Sri Lanka News : InfoLanka News Room (2024)

Jun 2 (ST) Sri Lanka has not been this confident ahead of a major international tournament for at least a decade. As they prepare to take on South Africa in their first Group ‘D’ clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in New York, they will look to transform this confidence into a strong performance to kick off their campaign in style. After spending two weeks in the USA to acclimatise, Sri Lanka enters the tournament with a point to prove, having faltered in recent editions despitemore..

Jun 2 (SO) Just when it kicked off to raise its head again, rugby in SL has come under threat of being pulled apart by three protagonists, the Sports Minister, the current set of elected custodians and an outside faction waiting to sneak in. World Rugby and its regional partner Asia Rugby are both watching from the touchlines as the outside party braces for a barge-in while Sports Minister Harin Fernando using his powers grabbed custody of the sport’s incumbent Sri Lanka Rugby membership more..

Jun 2 (ST) Excise Commissioner General M.J. Gunasiri is to discuss the possibility of permitting happy hour, the time when alcoholic drinks are served at discounted rates, at establishments with liquor licences. This is after a recent directive by National Authority on Tobacco & Alcohol (NATA) warned that a fine would be imposed on happy hours and similar alcohol promotions. “Tourism is important to the country.more..

Jun 2 (FT) Four Sri Lankans were arrested on Monday (20), at the Ahmadabad Airport in India for smuggling of gold and drugs. SL’s state intelligence has asked for further information from India’s state intelligence to verify the background of these alleged suspects, as well as to probe if they are actually linked to ISIS network. Thus so far there was no report of their involvement in any organisation promoting violence. One should not forget govt in power in India is extremely hostile tomore..

Jun 2 (TM) When ruling SLPP Founder cum chief strategist Basil Rajapaksa recently called for a General Election ahead of the scheduled Prez Election later this year and subsequently met President cum UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on at least two subsequent occasions behind closed doors, those in the know knew something was brewing. And, it seems that these days Sri Lanka is being treated to the scripted drama behind those closed doors, one episode at a time.more..

Jun 2 (ST) Apey Mahanayake hamuduruwaney, I thought of writing to you after seeing that you had written to Uncle Ranil requesting that Gnanasara hamuduruwo be offered a pardon. Reading that letter, hamuduruwaney, I am convinced that you must have been misinformed by someone because the reality is quite different from what your letter states. One of the main reasons cited in that letter is that Gnanasara hamuduruwo worked for national unity. I am not sure how you came tomore..

Jun 2 (ST) The UNP General Secretary caused some excitement for a few hours earlier in the week with a proposal that went viral. His proposal to postpone elections by two years through a Parliamentary vote followed by a Referendum would normally have been dismissed as a somewhat deranged suggestion, except for the position he holds. Straightaway, one would be excused for suspecting it was the voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau. Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe,more..

Jun 2 (TM) The dawn of the month of June has put the Ranil Wickremesinghe Govt on a strict timeline on several fronts, key among them being the fast-approaching deadline to finalise SL’s debt restructuring programme prior to the IMF decision this month on releasing the next tranche under the nearly $ 3 billion EFF with SL. It is learnt that the Wickremesinghe Govt is confident of finalising the debt restructuring programme more..

Jun 2 (Island) A report in The Island (May 20, 2024) states that the UN human rights office has criticised the SL govt’s failure to acknowledge and hold accountable the perpetrators of tens of thousands of enforced disappearances … Authors of the report also accuse the LTTE of engaging in abductions which were described as tantamount to enforced disappearances” (May 20, 2024). Continuing, the report adds that the UN. The High Commissioner for Human Rights had stated:more..

Jun 2 (SO) Cricket, the quintessential English sport, was once more popular than baseball in the United States, a fact that is hard to believe or comprehend now. Today, cricket is the second most watched sport in the world, next only to soccer. While only around 10 countries play the sport at the highest level (Test matches), almost 100 countries play at associate or other leagues within the ICC structure. Baseball, though very similar to cricket since it is also a bat and ball sport,more..

Jun 2 (CT) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe while participating in the What’s New dialogue, on legal reforms, with young legal professionals, at a workshop held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday, emphasised that none of the candidates aspiring to run in the Prez Election have announced their intention to abolish the executive powers associated with the position. Addressing a forum of legal professionals, Prez stressed thatmore..

