May 21 (CT) Dept of Probation and Childcare lack of proper programme to rehabilitate drug addicts and prevent child abuse, both of which are common at present, Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) noted. This was noted in the COPA Report of the second session of the Ninth Parliament. COPA Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana tabled the report on Friday. The Committee emphasised a method to rescue children from cyber abuse and avoid irregularities in reporting cases of crimes more..

May 21 (FT) A teary eyed SLPP MP Geeta Kumarasinghe decried the attack on her house in which some of the awards, including some won at international forums, were destroyed by the attackers. In an impassioned speech, Galle District MP said she had given her Swiss citizenship to serve the people of her district and had been dealt a cruel blow. �I have done no wrong to anyone. As a single woman I came on this journey on my own. I had to stand on my own to get where I am more..

May 21 (Island) SJB MP Kabir Hashim, MP, says the main Opposition party and the FSP have recently agreed on the abolition of the Executive Presidency. Hashim said that they agreed on empowering Parliament at the expense of the Executive Prez. SJB and FSP delegations met at the Opposition Leader�s Office at, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha this week. SJB delegation consisted of lawmakers, General Secretary more..

May 21 (CT) Govt of SL�s face value money printing (FVMP) debt increased by Rs 17,191 million (0.62%) to Rs 2,801,198.86 million yesterday (19). However, yesterday�s increase was non-demand pull inflationary as it was used to meet an external commitment. GoSL�s MP borrowing costs (BCs) decreased by Rs 48,561.18 million (28.08%) to Rs 124,393.25 million yesterday. This was due to buying pressure of risk free low returns Treasury (T) Bills & T-Bonds in secondary market trading more..

May 21 (DN) �Our team will definitely take the lessons learnt from the first Test match played in Chittagong said SL skipper Dimuth Karunaratne. The experienced left-hand opener Karunaratne further said if you take the first innings we could have done much better. As a side, we should have put up a big score to put more pressure on the opponent. Unfortunately, we couldn�t do that added Karunaratne. However, thankfully our bowlers turned it around. If you take the bowlers, more..

May 21 (FT) COPA has instructed the Ministry of Environment to raise awareness of the national flower of SL as the Water Lily Flower through the National Institute of Education, UGC, and other relevant agencies as well as newspaper advertisements. Committee has observed that although schools, Govt and non-Govt organisations have been made aware of this during awareness programs conducted by Ministry of Environment, message has not been communicated more..

May 21 (EN) Renewable and engineering firms were promoted in an online forum organized with the Mozambique Chamber of Commerce and SL�s embassy in the country, EDB said. Over 29 SL companies representing construction, engineering, hydropower and related fields had taken part in the event. Sri Lankan counterparts had outlined the available opportunities in the low-cost housing, commercial and governmental buildings, infrastructure, and energy sectors more..

May 21 (CBC) SL's consul general in Toronto is appealing for financial help as his country grapples with an acute fuel shortage, but a group that represents Canadian Tamils says it can't send badly needed aid because the SL govt has slapped it with sanctions. "SL is now in a difficult situation, so now we're expecting if the friendly countries can help SL on the financial front because we want to re-energize [and] reactivate our economy," more..

May 21 (MFA) The attention of Ministry of Foreign Affairs is drawn to a news article published on 20 May on expenses pertaining to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Foreign Ministry has undertaken numerous measures to reduce expenditures. These measures include a drastic reduction in and suspension of some entitled allowances of the staff of SL�s overseas missions. As a result, Foreign Ministry saved Rs.1,314 million from more..

May 21 (FMT) The police have begun an investigation for incitement over a tweet about public unrest in SL which appeared to be quoting a blog posting by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang. Bukit Aman CID director Abd Jalil Hassan said a screenshot of the tweet has been circulating since Thursday. Police did not state the origin of the tweet nor did the police statement mention Lim. The police statement said it was investigating the tweet, which reads: �Will the houses of PM and Ministers of Malaysia more..

May 21 (FT) Sticking to the sheer conscious decision of conquering the worst economic crisis, the new Cabinet Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara pledged that they were ready to ride on a political suicide mission for the sake of all Sri Lankans. �We have arrived at a hard default, this is not the time to be thinking of politics � but the country,� Ministers� Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara more..

May 21 (CT) Tea, SL�s third largest foreign exchange (FX) earner saw earnings fall by 13.67% (US$ 57,370,501) to US$ 362,426,621 Year-on-Year (YoY) in the first four months of the year, Forbes & Walker Tea Brokers data released on Friday showed. The fall in tea earnings is due to two reasons. They are both the decline in tea export volumes as well as in prices, YoY in the review period. Tea export volumes in the first four months of the year decreased by 4.88% (4.2 mil kilos) YoY to 82 million kgs, more..

