Relief Package& to strengthen the tourism industry

Both the debt moratorium and the working capital proposed by the Ministry of Finance as a ‘Relief Package& to strengthen the tourism industry affected by the Easter Sunday Attacks is now finally falling in to place, said S. Shanthikumara, President Colombo City Hotels Association. He said that the two state banks, Bank of Ceylon and Peoples Bank have agreed to differ the loans taken before April 21 for a period of one year including interest.

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We will always listen to Maha Sangha - Hakeem

Former Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday said that Muslim Parliamentarians will comply with the decisions that are taken by the Maha Sangha. &We are always ready to give an ear to the advice given by the members of Maha Sangha,& Hakeem said. He said that Muslim Ministers had made a sacrifice by resigning from their portfolios for a brief period in order to protect and promote peace in the country. The former Minister said that the resignation of Muslim Ministers from the Government was not pre planned. &A wrong impression has been created in the public mind over the mass resignation of Muslim Ministers.

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Prevailing windy condition in five provinces

Prevailing windy condition in the northern part of the island is expected to continue during next few days.Showers will occur at times in Western, Southern, Central, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces. , Fairly heavy falls above 50 mm can be expected at some places Moderate showers may occur in Badulla, Anuradhapura, Vauniya and Mannar districts. Strong gusty winds up to 60 kmph are likely in Northern, Northcentral and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee and Matale districts. Fairly strong gusty winds up to 50 kmph are likely over elsewhere of the island.

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Our duty to preserve the Sri Lankan identity - PM

Comments made by former Governor of the Eastern Province M. L. A. M. Hizbullah are totally unacceptable and, it is our duty to preserve the Sri Lankan identity, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has told a meeting with prominent civil society representatives at Temple Trees yesterday. Prime Miniser Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that the campus being constructed in Batticaloa will be taken over by the government.The Prime Minister has also insisted that the degree awarding institutions can only be established by the State and no other party can establish such institutions.

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Mihintalé Aloka Pooja for 57th year

The Lake House Aloka Pooja ceremony organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd (ANCL) for the 57th time to mark the advent of Arahat Mahinda Thera, the missionary founder of institutionalised Buddhism in Sri Lanka, will be held at Mihintale on a grand scale from June 15 to 17. For over half a century, the ANCL has provided the festive lighting for the entire ancient Mihintale sacred complex during the annual Poson Festival that commemorates the establishment of Buddhism as the official religion of the Sri Lankan monarchy more than 2000 years ago.

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England piled on their highest World Cup total in a 106-run defeat of Bangladesh that got their bid to lift the trophy for the first time back on track.The hosts amassed 386-6 in Cardiff, thanks mainly to Jason Roy's powerful 153, the second-best score by an England batsman in the competition.

Jonny Bairstow made 51 and Jos Buttler an action-packed 64, but a hip injury sustained when batting prevented Buttler from keeping wicket.If that was a small negative in what was a mainly strong response to the defeat by Pakistan, so too was some of England's bowling, with Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid below their best.

Shakib Al Hasan took advantage with a doughty 121, an innings that made him the tournament's leading runscorer. However, the required run rate was never under control and Bangladesh were bowled out for 280, with Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes each taking three wickets.

With two wins from their three matches, England go above Australia into second but remain behind New Zealand who top of the table on six points, after the Kiwis' seven-wicket win over Afghanistan.

Eoin Morgan's men now have almost a week to wait for their next game, against West Indies in Southampton on Friday.

Bangladesh, with one win and two defeats, are eighth in the 10-team table and play Sri Lanka in Bristol on Tuesday.

World Cup tableWorld Cup fixtures - results - who plays who, where and whenWorld Cup table and stats - who's on course for the semi-finalsEngland respond to Pakistan loss

Cricket World Cup: Jason Roy roars England to victoryEngland entered the World Cup as favourites, but were chastened in the loss to Pakistan, a game in which they were visibly agitated as well as being sloppy in the field.