Jun 2 (CT) General Secretary of UNP, Palitha Range Bandara, kicked the political hornets’ nest last Tuesday with his controversial proposal to postpone the presidential election and the general election by at least two years via a parliamentary majority followed by a referendum. Backing his statement which allows Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to be at the helm for additional two years, if passed, Range Bandara said the current economic crisis necessitates stability, continuity in leadership.more..

Jun 2 (CT) The rise of NPP from the ashes of Aragalaya and led by a new generation of JVP leadership, which has distanced itself from that party’s insurrectionary past, and NPP’s tireless campaign to convince the voting public that SL’s economic malaise is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of an overall systemic paralysis that had been sapping for decades the vitality of a once peaceful and prosperous nation, and that it cannot be rectified unless there is a radicalmore..

June 1 (DN) Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered the Intelligence Investigation Unit of the CIABOC Colombo to immediately arrest all officials of the Motor Traffic Department (formerly RMV) and those others who were involved in the illegal import of vehicles depriving the Govt of over Rs.10 billion in tax money. The Court ordered the arrest of all the officials who illegally entered data into the information system of the RMV,more..

June 1 (DM) The CID arrested a wanted suspect, Gerard Pushparaja Osman Gerard, suspected to be the person who co-ordinated the sending of the four alleged ISIS terrorists from SL to India and who were arrested in India. Earlier, CID announced a reward of Rs. 2 million for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. The suspect was arrested in a joint operaion conducted by the police in Colombo. SL security forces suspect that the 46-year-old suspect acted as a handlermore..

June 1 (FT) Colombo Additional Magistrate’s Court is expected to reveal the cause of death of prominent businessman Lalith Kothalawala on 11 June. Colombo Additional Magistrate Pasan Amarasinghe made this announcement yesterday. The post-mortem report regarding Kotelawala’s death was submitted to the court on 22 May. Initially scheduled for announcement on 28 May, the court’s decision was later postponed to 11 June. Renowned SL entrepreneur Lalith Kotelawala passed awaymore..

June 1 (DM) The Court of Appeal today issued a Writ of Mandamus directing the Director General of Wildlife Conservation, CID, IGP and the Attorney General to take necessary steps to prosecute all individuals who illegally kept the elephants referred to the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court and Matale Magistrate’s Court, who have not been lawfully registered in terms of the law. Court of Appeal Justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna andmore..

June 1 (DM) SJB demanded Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe to hand over the UNP headquarters Sirikotha to the SJB. The party’s election manager Sujeewa Senasinghe said that SJB has a right to claim Sirikotha. “We have a right to claim Sirikotha as we are former UNPers,” he said. Expressing concerns about UNP’s current plight, Senasinghe also said “We hope that UNP leader will work according to his conscience and handover the Sirikotha to us.more..

June 1 (DM) Examinations Dept has announced the top island rankings for various streams. Leading the list of achievers are: Chirath Nirodha of Ananda College, Colombo, who excelled in the Physical Science (Mathematics) stream. Shehani Navodya of Ginigathhena Central College, who topped the Engineering Technology stream. Upani Lenora of Sanghamitta Balika Vidyalaya in Galle, who achieved the highest rank in the Science stream. Thasun Rithmika of Richmond College, Galle, more..

Jun 1 (FT) Following a period of sig-nificant innovations using artificial intelligence (AI) and growth under his leadership, Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) Chairman Dr. Prasad Samarasinghe has resigned citing personal reasons. Samarasinghe stated that the reason for his resignation was unrelated to any current political events. After spearheading a turnaround at SLRC last year through innovative programs and changes to its TV channels, Samarasinghe resignedmore..

Jun 1 (FT) Chargé d’Affairs of the Embassy of Iraq in SL Mohammed Obaid Jabur Al-Masoudi encouraged the re-establishment of a SL embassy in Iraq, to strengthen diplomatic and economic engagement between the two countries. He said the move is seen as a crucial step in addressing visa issues and smoother trade relations. Al-Masoudi made these remarks during a meeting with Minister Nalin Fernando to discuss conducting the 9th session of Iraq-SL for Economic & Technicalmore..

Jun 1 (FT) Hotels Association of SL (THASL) and Colombo City Restaurants Collective (CCRC) have strongly opposed a new directive from the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA), which prohibits hotels from offering any discounts on alcohol purchases, deeming it a punishable offense. “We have already submitted written objections to Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, State Minister of Financemore..

