News Room : Gammanpila asks people to stop accusing and keep growing!
MP Udaya Gammanpila says people must stop accusing each other of the causes of the crisis as finding solutions is the most important task. In a tweet where the MP posted pictures of him harvesting homegrown vegetables the MP said “If we can grow vegetables, sprouts, and fruits as much as possible in our gardens, it is a relief...
News Room : President irked by one SLPP stalwart’s absence for 22A vote
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is said to have expressed his displeasure at Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, the Chief Organizer of the ruling party, who had gone abroad for a personal visit without supporting the 22nd amendment. According to inside sources, the President is said to have expressed these sentiments over the phone to Ranatunga where he said that as the chief organizer...
News Room : Govt. gets tough on prisoners through harsh new prison rules
Former commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, Ambtika Satkunanathan says the government is attempting to restrict certain rights of prisoners through new prison rules under the Prisons Ordinance. “Most concerning are a reduction of visits to remanded imprisoned persons from 6 days a week to once a week. They have also reduced time outside the cell from...
News Room : Injury-hit Sri Lanka vs confident Ireland
Sri Lanka are still the favourites, though, and the Hasaranga-Theekshana combine could yet win the day for them Sri Lanka lost their first match to Namibia, but, after that, they dominated UAE and were in control for much of the fixture against Netherlands. Ireland lost to Zimbabwe, but got past Scotland and, notably, West Indies. Both teams have arrived in the...
News Room : 22A throughwith required two thirdsmajority
Sarath Weerasekera’s only second reading ‘no’ vote, abstains on third reading The Second Reading of the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament on Friday with the required two thirds majority with the Bill receiving 179 votes in favour and one vote – that of Colombo District MP Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera – against. The Third Reading...
News Room : Intl help to probe Easter terror unnecessary: Cardinal – The Island
By Meera Sirinivasan As Sri Lankans continue braving their worst economic crisis since Independence, urban poverty on the island has tripled in the last year, from 5% to 15 %, according to a recent World Bank report.Sri Lanka is experiencing “its highest poverty rate since 2009 , and an erosion of the steady gains in welfare made between 2006 and...
News Room : Sumanthiran launches blistering attack on Supreme Court – The Island
By Meera Sirinivasan As Sri Lankans continue braving their worst economic crisis since Independence, urban poverty on the island has tripled in the last year, from 5% to 15 %, according to a recent World Bank report.Sri Lanka is experiencing “its highest poverty rate since 2009 , and an erosion of the steady gains in welfare made between 2006 and...
News Room : Mendis’ pragmatism helps wounded Sri Lanka survive banana-peel beginning – The Island
India head into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with high hopes of ending their 15-year drought and claiming their second title thanks to a side packed with talent with both bat and ball. They’ll be looking to reach the semi-finals for the fourth time at their eighth appearance at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup before powering on...
News Room : Urban poverty triples in Lanka – The Island
By Meera Sirinivasan As Sri Lankans continue braving their worst economic crisis since Independence, urban poverty on the island has tripled in the last year, from 5% to 15 %, according to a recent World Bank report.Sri Lanka is experiencing “its highest poverty rate since 2009 , and an erosion of the steady gains in welfare made between 2006 and...
News Room : Executive presidency needed to deal with terrorism? Balderdash says Eran – The Island
Seeks rehabilitation of cabinet Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court on Thursday came under a scathing attack in parliament during the debate on the 22nd constitutional amendment with TNA legislator M. A. Sumanthiran accusing the highest judiciary of swinging like a pendulum. In his blistering speech on Thursday, the TNA lawmaker accused the supreme court justices of inconsistencies and said they appeared...