil escape in unique properties nestled in SL�s tea country or along its coast. The Morning Brunch reached out to the Teardrop team to learn more about how this small, family-run more..

Jun 5 (FT) SL�s Budget openness has improved past the global average but is still third in South Asia and well below the level that indicates enough material is being published to support informed public debate, Verit� Research said. The Open Budget Survey (OBS) scores countries on the openness of their budget process. The survey is conducted every two years. The 2019 cycle of OBS has placed SL 54th out of 117 more..

Jun 5 (Island) Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) has introduced a range of contemporary tech-savvy services for the benefit of its 37,000 students scattered all over Sri Lanka, in an effort to overcome challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new services include an online registration portal for the benefit of aspiring accountants who can register at CA Sri Lanka from the comfort of their home and kick start their career as a Chartered Accountant. more..

Jun 5 (EN) Cosmo introduced its first special edition for the year: The 35 Under 35 Issue, featuring a list of 35 incredible young women, under the age of 35. They are movers and shakers in their own right in various industries, from entrepreneurs to eco-warriors to creative pioneers to activists and more. The goal of the list was to put the next generation of trailblazers front and centre with the intention to celebrate these women doing their thing and inspire everyone to not let fear hold them back more..

Jun 5 (FT) South Asian governments should strengthen their market economies by protecting the private sector, improving ease of doing business, and look to Asia as a market place to reduce the COVID-19 impact, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said this week. Wickremesinghe made the comments while taking part in a webinar organised by Indian media organisation Sphere Travel Media, to discuss the impact more..

Jun 5 (TM) Amidst prevailing vehicle import restrictions, United Motors Lanka PLC has decided to focus on after sales revenue from service, repairs, and parts; the potential areas for growth even if restrictions are further tightened or extended. �In order to minimize the impact, our focus will be on after sales revenue from service, repairs and parts, which has potential for growth in the event the import restrictions are extended. This was disclosed by United Motors in a disclosure to the CSE. more..

Jun 5 (Island) Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. launched its latest partnership with the Police Environment Protection Division to expand the collection and recycling of PET plastic. The partnership was formalized at an event at the SL Police DIG Office in Colombo 01 on 3rd June to commemorate World Environment Day 2020. The significant occasion was attended by the Senior DIG � Western Province Deshabandu Thennakoon, DIG � Environment and Community Policing more..

Jun 5 (Island) In keeping with the strict instructions of President Rajapaksa, the environmental and health related concerns would be strictly looked into prior to the setting up of the fourth coal powered power plant at Norochcholai. Norochcholai Lakvijaya Power Plant Manager Indrasiri Gallege said that they had completed the feasibility study and commenced implementing environmental recommendations given by more..

Jun 5 (DN) The Ministry of Sports announced that major sports like Cricket, Rugby and Football should restart their national pool training from the first week of June, but so far only cricket has followed the request. Sri Lanka Cricket took the first step towards returning to action when they had their national players holding outdoor training sessions amid strict safety protocols at the CCC ground on June 2. However rest of the other sports has yet to follow suit. more..

Jun 5 (CT) Fitch Ratings announced it has taken rating action on non-financial corporate, following the recalibration of its Sri Lankan National Rating scale, to reflect changes in the relative creditworthiness among the country's issuers following the downgrade of the sovereign rating to 'B-' from 'B' on 24 April 2020. The Outlook on Sri Lanka's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) is Negative. Fitch has revised the National Long-Term Ratings of three SL corporate, more..

Jun 5 (ST) Weddings have been upended, stripped of all intimacy, sense of occasion, and celebrations because a virus could come uninvited to haunt the lives of everyone. Masks are a must and no socialising. Health officials have laid down guidelines that say no to hugs, handshakes, kisses, group photos, dance floors, and alcohol. Guests are limited to a maximum of 100. Wedding planners are reluctantly adjusting. more..

Jun 5 (FT) Govt announced a Rs. 100 billion addition to the Rs. 50 billion refinancing facility of the CB through which banks extend urgent working capital support for businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rs. 50 billion refinancing scheme, announced in March, has run into much criticism, as it has been unable to cover many companies, especially the small and medium enterprises that it was initially targeted to assist. The implementation process has also been slammed for more..

Jun 5 (TM) Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal to cancel trials for driving licence tests conducted by private institutions, the Ministry of Transport Services Management said. It is reported that the Association of Automobile Inspectors of SL has requested Minister of Transport Mahinda Amaraweera that the trials be conducted by the Govt as before. Accordingly, the proposal tabled by Amaraweera on the matter has received the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. more..

Jun 5 (CT) The State Poson Festival is set to take place at the Mihinthale Raja Maha Viharaya premises from 6 am today under the aegis of Chief Incumbent of the Temple, Ven. Walawahengunaweve Dhammarathana Thera. From 6 am to 7 am, the observing of sil will continue while from 7 to 8 am and the presentation of alms to the monks of the Temple and the devotees observing sil will take place. more..