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Sri Lanka claimed their sixth gold medal at the Asian Netball Championships, winning the latest edition against the hosts Singapore, while also booking their spot at the 2023 Netball World Cup.

Defending their title from 2018 - after the 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic - Sri Lanka delivered against the four-time winners, with the score finishing 63-53.

It came after a slow start for the victors, who trailed Singapore after the first quarter, before pulling in front for the remainder of the game.

Both teams secured their places at the World Cup in Australia after making the final.

Well deserved victory amidst challenges faced under a crisis at home - President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated the unbeaten Sri Lankan Netball team that won the Asian Netball Championship 2022 by defeating the Singaporean team.

The President in his congratulatory message stated that this deserved victory could be achieved by the Sri Lankan Netball team due to the team and its leader's dedication and team spirit despite the challenges levelled by the difficulties under the crisis situation in the country.

He said further that the perseverance made by the netball team to attract the attention of all netball fans including those of the international sphere set an example to all the sportsmen and sportswomen.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed to declare 19 September as a day of mourning in view of the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Accordingly, directives were issued to the Ministry of Public Administration & Home Affairs to make the necessary arrangements.

The National flag will be hoisted at half-mast until the said date.

UK’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.

The Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on Sunday announced a $60 million funding package for Sri Lanka while highlighting that assistance alone will not put an end to the country’s problems.

USAID chief Samantha Power said it would provide $40 million for fertilizer imports and $20 million for humanitarian needs to tackle the country’s financial crisis.

“I want to reiterate that the United States is right here standing with you in your hour of need,” she said during a press conference in Colombo on Sunday.

“Yesterday I announced that the United States is providing an additional USD 40 million to get fertilizer into the hands of as many as one million farmers ahead of the upcoming planting season. Crucial assistance that will meaningfully boost the country’s harvest production and yields.”

“Today I am pleased to announce an additional USD 20 million to provide humanitarian assistance to Sri Lankans battling hunger and malnutrition throughout the country.”

With these new announcements the United States has now committed nearly USD 240 million since June this year to meet the urgent needs of Sri Lankans, Power said. “Money that is being used today to get food to the most vulnerable, support meals for children in the country’s schools, help farmers plant new fields and make sure mothers and newborns are adequately nourished.”

“The United States has long stood with the people of Sri Lanka, Asia’s oldest democracy, and this latest assistance demonstrates that we will continue to do so,” she said.

However, the USAID chief emphasized that assistance alone will not put an end to this country’s woes.

“I stressed to the Sri Lankan President in my meeting earlier today that political reforms and political accountability must go hand in hand with the economic reforms and economic accountability.”

Sri Lanka’s vibrant civil society must have the space that they need to raise their voices and hold the government accountable, she stressed.

She said international investor confidence will increase as the government tackles corruption and proceeds with long sought governance reforms. “As citizens see the government visibly following through on the commitment to bring about meaningful change that in turn will increase societal support for the tough economic reforms ahead.”

A total of 37 new State Ministers have taken oaths today (8) at the President’s Office in Colombo.

The newly appointed ministers took oaths in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The list is as below:

Jagath Pushpakumara – State Minister Foreign Employment

Ranjith Siyambalapitiya – State Minister of Finance

Lasantha Alagiyawanna – State Minister of Transport

Dilum Amunugama – State Minister of Investment Promotion

Kanaka Herath – State Minister of Technology

Janaka Wakkumbura – State Minister of Provincial Councils, and Local Government

Shehan Semasinghe – State Minister of Finance

Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva – State Minister of Agriculture

Thenuka Vidanagamage – State Minister of Urban Development and Housing

Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon – State Minister of Security

Rohana Dissanayake – State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs

Arundhika Fernando – State Minister of Urban Development and Housing

Vijitha Berugoda – State Minister of Piriven Education

Lohan Ratwatte – State Minister of Plantation Industries

Tharaka Balasuriya – State Minister of External Affairs

Sanath Nishantha- State Minister of Water Supply

Indika Anurudhdha – State Minister of Power and Energy

Siripala Gamlath – State Minister of Highways

Shantha Bandara – State Minister of Media

Anuradha Jayaratne – State Minister of Justice and Prisons Affairs

S. Viyalendran – State Minister of Trade

Sisira Jayakody – State Minister of Indegenious Medicine

Piyal Nishantha De Silva – State Minister of Fisheries

Prasanna Ranaweera – State Minister of Small and Medium Scale Industries Development

D. V. Chanaka – State Minister of Wildlife and Forest Conservation

D. B. Herath – State Minister of Livestock Development

Shasheendra Rajapaksa – State Minister of Irrigation

Dr. Seetha Arambepola – State Minister of Health

Cader Masthan – State Minister of Rural Affairs

Ashoka Priyantha – State Minister of Home Affairs

Aravind Kumar – State Minister of Education

Geetha Kumarasinghe – State Minister of Women and Child Affairs

Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan – State Minister of Rural Roads Development

Dr. Suren Raghavan – State Minister of Higher Education

Diana Gamage – State Minister of Tourism

Chamara Sampath Dassanayake – State Minister of Primary Industries

Anura Paquel – State Minister of Social Empowerment

The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power has announced ad additional USD 40 million in development assistance to help farmers purchase fertilizer and other vital agricultural inputs.

