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Sri Lanka shift Asia Cup to UAE Source : sundayobserver Political instability and shortage of essential services have forced Sri Lanka to shift the much awaited Asia Cup T20 championship to the United Arab Emirates. Sri Lanka had earlier drawn up plans to host the matches in Colombo, Hambantota and Pallekele in the six-nation championship scheduled to be held from August 27 to September 11. “Considering the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka, the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) after extensive deliberation has unanimously concluded that it would be appropriate to relocate the tournament from Sri Lanka to the UAE”, the Asian Cricket Council said in a statement. The statement said the ACC was “mindful of the passionate Sri Lankan fans” and the final decision to change the venue had been “very difficult” and “one that was deemed necessary”. “The ACC remains committed to supporting the sport and all its fans and is ...

Jul 31, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged ACC, Asia Cup T20, Colombo, Hambantota, Pallekele, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates

Sri Lanka: an awakening? The country is facing an unprecedented crisis, but also an unprecedented opportunity – By Sanjayan Rajasingham Source : Confluence – South Asian Perspectives – May – August 2022 issue First, the crisis. At its simplest, Sri Lanka lacks the money it needs to buy the things it needs. A few big reasons: structurally, Sri Lanka has had a debt-driven growth strategy, but a lot of its expenditure of that debt was on low-return investments. This worked when Sri Lanka could access loans at concessionary rates, but became a problem when it reached middle income status and had to borrow at commercial rates. Second, Sri Lanka has a problem of low government revenue, exacerbated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision, in 2019, to introduce a tax cut in anticipation of a Parliamentary election – a tax cut that reduced government revenue by as much as 25%. Low revenue and ...

Jul 27, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, GotaGoGama, Sri Lanka

Regrets I have a few!! – by Sam Thevanayagam Source : Sam Thevanayagam Linked In One of my regrets as a teenager was not playing in the Royal Thomian Cricket match for which the city that I grew up in comes to a stand still. This cricket encounter has been played for 143 years not stopping for wars pandemics & political protests. Even though I was on the squad I never played due to my own fault. Well that regret changed today when a young man from my Alma Mater S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia made his debut at the big match in Colombo. I have sponsored his school and boarding fees for the last few years. Young talent from the south of the country that was given an opportunity as I stepped up to help. How will you redeem a childhood misstep? no regretsStanding 3rd from left in picture is me from 1979!! ...

Jul 26, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, cricket encounter, Mount Lavinia, Royal- Thomian cricket match, S. Thomas' College

Sri Lanka’s Future – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Do not let politicians fool the country anymore The current politician had enough time to resolve the issues, but they did not put effort into doing so. They miserably failed to resolve the political and fiscal crises. They neither desire to do so nor have the brains to solve problems affecting the country and its people. In addition, they are selfish and only want solutions and benefits and payments for themselves, with zero empathy for the public. Prof Sunil J Weerawansa Ranil takes oath as Acting President. COLOMBO (News 1st); Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as the Acting President in the presence of Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya. Wickremesinghe was appointed as the Acting President following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. SLPP supports Ranil in the Presidential race British MP Calls For International Arrest Warrant Against Gotabaya Rajapaksa New Delhi: Sir ...

Jul 16, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake Tagged Colombo, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, IMF, Jayantha Jayasuriya, Ranil Wickremesinghe

‘A’ (Aragalaya) Day in Sri Lanka. – By Dr Harold Gunatillake Website: www.Doctorharold.com Transcript: 9th July 2022 becomes an epoch-making day in the history of Sri Lanka since getting Independence in 1948 from the British. This video should be preserved in your archives for posterity, as this sort of unique organized event may not be visible in the future in a developing world. Even despite shortages of essential items such as petrol, gas, and food, on the brink of starvation, the youth joined to protest against the governing body, mainly focusing on President Gotabaya and prime minister Ranil Wickremasinghe who had no mandate from the people, and was successful through protestation to get rid of them, who brought this country to bankruptcy, over months climaxing success on this day the 9th July. This video reveals a glimpse of the struggle the ‘Aragala’ or struggle group shows to achieve that end. Please ...