Jun 1 (FT) Colombo stock market’s dismal run persisted yesterday ending the week and the month with losses. In May ASPI lost 2.1% and the active S&P SL20 was down 3.3%. Yesterday induces were down by 0.5% Asia Securities said the market ended the week on a low note as the indices moved downwards throughout the session due to price losses in BIL (-1.6%), NTBN (-1.5%), LOLC (-1.4%), LOFC (-1.5%), and HELA (-3.0%). However, COCR (+3.4%) closed in green in an otherwisemore..

Jun 1 (BBC) Ireland lost to SL by 41 runs in Florida in their final warm-up match before the T20 World Cup opener against India on Wednesday. Josh Little and Barry McCarthy both took two wickets as SL posted 163-8 in Lauderhill, with Angelo Mathews top-scoring with an unbeaten 32. In Ireland's reply, Andrew Balbirnie and skipper Paul Stirling put on 39 for the opening wicket inside five overs but Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera dismissed both openers within 4 balls.more..

Jun 1 (DN) A 14 member high level business delegation from Pakistan is in SL exploring investment opportunities in several high profile manufacturing including e-batteries and e- bikes. Honorary Consul SL in Lahore who led this delegation said that today SL has made a dramatic economic turnaround after facing its worst economic crisis last year. “This transformation has opened up several investment opportunities and this along with the friendly investment climate made us visitmore..

Jun 1 (DM) Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe is trying to open doors to economic hitmen like billionaire Elon Musk, George Soros and James Packer by introducing the Economic Transformation Bill, NPP Economic Council member Sunil Hadunnetti said. He said Prez Ranil Wickremesinghe claimed that Elon Musk is coming to SL to provide WIFI. "Ranil said in 2015 that free WIFI will be made available to all. He has now dropped the word 'free' and says WIFI will be given in 2024.more..

Jun 1 (FT) State Minister Shehan Semasinghe on Thursday expressed optimism that Sri Lanka is on track to finalise external debt negotiations in time for the IMF to consider the next review of its economic stabilisation program. “We have a strong conviction of finalising within the timelines. We can do it,” Semasinghe stated. He disclosed that discussions are advancing on converting in-principle agreements with official creditors into MOUs. more..

Jun 1 (DM) Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) announced a revision of fuel prices, which will take effect from midnight today. Under the new pricing scheme, the cost of Petrol 92 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 13, bringing the price down to Rs. 355 per litre. The price of Petrol 95 Octane remains unchanged at Rs. 420 per litre. In the diesel category, Auto Diesel sees a reduction of Rs. 16, now priced at Rs. 317 per litre. The price for Super Diesel remains steady at Rs. 377 per litre.more..

Jun 1 (DM) A total of 173,444 students have been qualified to apply for university admission this year following the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level (A/L) exam. The qualified percentage was 64.33. Accordingly, a total of 269,613 applicants including 229,057 school applicants and 40,556 private applicants sat for the examinations. A total of 173,444 candidates including 151,343 school applicants and 22,101 private applicants qualified for university entrance.more..

Jun 1 (ST) It was a function with a difference, two days before Vesak on Tuesday (21), very much in the spirit of this thrice blessed Buddhist celebration. Formalities having been dealt with earlier, the true essence of what the Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH), Kalubowila, was offering came in the form of a little plant. The plants lined up on a side table in the seventh floor Dr. W.D. Gunawardena auditorium were not giftsmore..

Jun 1 (ST) Large trees and the mangroves in Anawilundawa Ramsar wetland’s ecosystem have been badly affected by human activity and are on the verge of destruction. Environmental organisations explained that the wetland usually experienced dry and wet seasons where the water levels would drop and rise, allowing the mangrove and Kumbuk trees to dry their roots and grow. But farming activity throughout the year has changed the natural cycle. The farmers keep the tank system active,more..

Jun 1 (DN) Kaya Daluwatte, SL’s top women’s golfer, brought great honour to her country by winning the 10th Nepal Amateur Golf Championship, concluded at the Gokarna Golf Club in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday. Daluwatte played impressively, finishing four under-par with five birdies and one eagle. She carded scores of 71, 71, and an impressive 68 on the final day, which secured her the title in stunning fashion in the third and final round. In the second round, Daluwatte extended her lead to sixmore..