May 21 (FT) The French Govt has donated a stock of medicine worth of euro 300,000 (around Rs. 115 million) following the request made by the Govt of SL. France expressed its goodwill to assist Sri Lanka at this moment as the country�s health service is in a serious crisis with shortages of drugs and essential items amid the worsening economic situation. This stock of medicine worth around 300,000 euros, is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka by SriLankan Airlines during the weekend. more..

May 21 (DN) Several Indian investors based in Tamil Nadu are keen to invest in SL as they see the current economic crisis as an opportunity, said SL Deputy High Commissioner Dr. D. Venkateshwaran said. Deputy HC said he will also talk to major companies including pharma, motor, car component manufacturers, trade chambers, to have their future expansions, fresh investments or value-added investments in SL. They could start manufacturing in Sri Lanka and use the FTA and re-export to more..

May 21 (DM) The SL Air Force (SLAF) today denied the statement made by SLPP MP Arundhika Fernando that he has served in the SLAF as a pilot or even as a cadet officer. When contacted the SLAF, its Spokesman Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe said that there were no records that the MP had ever served in the SLAF. The MP said in parliament that his house and several important documents including flying logs of SLAF were destroyed due to the mob setting fire to more..

May 21 (Island) PM Ranil Wickremesinghe told Sky News that the last administration is to blame for the country�s current crisis. Protesters have clashed with police in Colombo, as people demanded the resignation of Prez and new PM. Demonstrations in the capital have been ongoing for the last two months as the public blames the country�s leadership for corruption and mishandling the economy. more..

May 21 (FT) SL recently witnessed a series of events reflecting the greatness of a doctrine of historic significance founded by independent people in struggle for and on behalf of the suffering masses. The battle is not over yet. This analysis will help us understand the underlying factors in a struggle which culminated into a newly acquired experience of a modern revolution which has already succeeded in several achievements. We have seen many fighters for the cause of the working class more..

May 21 (FT) South Asia�s Arab Spring has arrived amid energy wars and slow tectonic shifts in power and wealth eastward to Asia and the Indian Ocean region. This has been hastened by the new Cold War proxy-war in Ukraine, US-led sanctions on energy-rich Russia and a refugee crisis in Europe. Two regime change operations amid staged protests have transpired within a month in Pakistan and SL. Pakistan�s PM Imran Khan known for his courage on and off cricket pitch was removed on 9 April. more..

May 21 (AD) Litro Gas Lanka, says 80,000 gas cylinders will be distributed daily from today. Litro chairman said 50,000 of these gas cylinders are expected to be distributed in Colombo and Gampaha districts, as per the directives of the COPE. When the management of Litro Gas Lanka was summoned before the COPE yesterday, committee instructed the officials to to distribute 60% of its LP gas cylinders to highly populated areas like Colombo and Gampaha and districts more..

May 21 (Island) State Ministry of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals has failed to follow the action plan for pharmaceutical procurement approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, First Report of the COPA reveals. Report was presented to Parliament on Friday by Prof. Tissa Vitarana.The COPA has also observed that the Ministry has failed to maintain the required temperature in the stores owned by the Medical Supplies Division & stored medical supplies more..

May 21 (TM) On the 12th of April 2022, SL suspended repayments on most the govt�s external foreign currency debt, including International Sovereign Bonds (ISB) and bilateral debts. With the end of the 30 days grace period since the ISB coupon payments due on 18th April 2022, Fitch and Standard & Poor credit rating agencies have moved SL to selective or restrictive default (SD/RD) rating, officially signaling for the first time in history more..

May 21 (NR) Leader of the JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake says he expects to meet the IGP at 9.30 am on Monday. MP Dissanayake said he hopes to clarify allegations made by members of the SLPP regarding the involvement of councillors from his party, in the recent violence around SL. Speaking at a rally in Hambantota, MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said govt MPs are slamming JVP members over their houses being burnt on the 9th of May. MP Dissanayake pointed out that more..

May 21 (Island) Disability Organisations� Joint Front (DOJF) has been conducting a series of workshops throughout the country to educate persons with disabilities on their electoral rights with special focus on physical accessibility to polling stations, ability to vote, access to electoral information as well as the targeting of electoral information/voter education to meet the needs of marginalised communities. According to the recent census report 1.8 million people in Sri Lanka more..

