Apr 23 (ST) The country is in the midst of a worsening financial and essential items shortage crisis, with fears that it could go bankrupt as inflation reaches new highs, food prices skyrocket and the country�s foreign reserves run dry. One of the main issues that is gradually growing is the impending shortage of the staple food; rice in the market. A steady stream of buyers trickles into the leading supermarket chains and groceries to more..

Apr 23 (ST) Navy and security authorities have stepped up security and patrolling activities along the North-East maritime border to prevent Sri Lankan economic refugees from fleeing to Tamil Nadu citing food scarcity. On Thursday, a family of four, including an infant, and the skipper of the fishing boat were arrested by Navy teams deployed in the Gulf of Mannar while they were waiting for passage the following day. They have been handed over to the police for legal action. more..

Apr 23 (DM) Govt trying to privatise health care under the guise of reviving economy: GMOA The govt was trying to privatise the whole health sector, the Govt Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) has charged. While addressing the media, GMOA General Secretary Dr Senal Fernando said the health system was in a state of despair due to the economy and fuel crisis in the country. "It is clear that the govt is trying to privatise the health sector under the guise of reviving the economy. more..

Apr 24 (CT) Nowadays, I feel like I am on LSD because what is happening in SL has intensified my feelings of sheer disgust of SL politicians, particularly Rajapaksas and their imbecilic morons. We all know�I assume�the words imperialism and colonialism. I had to coin the word chinperialism to talk about what China has done to SL and other corrupt countries. China does not send their armies to conquer the world; instead, they send just one Chinese man with a bag filled with dollars. more..

Apr 24 (SO) Present socio-economic and political crises have led to a great deal of soul-searching and introspection in political as well as social circles. There is a debate on these issues in the media too. Various solutions have been proffered for the multiple crises, only some of which seem to be viable or practical. Some solutions are long-term concepts which will not douse the present fire. Although the youthful protestors at Galle Face and elsewhere seek ouster of political leadership, more..

Apr 24 (CT) Thursday marked three years since the brutal attack on three churches and three high-end hotels on Easter Sunday morning of 21 April 2019, where 270 people were killed and more than 500 were injured by a group of Islamist terrorists. It also marks three years of waiting for justice for the victims� families and survivors of the dastardly attacks. They have been repeatedly let down by both the political authorities and more..

Apr 24 (CT) Since the 2019 presidential elections, there have been three substantial blunders. First, enacting inappropriate major tax cuts; Second, the disastrous 20th amendment; Third, overnight conversion from green agriculture to organic. While the first initiated the catastrophic economic collapse, the second concentrated excessive power, and protection of politicians and other wrong doors, leading to escalated corruption by the governing politicians. more..

Apr 24 (TM) Here�s a poser. In a hypothetical situation, if the SJB/UNP was in power and the SLPP was the Opposition with the same seat numbers in Parliament and facing the same critical issues the nation is facing today, what would be the status quo? Would the SLPP behave in the same timid manner as the present Opposition? One would recall Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa riding a bicycle to Parliament 5 years ago when petrol was in short supply for a few days and more..

Apr 24 (SO) The SL Govt should immediately offer an attractive scheme that can attract investment and talent of some three million Sri Lankans living overseas to overcome the current economic hardships faced by the country says Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, Director General, Institute of National Security Studies told the Sunday Observer. This special scheme should be built in the model of the Overseas Citizen of India scheme, more..

Apr 24 (Island) Galle Face protesters remain firmly rooted to their cause after 16 days on the green. Rajapaksa establishment has conceded some ground of which the most significant is omitting two brothers and a son from the new smaller � but not small enough � cabinet. But the major demand that aiya (Mahinda) and malli (Gota) go home, apart from side issues like returning their loot, have not received any consideration whatever. Heels have obviously been dug in and there are no signs more..

Apr 24 (Island) Opposition has a very significant new grouping of veteran politicians. It is a breakaway from the Govt and has four components: the SLFP led by ex-Prez Sirisena; 10 or 11 smaller parties of partners and allies; SLFPers who are not led by him and are leaning towards ex-Prez CBK; and a grouping from the SLPP (Pohottuwa). This grouping is the most significant variable in Parliament today. This is so because of two reasons: (a) It has shrunk the regime�s parliamentary numbers and more..

Apr 24 (ST) The first seriously adverse reaction from the Govt going before the World Bank and the IMF in Washington was felt at Rambukkana this week. A third and unbearable increase in fuel prices was about the tipping point at home. Ever since the post-1977 liberalised economy, people have become far more mobile in the country. Almost every household today has some kind of wheels and these need fuel. In the pre-1977 years, students walked, cycled or bussed to school. more..