If expectations were beginning to weigh heavy, there were few signs on a sunny and blustery day in Cardiff. For the most part, this was much more like the England team that has climbed to the top of the world rankings.

Bangladesh had humbled England in their two previous World Cup meetings, most famously in Adelaide four years ago to condemn them to a first-round exit.

They are no longer minnows of the game, either. They were impressive in defeating South Africa and pushed New Zealand close.

Bar Shakib, they were disappointing here though. Giving away the opportunity to bat first on a true pitch, their bowling was toothless, fielding untidy and tactics muddled.

England reaped the benefit. Their batsmen exploited the unusual dimensions of the ground and, after Archer removed Bangladesh opener Soumya Sarkar in a spell where he touched 95mph, the chase was never on.

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Roy smashes into the umpire while bringing up his centuryEngland's prolific opening partnership of Roy and Bairstow had been neutralised in the first two games as both South Africa and Pakistan opened with spin.

Bangladesh did the same and even though they restricted England to only 15 from the first five overs, they could not find a breakthrough.

Roy cashed in, firstly in a stand of 128 with Bairstow.

The Surrey right-hander played booming drives and powerful pulls for 14 fours and five sixes. He led the England approach of peppering the short straight boundaries and running hard when it went to the long square fences.

His celebrations for reaching a ninth one-day international hundred were delayed when he collided with umpire Joel Wilson, after which there was still plenty of time for him to become the first England batsman to make an ODI 200.

He fell after hitting three consecutive sixes, leaving Buttler to pick up the assault.

Though the Lancashire keeper sustained the injury that was clearly affecting his running, it did not prevent him from hitting four maximums, including one mighty blow into the River Taff.

Woakes and Liam Plunkett added late cameos, by which time England had already become the first team in ODI history to pass 300 in seven consecutive innings.

Shakib ton holds up EnglandIn an electrifying opening spell, Archer hinted at making short work of the Bangladesh batting.

When he clipped the top of Sarkar's off stump with one that nipped back, the ball flew over the boundary behind stand-in keeper Bairstow without bouncing.

After Tamim Iqbal miscued the similarly lively Mark Wood, the Tigers were 63-2, but a stand of 106 between Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim gave their noisy fans, of which there were plenty, some long-awaited cheer.

Leg-spinner Rashid has been the leading wicket-taker in ODIs since the last World Cup, only to struggle in this tournament - his two wickets have come at an average of 71. With England only playing one spinner, he was preferred to Moeen Ali and endured another difficult day.

He was punished by Shakib, who favoured the leg side, but he at least had Mohammad Mithun caught behind after Plunkett had Mushfiqur snaffled at point, a double strike that sucked the life from the chase.

Shakib was also harsh on Woakes as he went past three figures, though as the left-hander tried to make an impression on the spiralling rate he was bowled by Stokes.

In the end, Archer returned to terrorise the tail and England's margin of victory was more than comfortable, yet there is still room for improvement.

'Roy is so intimidating to play against'

Roy departs for 153 as a hat-trick of huge sixesEngland skipper Eoin Morgan: "We knew we had to improve with the bat, we were outstanding and Jason got a good score.

"He's very intimidating to play against so the impact that has on our team is very significant.

"The majority of people will open with spin but there are always things to throw against us. Hopefully we can counter all the plans thrown at us.

"The bowlers were all outstanding, they are wonderful to captain."

On Jos Buttler's injury: "No serious concern with Jos at the moment. He didn't keep wicket as a precaution after he felt his hip, but it will be monitored over the next 48 hours."

Bangladesh centurion Shakib Al Hasan: "I am very happy with the way I played but we didn't start well with the ball and when they got the start, they capitalised.

"We need to pick ourselves up because there are plenty of games left."

Former England captain Michael Vaughan: "It was very professional by England.

"It was an edgy start but you've got to expect that after losing a match.

"It turned out to be a good toss to lose - if Bangladesh had batted first and got 280 it could have been a tricky chase."

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