Jun 9 (CT) The govt expects to complete the restructuring process of the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (SA) by the year end, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, said. ��so that its debt of Rs 315 billion is no longer a burden to the people of this country.� he said. Speaking to SA Trade Unions he emphasised that he has already informed the SA management that the restructuring process would not allow forcible termination of any employee and that they would be proposing voluntary more..

Jun 9 (EN) SL�s power engineers have called off a strike which plunged parts of the country in darkness following discussions with Prez Rajapaksa that high prices for private renewable power will only be given for smaller plants, union sources said. The govt has proposed an amendment to the SL Electricity Act which engineers union of the CEB says will lead to legalization of large scale procurement scams more..

Jun 9 (TM) SLPP MP Basil Rajapaksa is to give up his Parliamentary seat, making way for businessman Dhammika Perera to possibly take his position through the SLPP National List, The Morning learns. Although sources within the SLPP confirmed that Rajapaksa would be giving up his Parliamentary seat yesterday, the SLPP was unable to comment on the reason behind this decision. SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said: �Basil Rajapaksa will be stepping down, but more..

Jun 9 (Island) SJB MP Sarath Fonseka has told Parliament that he had helped save PM Ranil Wickremesinghe�s political career twice. �At the 2010 election, soon after the war victory, he could not find a candidate. The electoral victory was assured for the war-winning camp. By that time, Ranil Wickremesinghe was rejected for opposing the war effort. I came forward and stuck my neck out to save him. So, he survived as the UNP leader. �I should also mention that you are there in that more..

Jun 9 (Hindu) Recognising the Indian govt�s great efforts in supporting SL, China on Wednesday expressed willingness to work with India and the international community to help SL tide over its crushing economic crisis. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian outlined the Chinese govt�s recent humanitarian assistance totalling 500 million RMB ($73 million) to SL. �We also noted the Indian govt made great efforts in this aspect. more..

Jun 9 (FT) Gota Classic is back on the market! After weeks of Gota Lite, a welcome interlude of lucidity, Gota of Go Home Gota fame has returned. That�s great news for the Aragalaya. For SL�s nose-diving economy, not so much. In a Bloomberg interview, President GR says he will not re-contest but does not wish to be a failed president and intends to finish his term. Good luck to him with that. (SL�s Gotabaya Rajapaksa Vows to Finish Term, Won�t Run for Re-Election � Bloomberg) more..

Jun 9 (FT) SL tourism is yet again going through a severe crisis. But this time the crisis is multi-faceted and of unprecedented proportions. Many service providers are barely managing to survive with several expected to go under in the next few months. However tourism is one of the main sources of the much needed direct foreign exchange earning industries in the country. Hence it stands to reason that reviving the industry should be one of Govt�s primary strategies by providing some relief more..

Jun 9 (DM) WEBXPAY, has entered into a partnership with Visa to expand the scope of the country�s digital economy by enabling seamless, effortless, and sustainable digital payment acceptance solutions for small and medium businesses (SMBs) across the island. This collaboration provides WEBXPAY a boost to faster achieve its goal of empowering SMBs island-wide with face-to-face digital payment acceptance capability; offering them access to Visa more..

Jun 9 (DM) Refuting to reports about India�s Adani Group's links to the Electricity Bill, Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said that Cabinet approval has already been granted to the renewable energy project as a govt to govt project beween India and SL. He told Parliament that CEB and SLSEA were bound to award the permit to Adani Group, which was nominated by India. �Cabinet approval to the renewable energy project was granted on March 8. I was not a member of the Cabinet at that time. more..

Jun 9 (AD) Former Minister Basil Rajapaksa says he has stepped down from his National List seat in Parliament. Delivering a special statement at a media briefing convened in Colombo today, the former minister said he has tendered his letter of resignation to the Secretary-General of Parliament. However, Rajapaksa revealed that he does not intend to withdraw from politics. Pointing out that state governance and politics are more..

Jun 9 (AD) Court of Appeal has ordered MP Johnston Fernando to surrender before 8 p.m. today, as a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The directive came after taking into consideration a writ application filed by the former minister seeking a court order preventing his arrest. The Appeals Court meanwhile ordered the CID not to enforce the arrest warrant, issued by the Colombo Fort Magistrate�s Court, until 8 p.m. today. On Wednesday (8), Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage more..

Jun 9 (RW) UN team in SL and NGOs launched a joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan today, calling for US$47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people worst-hit by the economic crisis over a four-month period, from June to Sept. This directly responds to the Govt of SL�s request for a UN-backed multisector international assistance to respond to the most urgent needs arising from the recent crisis, particularly focusing on health care and more..

