May 2 (FT) SLPP criticised former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya for seemingly changing his stance on reconvening Parliament after opposition political parties backed the move and issued a joint letter to the President. Jayasuriya, on 22 April, in a Twitter message said he would not reconvene the Parliament unilaterally and pointed out that the country does not want a constitutional crisis. Following the request of opposition parties more..

May 2 (CT) Prez Rajapaksa’s counter offensive against calls from lawyers for the BASL to intervene in the illegal arrest and detention of attorney at law Hejaaz Hizbullah has resulted in a 14 page letter signed by 216 lawyers loyal to the Govt. All of the signatories are Sinhalese lawyers led by President’s Counsel Manohara Silva, whose recent interventions in court on all matters relating to the constitution and fundamental rights have been rejected outright by the country’s highest courts. more..

May 2 (Reuters) England and Australia must tour Pakistan to facilitate regular international cricket in the South Asian country, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) president Kumar Sangakkara has said. Top teams have shunned Pakistan since the 2009 attack on a bus carrying the Sri Lanka team in Lahore in which six players were injured and eight Pakistanis, including six policemen, were killed. Batting great Sangakkara, who was part of that team, returned to Pakistan with an MCC team in Feb this year more..

May 2 (Island) Central Bank’s core duty is to look after the interests of the depositors and borrowers alike, therefore, depositors won’t be compromised in any way when facilitating borrowers affected from Covid-19 pandemic, who were, in fact, paying their loans as due until the outbreak of the virus hit their businesses, Yvette Fernando, Assistant Governor, CB said. She made this comment in response to a question posed to her by more..

May 2 (Island) Securities and Exchange Commission having taken into consideration the constraints and administrative challenges faced by the licensed/registered entities in complying with certain regulatory requirements due to COVID-19, has decided to grant several relief measures. Specific regulatory flexibility offered to licensed companies comes in the form of the following: Extensions of time for the licensed/registered entities to submit reports to the SEC more..

May 2 (FT) Sri Lanka ranked among the bottom set of countries in terms of financial strength as per an analysis done by the influential The Economist magazine. The list, which ranked countries on the basis of public debt, foreign debt, cost of borrowing, and reserve cover of select emerging economies, ranked Sri Lanka at number 61 out of 66 countries, with it only being better than Angola, Bahrain, Zambia, Lebanon and Venezuela. Botswana came on top, followed by Taiwan. more..

May 2 (Island) UNP Colombo District candidate, Chrishmal Warnasuriya, yesterday, urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to reconsider his decision to reject an offer made by the Opposition grouping to work with his administration as the country struggled to cope up with the COVID-19 epidemic. Warnasuriya asserted that the overall effort against COVID-19 would be strengthened by consensus among all political parties which more..

May 2 (Island) Galle International Cricket Stadium has been voted as the best cricket ground in the world ahead of home of cricket – Lord’s and other leading int'l cricket grounds. In a survey conducted by cricket statistician Jarrod Kimber through twitter, an audience from all over the world voted and Galle earned the top price. Galle became an international venue in 1998 and was the overwhelming favourites in the poll receiving almost double the amount than Lord’s in the final countdown. more..

May 2 (DN) The Chairman of the Nawalapitiya Urban Council and 7 of his associates who were arrested for gambling during curfew hours have been remanded until May 6. Suspects were produced before Hatton District judge and magistrate today (01). The defence attorneys had sought the magistrate to release their clients under any bail conditions. However, the magistrate has pointed out that defendants’ violation of quarantine regulations cannot be treated lightly. more..

May 2 (CT) The Govt has taken necessary steps to implement numerous programmes to maintain the economic sectors of the country as the nation is facing many challenges, said Cabinet spokesperson, Bandula Gunawardana. He said this at a press briefing on Thursday to announce Cabinet decisions. Minister Chamal Rajapaksa presented three cabinet papers on agriculture to the Cabinet, he further noted. more..

May 2 (FT) May is Vesak month – the month of special significance to Buddhists. The holiest day of the year for Buddhists, Vesak Full Moon Poya day commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away of Gotama Buddha. Buddhists observe ata sil throughout the day with most devotees waiting on until the next morning to end sil. This year Vesak day falls on Thursday, 7 May. A special feature of Vesak is the erection of pandals (thoran) pictorially depicting life of Buddha. more..

May 2 (AD) Sixteen more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka as the total cases count soared to 690. The country has confirmed 25 positive cases of coronavirus as of 9 pm today (01). In the meantime, the Ministry of Health stated that five more COVID-19 patients have been discharged from hospital after recovering completely. On that account, the recoveries tally has moved up to 162. 521 active cases are currently under medical care at selected hospitals in the country. more..

May 2 (AD) The spread of COVID-19 in the Western Province has been brought under some control, says Dr. Anil Jasinghe in a statement today (1). The statement read that a large number of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests have been conducted in the Western Province so far, especially on high-risk groups. However, despite the high number of PCR tests, it cannot be concluded that the situation is 100% under control now, more..

