Aug 9 (Island) The press release by the Central Bank on the external sector performance, in June 2022, perhaps was the first piece of good news we had received for a long time. �Earnings from merchandise exports, in June 2022, increased by 23.9% over the corresponding month, in 2021, recording US dollars 1,248 million, which is the highest ever monthly export earnings recorded. An increase in earnings of both industrial and agricultural exports contributed to this more..

Aug 9 (FT) SL�s plans to introduce a long-term digital nomad visa for foreign professionals have been delayed with former Prez Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Technology Minister failing to sign the relevant Cabinet paper agreed by all connected authorities to put the system in order. The Immigration and Emigration Dept has received around 40 applications, but it cannot proceed with the visa issuance as the former more..

Aug 9 (ST) So Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe made his pitch. It was his first formal effort as president to set forth his vision for the future. It relates to economic policy and his intended system changes. He is no doubt hoping that this package will win over MPs from the multiplicity of political parties and rather loosely-tied groups in parliament to join him in a major rescue mission to save the nation, now and in the long term. That would tie most of them to follow the Wickremesinghe path. more..

Aug 9 (ST) Football Federation of SL (FFSL) has been questioned by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about the progress in amending the existing constitution to be in line with the country�s national sports law as well as the requirements of the regional and global bodies. In an emailed letter, dated April 11, 2022 signed jointly by Kenny Jean-Marie, the Chief Member Associations Officer of FIFA & Vahid Kardany, Deputy General Secretary, Member Associations of AFC, more..

Aug 9 (ST) A week into its implementation, National Fuel Pass based on a QR code system, with a 5.4 million registered user base is receiving both bouquets and brickbats. A majority of four-wheel users hailed the system mainly due to shorter queues and the absence of thuggery and violence witnessed at filling stations across the country in the past few weeks. "There is less hassle and for me 20 litres are more than enough to more..

Aug 9 (EN) Sri Lanka stocks gained for an eighth consecutive session on Monday, pushed up by Lanka IOC as the country allowed the energy firm to open 50-filling stations across the island in a move to avoid a future fuel crisis. The main All Share Price Index (ASPI) rose 1.08% or 89.6 points to 8,422.97, its highest since May 23. It has risen 10.4% in the last eight sessions. �With the govt giving approval for Lanka IOC to open 50 sheds in the country, it pushed the market. more..

Aug 9 (FT) Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has congratulated Ranil Wickremesinghe over his appointment as the Prez and expressed his desire to further boost bilateral ties. Following is the full text of the congratulatory message. �It gives me immense pleasure to extend to Your Excellency my sincerest congratulations and best wishes on your swearing-in as President of Sri Lanka, wishing you all success in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of your friendly people. more..

Aug 9 (CT) Sri Lanka finished their Commonwealth Games 2022 campaign in Birmingham with 1 Silver and 3 Bronze medals, despite nine athletes and an official decamping from the contingent. During the last Commonwealth Games Sri Lanka recorded 1 Silver and 5 Bronze medals. SL recorded their first medal by promising weightlifter Dilanka Isuru Kumara. He produced a fine performance to secure the Bronze medal in the 55kg weight class as he lifted 105kgs in the snatch category and more..

Aug 9 (FT) In the backdrop of declining volumes, tea prices are on the rise sharply with July establishing record National Sales Averages both in rupee and dollar terms. Forbes and Walker said in July, as well as year to date, all elevations have recorded significant gains. For example, the total auction average of Rs. 1,448.13 per kilo, the High grown average of Rs. 1,204.57 per kilo, Medium grown average of Rs. 1,152.29 per kilo and Low grown average of Rs.1,608.57 were highest ever. more..

Aug 9 (Island) Former Minister G.L. Peiris says that whatever the political arrangement, envisaged by Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe, to address the developing political-economic-social crisis, expansion of the Cabinet-of-Ministers wouldn�t be acceptable to the public, under any circumstances. �It would be a grave mistake on the part of political parties represented in Parliament, even to consider a bigger Cabinet at a time, more..

Aug 9 (Island) On 26th July 2022, Korean envoy Santhush Woonjin JEONG attended the handover ceremony of newly constructed schools funded by KOICA together with UNICEF to SL education authorities in the Northern Province and the community of Kilinochchi. The School, Mukkomban Maha Vidyalayam, was handed over in a ceremony organised in Kilinochchi attended by Korean Ambassador Santhush Woonjin JEONG, Country Director of KOICA Ms. Myung Jin KIM and more..

Aug 9 (OHCHR) UN human rights experts today condemned the extensive, prolonged and repeated use of state of emergency measures since 2 April 2022 by SL authorities to crackdown on peaceful protesters and prevent them from voicing their grievances amidst an economic collapse in the country. On 15 July, Prez Rajapaksa resigned and left the country following months of mass protests in Colombo and across the island nation. His successor Prez Wickremesinghe declared more..

