Jul 1 (DM) The life of schoolchildren has once again become chaotic. Most Colombo schools have been closed till July 10 after the govt announced several professions which went into an essential services list. The govt makes announcements to face the fuel shortage, but little do they think of the impact such breaks have on kids and their education. This is the fourth break this year for students pursuing education, according to Save the Children foundation, an organization that works more..

Jul 1 (GV) They will never change is a phrase that many Tamils overseas often hear from back home. A simple phrase articulated partly in sadness, partly in gloating. It�s difficult to condemn how various Tamil speaking communities hesitate to either believe or trust in change the aragalaya advocates for. The Tamil communities are as diverse as Sri Lanka�s biodiversity where the members identify themselves by their religious beliefs, caste, socio-economic positions and gender. more..

Jul 1 (DM) President of Rice Millers� Association and Chairman of Araliya Group Dudley Sirisena takes questions on the current status of the rice market. Rice is the staple food of SL. There is talk of an impending food crisis. Mr. Sirisena, the brother of former Prez Maithripala Sirisena, holds a major share in the market. He recently vowed to sell rice at the prices stipulated by the govt despite objection by other mill owners. more..

Jul 1 (DM) In faraway Ecuador, a crisis similar to the one SL is facing, is threatening to unseat a President. Similarities of the crises in the two countries are striking in some aspects, while politics and geopolitics at play in the Latin American nation may also appear familiar to Sri Lankans and worth more than a mere mention here. The Ecuadorians led by the indigenous communities have been continuing countrywide protests for the past several weeks, demanding that Prez Guillermo more..

Jul 1 (CT) Country being in dire straits in terms of its politics, economy and social fabric and the people going through untold suffering due to shortage in life-sustaining essentials does not need elaboration. Unless an immediate credible political leadership is installed, all hell could break loose anytime with disastrous consequences. Island-wide Aragalaya (struggle) protesters demanding a complete overhaul of the political leadership accompanied by systemic change are all at sea when more..

Jul 1 (TM) The lack of resources and funds has compelled the authorities to prioritise essential services, and the health sector is one of the key essential services that the authorities have to keep afloat despite the economic crisis. Even though measures are being taken to provide essential medicines and fuel for hospital staff in order to ensure their timely attendance, whether the services provided by public hospitals remain intact more..

Jul 1 (TM) Stifling the peaceful expression of legitimate dissent today can only result, inexorably, in the catastrophic explosion of violence some other day. This is an excerpt from the Supreme Court (SC) judgement on the famous Jana Ghosha case (Amaratunga vs. Sirimal and Others), which Bar Association of SL (BASL) President Saliya Pieris PC cited in a letter written to draw the attention of the Army Commander and the IGP regarding Police and military personnel unfairly disrupting more..

Jul 1 (CT) Sri Lankans already buffeted by the high cost of living (CoL) will have to brace themselves for more price increases if Sri Lanka is to obtain an IMF loan to get over its US dollar crisis, an IMF statement released yesterday showed. Those include the possible upping of the already increased VAT rate by a further three percentage points to 15 per cent and an increase in electricity rates already hinted by the authorities in Colombo. PM and Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, more..

Jul 1 (Island) The question in everyone�s mind watching the second day�s play of the first Test between Australia and SL was why off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva was not bowled enough as he was creating opportunities. Part-timer sent down just two overs on the day while the rest of the spinners took a hammering. Dhananjaya had started off the day well claiming the wicket of Travis Head when he took a return catch but skipper Dimuth Karunaratne hardly bowled him thereafter even when more..

Jul 1 (MFA) Ambassador of Russia, Yury Materiy, called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, G.L. Peiris on 29 June, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Peiris and Ambassador Materiy discussed several issues aimed at enhancing the multi-faceted bilateral relations which celebrated its 65th anniversary in 2022. Peiris briefed Ambassador Materiy on several steps taken to overcome the economic crisis faced by SL and observed the critical situation particularly regarding fuel. more..

Jul 1 (ST) A commission that studied operations at SL Customs has proposed significant digitalisation and targeted CCTV installation to minimise corruption. Electronic monitoring of bulk cargo, introduction of GPS for trucks and online verification facilities are among the 117 recommendations. Commission of Inquiry into Customs was appointed by Prez Rajapaksa in February last year. The 530-page report handed over to Prez on Tuesday more..

Jul 1 (Island) We live in a scarcity economy and will do so well into 2024, past the next Prez elections if it comes then; it may not. (The new minister may open bets.) All economies are scarcity economies; otherwise, there would be no prices. We also live in plentiful economies; look at the streets of Tokyo, Shanghai, Singapore, Paris or San Francisco during day or night. Scarcity is a relative term, as most terms are. A scarcity economy is one where prices rise relentlessly, where cigarettes are more..