May 21 (AD) The state of emergency, imposed in SL earlier this month, has ceased to function with effect from last night (20). Prez Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency in the country on the 6th of May pursuant to the powers vested in him by the Constitution, in order to ensure political stability, which is a vital condition in overcoming the current socio-economic crisis in the country thereby assuring public safety, and uninterrupted more..

May 21 (NR) Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has held talks with former President and current Speaker of the Maldivian Parliament, Mohammed Nasheed. The two held bilateral discussions at the Opposition leader�s office. Many important topics concerning SL�s present situation were discussed between the two leaders. Talks also focused on continuing the long-term relationship between the two countries. The Opposition leader also thanked the Maldivian Speaker for the country�s more..

May 21 (TM) Aragalaya fighters who are currently camped out at the Galle Face Green claim that they have no political agenda or a particular affiliation to a political party. Speaking at a media brief recently, a founding member of Gotagogama, Senadhi Guruge said that many are trying to gain credit for being an Aragalaya fighter at Gotagogama. �Many people including politicians, celebrities, actors and social media influencers are claiming to be part of the Aragalaya and pioneers of Gotagogama. more..

May 21 (CT) High Commissioner of SL in New Delhi Milinda Moragoda attended the ceremonial Induction of the first International Liaison Officer appointed from SrL to the New Delhi-based Information Fusion Centre for Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR). High Commissioner Moragoda presented a memento to Rear Admiral K.M. Ramakrishnan symbolising the 80th anniversary of the appointment of Sir D.B. Jayatilaka as the first representative of the then Govt of Ceylon at event held at IFC-IOR Centre. more..

May 21 (CT) Senior DIG in charge of the Sabaragamuwa Province was summoned to the CID to provide a statement about the shooting incident in Rambukkana. According to internal sources, an Assistant Superintendent of Police from the CID obtained a statement from him. Senior DIG Mahinda Gunaratne was recently appointed in charge of the Sabaragamuwa Province. Other high-ranking officials in the Sabaragamuwa Province are expected to be summoned to the CID more..

May 21 (ABC) Australian PM Scott Morrison has confirmed a boat from Sri Lanka was intercepted on Saturday morning while illegally en route to Australia. In a major development, Mr Morrison confirmed � in the spirit of full transparency� that the boat had been intercepted by Australian authorities. �I can confirm that there�s been an interception of a vessel en route to Australia,� Mr Morrison told reporters, more..

May 21 (ST) It was not only politicians� houses that were gutted by fire in the attacks on Monday and Tuesday�State property too was damaged with a number of buildings and vehicles set on fire, destroyed, or looted. The Moratuwa Municipal Council experienced heavy losses due to 11 vehicles going up in flames during the unrest. According to the Moratuwa Police, two fire engines and a JCB backhoe loader were also damaged after being pelted with stones. more..

May 21 (CT) SJB claimed that some leaders of this country and former leaders are coming to Parliament by helicopters, while there is a prevailing fuel crisis, causing civilians to stand in queues for 8,10, and 12 hours to pump petrol. SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna said, the law must be enforced even for those who caused this economic crisis. �Due to unnecessary expenditure such as the Chinese fertiliser ship and gym sets, the country does not have money to buy essentials today. more..

May 21 (ST) The protests at Galle Face Green, on for more than a month, is a non-partisan, peaceful one, and the area is always open to peaceful activists of varied political viewpoints, said youth groups involved in the peaceful struggle from day one. On Monday, govt supporters attacked non-violent anti-govt protesters at Galle Face, resulting in clashes. Over 200 were injured there and during related incidents, and at least 10 persons more..

May 21 (CT) While salaries of the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers are waived off, the doctors of the GMOA are on the war path, threatening a strike against the Health Ministry�s move to slash their salaries and privatise the State health service. GMOA Secretary, Dr. Senal Fernando on Friday (20) accused the health authorities and the govt of avoiding the pressing issue in the State health service. The current regime is causing a collapse of health system by discouraging health more..

May 21 (ST) A racket involving the sale of organic fertiliser mixing sand and charcoal, while misusing the name of the Agriculture Department was raided by a group including the Deputy Director of Agriculture in Puttalam on Friday (13). The case was handed over to the relevant divisions for further investigation. The fertiliser company, identified as Ulugala Organic Farm (Pvt) Limited, in front of the Norochcholai Economic Centre, was raided by Puttalam Deputy Director of Agriculture more..

May 21 (DM) Leader of the House Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament that the attack on politicians� houses had been carried out after obtaining information through drone footages. �All information such as the access roads to the residences of Ministers have been gathered using drone cameras. The attacks have been launched after gathering information using these modern technologies,� he said. �It has been outsiders who have attacked the houses of ministers on that more..