Day: 23 November 2021

It is heartening to see a report in The Island which says that the Minister of Environment, Mahinda Amaraweera has assured definite action against illegal constructions at the Mawella Bay. This issue has been the bane of existence for the Bay area residents as it has clearly undermined the value of our initial investments. When the CCD and the Fisheries Ministry made a sudden decision last year to pile up rock in this beautiful Bay, they said it was for the benefit of the fishing community. But it is important…

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At least 46 people, including 12 children, died when a bus crashed and caught fire in western Bulgaria, officials say. MORE.. Thank you

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In the insurance companies’ conduct of defining their agents as ‘independent contractors’, these insurance agents have been deprived of their employees’ rights and privileges, revealed Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, speaking to Parliament today (23). The safety of about 45,000 people who are employed in this field, as well as their dependents, has become problematic due to the lack of legal recognition for this occupation, Premadasa pointed out. Accordingly, the Opposition Leader raised about a number of issues faced by these insurance agents. MIAP…

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By Professor R.P. Gunawardane Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), one of the best and most popular non-state higher education institutions in this country, is in the news these days. It was established in 1998, with support from the Mahapola Trust Fund and its current status has been challenged by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Mahapola Trust Fund (MTF) was established by the late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali in 1981 to grant scholarships for needy undergraduates in the Sri Lankan university system. The…

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Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath has directed the Commissioner of Local Government, Eastern Province, N. Manivannan to conduct a probe into the ferry accident in Kinniya in which six lives were claimed. MORE.. Thank you

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The inflation rate has surged up to 8.3 per cent as of October, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said. According to the Consumer Price Index, inflation has risen by 2.1 per cent compared to September this year, driven by higher prices for both food and non-food items. The price of food items has risen by 0.83 per cent and non-food items, by 1.23 per cent, and the price hike in home items, water, electricity and gas was what caused the inflation surged compared…

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By Professor R.P. Gunawardane Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), one of the best and most popular non-state higher education institutions in this country, is in the news these days. It was established in 1998, with support from the Mahapola Trust Fund and its current status has been challenged by the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. Mahapola Trust Fund (MTF) was established by the late Minister Lalith Athulathmudali in 1981 to grant scholarships for needy undergraduates in the Sri Lankan university system. The…

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The prevailing low-level atmospheric disturbance located to the south-east of Sri Lanka is expected to intensify into a low-pressure area during next 24 hours, the Department of Meteorology warned in a weather advisory issued this evening. MORE.. Thank you

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  Though Mangala Samaraweera’s contributions in telecommunication and financial sectors were monumental, his role as the premier diplomat of Sri Lanka was even more path breaking for Sri Lanka to become a truly independent and prosperous nation   The third month remembrance of the late Mangala Samaraweera is an opportune time to reflect and learn from the life of this gentle humanitarian, and for taking forward his ideals towards making Sri Lanka both economically and socially, a developed nation. Though his contributions in telecommunication and…

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The COVID-19 Integrated Home-based Care Solution conceptualized and implemented effectively by the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced successful administration of care to over 100,000 home-quarantined COVID-19 patients last week. This initiative was supported by the World Health Organization, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and powered by Dialog Axiata PLC, Bank of Ceylon, and Wavenet International (Pvt) Ltd. The 1390 Toll-free Trilingual Hotline and the Patient Management System was launched to support the patient management efficiently by implementing an Integrated Digital platform to manage the home care of PCR/ RAT positive…

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Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev has called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (November 22). Mr. Patrushev serves as the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation since 2008, having previously served in the Committee for State Security (KGB) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and of the Federal Security Service of Russia. Bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Russia will mark the 65th anniversary on February 19, 2022. Mr. Patrushev’s visit will further strengthen the…

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The Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage says that he has ordered the Registrar of Pesticides to cancel the new gazette notification issued yesterday (22) lifting the ban imposed on five types of pesticides including Glyphosate. The Minister has also stated that disciplinary action will be taken against the Registrar of Pesticides, Dr. J.A. Sumith, in connection with the gazette notification issued yesterday. Related News An Extraordinary Gazette issued lifting the ban on 5 pesticides including Glyphosate   Thank you

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By Shamindra Ferdinando Declaring that Sri Lanka was experiencing the worst ever post-independence economic crisis, Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday said Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s forthcoming visit to New Delhi might give the country an opportunity to explore ways and means of overcoming the overwhelming challenges. Prof. Peiris, who is also the Chairman of the ruling SLPP, emphasised that the Finance Minister’s visit was meant to seek not only loans but also wider cooperation on a range of other matters, including investment, trade and tourism. Addressing the regular weekly…

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Showery condition over the island is expected to enhance from today (November 23), due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance developing in the vicinity of the island, says the Department of Meteorology. Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Northern, North-Central, Eastern, Uva and North-Western provinces and in Matale district. Fairly heavy showers above 75 mm can be expected at some places in Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur in several places elsewhere during the afternoon or night. Fairly heavy showers above 50 mm can be…

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For close on two years the National Peace Council brought together students from the Eastern, Jaffna, Ruhuna and Sabaragamuwa universities to study and discuss themes of national reconciliation. This past weekend a conference was organized on the theme of Plural Sri Lanka: Paths to Reconciliation, at which 30 research papers were presented, written mostly by undergraduate students and a few by faculty members.  They provided testimony to the peace formation that takes place at the local level by civic actors who are engaged in pluralist…

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