Apr 24 (ST) My dear new Cabinet of Ministers, I thought I must write to you this week. Firstly, I should congratulate you on your new appointments. However, I should also be absolutely honest with you and let you know that, seeing you take your oaths as ministers, I didn�t know whether I should laugh, cry or be very, very angry. Here we are, facing our greatest economic disaster since the sudda left our shores in 1948. Someone thinks that the crisis will go away simply by appointing one and more..

Apr 24 (ST) When it comes to politics, even learned academics are no different from seasoned politicians. Academic turned politician and former Northern province Governor Suren Raghavan made a U-turn this week when he accepted the portfolio of State Minister of Education Services and Reforms. The appointment came just days after he put a post on his Facebook page calling on Prez Rajapaksa to resign due to massive country-wide protests. more..

Apr 24 (SO) The Director General of the Department of Sports Development (DSD) Amal Edirisooriya has assured Asia Rugby (AR) that one of their priorities is to conduct an election of office-bearers for Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR). The elected rugby body headed by Rizly Illyas stands temporarily suspended following a gazette notification on April 1 issued by then Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa appointing Edirisooriya as competent authority to oversee the administration of the sport. more..

Apr 24 (Island) When Chris Silverwood succeeded Paul Grayson as Essex�s Head Coach in 2016, the English county was in doldrums. They had been relegated to Division Two for a while and there was little hope for the Chelmsford club, half hour�s train journey from London King�s Cross Station. Silverwood with his hands on approach and close rapport with the players turned things around for Essex. A county that didn�t have many stars was promoted to Division One in his first year more..

Apr 24 (ST) Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara are among the eight former members of the National Sports Council (NSC) who snubbed a meeting chaired by the new Minister of Sports Thenuka Vidanagamage to discuss the future of SL sports and NSC. Jayawardena was the former chairman of the NSC while Sangakkara served as a member but both were among many prominent people who supported the ongoing protest more..

Apr 24 (SO) The highest individual innings by a local batswoman was registered by 16-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne of Ratnaweli Balika when she smashed an unbeaten 417 against Jayasiripura Junior School in Negombo last Thursday. Most importantly, the marathon knock came in a limited over match. In an almost single handed effort, Gunaratne�s 417 not out enabled her team to score 567 for 2 in 30 overs. She was given a good helping hand by Sandali Weerasinghe who made 78. more..

Apr 24 (SO) Football Sri Lanka (FSL) president Jaswar Umar affirmed that he is willing to make bold decisions to usher in a new era for football in the country despite taking charge during challenging times. He deftly parried criticism that he is behaving like a dictator and strutting around like a politician since being elected to head FSL in June by putting his detractors like Dr. Manil Fernando in place. �Let me do my work because I am running the show. I can�t do what he (Dr. Fernando) wants. more..

Apr 24 (ST) Health Ministry has sought assistance from medical associations and professionals within the health sector to help manage the country�s essential medicines and medical equipment shortage over the next critical 90-day period until fresh stocks arrive. The ministry has sought assistance from health sector unions including the GMOA, Association of Medical Specialists, Nurses� Unions & Public Health Inspectors� (PHI) Union, Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said. more..

Apr 24 (Island) One recollects that the UNP-led Yahapalanaya Govt was on the verge of signing the MCC and SOFA agreements with the US Govt after having signed the periodic ACSA agreement. The latter was signed at regular intervals to enable military exercises to be conducted in Sri Lanka and to receive military assistance from the USA. This was renewed at regular intervals and therefore it was a routine, but the MCC and SOFA agreements are new developments. more..

Apr 24 (EN) Washington-based IMF has welcomed SL�s planned negotiations with creditors after the island suspended repayments and said initial talks with a team led by Finance Minister Ali Sabry and CB Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe were fruitful. SL on April 12 suspended foreign debt payments, and said they will negotiate with creditors. �IMF team welcomed authorities� plan to engage in a collaborative dialogue with their creditors� more..

Apr 24 (AD) PMD has issued a statement on the state ministerial portfolios previously held by MPs Piyal Nishantha and Lohan Ratwatte. Thereby, the two MPs will continue to serve in their state ministerial portfolios. Lohan Ratwatte will continue his tenure as State Minister of Gem and Jewellery Related Industries. Meanwhile, Piyal Nishantha will carry on with his duties in his post as State Minister of Women and Child Development, Pre-schools and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and more..

Apr 24 (ST) Javelin thrower Sumedha Ranasinghe and triple jumper Chamal Kumarasiri established new meet records on the concluding day of the SL Athletics Centenary National Athletics C'ship where Ranasinghe and Nilani Ratnayake were adjudged best male and female athlete of the event. Olympian Ranasinghe hurled a distance of 82.18m, surpassing his own record of 80.76m to win the event and the best athlete award. His attempt was nine metres ahead of the second place, more..