Jul 12, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles, Dr harold Gunatillake Tagged Aragala, Colombo, Galle Face Green, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremasinghe, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka to get new president next week amid worst crisis since independence The island nation is embroiled in an economic and political meltdown with its parliament expected to vote for a new president on 20 July. Source: sbs.com.au Sri Lanka’s parliament will elect a new president on 20 July, its speaker said on Monday, after protesters stormed the residences of the current president and prime minister, who have both offered to quit amid an economic meltdown. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who had overseen a ruthless crushing of the Tamil Tigers insurgents as defence secretary, is set to resign on Wednesday. His brothers and nephew earlier quit as ministers as Sri Lanka began running out of fuel, food and other essentials in the worst crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. Parliament will reconvene on Friday and will vote to elect a new president five days later, Speaker Mahinda Yapa ...

Jul 12, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s parliament

Sri Lankan president confirms resignation – By Uditha Jayasinghe Source: canberratimes.com.au Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has informed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe he will resign, the prime minister’s office says, after tens of thousands of protesters stormed the official residences of both men. After Saturday’s sweeping protests in the wake of a debilitating economic crisis, the speaker of parliament said Rajapaksa would resign on Wednesday. However, there has been no direct word from Rajapaksa on his plans. Wickremesinghe has said he would also step down to allow an all-party interim government to take over. Leaders of the protest movement have said crowds would keep occupying the residences of the president and prime minister in Colombo until they finally quit office. Colombo, Sri Lanka’s largest city, was calm on Monday as hundreds of people strolled into the president’s secretariat and residence and toured the colonial-era buildings. Police made no attempt to stop ...

Jul 11, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, Dushantha Gunasinghe, economic crisis, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe

Chaos in Colombo: Sri Lanka’s president and PM to resign after palace stormed Source : thenewdaily.com.au Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister will both step down after a day in which protesters angry about the country’s economic crisis stormed the presidential palace and set the PM’s house on fire. In a dramatic escalation of the country’s woes, thousands descended on the capital Colombo and broke through iron fortifications at the official residence of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Protesters were seen jumping in the pool, lounging in state rooms, laying on beds, making tea and issuing “statements” from the conference room, calling on the president to quit. The president was not home at the time, having been whisked away to a “safe” location. President Rajapaksa announced his resignation hours after the protesters overran his official residence. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had earlier announced he would be stepping aside, and hours later his house ...

Jul 10, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s parliament

As Sri Lanka faces bankruptcy, police impose curfew before mass protest – By Bharatha Mallawarachi Source : nzherald.co.nz Police imposed a curfew in Sri Lanka’s capital and surrounding areas on Friday (local time), a day before a planned protest demanding the resignations of the country’s president and prime minister because of the economic crisis that has caused severe shortages of essential goods and disrupted people’s livelihoods. Critics have said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is responsible for the economic crisis, the worst since the country’s independence in 1948. They also blame Ranil Wickremesinghe, who became prime minister two months ago, for not delivering on promises to end the shortages. Civic and opposition activists have announced that thousands of people will gather in Colombo on Saturday for a mass protest. Police said the curfew, beginning at 9pm on Friday, would last until further notice in Colombo and its suburbs. The announcement of the ...

Jul 9, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, economic crisis, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka

‘We can barely think of buying food’: Life in Sri Lanka – By Chris Barrett Source : theage.com.au A catastrophic mix of populist tax cuts, an ill-planned push for organic farming and political hubris sowed the seeds of the man-made tragedy unfolding in Sri Lanka today. n the shanties of north-east Colombo, they called it Garbage Mountain. No ordinary rubbish dump, it soared over the suburb of Kolonnawa, rising as high as 90 metres, as 800 tonnes of rubbish from Sri Lanka’s commercial capital was unloaded at the site every day. Five years ago, after a flood and a fire, it came crashing down, to catastrophic effect. “Suddenly we heard a really loud noise,” recalls Sandun Rohitha, who lived next to the waste pile in a home made of plastic sheets. “I had a helmet and safety jacket and I ran to the dump and pulled one man out. But I saw ...

Jul 9, 2022 Posted by eLanka admin In Articles Tagged Colombo, Kolonnawa, population, Sri Lanka, World Bank