Jul 1 (Island) JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP, has sounded a call to arms. Speaking at a recent rally in Panadura, he unveiled his party�s strategy to resolve the present crisis. It consists of three phases, according to him�bringing down the incumbent govt, forming an interim administration and holding a general election. He said his party was planning to oust the govt, and would announce when the people should take to the streets in their numbers for that purpose. more..

Jul 1 (FT) SJB yesterday renewed its call that Prez Rajapaksa must step down enabling an all-party Govt to urgently implement deep economic reforms required to resolve the country�s worst crisis. �SL is in urgent need of deep economic reform to find sustainable and meaningful solutions to its crisis, but this not a task for the present Govt or one single political party; it is a task that must be spearheaded by an all-party Govt that is more..

Jul 1 (FT) Veteran banker and current independent Non-Executive Director Sriyan Cooray will take the helm as the Chairman of National Development Bank with effect from today. Cooray succeeds outgoing Chairman Eshana de Silva who tendered his resignation from the post last week for personal reasons having steered the bank through the challenges brought on by the pandemic during the past two years. Sriyan Cooray joined the NDB Board in August of 2018 and currently serves on more..

Jul 1 (FT) The debt moratorium extended to the triple-hit tourism industry ended yesterday, with Tourism Minister Harin Fernando and SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) assuring to present matters to the Cabinet seeking further extension. SLTDA said that it and the Tourism Ministry will endeavor to continuously lobby in the interest of the industry. However the SLTDA has requested the industry to initiate one-to-one discussions with the financial institutions over their debt. more..

Jul 1 (CT) The just-concluded T20I series against India was a learning curve for SL women�s cricket team. Even though the Chamari Athapaththu-led side lost the series 1-2, it came back strongly in the final game after suffering defeats in the first two. Sri Lanka had lost its last 12 T20Is against India and had never beaten it at home. And now, as it gears up for the ODI series beginning Friday, coach Hashan Tillakaratne believes the team can cause a few upsets if it plays to its strengths. more..

Jul 1 (DN) Three SL champion athletes Yupun Abeykoon, Gayanthika Abeyratne and Nilani Ratnayake have qualified to take part at the World Athletics championships which is scheduled to be held from July 15 to 24 in USA. According to the IAAF world rankings these three athletes got through to world championship and it's very important said SLA President Palitha Fernando. The final rankings during the period between June 28 in 2021 to June 26 2022 is considered for the qualification. more..

Jul 1 (AD) Sri Lanka�s headline inflation, as measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index, soared to 54.6% in June from 39.1% in May this year, Dept of Census and Statistics (DCS) said. This increase in Y-o-Y inflation is driven by the monthly increases of both Food and Non-Food categories. Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 80.1% in June from 57.4% in May, more..

Jul 1 (ST) The completion of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is set to be further delayed, as US$ 12mn is required to complete the remaining five per cent of the scheme. Funds were requested through the Power and Energy Ministry from the Treasury but there has been no response, said Project Director Sudantha Elakanda. This will delay the possibility of adding a further 120 MW to the national grid. The money was needed to pay for expertise, essential more..

Jul 1 (CT) One of the most acclaimed karate styles in SL, Gojukai, celebrated its 42nd anniversary at Ariyana Reach, Maharagama recently. The occasion was graced by the President of the SL Karate-Do Federation (SLKF) Shihan H.M. Sisira Kumara (6th Dan � S.L.K.F SL, 5th DAN � I.K.G.A. Japan, and 4th DAN � R.K.H.S. Japan), who is also the current President of the Association. Secretary Shihan Wijewardena (6th DAN � S.L.K.F. SL and 5th DAN � International), who had coached SL karate more..

Jul 1 (TM) Claiming that Minister of Tourism Harin Fernando has taken over the said ministerial post for his personal gain, the Hotel Workers� Centre (HWC) of the Inter-Company Employees� Union alleged that the former has not yet implemented any programme for the development of the tourism sector, which has currently seen a decline. HWC National Organiser Jayathilaka Ranasinghe said: �No one even knows that more..

Jul 1 (FT) Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) said it was high time to present economic recovery plans by the Govt. CNCI Chairman Canisius Fernando said that SL is currently facing an unprecedented economic crisis with an unhealthy socio-political environment owing to poor management of the authorities concerned who are accountable for the State�s economy. He further said that the country had been at a post-pandemic era, where the country�s economic growth more..

Jul 1 (DN) Sri Lanka will field a record number of 60 female athletes for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from July 28 to Aug 8 in Birmingham, England. This is the first time that Women competitors have overtaken the Men in the number of participations in a major sporting event in SL sports history. �This is the first time that we have more medals offered to Women competitors than Men,� President, National Olympic Committee of SL (NOCSL) Suresh Subramaniam revealed. more..

