Apr 5 (AD) Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena informed the Parliament that Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has been appointed as the Leader of the House and Minister Johnston Fernando has been appointed the Chief Government Whip. Parliament Sittings had commenced today at 10 a.m. with time has been allotted for Questions for Oral Answers from 10 am to 11.00 am. Thereafter, from 11 am to 4.30 pm, Regulations under the Medical Ordinance and Regulations under more..

Apr 5 (EN) SL�s secondary market closed inactive with zero transactions on Tuesday market participants said while the rupee was quoted at 310 rupees against US dollar in commercial banks. Commercial Banks were offering to sell dollars for telegraphic transfers at 310 rupees and buy between 295-300 rupees on Tuesday. Dealers said the market did not have a proper two-way spot quote on Tuesday. The central bank indicative spot rate was 307.78 rupees on Tuesday, down from more..

Apr 5 (AD) MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa today revealed that nine MPs representing the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), including himself, have decided to remain independent in Parliament. He announced this while making a special statement in the House. Accordingly, the following MPs will sit independently: Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, W.D.J. Seneviratne, Susil Premajayantha, Chandima Weerakkody, Nalin Fernando, Nimal Lanza, Dr. Sudarshini more..

Apr 5 (EN) SL�s defence establishment is monitoring the wave of protests that has erupted around the country and, while it recognises the people�s democratic right to peaceful protest, action will be taken against anyone unleashing violence. Defence Ministry Secretary Gen Kamal Gunaratne in a video statement released Tuesday afternoon said two district groups have been found to be organising ongoing spate of protests. more..

Apr 5 (EN) As protests intensified in crisis-riddled SL on Monday (04) with calls mounting for the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa and his govt, a top cabinet minister claimed that Rajapaksa need not step down as he still commands the support of his voters. �The Prez has been given a mandate by 6.9 million voters. He doesn�t need to resign,� said chief govt whip Johnston Fernando who was reappointed Minister of Highways Monday morning after the entire cabinet handed their letters of more..

Apr 5 (CT) Colombo High Court Judge Damith Thotawatta, yesterday postponed further hearing of the case filed against SJB MP Patali Ranawaka and two other accused, to 6 May. Ex-Minister Ranawaka and two other accused namely Dilum Thusitha Kumara and ASP Sudath Asmadala have been charged with causing a traffic accident during a hit-and-run incident at Rajagiriya on 28 Feb six years ago and grievously injuring youth Sandeep Sampath. more..

Apr 5 (DM) Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to temporarily close down the SL Embassy in Oslo, Norway; the SL Embassy in Baghdad, the Republic of Iraq; and the SL Consulate General in Sydney, the Commonwealth of Australia; with effect from April 30. The statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in this regard is as follows: The decision with regard to the temporary closure of the two Missions and Post more..

Apr 5 (Island) The CEB has failed to furnish a Letter of Credit (LoC) to a ship carrying coal that arrived here on 01 April and this has resulted in a demurrage payment of USD 30,000 a day since then. About 38 to 42 ships carry coal to Sri Lanka from South Africa, Russia and Indonesia annually. CEB Chairman M. M.C. Ferdinando last week agreed that the CEB needed about six billion rupees to import the remaining four shipments of coal for Lakviyaja Coal Power plant at Norochcholai. more..

Apr 5 (EN) Former president Maithripala Sirisena on Tuesday (05) called for the 20th amendment to the constitution be rescinded and for the 19th amendment to be restored with amendments. Addressing parliament Tuesday morning, Sirisena said the 14 MPs that represent the SLFP will act independently in parliament and support an immediate solution to addressing the distressing situation brought on the public by the country�s worsening economic crisis. more..

Apr 5 (CT) The Supreme Court yesterday (4), granted leave to proceed with the two Fundamental Rights (FR) Petitions filed by the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) pertaining to the persisting economic crisis that has affected the livelihoods of people, in violation of their Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution. This was decided when the Petitions were taken up before Supreme Court Justices, Gamini Amarasekera, Kumudini Wickremesinghe and Shiran Gooneratne. more..

Apr 5 (DM) A group of lawyers entered the Attorney General's Dept premises criticising Attorney General's decision to withdraw several cases filed against politicians. They entered the premises shouting slogans alleging that role of Attorney General has been politicized since he has withdrawn cases filed against corrupt politicians. They urge the AG to uphold rule of law and listen to the public. They said the sovereignty is vested on the people and the AG cannot act contrary to more..

Apr 5 (Reuters) Dozens of SL lawmakers walked out of the ruling coalition on Tuesday, leaving Prez Rajapaksa's govt in a minority in parliament as it struggled to quell protests amid the country's worst economic crisis in decades. In another setback for the administration, Finance Minister Ali Sabry resigned a day after his appointment and ahead of crucial talks scheduled with the IMF for a loan programme. more..

