Jun 14 (CT) The appointment of a Presidential Task Force for Archaeological Heritage Management in the Eastern Province, with its ethnically exclusive but otherwise oddly mixed composition, has created political ripples not only in SL but also outside the country. Veteran Indian journalist, PK Balachandran, has already written two commentaries on the matter and both have appeared in the Indian and SL media. On Friday (12), The Island carried a superbly inclusive article by Dr. Nirmala Chandrahasan more..

Jun 14 (SO) Former Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that he would hereafter act according to his vision and restart his political journey with those in whom he could repose his faith. Today, people are disillusioned and democracy is in peril while the economy is in doldrums, he said. Q: What really led you to leave the election campaign with no prior hint or notice? A: It was not a sudden decision at all but one made after serious thought more..

Jun 14 (ST) My dear Mangala, I thought I must write to you when I heard you announce that you would not be running as a candidate from Sajith’s party at the general election which Maco and others at his commission have now fixed for early August. This is despite submitting nominations as a candidate from the telephone party. Honestly, Mangala, your decision comes as a surprise. You have said, by way of explanation, that you want to quit parliamentary politics after more than 30 years because more..

Jun 14 (CT) “I would like to briefly ask God for forgiveness for mother's wrongdoing. She could not get rid of father's religious practices of having contact with other religious people, and helping monks. When you listen to these recordings, I will be with God. God must admit this is not a suicide and that this is a great sacrifice that I do.” These were some of the chilling last words uttered by Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Ilham Ahamed, in a recording he made before participating in the suicide bomb more..

Jun 14 (SO) There is a tide in the affairs of men, in which statecraft becomes nothing but an ongoing epic pantomime. Pardon me if I sort of mixed a few metaphors in there, but such ongoing pantomime becomes manifest in some countries in a pronounced way at certain given times. It’s that silly-season in the UK now with prime ministerial adviser Dominic Cummings saying that he went for a 30 mile spin in his car during the Covid-19 lockdown, to test his eyesight. more..

Jun 14 (ST) 'V’ Day was marked recently with a low key but dignified ceremony by the new Govt notwithstanding the lockdown due to COVID-19. Yet the 30th anniversary of the cold-blooded murder of 634 policemen on June 11, 1990 in Eastern Province unfortunately went by without any remembrance, save for a floral tribute at the memorial for fallen servicemen at the Ampara Police Hq. That was the single biggest debacle the Police Service had suffered in all its 150+ yr history. more..

~Jun 14 (CT) Last Wednesday, Sunil Jayawardena walked into the premises of Chanmil Investment (Pvt) Ltd, a leasing company in Mirihana, determined to do what he felt was right. One of his colleagues, a three-wheeler driver named Manjula, had been about to embark on his first post-lockdown hire on the previous day, when his vehicle was unfairly seized by the company in question; Jayawardena was there to retrieve it. more..

Jun 14 (SO) Cricket, the most marketable commodity in SL, could come to the rescue of the country’s int'l image in a post coronavirus era as administrators are drawing up plans for a 3-phase hit parade starting next month. The first sparks will be lit when hoards of domestic cricketers come out of their coronavirus hibernation in July followed by a revived Lanka Premier League (LPL) with international flavour and a Colombo-based Asia Cup re-igniting the final flame. more..

Jun 14 (SO) The re-opening of schools from early next month in four stages after three months of inactivity due to the Covid-19 epidemic was the most enjoyable news for school cricketers. With the national squad beginning their training last week and the schools to re-opening after about 3 months in stages, sports too especially cricket will commence gradually. Not only the co-curricular activities but also the extra-curricular had been completely affected due to Covid-19 and more..

Jun 14 (ST) PM Mahinda Rajapaksa is easily one of the most popular politicians in Sri Lanka with a powerful rural vote base. Last week, he marked 50 years since becoming an MP — the youngest MP in the 1970 Parliament. Whether in power or not, there are hundreds who turn up to tell their woes and seek remedies. For each of them, it begins with two rituals on his part, bowing down and greeting them with clasped hands. more..

Jun 14 (ST) The state – owned People‘s Bank (PB) has trimmed its lending as it has to meet the salary bill requirements of its two biggest customers, the CPC and CEB, well-placed sources said. The People’s Bank holds the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury (DST) account, which the govt writes cheques on and the onus to meet these demands will be on the DST account at this state bank. So the largest salary bills are from the CEB and the CPC which will be issued through DST account. more..

Jun 14 (ST) The system of reviewing rugby matches will continue with the appointment of qualified people instead of it being scrapped altogether, said Tony Amit, president of the SL Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR). “When you have a review committee or technical committee, you need to have certain qualified people such as an (World Rugby) Educator or Level II CMO (Coach of Match Official). But we must not have double standards,” said Amit urging officials to maintain confidentiality in more..

Jun 14 (ST) Uncertainty surrounding SL’s Future Tour Programme (FTP) has driven potential bidders for national team sponsorship, ground and media rights of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for 2020-2023 to seek a guarantee that the schedule – particularly India’s tour of Sri Lanka – will be implemented. According to SLC, they have reached the final stages of the tender process, having provided answers to clarifications. more..

