Category: News

Remittances continue to crash

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Remittances continue to crash Worker remittances, Sri Lanka’s largest foreign-exchange earner, posted a decline, for the 14th consecutive month in July this year, as migrant workers only sent home USD 279.5 million during the month, down 38.3 per cent from USD 453.3 million a year earlier. According to data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), during the first seven months of this year, migrant workers sent home USD 1,889.4 million, down 50 per cent from USD 3,777.6 million sent during the same period last year. In June this…

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Police fire tear gas to disperse the protest; Wasantha Mudalige arrested 

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Police fire tear gas to disperse the protest; Wasantha Mudalige arrested  AFP: Sri Lanka Police fired tear gas and water cannon on a small protest yesterday to break up the first demonstration since the crisis-hit island nation lifted a state of emergency. This year, an unprecedented economic collapse has often sparked massive anti-Government rallies after months of hardship caused by shortages of essential goods, rolling blackouts and spiralling inflation. The Government has curbed dissent by imposing a State of Emergency giving security forces sweeping detention powers, but the ordinance lapsed overnight.…

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Govt. ramps-up visa process to boost tourist arrivals

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Govt. ramps-up visa process to boost tourist arrivals SLTPB to kick off 3 road shows in India next month By Charumini de Silva Ahead of the much-awaited tourism roadshows in India, the Government has ramped-up the visa processes to boost arrivals thereby enable a faster recovery of the triple-hit leisure industry. The Tourism Ministry yesterday announced that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a host of measures to extend longer visa visas.  As per the Tourism Ministry, it has been decided to permit tourist visas for up to 180 days…

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Occupy Galle Face ‘aragalaya’ no more

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Occupy Galle Face ‘aragalaya’ no more RanilGoGama’ activists vacate site; pledge to continue fight against Ranil, emergency law/PTA, Executive Presidency  Alleges theft of most tents put up at the location, ‘GotaGoGama’ library taken to Panadura temple   Protestors withdraw writs filed in Court of Appeal seeking prevention of removal of site  BY Dinitha Rathnayake  Protestors of the “aragalaya” (struggle) attached to the “RanilGoGama”, formerly “GotaGoGama”, at the Galle Face – whose protest site at the Galle Face Green was vandalised on multiple occasions, and whose activism led to the resignation of…

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Constitutional amendment: No one can oppose 22A now: Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe

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Constitutional amendment: No one can oppose 22A now: Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe 22nd Amendment will be 19th Amendment Plus and more Ministry of Defence cannot be alienated from President Elections possible only when environment is right SOE was declared unwillingly and will not be kept for long New COPE, COPA members can continue work they were doing Differentiating peaceful protesters from violent elements a struggle Disagree with allegations of double standards in application of law By Asiri Fernando The Government is confident that it can muster adequate support to pass the…

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Pro-’Aragalaya’ Scottish woman being probed, passport confiscated

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Pro-’Aragalaya’ Scottish woman being probed, passport confiscated Accused of defaming SL internationally Aragalaya priest Fr. Jeewantha files FR YouTuber Ratta granted bail IUSF alleges ‘white van’ abduction First man to storm Secretariat remanded (BY Ruwani Fonseka and Dinitha Rathnayake – The Morning) The Sri Lanka Police has launched an investigation into a Scottish woman who was residing in Sri Lanka, named Kayleigh Fraser and better known by her social media name Kayz Fraser, for being actively involved in the “aragalaya” movement centred around Galle Face, through which she has allegedly brought disrepute…

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22-A before parliament tomorrow

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22-A before parliament tomorrow Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse yesterday announced that the 22nd constitutional Amendment Bill, which was prepared to repeal the 20th Amendment and incorporating the positive clauses of the 19th Amendment, would be submitted to Parliament tomorrow (27). As per parliamentary standing orders, the Bill can be debated one week after the first reading, if it is not challenged before the Supreme Court. The Cabinet has approved the 22nd constitutional Amendment Bill. Therefter that, the Bill was published in a gazette on…

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India’s geopolitical concerns over Port City Colombo

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India’s geopolitical concerns over Port City Colombo By Sunimalee Dias View(s): 611 India’s concerns over the Colombo Port City Project discouraging its business community from investing here is likely due to geopolitical issues and a lack of awareness of the regulations that are still being finalised, Sri Lankan authorities state. A recent report in the Indian media said there are concerns expressed over the Colombo Port City Project citing it’s a possible “hub for money laundering and extra- legal activities,” extended tax holidays, the Chinese involvement and as a result of…

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DEW alleges US must have approved removal of Galle Face protesters

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warns electorate not to expect early general election By Shamindra Ferdinando Veteran politician DEW Gunasekera (22) said that there must have been a tacit understanding between the new Sri Lankan administration and the Western camp, regarding the deployment of the military and the police to remove Galle Face protesters in the early hours of yesterday. The former General Secretary of the Communist Party said so when The Island sought reconfirmation as regards his sensational declaration made in an interview with Asoka Dias on Sirasa ‘Pathikada’ earlier in the day that US Ambassador…

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BASL, Cardinal, HRCSL, etc., condemn attack on protesters

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BASL, Cardinal, HRCSL, etc., condemn attack on protesters By Rathindra Kuruwita (The Island) A number of professional associations, religious leaders, politicians and commissions yesterday condemned Friday’s attack on unarmed protesters opposite the Presidential Secretariet. SLPP MP Dullas Alahapperuma condemned the attacks stating that it was ‘the manifestation of a military mindset and will be hugely detrimental to Sri Lanka.” Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the Communist Party (CP), the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and other parties too condemned the attacks. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal…

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