Jun 20 (FT) Joint Association of Leasing and Debt Instalment Payers has unanimously decided to default for 3 months starting 9 June until the authorities give solutions based on five key demands. Five demands are 1) revise 11.5% additional interest levied on the capital outstanding unjustly, 2) stop seizure of vehicles and property arbitrarily till 31 Dec, 3) provide a concessionary period to repay lease and debt instalments till more..

Jun 20 (ANI) The Chamari Athapaththu-led squad will compete against India in a three-match T20I and a three-match ODI series, as SLC announced a 19-member squad on Monday. Athapaththu will again lead both the squads, which include important players like Hasini Perera, Nilakshi de Silva, Oshadi Ranasinghe and Inoka Ranaweera. SLC also gave a maiden call-up to Vishmi Gunaratne in both the squads. She is yet to make her ODI debut for SL. The tour consists of 3T20Is and 3 ODIs more..

Jun 20 (Island) Parliament will take up for debate this week the Industrial Disputes (Special Provisions) Bill to give more powers to the Presidents of the labour tribunals as Additional Magistrates “to hear, try, determine and dispose of all suits or prosecutions under the provisions of specified enactments and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.” The decision to take up the Bill for debate was made at the last Ministerial Consultative Committee on more..

Jun 20 (Hindu) Addressing SL’s Tamil national question is imperative for the island nation’s recovery from the crushing economic crisis it is facing, veteran Tamil leader R Sampanthan said, contending the unresolved issue had proved a major impediment for the country’s economic progress since Independence. The 89-year-old MP recounted the many historic opportunities that SL leadership missed, allowing the ethnic conflict to fester, more..

Jun 20 (PMD) It has been decided to increase the number of flights between China and SL. Accordingly, China will operate three flights to SL from this week. SriLankan Airlines too offers frequent flights to China. This was revealed by the Chinese Ambassador to SL Qi Zhenhong when he paid a courtesy call on Prez Rajapaksa at the Prez’s House in Colombo. Ambassador briefed the Prez on the economic and humanitarian assistance provided and expected to be provided by Chinese govt more..

Jun 20 (DM) Kusal Mendis has become a father for the first time. This was revealed by his father, Dinesh Mendis. "Kusal's wife Nishelle gave birth to a baby girl between 7 and 8 a.m. on Monday. Both the newly born baby and her mother are absolutely fine,” he said. The 27-year-old right-handed batter, who scored 87 runs in the third ODI against Australia on Sunday night, saw his daughter on Monday morning. "Kusal came to the hospital on Sunday night immediately after the match. more..

Jun 20 (Hindu) Sri Lanka will resume flights from the northern Jaffna peninsula to India next month, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has said, asserting that the move would support the country’s tourism industry and help in easing the SL economic crisis. SLTDA plans to attract 800,000 tourists during the rest of the year. “The northern Jaffna peninsula’s Palaly airport is to resume flights to India from next month,” Aviation Minister said on Saturday. more..

Jun 20 (AI) Responding to media reports that the govt is currently in conversations with a range of lenders regarding its debt obligations and announcement of austerity measures amidst a serious economic crisis, Thyagi Ruwanpathirana, Amnesty International’s South Asia Regional Researcher said, “AI is particularly concerned that govt’s response to the crisis may result in a further erosion of economic and social rights. We would like to use this opportunity to remind the govt more..

Jun 20 (CI) Kusal Mendis is available for the fourth ODI against Australia on Tuesday, but Danushka Gunathilaka appears unlikely to play, while Wanindu Hasaranga may only be risked if SL feel they need him. Mendis retired hurt on 87 off 85 balls in SL's win on Sunday, having put on a match-defining 170-run stand with centurion Pathum Nissanka. But he left the field because of neuromuscular cramps, SLC's chief medical officer Dr Daminda Attanayake said, and as such, will be fit for Tuesday. more..

Jun 20 (CI) Other than the opening T20I which was a very one-sided affair, Sri Lanka have heaped the pressure on Australia during this tour. They nearly stole a low-scoring clash in the second T20I, thrillingly won the third game off the bat of captain Dasun Shanaka, were only beaten by a Glenn Maxwell special at the start of the one-dayers and have now taken back-to-back ODIs against Australia for the first time in 20 years to stand on the cusp of a series victory. more..

