Sri Lanka asks IMF for rapid financial assistance

Sri Lanka has made a request to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) support to mitigate supply chain issues, a finance minister aide said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Moody’s downgrades Sri Lanka to Ca

Moody’s on Monday downgraded Sri Lanka to Ca from Caa2 following the government’s suspension of principal and coupon payments on offshore public debt.

School van fares to go up by Rs.1,000

The All Island School Van Operators’ Association (AISVOA) today said that they are compelled to increase the school van fares by Rs.1,000 as the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has increased its prices from last night.

Lunch packets to go up by 20%: Canteen Owners’ Assn.

The price of lunch packets will be increased by 20% in the wake of the price of a litre of diesel going up by Rs.113 from last night, Head of the All Island Canteen Owners’ Association Asela Sampath said today.

SJB rejects new cabinet

While rejecting the move by the president to appoint a new cabinet, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) yesterday called for an immediate repealing of the 20th Amendment to the constitution and for the appointment of a committee of party leaders to scrap the Executive Presidency.

Fitch cuts Sri Lanka’s economic growth to 1% this year

Fitch Ratings slashed Sri Lanka’s economic growth in 2022 to mere one percent amid the expected deceleration in demand, due to tightening monetary policy and the ongoing foreign exchange troubles, which have caused massive shortages of key commodities and medicines.

CB Governor says unprecedented rate hike aimed at slowing down production, inflation

The new Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said the objective of the sharp increase in interest rates is to drastically reduce the aggregate demand conditions already prevalent in the economy and thereby slowdown the production by increasing the cost of production.

CPC also increases fuel prices; petrol by Rs.84 & diesel by Rs. 113

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has decided to increase the fuel prices with effect from midnight today.

Six men sentenced to death over lynching of Sri Lankan man

Prosecutors in Pakistan on Monday said that six men had been sentenced to death for the lynching of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara in December of last year.

Country heading towards massive antibiotics scarcity: Pharmacy Owners’ Assn.

The country is heading towards a massive shortage of antibiotics that are used to treat from minor to major infections in children and even adults, All-Island Private Pharmacy Owners’ Association (ACPPOA) President Chandika Gankanda said.

Army doesn’t mean harm to peaceful civilians, neither does it hatch ‘secret’ agendas as alleged”: Army Chief

Chief of Defence Staff and Army Commander General Shavendra Silva said yesterday that the Sri Lanka Army does not mean harm to people whom they have committed to protect and neither does it hatch secret agendas as alleged.

Face masks in public not mandatory from today

Wearing face masks in public has been made not compulsory with efect from today (18) , Health Minister Channa Jayasumana said.

President accepts not providing chemical fertilizer was a mistake

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa admitted today that he made a mistake by banning chemical farming, and therefore he decided to re-introduce it. He also said the government should have reached out to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a programme much earlier.

21 State Ministers including SLFP MP sworn in

A total of 21 new State Ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.

Fort police files report regarding Galle Face protest

The Colombo Fort Police today filed a facts report pertaining to the public protest which has been continuing in the Galle Face green area.

Struggle waged against Govt could lead to another catastrophe: Pro-govt lawyers

The struggle being waged against the President, the Prime Minister and the government by the youth without any understanding of the past could lead to another catastrophe in the country, pro-government lawyers has said during a meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Lawyers seek travel ban on Basil Rajapaksa

A group of lawyers led by President’s Counsel Maithri Gunaratne today sought an order directing the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and former Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle from leaving the country.

Party Leaders agree to table 19A in Parliament again

Political party leaders in a meeting held with the Speaker this afternoon has agreed to table the 19th Amendment once again, in a move to abolish the 20th Amendment, the Daily Mirror learns.

SJB to launch protest march from Kandy to Colombo

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has planned to launch an anti-government protest march from Kandy to Colombo on April 26.

PM absent at swearing in of new cabinet

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was absent at the swearing in of the new cabinet of ministers, sending strong signals that he is unhappy with the latest political decisions made at this juncture.

Prasanna Ranatunga appointed Chief Government Whip

Minister Prasanna Ranatunge was appointed as the Chief Government Whip today in place of Johnston Fernando, who was holding that slot previously.

Pakistan court to rule on killing of Sri Lankan citizen today

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore is expected to rule on the murder of the Sri Lankan factory manager on Monday.

Up minimum bus fare to Rs.40; as depreciation of rupee plunges further: Gemunu

The minimum bus fare should be revised to Rs. 40, if the government does not take steps to stem the stability of the rupee against the dollar, Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne said.

Travel ban on Cabraal further extended

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court today further extended its order preventing former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal from leaving the country until May 2.

Key ministers including Rajapaksas out of new cabinet

Former several key cabinet ministers including Johnston Fernando, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Bandula Gunawardane, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Dullas Allahapperuma, Gamini Lokuge, Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Keheliya Rambukwella were not included in the new cabinet of ministers who were sworn in today.

New Cabinet sworn in

A total of 17 new cabinet ministers were sworn in before President Gotabaya Rajapaksa a short while ago.

Political deadlock continues

A complete political deadlock continues in Sri Lanka with still no decision taken as of last evening to form a new cabinet even as the nation faces a severe economic crisis and a shortage in its basic essentials, leaving thousands of people protesting for days calling on the President to resign.

SLFP and 11 party alliance may consider supporting NCM

The SLFP and the 11 party alliance were ready to positively consider an invitation from the SJB to support the No Confidence Motion (NCM) against the SLPP government, General Secretary of the SLFP and the former Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday.

Temporary stock market closure sparks debate

A debate has been sparked by the stock market watchdog Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to close the market for five days starting from today at the request of the board of directors of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) and some stockbrokers.

Sabry says IMF won’t solve all economic problems but is need of the hour

As the government delegation is readying to meet the International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials today in Washington for programme support and other bilateral partners for bridge financing, the government is aware that the package from the Fund is not going to solve all economic ills that have been plaguing the economy for decades.