May 2 (MFA) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in a wide-ranging interview has focused on the Govt’s prioritization on the repatriation of overseas Sri Lankans and the additional services in place to facilitate the urgent needs of the migrant workers in the Middle East. The Minister noted that notwithstanding the COVID-19 crisis 500 new job opportunities have opened in the Republic of Korea which the Foreign Employment Bureau will be making public shortly. more..

May 2 (DM) Two elderly men among the beggers taken into the Muttur quarantine centre operated by the Air Force from Gunasinghepura had passed away today, the Air Force Spokesperson said. He said the two men aged over 80 had passed away from the illnesses they have been suffering for a long time upon admission to the Mullayaveli Hospital. He said it was not yet confirmed whether the two victims had contacted COVID-19 virus. "PCR results of the 2 have not yet received" more..

May 2 (AD) Restoration of normalcy in the civilian life and institutions in Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Puttalam districts will commence on Monday (11) while curfew is in force, says Prez’s Media Division. Issuing a release, the PMD said the public and private institutions must resume functions from Monday onwards, in order to restore the civilian life and economy, including maintenance of essential services, in these districts. more..

May 2 (FT) Sri Lanka has managed the COVID outbreak well by any international standard. Irrespective of star ratings given by different international agencies, people living in Sri Lanka knows best how it has been managed, and they are the ultimate jury on this issue, not any external agency. It has been a team effort, with the involvement of many agencies, and the ordinary people of Sri Lanka, but without doubt, under the able leadership of Prez Gotabaya Rajapaksa. more..

May 2 (FT) The cost of the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown of five weeks and counting is causing tremendous hardship for low-income Sri Lankans. Households in the five lowest income deciles are the hardest hit. Due to the inconsistency of income streams of breadwinners in these households and inelastic nature of basic expenditure, their budgetary gaps have become significant even after adjusting for spending cuts wherever possible. Govt must provide income-support for these households more..

May 2 (AD) The heat index is expected to increase up to the Danger level (41°C - 54°C) in some places in Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts, Dept of Meteorology has cautioned. In the meantime, an Extreme Caution level advisory has been issued for some places in Eastern, Western, Southern, Sabaragamuwa provinces and Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala and Kilinochchi districts. The advisory, which will be in effect until tomorrow (3), more..

May 2 (DN) National Eye Hospital in Colombo has decided to carry out only the services for accident victims and emergency eye issues until the COVID-19 situation improves. According to the Director Dr. Kumarathilaka, all eye patients can call 0112693911 and obtain details about visiting clinics and obtaining medicine. The public can call 0113318678 to obtain any advice on any eye problem. The public will be notified through media when the normal OPD services and clinical services re-commence. more..

May 2 (DM) Minister Bandula Gunawardana said Sri Lankans maintaining accounts in a foreign country, expatriate Sri Lankans and local or foreign investors could deposit any amount of foreign currencies including Black Money in the Special Deposit Account (SDA) in any approved commercial bank in SL. By doing so, they could collect an extra interest of 2% per annum once they withdraw or transfer the fixed account after more..

May 2 (CT) A special discussion was held, on 30 April, between SL Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Health Ministers of 15 countries, during which the control, prevention, healthcare services and future plans with regard to COVID-19 were discussed. The discussion was held at the office of the WHO Resident Representative using modern video technology. Wanniarachchi exchanged views on steps that should be taken to eradicate the pandemic, systematic action more..

May 2 (TM) SriLankan Airlines has decided to operate special repatriation flights to bring back Sri Lankan nationals stranded in London and Melbourne owning to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, SriLankan Airlines will operate four flights to bring back students in both the UK and Australia. Flights will depart to Heathrow Airport in London to bring back students tomorrow, Monday and on Tuesday while a special repatriation more..

May 2 (TM) A Fundamental Rights (FR) petition has been filed with the Supreme Court seeking an order invalidating the Extraordinary Gazette notification declaring the General Election on June 20. Attorney-at-Law Charitha Gunaratne filed the petition claiming that the Gazette notification in question is unconstitutional. Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, its members Prez’s Counsel N.J. Abeysekara more..

May 2 (TM) A simplified method has been introduced to issue sand, soil and gravel permits. Geological Survey and Mines Bureau in a statement said said the permits will be issued as mentioned in the Internal Circular No. 177/03/2020 dated 12.03.2020. Bureau noted arrangements have been made to prevent the clients from arriving at the offices to acquire the permits in order to comply with health regulations. More details can be obtained by contacting the Director (Mines) or more..

May 2 (SLN) The 23-room luxury holiday resort Sunhill in Seeduwa, temporarily handed over to the Sri Lanka Navy to be used as a quarantine center for naval personnel, today. With arising of COVID-19 as a global pandemic situation in Sri Lanka too, all services combined with tourism industry has gone non-operational. Under such an environment and in this hour of need, according to a decision taken by Surandra Perera, the Chairman Sunhill group of companies, to assists the quarantine process more..