Apr 5 (EN) Ex-PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said SL should withdraw comments objecting to an IMF report and initiate talks with the lender based on what is Executive Board has said. He said an aid consortium should be formed with India, China, the EU and multilateral agencies. �I had an opportunity to talk to the Managing Director of the IMF (Kristalina Georgieva),� he said. �She said she is willing to help. But until the process (IMF program) is done there is no money. more..

Apr 5 (DM) Bar Association of SL (BASL) has unequivocally condemned recent violence by protestors who had targeted private property of certain individuals and caused destruction to property including their homes. In a statement, it noted that such acts are criminal and can lead to those participating in such protests being charged in courts of law. The BASL also called upon authorities to take necessary action according to law, whilst safeguarding the rights of those who more..

Apr 5 (EN) SL�s stock index recovered to close 5.9% firmer on Tuesday (05) recouping some losses investors suffered in the previous sessions amid the ongoing economic and political crisis, brokers said. The main All Share Price Index (ASPI) ended 5.86% or 482.77 points at 8,727, recovering from its lowest close since Aug 15. �There was bargain hunting because the market has come down sharply,� an analyst said. more..

Apr 5 (DM) Regarding the video footage circulating on social media in which a container was seen transporting under the STF security personnel, SLPA clarified that it was routine practice to provide security to such containers as they contain atomic substances. According to the video, it shows several container trucks were exiting from the Jaya Container Terminal escorted by STF personnel. While issuing a notice, the SLPA said that the container contained atomic substances more..

Apr 5 (DM) The Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) today requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint a suitable Cabinet Minister to handle the subject of Power and Energy with immediate effect. While sending a letter to the President by PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake by order of the commission, he said that there is a serious crisis in the power and energy sectors at present due to the lack of fuel supply to generation plants and drained down hydro reservoirs. more..

Apr 6 (CT) Prez and PM know that they are up the creek. They have run out of their Mattala runway. They cannot stay in their powerless positions any longer than the time needed to perform the last rites for their dead govt. The two brothers must announce their resignation to become effective as soon as parliament meets and elects an MP to be sworn in by the Chief Justice as interim Prez. Parliament must also resolve to allow the interim Prez to form a caretaker govt and call for election. more..

Apr 6 (CT) It seems, what is true of an individual, is true of the collective. All the dishes were long in preparation for the nightmare banquet; a nation living beyond their means; greed, corruption, waste, low productivity; a political culture encouraging consumption even before the crop is sown, huge prestige projects with low returns, and defence becoming the largest budget expenditure. The inedible menu is explained away with asinine platitudes, nonchalantly adopted as more..

Apr 6 (CT) SL�s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda had wanted to build a special relationship between the two countries through a three-phase plan he had drawn up late last year. Then came SL�s economic crisis. He tells Deccan Herald�s Anirban Bhaumik that with the recent visit of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Colombo, the first phase of the plan � the confidence-building phase � had ended and more..

Apr 6 (CT) In a tragicomic turn of events, yesterday, Sri Lanka established a record in its 74 years of Independence, by having a Finance Minister only for a day! This was after Ali Sabry (PC), appointed by Prez Rajapaksa as the new Finance Minister on Monday, handed over his letter of resignation to the Prez, yesterday. The previous Finance Minister was Prez Rajapaksa�s younger brother Basil. It was also on Monday, Prez Rajapaksa�s Cabinet, other than his elder brother Mahinda, more..

Apr 6 (TM) Islandwide protests have now spread to almost all areas of the country, and they are growing at an uncontrollable speed. While the spread of these protests shows the great enthusiasm coming from the general public in light of the exacerbating economic crisis, which is admirable when we look at how the general public has been complacent regarding the actions of Govts in the past, the protests seem to be getting out of hand, with a number of violent and unlawful acts more..

Apr 6 (CT) Maximum prices of several goods were either increased or waived during the past several months owing to SL�s forex crisis. The precursor to these increases or scrapings off was the artificial shortage that was created in the market, forcing people to stand in queues. The forex crisis and the fast-collapsing economy of a lower middle income country is now facing the shortages created by the pharmaceutical mafia, more..

Apr 6 (DM) This is the first time in my working life that I have been away from SL when the country was in upheaval. Every bit of information I have on the on-going political turmoil, I have got from social media. I have not read any news reports on the situation. Linked as I am to the social media and messaging groups, I get live updates of what is going on. Even the fakes and rumours come in fast and strong. My feeds have been filled with a refrain, you messed with the wrong generation. more..

