June 04, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) indicates slight depreciation against the US Dollar today (04) in comparison to yesterday, as per leading commercial banks in the country.
At Peoples Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 296.40 from Rs. 296.50, and the selling price to Rs. 306.44 from Rs. 306.54
But at Commercial Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has increased to Rs. 295.84 from Rs. 295.59, and the selling price to Rs. 306 from Rs. 305.75.
At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar have increased to Rs. 297.50 from Rs. 297 and Rs. 306.50 from Rs. 306, respectively.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): Chairperson of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof. Sampath Amaratunge has issued a plea to the public, urging them to abstain from sharing the outcomes of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Examinations on social media platforms.
Amaratunge cautioned that disseminating such information on social media channels could potentially hinder students’ chances of securing university placements.
He highlighted the risk associated with divulging personal details like index numbers and National Identity Card (NIC) numbers, as this data could be misused by unauthorised individuals for university admission purposes.
Emphasising the repercussions of such actions, Prof. Amaratunge noted that if an unauthorised application is submitted using these details, the genuine applicant may face delays and challenges in rectifying the situation, leading to prolonged waiting periods.
In light of these risks, Amaratunge reiterated the importance of refraining from sharing A/Level results, particularly on platforms like Facebook, and urged students and their families to exercise caution in this regard.
The results of the 2023 (2024) GCE Advanced Level Examinations were unveiled on May 31.
According to the Department of Examinations, out of the total 269,613 candidates, 173,444 applicants (equivalent to 64.33 per cent) qualified for university admission.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka holds a leading position amongst its South Asian counterparts in recruiting women at the entry level within the banking sector, a recent report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) disclosed.
According to the report titled ‘Women’s Advancement in Banking in Emerging South Asian Countries’, conducted in collaboration with the Australian government, Sri Lanka stands out with women comprising 46 per cent of new recruits and holding 27 percent of board positions.
This positions the country as the leader in board-level gender diversity among the assessed nations.
The research, focusing on private sector commercial banks in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, examined seven prominent private commercial banks in Sri Lanka, collectively representing 41 per cent of the market share.
It revealed that 38 per cent of the workforce in these banks comprises women, with 70 per cent expressing aspirations for senior roles.
However, the report uncovered disparities between women’s career aspirations and their actual progression within the sector.
Despite Sri Lanka’s proximity to gender parity in recruitment and workforce representation, the data revealed a decline in women’s representation from entry-level positions (40 per cent) to middle management (27 per cent) and further to senior management roles (20 per cent).
Numerous barriers were identified, including sociocultural constraints, lack of fair evaluations, and non-conducive work environments, impeding women’s advancement in the sector.
Sociocultural norms, which often burden women with unpaid care work and lead to career interruptions post-marriage and parenthood, were highlighted as a significant challenge.
Additionally, the absence of objective performance assessment criteria and prevalent biases in evaluation processes hindered women’s progress.
Furthermore, less than half of female respondents reported feeling confident at work, citing micro-aggressions such as frequent interruptions during communication.
Whilst efforts have been initiated by banks and policymakers to address these challenges, the report emphasised the need for stronger commitment from banking industry leaders to create inclusive workspaces.
IFC Regional Director for South Asia, Imad N. Fakhoury, stressed the importance of comprehensive and collective action to overcome these barriers, advocating for targeted efforts such as commitment to gender diversity, equitable workplaces, and supportive ecosystems.
The report concluded by recommending specific measures to bolster women’s advancement in commercial banking, including enhanced commitment and accountability for gender diversity and the creation of equitable and safe work environments.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): During the recent National Mosquito Control Week, conducted by the Epidemiology unit of the Health Ministry from May 26 to June 1, concerning revelations emerged regarding mosquito breeding in private institutions.
This has sparked a cascade of legal actions and raising profound concerns regarding public health standards.
Out of a total of 4,599 private establishments inspected, a substantial 1,220 were flagged for harbouring mosquito breeding grounds.
This flagrant disregard for mosquito control protocols has ignited public outcry, leading to legal proceedings against 981 of these entities, with an additional 3,121 receiving official notices to rectify the situation.
Simultaneously, across the nation, from a comprehensive inspection of 93,874 premises, close to 5,000 were found to host mosquito larvae, with over 25,000 households being identified as potential breeding sites.