Accompanied by a delegation of four, Power arrived in Sri Lanka this morning (Sep 10) for a two-day official visit.

She later engaged in a cordial discussion with farming communities in Ja-Ela area to talk about the issues faced by them.

Power is expected to call on Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe and political party leaders tomorrow (Sep 11) to discuss how to ride out Sri Lanka’s crisis situation.

According to reports, Power also expects to meet with representatives of the private sector in Sri Lanka.

Journalist Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne has been appointed as the new Director General of the Government Information Department.

He replaces former Director-General Mohan Samaranayake who was appointed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Journalist Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne assumed duties as the Director General of the Government Information Department today.

He previously served as a member of a prominent local newspaper’s editorial board, while he has also worked as a media advisor to the President.

The Maligakanda Additional Magistrate on Saturday (10) ordered for the release of activist Lahiru Weerasekera, the convener of the Youth of Change organization, on 2 surety bails of Rs. 200,000 each.

Weerasekera, who was an active member of the people's protests (the Aragalaya), was arrested on Friday (9) at Duplication Road in Colombo.

Police Media Spokesperson SSP Nihal Talduwa said that he was arrested on charges of obstructing the duties of police officers and for unruly behavior during a recent protest in Maradana area.

The Newly appointed State Minister of Water Supply, Sanath Nishantha on Thursday (8) said that there is no question about the people's acceptance, as he has been elected first in his district for three times in a row, as 6.9 million of the population voted for the former President..

Therefore, the State Minister said, the people's mandate has not been rejected via a vote as of yet.

When inquired about the People's Protests, the 'Aragalaya', the State Minister said that he does not need to care about them, as many of the protestors are either drug dealers or vagrants.

Nishantha was among the 37 State Ministers who were appointed on Thursday (8).

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has advised officials to revise the circulars immediately if it impedes the implementation of development projects, the President’s Media Division (PMD) says.

The President chaired a discussion at the President’s Office today (09) to examine the progress of several development projects in the country based on Indian investment cooperation, and advised the officials at this meeting.

Deputy High Commissioner, Vinod K. Jacob also attended the meeting. The President instructed the ministry secretaries and government officials to take steps to resolve the obstacles that have arisen in the progress of several projects in Sri Lanka under Indian investments.

President Wickremesinghe explained the need to correct the provisions contained in the circulars issued periodically by previous governments if they hinder development.

President’s Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor on National Security Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy Mr. Mapa Pathirana and other ministry secretaries and government officials attended the discussion.

Actress Damitha Abeyratne has been arrested over the incident of forcibly entering the Presidential Secretariat during the protests in July.

Police said she was arrested following a protest held today near the Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla.

She had been arrested on charges of forcibly entering the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo during the protests in July this year.

A leading figure of the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement and an activist of the ‘GotaGoGama’, Damitha Abeyratne had participated in the ‘Black Hour’ protest near the Diyatha Uyana in Battaramulla today (07) along with several other activists.

She was reportedly arrested by police officers attached to the Colombo (North) Crimes Division following this protest.

Aragalaya Activist Lahiru Weerasekera was arrested in Colombo on Friday (9) evening.

Sri Lanka Police said he was arrested down Dupliation Road in Colombo.

Police Spokesperson SSP Attorney-at-Law Nihal Thalduwa told News 1st that Weerasekera was arrested for the obstruction of duties of police officers during a protest in Maradana, being party to an unlawful assembly, and several other charges.

The United States will support restructuring Sri Lanka’s debt, says the US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

Taking to twitter, the President’s Media Division said the US will extend financing assurances consistent with Paris Club principles and engage with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and US agencies to support the island nation’s debt restructuring.

The US will support restructuring Sri Lanka's debt; extend financing assurances consistent with Paris Club principles & engage with @WorldBank, @ADB_HQ & US agencies - US Treasury Secretary @SecYellen.#PMD #ClubdeParis

— PMD (@PMDNewsGov) September 7, 2022