Jun 20 (ANI) Amid the unprecedented fuel crisis in the country, former SL cricketer Roshan Mahanama was spotted serving tea and buns to people waiting in lines outside the stores to buy fuel and cooking gas. "We served tea and buns with the team from Community Meal Share this evening for the people at the petrol queues around Ward Place and Wijerama mawatha. The queues are getting longer by the day and there will be many health risks to people staying in queues," h2 tweeted. more..

Jun 20 (AD) The 21st Amendment to the Constitution has received the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers today, according to Minister Harin Fernando. In a twitter message, he said that draft constitutional amendment was tabled and passed by the Cabinet and that it will be tabled in parliament soon. Minister also expressed his gratitude to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe for pushing it through. more..

Jun 20 (ANI) Indian women's cricket team on Sunday arrived in Dambulla for the upcoming white-ball series against SL. The Sri Lanka tour will be the first series for the India women's team in the post-Mithali Raj era, as the country's long-time captain recently announced her retirement from all forms of international cricket. "India Women's Team led by Harmanpreet Kaur arrives in SL. India and SL will play three T20Is in Dambulla on June 23, 25 and 27 followed by as many ODIs on July 1, 4 & 7," more..

Jun 20 (AI) A joint statement by ILGA Asia, Amnesty International, Equal Ground, and Int'l Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on the landmark decision, of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which found that the criminalisation of consensual same-sex sexual activity between women under Section 365A of SL’s Penal Code 1883 violates their right to non-discrimination under Article 2 (a) and (d)–(g) of the UN Convention on the Elimination of more..

Jun 20 (Island) Federation of University Teachers Union (FUTA) has opposed the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to close the universities temporarily. It has written to the UGC, taking exception to the latter’s decision to allow Vice Chancellors to decide when to reopen universities. Full text of the FUTA letter to the UGC Chairman: The FUTA is writing this in response to the UGC decision to allow the VCs of more..

Jun 20 (EN) China-backed Hambantota International Port said it had taken delivery of two ship to shore (STS) cranes which will be used for bulk cargo operations. “The new cranes will hugely increase vessel turnaround times which will have a highly desirable impact on our productivity,” Chief Operating Officer of Hambantota Int'l Port Group (HIPG) Tissa Wickramasinghe said in a statement. he Port began handling bulk cargo in 2018, after the HIPG took over. more..

Jun 20 (FT) Seven leading French Travel agents arrived in SL on Saturday for an eight-night, nine-day tour to experience all that SL has to offer. During their stay they will be visiting tourism hotspots such Kandy, Passikudah, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa while also exploring lesser-known destinations such as Mandaramnuwara, Galoya and Inginiyagala. The familiarisation tour is organised by leading destination management company Connaissance De Ceylan and Theme Resorts and Spas, more..

Jun 20 (AD) Businessman Dhammika Perera has undertaken not to take oath as a MP or Minister until the Supreme Court decides whether or not to grant leave to proceed with the petitions filed before courts against his appointment as an MP. The fundamental rights petitions filed against the appointment of Dhammika Perera as a MP were taken up by a 3-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena, Yasantha Kodagoda and Arjuna Obeysekera today. more..

Jun 20 (AD) SLPP Pradeshiya Sabha member Jagath Samantha has been arrested on charges of assaulting persons and obstructing the duties of police officers at a filling station in Arachchikattuwa. Samantha, who is the brother of MP Sanath Nishantha, had recently been accused of assaulting certain individuals near filling station while a video of the incident had been widely circulated on social media. He had assaulted persons at a fuel station in Arachchikattuwa waiting for fuel on June 17 more..

Jun 20 (EN) An IMF mission who has arrived in SL has met PM Ranil Wickremesinghe as part of a discussions to fashion policy corrections that will restore monetary stability and allow the country to repay debt. “PM Wickremesinghe commenced discussions with the IMF team a short while ago at the PM’s Office,” his office said. The IMF in person team will be in SL till May 30. The team will “continue discussions more..

Jun 20 (Island) The Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) has entered into an MOU with the Australian Govt funded Skills for Inclusive Growth Programme (S4IG), managed by Palladium International Group to increase collaboration to strengthen skills development in tourism.S4IG is a skills development programme of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) implemented in Sri Lanka in accordance with the terms of a Subsidiary Agreement signed more..

Jun 20 (FT) The crisis faced by NVOCC Lines operating to and from the Port of Colombo, was featured in the Daily FT 11 Feb 2022, under the heading Fresh Shipping Setback for imports, exports from feeder operators, due to the International Feeder Shipping Line Operators imposing new conditions for the carriage of NVOCC Line containers to and from the Port of Colombo. NVOCC Lines, are regional container/box Operators providing an important service more..