Apr 24 (ST) SL is fast losing its credibility as foreign banks show reluctance to recognise LCs opened by local banks since last week as many exporters are finding it hard to purchase raw materials. This will have a trickle effect as delays in meeting export orders will result in smaller firms becoming the first casualty, industry sources said. Exporters state that since local banks are not being accepted by overseas banks it is likely to more..

Apr 24 (Island) The Extra Mile: A surgeon�s experiences, an autobiographical book by Dr Gamini Goonetilleke FRCS, was launched recently at the Auditorium of The College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka, Colombo 7 in the presence of a large and distinguished gathering. The book reflects four decades of experience of Dr Goonetilleke, a Senior Consultant Surgeon, narrating his life and work, during the armed conflict as the only surgeon at the Base Hospital in Polonnaruwa and more..

Apr 24 (ST) The spike in Sri Lankan interest rates and the possibility of further increases in the short term have literally stopped customer borrowings from banks. Interest rates for treasury bills (t-bills) rose sharply this week from single digit levels in January this year. For example 3-month t-bills rose to 23.21%, 6-month bills at 24.77% and 1-year bills at 24.36%. �Our lending has come to a grinding halt. With t-bill rates at 24%, the lending rates are at around 27%. more..

Apr 24 (ST) The scarcity of paper owing to the forex crunch is becoming very real. Cancelling school exams, delays in printing school textbooks, authors struggling to publish their books, and banks and companies resorting to e-statements and email communications with customers and clients are the latest. DFCC Bank recently in a notice said that �due to the non-availability of paper they are compelled to discontinue issuing the monthly bank statements from this month while credit card statements more..

Apr 24 (TM) The website of the Dept of Census & Statistics (DCS), which is mainly responsible for the collection and dissemination of statistical data requirements of the Govt, has been down for the past two weeks as the Dept is unable to find a generator to run its servers during power cuts, Dept said. Since shutting down and restarting the servers during power cuts would damage them, Dept had decided to shut them down until a suitable generator was procured. more..

Apr 24 (TM) The UDA is aiming to secure a total target of Rs. 1 billion by 31 Dec 2022 by leasing out 20 State-owned lands for potential investors, both int'l and local. A senior UDA official confirmed that even amidst the potential economic crisis and uncertainty in the market, UDA would successfully be able to fulfil the Rs. 1 billion target as the 20 proposed State-owned lands were on schedule for attracting potential investors. more..

Apr 24 (OI) Owing to an insufficient cash inflow, country often fails to pay back to its creditors the principal amount as well as the interest amount of the loan. This is known as sovereign debt default. Last week, SL joined the list of countries that have defaulted on sovereign debt. The island nation defaulted on its foreign debt worth $51 billion as it faces the worst economic crisis, for the first time since its independence in 1948. South Asian country is grappling with soaring inflation at 17.5%, more..

Apr 24 (ST) Sri Lanka has run into further crisis in fuel purchases with the CPC facing a credit squeeze from one of the major suppliers from the UAE, a senior CPC official said. Similar situations were expected from other suppliers in the coming months after the Govt announced its decision to suspend the payment of foreign loans until further notice, pending negotiations. He said a key UAE supplier, who had proposed the supply of six shipments with 95,000MT of crude oil each and more..

Apr 24 (TM) The group of 39 independent MPs is set to move a short No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the PM and Govt if PM Mahinda Rajapaksa does not resign from office during the weekend. A member of the independent group said that the draft NCM was ready, and that the text had been kept short in order to make it a precise motion against the Govt to push for its resignation to make way for the setting up of an all-party interim govt. more..

Apr 24 (Island) TNA MP MA Sumanthiran told Parliament that he saw a twitter message from the president, following the Rambukkara shooting, exhorting �I urge all to refrain from violence as they protest�. �Now I have not seen any protesters indulging in violence,� the MP said. �It has been only the police who have used excessive force which is quite blatant, and that has now resulted in the death of one person. Death of only one person is confirmed. Fate of few others is not known. more..

Apr 24 (ST) The govt has stepped up money printing at a time of civil unrest demanding essential commodities, fuel and cooking gas at a reasonable price amidst economic crisis triggered by dollar scarcity, massive external debt and balance of payment issues, with the CB printing a sum of Rs. 20.28 billion on April 18 and 19. It printed Rs 1.22 billion on April 18 and Rs.19.06 billion on April 19, the day a protestor was shot dead and 24 others injured when police opened fire to disperse more..

Apr 24 (ST) Beleaguered Prez Rajapaksa, now living in virtual isolation, has focused on elder brother and mentor, PM Rajapaksa, after their relationship turned toxic. MPs loyal to the Prez, and today there are many of them in the SLPP, collected signatures to a letter. Ten of them want the Prez to remove the PM from office. The signatories were: K.P.S. Kumarasiri, Lalith Ellawala, Sudath Manjula, Udayana Kirindigoda, more..