Day: 13 December 2021

Transport ministers from across Asia and the Pacific are meeting this week to consider a potentially transformational agenda for how people and goods are moved around the region and across the globe. Pre-COVID-19 transport connectivity weaknesses in the Asia-Pacific region became even more apparent during the pandemic: landlocked developing countries, least developed countries and small island developing States were particularly affected. Therefore, it is imperative that we accelerate meaningful change in transport systems as countries seek to put their development agendas back on track. It…

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After a trend towards regionalisation last year, global cooperation increased in 2021 Vaccine cooperation and financial assistance helped meet pandemic challenges Major economies announced the launch or extension of global infrastructure plans COP26 and the global tax rate were examples of successful global diplomacy Following on from a year in which supply chains and international travel were severely disrupted, 2021 saw an increase in global cooperation, as institutions, businesses and governments alike sought to work together to find solutions to some of the world’s major challenges. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic…

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Persons over the age of 20 years in the city of Colombo can receive their booster dose of the COVID vaccine from the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Office in their area, according to the Regional Epidemiologist of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Dr. Dinuka Guruge. She stated that the Pfizer vaccine will be administered as the booster dose or third dose and that all MOH offices in Colombo will also be open for walk-ins. Dr. Guruge stated that persons over the age of 20 years who are living or…

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Sri Lanka’s envoy to Canada, Harsha Kumara Navaratne presented his Credentials as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner, to Governor General Mary May Simon of Canada at a ceremony held at the Rideau Hall in Ottawa on 7 December 2021. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada and Diplomats attended the ceremony which was held to mark the presentation of credentials by four envoys representing Sri Lanka, Spain, Israel and the United States of America. Following the welcome by the Master of Ceremonies, the Chief…

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Monday 13th December, 2021 Speculation is rife in political circles that the government will decide today whether to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to straighten up the ailing economy. A special Cabinet meeting is expected to be held with the participation of the Secretary to the Finance Ministry and the Governor of the Central Bank to brief the ministers on the economic situation. There is hardly any need for such a briefing; everybody knows all too well the parlous state of the national economy. The government has…

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UN Assistant Secretary General, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Ms. Kanni Wignaraja met with the Sri Lanka s Minister of Finance, Basil Rajapakse this morning (13). MORE.. Thank you

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Fifteen trade unions of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) are to stage a protest in front of the CEB Head Office tomorrow (14), in objection to the administration’s arbitrary actions. These union members will also be going on sick leave tomorrow. The Technical Engineers and Superintendents Association of the CEB stated that a number of decisions are being implemented that are causing inconvenience to electricity workers as well as consumers. The regulators are not heeding the demands of the unions, it added. MIAP …

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After a trend towards regionalisation last year, global cooperation increased in 2021 Vaccine cooperation and financial assistance helped meet pandemic challenges Major economies announced the launch or extension of global infrastructure plans COP26 and the global tax rate were examples of successful global diplomacy Following on from a year in which supply chains and international travel were severely disrupted, 2021 saw an increase in global cooperation, as institutions, businesses and governments alike sought to work together to find solutions to some of the world’s major challenges. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic…

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Pakistani police have arrested 18 more suspects purportedly involved in the killing of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara, who was the manager of a sports equipment factory in Sialkot. A mob of hundreds of enraged individuals including employees descended on the factory after he was accused of blasphemy. The mob grabbed him, killed him and burned the body. A first information report (FIR) was registered against 900 staffers of the business on the application of Uggoki Station House Officer (SHO) Armaghan Maqt under sections 302, 297, 201, 427, 431, 157,…

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No solid waste harmful to the country will be allowed to cross the borders, ruled the Central Environmental Authority. The program is being implemented at a joint effort by the Central Environmental Authority and the Customs Authority. Sirpala Amarasinghe, Chairman of the CEA, stated that a legal arrangement has been put in place to prevent the importation of several containers carrying waste from the point of the Colombo Port. These containers were reexported on a Court order, he added. Accordingly, there is no possibility of…

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After a trend towards regionalisation last year, global cooperation increased in 2021 Vaccine cooperation and financial assistance helped meet pandemic challenges Major economies announced the launch or extension of global infrastructure plans COP26 and the global tax rate were examples of successful global diplomacy Following on from a year in which supply chains and international travel were severely disrupted, 2021 saw an increase in global cooperation, as institutions, businesses and governments alike sought to work together to find solutions to some of the world’s major challenges. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic…

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The Vehicle Importers Association of Sri Lanka (VIASL) requests the government obtain their opinions and assistance when it decided to allow the resumption of importing vehicles into the country. MORE.. Thank you

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has left for Singapore on a private tour this (13) morning, according to political sources. The visit, however, has not been confirmed by the Presidential Secretariat yet. On his visit, the President is also expecting medical treatment, sources added. Due to the visit, the Cabinet meeting scheduled for this morning will be convened under the patronage of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Thank you

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After a trend towards regionalisation last year, global cooperation increased in 2021 Vaccine cooperation and financial assistance helped meet pandemic challenges Major economies announced the launch or extension of global infrastructure plans COP26 and the global tax rate were examples of successful global diplomacy Following on from a year in which supply chains and international travel were severely disrupted, 2021 saw an increase in global cooperation, as institutions, businesses and governments alike sought to work together to find solutions to some of the world’s major challenges. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic…

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Four persons including two school children have been reported missing following two separate drowning incidents in Wattala and Mannar areas. MORE.. Thank you

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued an extraordinary gazette declaring the prorogation of Parliament effective from midnight yesterday (12). Accordingly, the next Parliament sitting will convene at 10 am on January 18, 2022, the gazette declared. Following the Parliament prorogation, the Working Committee on Parliament Affairs, the Working Committee on Standing Orders, the Legislative Working Committee, the Committee on Public Enterprises and the Committee on Public Accounts will be dismissed and are to be re-appointed upon new Sitting. The commencement of a new Parliament Sitting will…

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By Shamindra Ferdinando Top Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) spokesperson Mujibur Rahuman says those Ministers who challenged the sale of the Yugadanavi Plant should be either sacked by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa or they should quit the Cabinet, without further delay, if they genuinely believe the government entered into an agreement at the expense of national security. The Colombo District lawmaker insists Ministers Vasudeva Nanayakkara (General Secretary, Democratic Left Front), Wimal Weerawansa (Leader, National Freedom Front) and Udaya Gammanpila (Leader, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya) can’t have it both ways. Responding to The Island…

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People should not have undue fears about the mild COVID-like symptoms experienced after receiving their booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, says Dr. Malkanthi Galhena, family health specialist. “When you get the vaccine, you will develop some mild COVID-like symptoms. Developing these symptoms means that the jab is having a positive impact on the immune system.” She explained that most people opt not to get vaccinated because of headaches and body aches. However, there are many other factors that can cause such side effects, Dr. Galhena pointed out. Some of the…

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