Aug 9 (TM) The fundamental rights (FR) petition filed by Catholic priest and aragalaya (struggle) activist Amila Jeewantha Peiris, seeking an order preventing his imminent arrest, was scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court this morning. Petition requests the court to prevent Peiris�s arrest over his participation in the Galle Face protests. The petitioner has cited as respondents the OIC of Balangoda Police, SDIG Deshabandu more..

Aug 9 (Island) Gotabaya Rajapaksa govt had ignored suggestions by Chinese lending institutions that SL to restructure the debt in 2021, Prof. Samitha Hettige said. �Rajapaksa govt started talking of debt restructuring earlier this year. The Opposition had been asking for this before,� he said. By 2021, before the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration decided on debt restructuring, the Chinese institutions that had given SL loans suggested that a restructuring process should start since more..

Aug 9 (FT) While there is an ever-so-slight uptick in economic perceptions, despite the state of the State, the big picture is that SL�s economic prospects continue to be viewed with anxiousness by the business community, says leading business magazine LMD, in its August edition. �The country is at a breaking point with frustrations riding high,� observes NielsenIQ�s Director � Consumer Insights Therica Miyanadeniya. She continues: �In this environment, Business Confidence Index more..

Aug 9 (Island) The FUTA calls on the govt to release the Aragalaya activists, taken into police custody, immediately and uphold democratic values. A statement signed by the FUTA General Secretary says: The FUTA is appalled at the arbitrary arrest of CTU Chairman and iconic education sector trade union leader Joseph Stalin. This is a continuation of the wave of state terror unleashed by the illegitimate Wickremeisnghe-Pohottuwa regime from the moment it assumed power � more..

Aug 9 (ANI) The newly-appointed brand ambassador for tourism promotions in SL and ex-cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya met with the Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Gopal Baglay on Monday. According to the official Twitter handle of the High Commission of India, the meeting focused on strengthening ties between both India and SL and promoting tourism as an instrument for economic recovery. "#SriLanka's newly-appointed tourism brand Ambassador, cricket legend @Sanath07 met more..

Aug 9 (FT) JVP led NPP party has pulled out of the meeting with Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe which was scheduled to be held today. In a Twitter message last night, former JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake said the party will not participate in the meeting with Wickremesinghe as the party has already declared the Govt an illegitimate one. �This is an illegitimate Wickremesinghe - Rajapaksa Govt with the shell Presidency owned by the Rajapaksas,� more..

Aug 9 (UN) �UNFPA is committed to meeting the critical health and protection needs of women and girls,� said Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA representative in SL. �Our focus is to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence response services to reduce the long-term repercussions of the current crisis.� Appealing for at $10.7 million, UNFPA hopes to coordinate interventions with other UN agencies as well as international and local partners to provide more..

Aug 9 (FT) Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release confirmed that the SL Govt requested their Chinese counterparts to defer the visit of the Chinese research vessel Yuang Wang 5 to the Hambantota Port until further consultation is carried out. Ministry confirmed that the Govt had on 12 July granted diplomatic clearance for the Chinese vessel to make a port call at the Hambantota port for replenishment purposes. However, it has now been communicated to the Embassy of China more..

Aug 9 (TM) Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe yesterday rejected a request made by the Police to issue a restraining order against a protest planned to be held today, organised by several political parties and civil organisations, against Prez Wickremesinghe and the current Govt. While informing the court that several political parties and civil organisations have planned to hold a protest at Viharamahadevi Park more..

Aug 9 (EN) Ministry of Sports is investigating the circumstances behind the apparent disappearance of nine athletes and one official from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said. Ranasinghe said he has advised the Secretary to the Ministry of Sports to gather information regarding the athletes that have left the games village without prior notice. �We need to know if they are in trouble, or in any other emergency or what happened to them. more..

Aug 9 (HRW) Sri Lanka�s new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, should ensure that his administration adopts measures to protect the basic rights of all Sri Lankans, Human Rights Watch said in a letter published today outlining key human rights concerns. Wickremesinghe was sworn in as president on July 21, 2022, after then-Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down after months of widespread protests against economic mismanagement and corruption. more..

Aug 9 (Island) Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has released the results of its Confidence in Democratic Governance Index- Wave 3 survey, which was conducted by its survey and research arm, Social Indicator. Given the economic & political crisis SL is facing, poll was designed with the aim of capturing the public experience, their opinion on the Aragalaya, and various aspects of the current economic & political crisis. more..