Jun 9 (EN) Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera on Thursday (09) told parliament that trade unions attached to the state-run CEB have, in an attempt at sabotage, opened the gates of major hydro dams to waste reservoir water without generating power. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared power supply an essential service with effect from Wednesday prevent trade union action by CEB engineers who had more..

Jun 9 (KN) The family of a Sri Lankan woman who died while in custody at an immigration center in central Japan last year demanded an apology from the govt on Wednesday in a damages suit against the state. The family of Wishma Sandamali, who alleges she was illegally detained and died due to a lack of necessary medical care, filed the lawsuit in March, seeking 156 million yen ($1.17 million) in damages. "We want the Japanese govt to apologize and admit its responsibility" for her death, more..

Jun 9 (EN) State-run CEB incurred a loss of 65 billion rupees in the first quarter of 2022, Minister Kanchana Wijesekers told the parliament. The CEB�s loss mainly comes from charging consumers less than cost as the power generation cost has risen sharply. Wijesekera said every time the subject minister tried to reduce the losses, there had been resistance from the CEB trade unions. �There is no point in planning if we don�t get support from the parliament,� Wijesekera told the parliament. more..

Jun 9 (AN) SL govt has announced that Muslims would be allowed to perform Hajj this year provided they pay their travel costs in foreign currency, as the country faces its worst economic crisis in recent memory. Last month, SL�s umbrella association of pilgrimage organizers said its members would suspend operations because the cost of sending worshippers to Makkah � estimated at $10 million � would be too high for the country to bear when it is struggling with the worst financial downturn more..

Jun 9 (EN) The first strike called by electricity engineers since 1996 is to continue at low intensity, following assurance given by Prez Rajapaksa that a planned revision of the electricity law will not completely end competitive bidding. Ending competitive bidding will lead to widespread procurement fraud in the form of high prices through administratively decided feed-in tariffs, CEB Engineers Union have alleged. Renewable IPP prices collapsed after competitive bidding more..

Jun 9 (EN) Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera allayed fears over a looming food crisis in the near future as cultivation data show farmers have started to cultivate the country�s staple food more than last year. PM Wickremesinghe has warned of a severe food crisis in August as Sri Lanka has failed to produce adequate rice crops in the last two cultivation seasons due to a fertilizer ban imposed in April last year. more..

Jun 9 (AD) Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the Middle East, China and India called on Prez Rajapaksa recently. During the meeting held at the President�s House in Colombo, the Head of State has briefed the envoys on the current economic, social and political situation in SL. Prez requested the diplomats to extend all possible assistance for SL in resolving the existing situation. He has also expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided by those countries so far. more..

Jun 9 (DM) Experiencing power outages other than the scheduled power cuts by the PUCSL is considered an illegal practice, PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said. He said scheduled power cuts would be announced only by the PUCSL every day. "A written complaint was received today by the Irrigation Dept alleging that the engineer shave set the system ready for an automatic shutdown of the power generation grids at Randenigala, Rantambe and Senanayake Samudra reservoirs by more..

Jun 9 (AD) Wearing face masks indoors and outdoors will not be mandatory effective from tomorrow, the Director-General of Health Services has announced. The face mask rule in SL was first lifted in mid-April subject to conditions, but it was reversed after taking into consideration the large public gatherings taking place in the country at the time. Accordingly, face masks were made mandatory outdoors once again. However, the rule has been lifted again, as figures of Covid-19 cases and more..

Jun 9 (AD) MP Johnston Fernando, who arrived at the residence of Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage this evening for surrender, has been granted bail. According to reports, MP was released on two personal bails, each valued at Rs. 10 million. Earlier today, Appeals Court ordered the former minister to surrender before the court before 8 p.m. today, as a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The directive came after taking into consideration a writ application filed by MP Fernando, more..

Jun 9 (AD) Former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mr. S.R. Attygalle says it is unreasonable to claim that the country lost nearly Rs. 500 billion due to the change in tax policies of the new govt, as this was due to the loss caused by the import restrictions imposed, including the suspension of the import of vehicles, and the economic contraction caused by the Covid situation. He made these observations while speaking at a meeting more..

Jun 9 (Island) The JVP has said that the Parliament should be dissolved within six months after the enactment of the proposed 21st Amendment. The JVP made some far reaching proposals as regards the proposed amendment. Its 3-member parliamentary group has proposed that any MP who deserted his party under any circumstances should be immediately removed from the Parliament. The JVP has said so in a letter to the Justice Ministry in response to Justice Minister more..

