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Another person dies at a fuel queue – three deaths total

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Another person dies at a fuel queue – three deaths total

A senior citizen has reportedly died at a queue near a fuel station in Mirigama. He has fallen unconscious at the queue after which his death was revealed.

The victim, 76 and a resident of Mirigama, was waiting at the queue with cans on his hand to collect fuel and has fallen upon his return. He was admitted to the Mirigama Hospital.

Earlier, two similar deaths were reported at fuel stations in Kadawatha yesterday and in Yatinuwara the day before. Accordingly, three persons total have died on their way to collect fuel amid the crisis.

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Sri Lankan Rupee further depreciated – commercial banks declare Rs. 285 against US Dollar

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Sri Lankan Rupee further depreciated – commercial banks declare Rs. 285 against US Dollar

Commercial banks today (21) have declared the value of Sri Lankan Rupee to be Rs. 285 against the US Dollar.

The depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee marks a record-breaking fall. Several leading commercial banks in the island declared the sell price of the US Dollar as Rs. 285 and other state banks and commercial banks as Rs. 280.

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SJB too boycotts President’s All-Party Conference

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SJB too boycotts President’s All-Party Conference

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) the main Opposition in Parliament too has decided to boycott the All-Party Conference chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa scheduled to be held on March 23.

The decision has been made during the meeting held by the SJB Parliamentary group under Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa today (21).

The All-Party Conference has been organised to address the current economic issues of the country and all political parties representing Parliament have been invited to attend the event.

The National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday declared that it will not be attending the All-Party Conference. Several other political parties, including the minor parties representing the government led by former Ministers Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila had earlier declared that they will not be attending the event.

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Grenade probe: Retired medical officer granted bail

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Grenade probe: Retired medical officer granted bail

The retired medical officer arrested and remanded over the hand grenade discovered at the All Saints Church Borella has been released on bail.

This was when the bail application seeking the retired medical officer’s release lodged before the Colombo High Court was taken up today.

Accordingly, the suspect has been released on a surety of Rs. 2.5 million, as per the order of Colombo High Court Judge Manjula Thilakaratne.

Other suspects arrested in connection with the event will further be remanded till March 29.

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Murder at fuel queue: Suspect arrested

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Murder at fuel queue: Suspect arrested

The Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder committed at a fuel station in Horagolla, Nittambuwa.

The victim was attacked with a sharp weapon during a clash occurred at a queue near the fuel shed.

The suspect, 37, is a three wheeler driver and a resident of Hamuradeniya, Nittambuwa, Police said. The arrest was made this (21) morning.

A packet of drugs believed to be ‘ice’ has been recovered from the suspect’s possession. The Police believe that the suspect may have been under the influence of drugs at the time during which the murder was committed.

Previous report: Clash at fuel shed kills man

SJB’s decision on President’s All-Party Conference tomorrow

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SJB’s decision on President’s All-Party Conference tomorrow

The All-Party Conference called in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is set to be held on March 23 and every political party and group representing Parliament have been invited to attend the event.

However, many political parties have already concluded not to attend the President’s All-Party Conference in what they claimed as the government’s attempt to cover up its mistakes.

The National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday declared that it will not be attending the President’s conference and many parties of the 11 minor parties of the government also declared that they will not be sitting for the event.

Only the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the Lanka Sama Samaja Party and MP Athuraliye Ratana Thero of the 11 minor parties of the government have agreed to attend the conference. The National Freedom Front (NFF) aka the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna and the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya had initially declared their action of boycotting the event.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) the main Opposition party is yet to declare its decision on the President’s All-Party Conference. Accordingly, the SJB is set to convene a meeting with its Parliamentary group tomorrow and conclude their decision, reports said.

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Several Sri Lankan embassies closed amid dollar crisis

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Several Sri Lankan embassies closed amid dollar crisis

The ongoing dollar deficit in Sri Lanka has also affected the embassy service, where the maintenance of Sri Lankan embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world has become a major burden for the Ministry of External Affairs.

In the backdrop, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq and the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oslo, Norway will be closed from March 31. Accordingly, the diplomatic relations with Iraq will be maintained through the Consulate General in Dubai and diplomatic relations with Norway through the Consulate General in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Consulate General in Sydney, Australia will also be closed on March 31 and will operate through the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra.

The number of Sri Lankan missions will drop to 60 after March 31, 2022 and their implementations are likely to meet a major crisis in the face of the dollar deficit. The situation could be endangering further diplomatic missions in the future as well.

Several embassies and consulates were closed due to the dollar crisis on a previous occasion as well.

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School exams being cancelled due to paper shortage gain international attention

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School exams being cancelled due to paper shortage gain international attention

Schools examinations being cancelled amid the paper shortage have reached the international attention, while Sri Lanka is contending with its ongoing economic crisis.

The dollar deficit has severely affected the imports leading to the collapse of not only the importation of essential items including food but also many business and manufacturing activities.

The shortage of paper has collapsed the printing activities of the country. The printing of lotteries and electricity bills has also been suspended amid the shortage. As a result, temporary electricity bills were issued in some parts of the country and in some areas the monthly electricity bills were declared orally.

The paper shortage has taken the attention of the international media in the event that it has severely affected the Education Sector. The education authorities are unable to hold the year end examinations and the story has been widely covered by many international news agencies such as The Guardian, Al Jazeera and NDTV in contrast to the poor media coverage given locally.

Sri Lanka has cancelled school exams in the running out of printing paper holding up tests for around two thirds of the country’s 4.5 million students, The Guardian reported.

Al Jazeera stated that a debilitating economic crisis brought on by a shortage of foreign exchange reserves to finance essential imports has seen the country run low on food, fuel and pharmaceuticals.

The situation come in as Sri Lanka contends with its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, according to NDTV.

Read The Guardian Report
Read Al-Jazeera Report
Read NDTV Report

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No steps taken to increase price of local milk powder: State Minister

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No steps taken to increase price of local milk powder: State Minister

No steps have been taken yet on increasing the price of local milk powder, said State Minister of Livestock D.B. Herath.

Speaking to media, the Minister noted that the relevant parties have been instructed to take the necessary steps on increasing the production of local milk powder.

The Milk Powder Importers’ Association recently declared that the price of a 400 g milk powder will increase by Rs. 250.

Pelwatta Company has also increased the price of milk powder effective from yesterday (20) contradictory to the Minister’s comments.

Health Ministry instructs to prioritise supply of fuel for ambulances

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Health Ministry instructs to prioritise supply of fuel for ambulances

Health Ministry has instructed the fuel stations to prioritise the supply of fuel for ambulances based on requirement.

Instructions have been made to restrict the issuance of petrol to cans in order to minimise the existing stockpiles.

These instructions have been made a day after the Sapugaskanda Oil refinery was closed due to insufficient amount of crude oil.

According to the CEYPETCO, no definite date has been declared on the arrival of crude oil stocks despite orders. The refinery will become functional again once the stocks arrive, it added.

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