Aug 9 (FT) �At last, the people all came flocking, shouting in the great Town Hall: �Our Council�s attitude is shocking! High you sit and far you�ll fall. To think we buy fine gowns of ermine for dolts who can�t or won�t determine how to rid us of our vermin! You�re old and fat and still expect your furry robes to buy respect! Well, wake up! Give your brains a racking! Find the remedy we�re lacking or, sure as fate, we�ll send you packing!� (Robert Browning � Pied Piper of Hamlin) That�s how it more..

Aug 9 (FT) Following historic protests, Gotabaya Rajapaksa quit as President. In Rajapaksa�s place now sits Ranil Wickremesinghe, a six-time PM and long-time friend of the Rajapaksa family. Rajapaksa�s cabinet of ministers, for the most part, continue in power. Another family loyalist, Dinesh Gunawardena, is the new PM. The country is under a state of emergency and the Govt has initiated a violent crackdown on the protesters. In this context, I reflect on three dominant myths surrounding more..

Aug 9 (DM) Claiming that the youth who entered Prez's House and sat on the Prez's chair have been arrested, MP Dr. Harsha De Silva questioned as to what action has been taken against the MPs who sat on the Speaker's Chair and damaged the microphones. He told Parliament that a committee was appointed by the then Speaker to look into the incident and urged Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeygunawardhane to publish the report of the committee. more..

Aug 9 (EN) Prez Ranil Wickremasinghe, who is also the island nation�s finance minister, is expected to announce the interim revised 2022 budget with an aim to reallocate more funds for the poor and vulnerable people hit by the ongoing economic crisis. A bill to revise the budget for 2022 was tabled in the parliament on Tuesday. The 2022 budget was originally presented by former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa who was forced to resign from the parliament on June 9. more..

Aug 9 (AD) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) has granted its approval to increase electricity tariffs by 75%. According to the chairperson of the electricity sector regulator Janaka Ratnayake, the tariff rates are effective from tomorrow. According to the PUCSL, CEB had applied for an electricity tariff revision through their submission on March 19 this year, and the revised bulk supply tariff submission for the period more..

Aug 9 (EN) Stocks gained for the ninth consecutive session on Tuesday and generated the highest turnover in five months, pushed up by energy sector shares mainly LIOC as the country allowed the energy firm to open 50-filling stations across the island in a move to avoid a future fuel crisis, dealers said. Turnover was 5.3 billion rupees, more than this year�s average daily turnover of 3.06 billion rupees. The highest since March 25. LIOC contributed around 40% or 1.99b to the market turnover. more..

Aug 9 (Island) Further strengthening the engagement with the State of Tamil Nadu and as a follow-up to the meeting with its Chief Minister in early June, SL High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with Lok Sabha MP for Thoothukkudi constituency, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in New Delhi. MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi is the daughter of the former Chief Minister of TN M. Karunanidhi and sister of the present Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. She is in New Delhi attending monsoon session more..

Aug 9 (AD) The Colombo High Court today (August 09) served indictments on former Minister Johnston Fernando, former CWE chairman Eraj Fernando and former CWE Working Director Mohamed Shakeer over a bribery allegation. The case, filed by the Bribery Commission for removing employees of Lanka Sathosa from official duties and engaging them in political activities, was called before more..

Aug 9 (AD) The suspect, who was under arrest in connection with a shooting incident in which a local councillor was killed last week, has died after falling off a granite quarry in the area of Kaduwela. STF officers had taken him to the quarry to recover hidden weapons. As per the police report, the suspect fell to his death while attempting to escape from the STF officers when he was taken to recover a cache of hidden weapons at a granite quarry at Weikkawattte Road in Kaduwela. more..

Aug 9 (AD) Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today granted bail to 08 protesters, who were charged with unlawful assembly and obstruction of duties of police officers at the entry road to Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court on May 25, were granted bail today. They appeared before the court in compliance with a notice issued on them previously. Among the accused were actress Damitha Abeyratne, Social activist Rathindu Senaratne popularly known as Ratta, more..

Aug 9 (Island) Army has successfully cultivated more than 100 acres with maize on the Polonnaruwa Kandakadu farm to obtain seeds for the next Maha Season cultivation. When Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera visited the Kandakadu farm last Saturday, Army officers said urea was necessary to ensure a good yield. Minister instructed Ministry Secretary Rohana Pushpakumara to make urea available. Kandakadu farm encompasses about 1000 acres, of which Ministry of Agriculture more..

Aug 9 (AD) The Cabinet approval has been granted to amend the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No. 19 of 1954 to allow women to work after 6 p.m. The decision was reached after taking into account the requests made by a number of business institutions in various sectors including knowledge process outsourcing, business process outsourcing, ICT enabling services. Due to the nature of those institutions, more..