May 2 (AD) All COVID-19 clusters that emerged in the island so far have been identified, says Acting Assistant Director of State Intelligence Service Parakrama de Silva. State intelligence has gathered all information on these coronavirus clusters, he added. He said that state intelligence has taken control of the situation. SL has thus far confirmed 690 positive cases of coronavirus, however, 172 patients have recovered. more..

May 2 (CT) Ministry of Local Govt said that when State sector workers start reporting to work after COVID-19 has been successfully controlled, they should do so in simple and decent attire. Ministry said that as the killer virus could be contracted through the dress worn by some State sector workers, henceforth they should eschew such items as ties, sarees, rings and necklaces once they start reporting to work, following the gradual easing of the nationwide lockdown. more..

May 2 (CT) The Head of the Legal Aid Commission (LAC), President's Counsel Rohan Sahabandu said that his Commission was willing to offer its services free to all Sri Lankan expats, to obtain relief after they had returned home due to loss of their jobs, with their former employers, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that the LAC had taken this decision after it had come to light that many SL expat workers had been forced to return home after losing their jobs. more..

May 2 (AD) No COVID-19 positive patients have been reported today as at 6.15 pm, says Dr. Anil Jasinghe. The total count of coronavirus cases in SL currently stands at 690 with 172 recoveries. 511 active cases are currently under medical care at the IDH Hospital, Welikanda Base Hospital, Colombo East Base Hospital, Iranawila Hospital, Kattankudy Base Hospital, Navy Hospital and Homagama Base Hospital. more..

May 2 (CT) TNA has emphasised that they could not agree with the view expressed by Prez Rajapaksa, who had informed a group of former Opposition MPs that he could not reconvene Parliament. TNA Media Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran, claimed that Prez has to reconvene the former Parliament as the General Election that was called for by the Prez has been postponed. Sumanthiran said it was the Prez who dissolved the previous House before its due date to go for a snap Poll. more..

May 2 (AD) Ten more persons who recovered from COVID-19 in Sri Lanka have brought the tally to 172, says the Ministry of Health. These 10 patients had been receiving treatment at Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Angoda, Welikanda Hospital and Iranawila Hospital. In the meantime, Sri Lanka has thus far confirmed 690 positive cases of coronavirus. According to the Epidemiology Unit, 511 active cases are currently under medical care at selected hospitals in the country. more..

May 2 (AD) A patient has tested positive for the virus again after he had been discharged from the hospital upon recovery. The relevant patient from Kapalakanda, Ja-Ela had been hospitalized in April for contracting the novel coronavirus through associating a person who returned from Italy. Subsequently, he was discharged and sent home on April 16th upon complete recovery. more..

May 3 (CT) Nearly two months after the Govt requested public and private sector employees to work from home, in a bid to arrest the spread of COVID-19 pandemic; 11 May has now been set as the date to resume work at office, subject to several conditions. Panic started setting in among the public when the first local COVID-19 patient was identified on 11 March. Immediately after, steps were taken to close all schools islandwide on Thursday, 12 March. March. Then, from 16 March, more..

May 3 (SO) Whenever Sri Lanka has faced any calamity, it is the Security Forces that have come forward bravely to assure safety and security to the country and its people. Be it man-made or natural, they have taken every possible risk and sacrificed their lives on many occasions so that others may live. Their selfless service has helped Sri Lanka to face many a storm, literally and figuratively. It is not possible to begin at one particular point when it comes to their service to the Motherland, but more..

May 3 (SO) Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, said the Opposition’s call to reconvene Parliament is a sinister motive to embarrass the Govt and create a crisis in the country. Minister, in an interview with the Sunday Observer, said the Opposition under the pretext of reconvening the Parliament attempts to mislead the public. However, the majority of the people are well aware of the ground reality and they cannot be misled through more..

May 3 (ST) If the Opposition is right in what it says, then the first of the unconstitutional acts by the Govt is now in motion, i.e. the Vote on Account that allowed state funds to be utilised lapsed on April 30. There is no provision in law for the Govt to draw more funds from the public purse without Parliamentary approval. The Opposition has asked for the recall of Parliament to rectify this anomaly, but the Govt remains steadfast in refusing to do so. Govt argues that the Constitution provides for more..

May 3 (ST) My dear Maco, Professor Hoole and Nalin, I thought I must write to you this week as there appears to be a lot of discussion about the general election and what you are doing about it, what with different people trotting out different arguments, some wanting it held as soon as possible and others wanting it postponed for as long as possible. First though, I think we need to thank you for deciding to postpone the election which was scheduled for late April. more..

May 3 (SO) In the wake of the Election Commission announcing June 20, as the new date to hold the General Election, seven party leaders of the Opposition, including the leader of UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe and leader of the TNA, R Sampanthan issued a joint statement last week, urging Prez Rajapaksa to reconvene Parliament under the circumstances that have arisen. The joint statement claimed that “Getting appropriate more..