Jul 1 (DM) Colombo High Court ordered to acquit and release popular tele drama producer and business personality Sudharma Nethicumara from an indictment filed by the Attorney General. HC Judge Amal Ranaraja made this order pursuant to a request made by defence to acquit her from the charges, on the basis that the prosecution evidence has failed to establish the commission of the offences against accused in the indictment. AG had filed indictments against Sudharma more..

Jul 1 (Island) The Archdiocese of Colombo said His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith had filed a writ application before the Court of Appeal seeking writs of mandamus and certiorari against the IGP and the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security to get them implement the recommendations made by the PCoI on Easter Sunday carnage. The Archdiocese has in a mediate statement said: �On the 27th of June 2022, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, filed a Writ Application more..

Jul 1 (TM) Officers of the SL Army had disrupted protests demanding the resignation of Prez Rajapaksa atop Galle Fort, citing visibility issues faced by batsmen in the ongoing Test cricket match between SL and Australia, stated Army Spokesman, Brigadier Nilantha Premaratne said. Social media videos showed the military disrupting the protesters and removing the banners they were holding calling for the Prez to resign. more..

Jul 1 (TM) Parliament has taken steps to remove the personal and official addresses of MPs from the official website of Parliament, on a request made by the MPs. When contacted Deputy Secretary General and Chief of Staff Kushani Rohanadheera said that the decision to remove the personal and official addresses of the MPs from the said website was based on a request made by several MPs. She also mentioned that the relevant request was received after tense situations that erupted on 9 May. more..

Jul 1 (AD) Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate the Hajj festival (Eid-Ul- Adha) on 10th of July, the Colombo Grand Mosque said. The sighting of the moon marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhu Al-Hijjah, during which the Hajj pilgrimage is performed, and is followed by Eid Al Adha. Hajj, one of Islam�s five pillars, is the pilgrimage to Makkah in Saudi Arabia that every Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they are able. more..

Jul 1 (Island) The Human Rights Commission of SL (HRCSL) has declared that a false allegation by President of the Committee for Protecting Rights of Prisoners (CPRP) Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera that some prisoners were used to attack anti-govt protesters outside Temple Trees and at Galle Face on 09 May triggered violence in many parts of the country. The HRCSL also faulted Sudesh Nadimal Silva also of the same more..

Jul 1 (AN) First group of Sri Lankans departed for Hajj on Tuesday despite earlier plans to forgo the pilgrimage as the country confronts its worst-ever economic crisis. Last month, SL�s umbrella association of pilgrimage organizers said that its members would suspend operations because the cost of sending worshippers to Makkah would be too high for the country to bear. SL is struggling to deal with the worst financial downturn since independence in 1948 and has already more..

Jul 1 (FT) Hotels Association of SL (THASL) hailed Litro for guaranteeing supply of LPG to its members, thereby ensuring continuous operations to earn much needed foreign exchange. THASL President M. Shanthikumar said the assurance was given by Litro GAS Lanka Chairman Muditha Peiris during a recent meeting and that it is in a position to guarantee a continuous supply of LPG for the next four months for the hotels sector. This was subsequent to signing World Bank funded more..

Jul 1 (Island) The CPC is expected to receive 38,000 MT of diesel between 11 and 15 July. PM Ranil Wickremesinghe�s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, however said, the CPC would not receive a petrol shipment until 22 July. He also said that SL currently had 11,000 MT of diesel, 5,000 MT of petrol, 30,000 MT of furnace oil, and 800 MT of jet fuel. The existing stocks of diesel would be made available only for essential services more..

Jul 1 (FT) For as long as the human race has organised itself into sovereign nations, no country has had a story of limitless success. Nations and empires alike have risen and fallen, over thousands of years. Every language has phrases like it takes a village to remind us of the limitations of individual people and the need to work together. Similarly, no nation will ever thrive in isolation. The fate of every country is dependent on its relationships with other countries, more..

Jul 1 (FT) Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) now meets daily and its fact-finding discussions give an idea about the extent of ​​ corruption, inefficiency and the ugly nature associated with the activities of SL State and its institutional system. According to the facts being revealed before COPE, the factors contributing to the failure and bankruptcy of the country have originated not only after the emergence of the rule of Gotabaya, but long before that. more..

Jul 1 (AD) Social activist and YouTuber Rathindu Senaratne alias Ratta, the national organizer of Youth for Change Lahiru Weerasekara and Ven Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero were granted bail today. The case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court. On June 17, Colombo Fort Magistrate ordered the police to arrest several protesters for their unruly and violent behaviour during demonstrations at Colombo Fort and Thalangama on the 9th and 10th of June more..