Apr 6 (DM) The Ides of March proved fatal to Julius Caesar, the dictator of Rome who was assasinated in the Roman Senate House.Since mid-March, Sri Lankans of all shades and hues - from slum dwellers, to the middle classes to the super rich- had been silently damning the rulers of this country. On April 1, the rising tide of discontent exploded into loud and vociferous protests in front of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa�s private residence. Protestors demanded his resignation. more..

Apr 6 (Island) Former SL cricket captain Suranga Lakmal will be in action in County Cricket tomorrow (Thursday) when Derbyshire take on Middlesex at the Home of Cricket. Altogether eight County games will start on Thursday and Derbyshire under new coach Mickey Arthur will be pinning their hopes on the ex Sri Lanka fast bowler. Lakmal retired from Test cricket following the recent Bangalore Test against India and travelled to London last week ahead of his county assignment. more..

Apr 6 (Island) The 31 March afternoon protest at the Jubilee Post against the high cost of living, various shortages, etc., initially caused by a dollar shortage, gathered momentum by the evening. By late evening it grabbed the headlines both nationally and internationally; the protesters� slogans changed from a demand for redress to their grievances to a strident call for Prez Rajapaksa�s resignation. By the following morning�on April Fool�s Day�the Presidential Media Unit (PMU) sought to more..

Apr 6 (DM) The constructing of a hotel using both the reclaimed land in the Anuradhapura Nuwara Wewa protected area and Wewa itself became a controversial topic recently. Former State Minister Shehan Semasinghe was accused of constructing a hotel on the Nuwara Wewa. Permission should be obtained from several institutes prior to engaging in construction work on a tank or tank reserve. more..

Apr 6 (GV) On March 31, a silent citizens protest that began at Jubilee Junction in Nugegoda burgeoned into a massive show of dissent against Prez Rajapaksa and govt and their handling of the prevailing economic crisis in the country. SL has been facing shortages in diesel, gas, petrol, paper and medicine. At around 8 pm, with a large crowd building and more people joining the protest, the protestors made their way from the Jubilee Junction past the Mirihana roundabout and more..

Apr 6 (Island) The govt almost lost a working majority in Parliament yesterday. The rebel SLPP MPs pulled out of the ruling coalition, reducing the number of govt members to 112, but two dissidents made an about-turn immediately. Problems, however, are far from over for the beleaguered govt. There are said to be more dissidents in the SLPP parliamentary group, and they are expected to break ranks later. Whoever would have thought the govt, which easily mustered 2/3 majority in 2020, more..

Apr 6 (HRW) Any future IMF program in SL should protect the human rights of low-income people, and address corruption and entrenched obstacles to the rule of law, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the IMF. The economic crisis in the country has caused acute shortages of essential goods including medicines, a crippling lack of fuel and electricity, spiralling inflation, and desperate hardship for millions of people. more..

Apr 6 (EN) SL recorded zero Covid-19 related deaths on April 4, a statement issued by the Director General of Health showed, as the country witnessed no deaths for the first time since the second wave stated in Nov 2020. On Apr 4, health officials have identified 112 new Covid-19 patients bringing the total number of patients in the country to 661,991. The total deaths from the pandemic have recorded 16,485. From Mid February, the health data showed a continuous decrease in number of cases more..

Apr 6 (Reuters) Manchester Originals have signed SL spin bowler Wanindu Hasaranga for �100,000 in The Hundred draft, according to foreign media. London Spirit have signed West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard as their number one men�s pick in The Hundred draft, the team said on Tuesday, while all-rounder Andre Russell joined Manchester Originals and Dwayne Bravo went to Northern Superchargers. Pollard, who has played over 100 Twenty20Is, was recruited by London side more..

Apr 6 (CT) Defending champions St. Joseph�s Colombo (unbeaten throughout the tournament), and Richmond Galle entered the final of the Under-19 Division One Tier �A� Inter Schools Cricket Tournament yesterday. St. Joseph�s beat De Mazenod Kandana at Surrey grounds, Maggona, while Richmond beat Mahanama Colombo by 139 runs at Reid Avenue. St. Joseph�s won the toss and elected to field. De Mazenod were bowled out for 138 runs in 38.1 overs. more..

Apr 6 (FT) Nurses, doctors, and hospital staff gathered outside the National Dental Hospital of SL yesterday, to join in the country-wide protests against Prez Rajapaksa and the current Govt. Commenting on their own protest, which involved all hospital staff coming together to raise placards, and posters and convey their concern, National Dental Institute Senior Consultant Dr. Gamini Navaratne said: �Our country is facing a precarious situation as far as our economy is concerned. more..