Hirunika Premachandra arrested
The police say that a groupMrspeople, including Mrs. Hirunika Premachandra, who was protesting near the entrance gate of the Fort President’s House, where the President resides and is now used as his office, which has become a difficult place for any protestor to reach, was arrested after protesting for some time. A group of women started this protest from this morning on behalf of the Samagi Jana Balawega Vanita group. She said, “Get out Gota… Don’t ask me how I came here.. You didn’t think that I would be able to come here, did you?” She was shouting and a large group of security officers including officers were standing near her from inside the gate and prevented her from coming inside. “If you can shoot me, I am not afraid,” she said. It was later reported that people including Mrs. Hirunika Premachandra who were protesting in front of the President’s House in Colombo were arrested. According to the report, she was arrested and taken to the port police in a police bus.
Nimal Siripala was removed from the position of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Services
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered an investigation against Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva regarding an allegation. About the allegation raised by the opposition leader in Parliament yesterday(05) regarding a transaction made by the Ministry of Aviation with a private company. Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva has taken steps to temporarily withdraw from the position of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Services on the instructions of the President until the investigations are completed.
The current situation in Sri Lanka-Shortage of trains
The Railway Department says that there is some lack of train running today (06) morning. Deputy Railway General Manager Mr Gamini Seneviratne mentioned, Out of the 50 office trains scheduled to run this morning, only 26 trains can run. He said that long-distance service trains with reserved seats were planned to run as normal. Apart from this, he stated that there have been obstacles in the running of short-distance trains. Mr Gamini Seneviratne also stated that because many train controllers did not report to work, the train operator had to be limited. The employees of the railway stations also went on strike yesterday due to a problem in providing fuel to their private vehicles to report to work.
Dates for A/L, O/L and Scholarship examination for 2022 released
The Ministry of Education has released the dates for this year’s Advanced Level, Ordinary Level and Scholarship Examinations. Accordingly, the dates are as follows. 2022 A Level Examination – November 28 to December 23 Scholarship Examination – 27th November. 2022 Ordinary Level Examination – Between April and May 2023
The Gas ship expected to reach today will be delayed – Litro Gas Company
The Litro Gas Company says that the gas ship which was previously said to arrive in Sri Lanka between 06 and 08 will be further delayed. This ship is supposed to bring 3,724 metric tons of gas to Sri Lanka and it has been informed that it will be delayed due to weather changes. The company also says that the ship will arrive in Sri Lanka on the 9th
Zimbabwe decided to abandon exciting currency units and introduced Gold coins
Zimbabwe, which is considered to be a country at the top of the world in terms of the inflation rate, has decided to start issuing gold coins from the end of this month. The Central Bank of Zimbabwe states that the move has been made due to the high inflation and weakening of the local currency. The governor of the country’s central bank has said to the media that it is hoped that this will reduce the demand for American dollars. The Zimbabwean government has re-introduced the local currency on several occasions, but this has not resolved the economic crisis. The country’s central bank raised the bank interest rate to 200% last week.
Hirunika Premachandra and a group of others reached Presidential Palace
Former Member of Parliament Hirunika Premachandra and a group of others have gone near the Presidential Palace. After passing several checkpoints, she was stopped by security personnel. Currently, she has started a protest by sitting on the ground in front of the main gate of the Presidential Palace. She also claims that this fight will be carried out until the President leaves.
Current condition in Sri Lanka-Preparation for a massive protest on Saturday 9th
Due to the failure of the politicians to solve the economic crisis in the country, a massive protest of the fighters is being organized on Saturday 09 July. By now Social media campaigns, sticker campaigns, and leaflet campaigns have started saying ‘9th day the whole country will go to Colombo’ and they have been told to come to Galle face in the morning. To strengthen this protest, inter-university students will line up on the protest ground from the 8th night, according to an announcement. Meanwhile, it is learned that Sri Lankans in London, France and Australia also organized protests on that day. Saturday also completes 2 months since the unfortunate events of May 09, when attacks were launched on the protest ground which caused a nationwide disaster.
Swarnavahani replaces news with songs due to employee salary issue
An employee strike took place due to a problem related to the salaries of the employees of the Swarnavahini TV channel, and due to this, several programs involving people were suspended on the 4th. It was said that this strike started at around 10 am on the 4th. Accordingly, only recorded elements like tele dramas and songs were aired on the channel. The 12 noon and 6.50 pm news as well as the popular 8 pm live at eight news were not telecast. Popular Hindi songs were broadcasted instead of the usual news at that time. However, the 10 pm newscast, as well as the late-night political program ‘Ira’, were presented. The news broadcast had been restored by yesterday. The strike was carried out based on slogans such as the non-increase of employee salaries for many years and the interference of the President’s Media Director with the administration of Svarnavahini, and boards with those texts were hung in the channel’s premises.
The economic crisis in Sri Lanka – Another person died in a fuel queue
A person who was in a vehicle while waiting in a queue in the Borella area of Colombo 8 to get fuel from an IOC filling station died in his vehicle yesterday (5). While other vehicles in the queue were moving forward, the people of the vehicles parked behind inquired about his vehicle not moving forward. Then it was discovered that he was dead inside the vehicle. At first, it was thought that he would be fast asleep inside the vehicle. But then he did not wake up no matter how much others called him, so they decided to inform the police. When the police checked, he was found dead in the driver’s seat. Someone who was in the queue said that he came at around 3.45 the day before yesterday night. Also the deceased had talked to him about the country’s problems. Also, he had told that he has high blood pressure and was supposed to take medicine for it. The group found him dead around 8 am. The deceased has been identified by the police and has been informed that he is a 60-year-old Sujeewa Vikum Gunaratne, a resident of Gothatuwa. The body of the deceased has been deposited at the National Hospital and a post-mortem will be conducted.