21A to be discussed among parties before final draft: Ranil

Cabinet has decided to allow an all party discussion on the 21st amendmen to the constitution on Friday before final draft is prepated, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

21st Amendment presented to Cabinet

The draft of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was presented to the Cabinet today for consideration as the first legislative business of the new government, Daily Mirror learns.

US$ 6.5 mn paid for two gas shipments

LITRO Gas Lanka Ltd. has paid US$ 6.5 million today for the next two shipment of LP gas, LITRO officials said.

Will take up responsibility in govt. subject to conditions: Patali

Head of 43rd Brigade MP Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday said he will take up responsibility in the government if the government should be converted into a real multi party interim government with a road map to deliver the nation from the current crisis.

Central Bank summoned before Committee on Public Finance tomorrow

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has been summoned before the Committee on Public Finance tomorrow (24) at 10.00 a.m.

Aruni Wijewardane appointed as new Foreign Secretary

Aruni Wijewardane assumed duties as the new Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Ministry today (23), the Ministry said.

Labour migration increases in Sri Lanka: SLBFE

Sri Lanka’s labour migration has increased by 286 percent in the last two decades, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) said.

Airline Pilots’ Guild too shoots down Arundika’s pilot claim

Hot on the heels of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) having denied the statement made by SLPP MP Arundhika Fernando that he has served in the SLAF as a pilot, the Airline Pilots’ Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL) has also denied his claim.

India delivers another petrol shipment

A shipment of around 40000 MT of petrol under Indian credit line reached Sri Lanka today, Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said.

AG instructs IGP to transfer DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon

The Attorney General has instructed the IGP to transfer Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennanakoon with immediate effect to prevent unnecessary intervention into the investigations relating to the attack on peaceful protesters at Temple Trees and Galle Face on May 9.

Sri Lanka needs to jump through hoops to overcome current crisis

With what’s being unfolding, the time ahead is extremely arduous for Sri Lanka, which is today burning amid unprecedented economic crisis and political impasse. The discussions with regard to what caused the crisis are mostly concentrated around faulty economic planning and model as well as gross mismanagement of economy along with poor governance marked by rampant corruption.

Energy Minister says Octane 95 available from tomorrow

Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that Octane 95 petrol will be supplied to filling stations islandwide from today.

Eight more cabinet ministers appointed

Eight new Cabinet Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa this morning.

IMF urged to bailout Sri Lanka

The President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik on Sunday urged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to work out on timely bail out package to put defaulting Sri Lanka, a financially crumbled country on track.

FAO assures PM of its assistance

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations had assured it support to Sri Lanka in obtaining assistance to obtain food, as the food shortage in the nation grows, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said.

Sajith was advised not to take Premiership as dollar crisis is so acute: SJB

Leader of the Opposition and SJB, Sajith Premadasa decided against taking up the Prime Minister’s post when two top economic advisors of the party told him that bringing enough foreign exchange under the prevailing situation to bail out the country from the current economic, political and social mess was not possible, a senior SJB source revealed yesterday.

Cabinet size to be increased to 25

Ten more Cabinet Ministers are slated to be sworn in today increasing the size of the Cabinet of the new government to 25 including President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Daily Mirror learns .

Maithri leaves Paget Road residence

Complying with the interim injunction issued by the Supreme Court on March 29, former President Maithripala Sirisena has left the Paget Road residence last week and settled in another state house in Colombo 7, the Daily Mirror learns

CWC request India to enhance Line of Credit facility for Sri Lanka

The Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) has requested Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to extend the credit facilities granted to Sri Lanka, a party official said.

Remittance earnings plummet 52% in April as greed dominates

Migrant workers do not appear to have understood their duty at a time of grave economic disaster engulfing their motherland as they continue to send their earnings through informal money changers, seeking higher conversion rates as opposed to what the banks pay.

Exporter dollar conversion and surrender rules bring in US$ 300mn monthly: CB

The Central Bank last week disclosed that it collects every month up to US$ 300 million from exporter dollar conversions and surrender requirements, which helps significantly to provide dollars to finance the essential imports such as fuel, cooking gas, medicines and other commodities which are in short supply.

Debt restructuring teams likely to receive Cabinet nod this week

The Central Bank said they have finalised the two sets of financial and legal advisors to negotiate with multiple creditors of Sri Lanka and the selected parties would be submitted for final approval.

Ship carrying Rs.2Bn relief materials from India reaches Colombo

An Indian ship carrying urgent relief supplies including rice, life-saving medicines and milk powder arrived in Colombo on Sunday and the consignment was handed over to the government, the Indian High Commission said.

Olympian Abeykoon shatters 200m Sri Lanka and South Asian records

Sri Lanka Olympian Yupun Abeykoon set a new Sri Lanka and South Asian record in the 200 metres in an international athletic meet in Italy on Sunday (22).

Mayantha says no to joining govt.

Referring to reports that he is to join the government, Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) MP Mayantha Dissanayake said he will not join the government.

Private fuel bowser owners want police security to transport fuel

The Ceylon Petroleum Private Tanker Owners’ Association today requested the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide security when transporting fuel.

Another SJB MP to join govt. ?

Stating that he had received an invitation to join the new government, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB) MP Mayantha Dissanayake today said he would use it an opportunity to work for the nation.

Protests seen in SL could be repeated in other countries, if Governments fail to support poor-IMF chief

Governments need to subsidise the cost of food and energy for the poorest members of society and without the correct government support the protests seen in Sri Lanka could be repeated in other countries, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.

Another local nabbed with USD 50,000 in Rajagiriya

A 36-year-old man has been arrested by the STF for possessing US$ 50,000 during a raid in Welikada in Rajagiriya.

Filling station owner’s house set ablaze for not issuing fuel

The house belonging to the owner of an IOC Filling Station at Ranajayapura in Ipalogama, Kekirawa was set on fire last night by an angry mob as the station ran out of fuel.