Jun 14 (TM) A day has 24 hours but the clock ticks faster in some countries, and Sri Lanka is certainly one of them. We have many things to get done, but time is running out and the conditions are right to brew the perfect storm. Our economy’s fundamentals have been in poor shape for a few decades. The country’s economic growth was 2.3% in 2019, a budget deficit of 8.5% in comparison to the GDP of 2020 is expected this year, and we are already on an IMF bailout programme. more..

Jun 14 (ST) The possibility of SL making its debut in track and field events at 6th Asian Beach Games 2020 is high, as the Athletics Association of SL (AASL) are eager to resume its activities, aiming a gradual return before going into full force. While priority has been given to look into the possibilities of resuming local events and getting back the athletes into shape for the upcoming int'l events, the AASL is equally keen to send a team of athletes to represent Sri Lanka in athletics at Asian Beach Games. more..

Jun 14 (ST) As govt unlocks the near 2-month lockdown, thousands of small and medium businesses are on the verge of winding up without seeing any grounds for recovery, according to a Labour Department survey concluded recently. Lifting of the island-wide curfew came this week just in time to resurrect most of these ailing business enterprises ensuring the job security of employees, a senior official of the department said. more..

Jun 14 (ST) The govt is planning on forming a company to run the East Container Terminal (ECT) when it becomes operational later this year, a decision that would be announced after the election. Sources at SLPA noted that authorities are currently trying to form a company and they will be going ahead with India and Japan in running the operations at the ECT. It was noted that while discussions are on between local authorities with India and Japan, this announcement is likely more..

Jun 14 (TM) National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has dismissed Minister Bandula Gunawardena’s comment on allowing a grace period of one year to settle water bills. NWSDB General Manager R.H. Ruvinis said that the decision of giving the consumer a grace period to settle their bills should be decided by the NWSDB and the Minister in Charge. Therefore, the comment that was made by Minister Gunawardena on Thursday will not be accepted. more..

Jun 14 (TM) Schools that reopen are to make use of any available extra space to set up a sick room to temporarily hold children that may fall ill, until they are transferred to a hospital or handed over to a parent/guardian, the Ministry of Education stated. Instructions had been set out spelling the need for a sick room facility in schools, according to the health guidelines issued to enable commencement of schools amid Covid-19 more..

Jun 14 (TM) The second silo of the Norochcholai power plant will be repaired by this Tuesday (16), without the need for any power cuts in the interim. CEB Chairman Vijitha Herath said that it would take a week to fix and restart the second unit of the Norochcholai power plant. “Engineers first have to wait till it cools down before any repairs can be attempted. Thereafter, it takes time for the plant to be heated back up to the required temperature. The whole process will take about a week,” more..

Jun 14 (SO) Farmers who have been waiting for fertiliser for several months to commence cultivation for the Yala season will at last see the light of the day with the assurance from the Govt that it will be supplied for all crops soon. Minister Ramesh Pathirana said the issue is being sorted out and added that farmers will receive fertiliser for all crops within a couple of weeks. “We have taken up the matter and it will be solved soon enabling cultivation and an increase of yield during Yala season,” more..

Jun 14 (EN) SL’s forex reserves dropped US$ 686 million to US$ 6,493 million in May 2020 from a month earlier. following a US$ 353 million fall in April amid liquidity injections. SL’s forex reserves began to drop after Feb 2020, in the wake of a pro-cyclical rate cut in Jan 2020, despite a worsening deficit from tax cuts. The roots of the current crisis began when liquidity disruptions and injections began in July 2020 halting more..

Jun 14 (ST) Just when the banks managed to get a slow breather after the timeline for the re-financing facility ended on May 15, they are faced with a fresh challenge. A limit extension – by Rs. 100 billion to Rs. 150 billion – to the Saubagya Covid-19 Renaissance Facility was proposed to the Cabinet by Prez Rajapaksa due to complaints received from many parties that they had not got relief from their banks. The Cabinet decision, revealed on June 3 by Minister Bandula Gunawardena, more..

Jun 14 (EN) Sri Lanka has cleared the way for 191 million dollars of India financed deals to go ahead while Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa had also invited the neighboring country to invest in Colombo port, another long-delayed project. Cabinet of Ministers approved lifting of taxes from a rail project running from Maho to Omanthai, on June 10, the state information office said. The contract was originally awarded to India’s IRCON Engineering for 91 million US dollars as far back as April 2019. more..

Jun 14 (SO) No more financial institutions will collapse during my tenure and I will get my team to strengthen the financial health of all institutions, assured CB Governor W.D. Lakshman, responding to the question as to what would be the status of the employees of the now defunct The Finance Company PLC (TFC). He said that he had made a commitment to the PM to ensure the stability of all financial institutions which more..

Jun 14 (YC) Former SL skipper Kumar Sangakkara believes Virat Kohli can be the greatest cricketer after Sir Donald Bradman. Sangakkara, now president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), said that Kohli's fitness and dedication to being the best set him apart from the rest. "Virat is phenomenally fit. I know, and I have seen and heard of his amazing commitment and dedication to being the best that he can be, both on and off the field—physically, mentally and skillwise," more..