Jun 9 (MFA) Ambassador of Qatar, Jassim bin Jaber. J.B. Al- Sorour called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 June. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Peiris briefed Ambassador Al- Sorour on the current economic situation in SL and tangible action so far taken by the govt to increase the resilience of the SL economy. Ambassador of Qatar emphasized the importance attached to SL-Qatar bilateral relationship and assured more..

Jun 9 (AD) SL Electricity Amendment Bill No. 20 of 2009 was passed in the parliament today (9) without committee state amendments, by a majority of votes. Following the debate on the second reading of the Bill, the Opposition had demanded a vote. A total of 120 votes were cast in favour and 36 were cast against while 13 lawmakers abstained from voting. Accordingly, the second reading was passed by a majority of 84 votes. more..

Jun 9 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa will extend the term of the CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe for a fresh six-year term, effective 1 July 2022, a govt spokesman said. Accordingly, with the consent of the PM and the Minister of Finance Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President will issue the relevant letter of appointment in the coming weeks, he predicted. Meanwhile, IMF team is scheduled to visit SL next week to commence the second round of (policy) discussions with the local authorities. more..

Jun 9 (AFP) The visiting Australian cricket team on Thursday threw their support behind a United Nations appeal to buy urgently needed food and life-saving medicines for Sri Lanka, which is currently undergoing a spiralling economic crisis. The South Asian island nation has been experiencing shortages of food, fuel, medicine and other essential goods, a crisis sparked by dwindling foreign currency reserves and govt mismanagement that has left its residents suffering. more..

Jun 9 (FT) Minister Kanchana Wijesekera affirmed that he will not table the CEB�s request to increase tariffs by 300% before the Cabinet as the State utility is not fully supportive of renewable energy. Minister said he cannot support the proposed increase of electricity tariffs merely to pay the salaries of senior CEB officers and to purchase electricity from diesel-powered power plants, noting that successive Govts have been pushing to initiate renewable power generation projects since 2013. more..

Jun 9 (TM) CEBEU strongly condemns the recent conduct of Minister Kanchana Wijesekera and is concerned that the minister is spearheading a mud slinging campaign to divert the present public anger on politicians towards CEB Engineers, in an organised manner, CEBEU stated. This was made known via a media release by the CEBEU today. �We condemn the part he played in publishing fabricated salary statistics of CEB Engineers and trying to portray the ongoing TU action as more..

Jun 9 (CI) Our bowling is alright, but the batting needs to catch up before the World Cup. Wanindu Hasaranga, easily the most high-profile cricketer in Sri Lanka's T20 side now, took four wickets in the second match against Australia and brought his team back into the match. But in the end, the target was too meagre. Australia needed only 125 to win the match and seal the series. The previous night, they'd needed only 128. more..

Jun 9 (TM) Newly appointed SL Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Priantha Fernando has set a target of $ 3.5 billion for annual tourism exchange earnings by 2025, along with an annual arrival target of 2.5 million. Fernando stated that he expects 800,000 tourist arrivals this year. �From the 800,000 tourist arrivals, we expect $ 800 million this year. Whatever we may get beyond this would be a bonus for us,� Fernando stated. In Sept 2020, then-Minister of Tourism more..

Jun 9 (EN) Stocks gained 1.4% on Thursday on speculation that top corporate leader Dhammika Perera who is a chairman and director in a number of listed companies filling the national list seat after the resignation of former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa, brokers said. The ASPI closed 108.44 points firmer at 7,881.13. �The market solely moved on the news of Dhammika Perera�s possible entry to the market. Otherwise, it was fairly moderate,� a top market analyst said. more..

Jun 9 (TI) The Adani Group is at the centre of a bitter row in SL about Govt plans to drop the need for competitive bidding when awarding power contracts. CEB Engineers� Union, representing engineers of the state-run CEB, the country�s biggest power company, and the Opposition have accused the Govt of attempting to drop competitive bidding to allow the Adani Group and others to enter SL by the back door. more..

Jun 9 (AD) Ambassador Sanjiv Gunasekara called on Parliamentary Vice - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Honda Taro on 02 June 2022 and held wide-ranging ranging discussions on SL�s current economic situation and matters related to SL and Japan bilateral relations. Vice Minister recalled the strong bonds of friendship between the people of the two countries and appreciated the contribution made by the Ambassador during his tenure particularly in building bridges between people, more..

Jun 9 (AD) Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters who were marching towards the Police Headquarters in Colombo. Riot police resorted to using tear gas and water cannons on the protesters as they attempted to breach the barricades and roadblocks along York Street and marched towards the Police HQ. Tear gas was fired at the protesters near the entrance to the Police Headquarters. The road from Pettah towards Galle Face Green has reportedly been blocked more..