The inspection efforts during the week extended across 15 districts in Sri Lanka, including prominent areas such as Colombo, Kalutara, Kandy, Gampaha, Jaffna, and Ratnapura.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by the alarming report from the Epidemiology unit, which indicates a total of 25,095 reported dengue cases island-wide as of June 3.
This concerning trend highlights the urgent need for stringent mosquito control measures to safeguard public health across Sri Lanka. The adverse weather conditions are attributed to the spreading of seasonal diseases, including Dengue, and the public, therefore, is urged by the health authorities and medical specialists to exercise caution.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena today (04) announced that the Supreme Court has ruled the Electricity Amendment Bill to be inconsistent with the Constitution.
However, the Court suggested that this inconsistency could be rectified through amendments aligning with its proposals.
The Supreme Court’s determination led to a parliamentary standoff, with the Opposition advocating for the debate’s postponement.
Meanwhile, the ruling party pressed for the scheduled debate on Thursday, vowing to incorporate necessary amendments.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella urged for a delay in the debate and the submission of the Bill to the Sectoral Oversight Committee, citing the need for thorough examination.
Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera assured that amendments would be made in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling, advocating for proceeding with the debate as scheduled.
In the midst of discussions, MP Harsha de Silva proposed extending the debate to two days instead of one.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet has approved a proposal aimed at offering assistance to victims of adverse weather conditions, including the reconstruction of completely destroyed homes, funded by the government and with support from Tri-Forces personnel.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe submitted the proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers on the previous day (03), which received approval.
Additionally, it was suggested to provide immediate aid to affected individuals without bureaucratic delays and to enhance financial support for them.
Wickremesinghe has directed the allocation of funds initially intended for World Environment Day celebrations towards providing relief to those impacted by recent severe weather.
State Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government of Sri Lanka, Janaka Wakkumbura, also confirmed the cancellation of the national World Environment Day celebrations scheduled for the following day.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): The University Trade Union Joint Committee (UTUJC) has announced that today (04) marks a crucial juncture for deciding on potential trade union actions by the university’s non-academic staff.
UTUJC Co-Chairman, Dhammika S. Priyantha, underscored the significance of recent developments following a dedicated meeting held with the Minister of State for Higher Education on the preceding day (03).
During this session, pertinent issues including the staff’s demands and broader professional concerns were addressed comprehensively.
Priyantha further elaborated on the next steps, stating that deliberations with trade union representatives will ensue to discuss the outcomes of the aforementioned meeting.
It is anticipated that these discussions will centre on the agreements reached and the strategies to be implemented moving forward.
UTUJC aims to provide an update on the decisions made and outline the prospective course of action by the end of today.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): Discussions were conducted with the tariff division of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) yesterday to conclude the proposal for revising electricity consumer tariffs, Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera disclosed.
In a statement shared on ‘X’, he highlighted that the Government had established a policy mandate last year to enforce a cost-reflective tariff system, with tariffs scheduled for quarterly revision annually.
A discussion was held with the CEB tariff division yesterday to finalize the electricity consumer tariff revision proposal. The Government made a policy decision last year to implement a cost reflective tariff mechanism and that the tariffs will be revised quarterly every year.… pic.twitter.com/kTBxFz8LD9
— Kanchana Wijesekera (@kanchana_wij) June 4, 2024
Subsequently, the tariff proposal for July will be presented to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) this week, the Minister noted.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): The Chairman of Litro Gas, Muditha Peiris, has announced a reduction in the prices of domestic LP gas cylinders effective from midnight today (04).
As per the announcement, the price of the 12.5 kg cylinder will decrease by Rs. 150 to Rs. 3,790.
Similarly, the 05 kg cylinder will see a reduction of Rs. 60, now priced at Rs. 1,522.
Furthermore, the price of the 2.3 kg cylinder will be reduced by Rs. 28, bringing the new price to Rs. 712.
June 04, Colombo (LNW): A temporary decrease in the heavy rain conditions in the southwestern part of the island is expected from today (04, the Department of Meteorology said.
Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces.
Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places elsewhere of the island in the evening or night.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Hambantota via Puttalam, Colombo and Galle. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and wind speed will be (25-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Mullaitivu to Puttalam via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Mullaitivu to Puttalam via Kankasanthurai, Mannar, and from Hambantota to Pottuvil can be rough at times. Naval and fishing communities are also requested to be attentive in this regard.Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