Jun 14 (AD) CID yesterday commenced investigations into the alleged use of luxury utilities by two suspects who were remanded at Negombo Prison on drug charges. It was recently revealed that a suspect named Austin remanded over the possession of 30 kg of narcotic drugs had used a refrigerator at the prison while an Indian who also remanded over the 100 kg of narcotic drugs had used a microwave oven. During a raid by the Prison Intel Unit on June 9, 61 mobile phones, more..

Jun 14 (ST) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), one of SL’s oldest development partners, has suspended funding for a new transmission line until the clarification of several policy matters such as the financial policies of the SL Govt and its debt situation including the request for a debt moratorium from Japan. JICA decision has been notified to the Ministry of Finance. Earlier this year, Prez Rajapaksa’s administration more..

Jun 14 (TM) Contradicting statements made by the Police quoting him, Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that there is no ban on organised protests as long as protestors adhere to health guidelines. He said that the ability to protest is a democratic right and that right should be granted to the citizens of SL, even at a time of a pandemic. “As long as these protestors adhere to the health guidelines that have been issued for the purpose of public gatherings, like more..

Jun 14 (ST) The parliamentary elections will go ahead as scheduled even in the event of another outbreak of COVID-19, by organising special booths for lockdown areas, the Elections Commission has decided in consultation with the health authorities. The EC’s Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake said that it was part of its contingency plan of going ahead with the poll, instead of another postponement. Under the plan, the polling booth could be set up within the lockdown area or more..

Jun 14 (ST) Parliamentary poll was delayed by the deadly coronavirus, but the fears seem to have receded sufficient enough and purported legal constraints have now vanished. On Tuesday, Election Commission (EC), whose credibility has taken a bad beating in the public eye, announced parliamentary elections would now be held on August 5, a Wednesday. That ended many a controversy related to the polls. more..

Jun 15 (CT) Since the intervention of paper by Tsai-Lun, the industrialized world become thriving with more advanced technologies and it directed the globalized era of the world. The technological cooperation created a new platform together with a globalized mechanism to empower civil society to monitor govts, uncover corruption, overthrow dictators, and even strengthen democracy. Since the world has discovered new technology along with artificial intelligence, data-driven algorithms, more..

Jun 15 (CT) TNA former Jaffna District MP M.A. Sumanthiran expressed his views in a positive manner towards extending the TNA’s support to the Govt led by Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Sumanthiran, who held a press conference at his residence in Jaffna a few days ago, had mentioned that if the Govt led by Prez Rajapaksa was prepared to bring out a new Constitution fulfilling the political aspirations of Tamils in the North and East, TNA would extend its support to the Govt to gain more..

Jun 15 (GV) The Eastern province is the most ethno-religiously pluralist slice of Sri Lanka. It is home to more Tamils and Muslims than Sinhalese; its predominant language is not Sinhala but Tamil; and it has more kovils, mosques and churches than temples. Homogenising the East has been – and remains – a dream of extremists of all stripes, from Sinhala-Buddhists supremacists through the LTTE to Wahabi fundamentalists. more..

Jun 15 (CT) The SLPP will resurrect several sharply divisive themes that helped Prez Gotabaya Rajpaksa cruise to victory in the November prez election as the parliamentary election campaign kicks off including a hate campaign targeting Muslims and neo-colonial conspiracies against the West, CT learns. Reliable sources told Colombo Telegraph that law enforcement has been instructed to resume hyper activity on multiple investigations including fake sterilization conspiracy more..

Jun 15 (ST) To those who scoffed that the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Presidency would not come in with a sweepingly heavy hand after the first few months of sweetness and charm, this frightening moment of the iron hand in the iron glove that Sri Lanka is experiencing at its onset must surely teach otherwise. Indeed, there is a frontal irony here. This is the precise point that the very military itself in the United States is decisively stepping back from a threateningly aggrandizing role that more..

Jun 15 (CT) Secretary to Ministry of Defence, Major General (rtd) Kamal Gunaratne, speaks of the Govt’s intention to strengthen national security. He emphasises that a security expert should handle the defence of a country and that his appointment as Secretary Defence was apt. Q: You have been appointed to the central administration of the defence authority of the country. How do you perceive it? more..

Jun 15 (GV) Finally, the date of the Parliamentary elections has been announced. There is hardly any doubt about which party would win the election. The only doubt is which ideology of the SLPP coalition would emerge to determine the country’s political destiny. Prez and his supporters endorse an authoritarian style rule, while others in the coalition seem to prefer the familiar clientelist electoral politics. While decades of profound disappointment with traditional politics may make more..

Jun 15 (ST) A white, male American official, charged with carrying aloft his country’s Star Spangled Banner abroad burnt it down instead and reduced to ashes the valour, justice and innocence the flag’s red, blue and white represented when he burst into a boorish bout of bullish obstinacy by refusing to undergo the mandatory COVID test applicable to all on arrival at the BIA last week. On June 1, SL Govt had introduced PCR testing at the airport as an extra measure to keep the island shores safe more..