Jun 20 (AD) A total of 21 protesters including a Buddhist monk have been arrested by the police for obstructing two entrances of the Finance Ministry in Colombo. Police said that the arrested protesters includes a Buddhist monk, four females and another 16 males. They had been engaged in a protest this morning blocking the entrance to Ministry of Finance while protesters had also erected tents near the entryway. more..

Jun 20 (EN) Australia said it will provide US$ 50 million in official aid for SL which is reeling from the worst currency crisis in its 72-year-old history of intermediate regime central bank. “We will contribute an immediate $22 million to the WFP for emergency food assistance to help three million people in SL meet their daily nutritional needs,” Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said in a statement. “Australia will also provide $23 million in development assistance to SL in 2022-23.” more..

Jun 20 (DM) A special mechanism has been introduced for health staffers to obtain fuel during the present crisis situation where the health workers could obtain fuel at designated filling stations across the country on Fridays, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. He said in a twitter post that the mechanism was introduced following a discussion with Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara to ensure continuous supply of fuel for health staff. Minister has instructed more..

Jun 20 (FT) We are in the middle of a socio-economic turbulence that demands right leadership to ensure proper management of all fronts. It is sad to observe the dire need and the dearth of it in the critical positions. We see a mix of empathic leaders as well as psychopathic laggards in existence. The former may bring clarity to the scene whilst the latter may create chaos. The nature and features of them is worth exploring in the context of the current crisis. Today’s column is an attempt to do so. more..

Jun 20 (FT) SL-born world-renowned economist, formerly a Don at the Australian National Uni, in a webinar hosted by Advocata Institute has outlined his wisdom or chinthana on import substitution. Aseni, the whiz kid on economics had watched it but could not understand many of the high-flown economic stuff presented there. She sought the assistance of her grandpa, Sarath Mahatthaya, a former employee of Ministry of Finance, to help her understand it. more..

Jun 20 (FT) Govt’s struggle to deal with growing fuel shortage and queues continued as public outcry worsened with fears over minimal supply in the next few days. In response Minister Kanchana Wijesekera appealed to the public not to queue up for next three days saying proper distribution will only be restored by Thursday. Separately the Govt is also mulling a new scheme to supply fuel to three-wheelers & motorcycles. more..

Jun 20 (AD) Public Utilities Commission of SL (PUCSL) says that there will be no power cuts between 7 a.m. and 12 noon for two weeks from tomorrow (20). This decision was taken following a request from the Ministry of Education in order to facilitate online education. PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that accordingly power cuts of 2 hours and 30 minutes will be imposed between 12 noon and 10.30 p.m. during this period. Ministry of Education announced that all schools within more..

Jun 20 (DM) LITRO Gas Lanka Ltd has issued a statement clarifying the truth behind the Freight Costs pertaining to the 280,000 MT International LPG Tender for the period 2022-23. The statement said that LITRO Gas Lanka Ltd had recieved three tenders from Siam Gas Trading, OQ Trading and BB Energy (Asia) Ltd. "Standing Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (SCAPC) decided to award the tender to Siam Gas Trading. However, govt was not in a position to fulfill the condition to more..

Jun 20 (EN) Protestors banded together in a human chain from Temple Trees, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe’s official residence to the iconic Gota go Gama in front of Prez Rajapaksa’s office asking the two to step down as a currency crisis worsened. Protests which reduced after Wickremesinghe was appointed are starting to gather pace as shortages continue with the central bank unable to restore monetary stability. more..

Jun 20 (TM) Both the SLPP and the PM’s Office have denied reports that Prez Rajapaksa has informed a group of SLPP MPs to nominate an SLPP MP who can win the confidence of a majority in Parliament for the post of Premier, following a possible removal of incumbent Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe from office. When contacted by The Morning to confirm this, SLPP General Secretary, MP Sagara Kariyawasam said: “I do not know whether some SLPP MPs have been more..

Jun 20 (DM) Govt officials said that no curfew or lockdown had been planned for the coming days, but schools would switch to an online learning method and govt employees would begin a work-from-home policy for two weeks. A message circulating widely on social media said that "Public administration and defence discussed a lockdown and no date had been given yet. Get all your essentials, not sure. They know there's going to be mayhem within the next three weeks. more..