Dr. Janaka Adassuriya, an esteemed astronomer from the Physics Department at Colombo University, has announced a rare celestial treat for Sri Lankans this weekend. The peak of the Leonid meteor shower is expected to grace the skies on both Saturday (18) and Sunday (19).

Dr. Adassuriya advised enthusiasts that the prime viewing window for these meteors will commence post 2 am on both days. For optimal sightings, observers are encouraged to gaze toward the Leo constellation along the eastern horizon.

However, he tempered expectations by noting that this particular meteor shower typically offers a modest display, showcasing an estimated count of 10-15 meteors per hour.

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has scored big this year, amassing a substantial Rs.220 million from fines imposed on errant traders. Asela Bandara, the CAA’s media spokesperson, revealed that these fines were a consequence of cracking down on various illegal practices rampant among traders.

Bandara highlighted that the fines were levied on traders engaged in activities such as price gouging, illegal stockpiling, failure to display prices, and the sale of expired products. The crackdown has been extensive, with a staggering 22,000 raids conducted nationwide to ensure compliance with regulations.

Of these raids, a significant portion—19,000 cases—resulted in prosecution, signaling the strict enforcement and zero-tolerance approach adopted by the CAA.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe made a resounding declaration at the R.I.T. Alles commemoration, advocating for a significant overhaul in Sri Lanka’s education system. Highlighting the launch of the “English for All” program aimed at schools and universities by 2030, the President underscored the need to diversify language education beyond Sinhala and Tamil.

Emphasizing the late R.I.T. Alles’s vision of “Education for all,” President Wickremesinghe outlined a multifaceted strategy to realize this ambition. This included plans to establish new universities in both public and private sectors to ensure equitable access to higher education for all Sri Lankan students.

President Wickremesinghe also urged the Sinhala and Tamil Diasporas to return and contribute to the establishment of new universities, underscoring a shared responsibility for the nation’s educational progress.

In addition to the “English for All” initiative, the President highlighted the necessity to adopt successful education systems worldwide, emphasizing the importance of quality higher education without compromising on accessibility. Plans to increase the number of universities within five years, including the establishment of three technology universities akin to General Sir John Kotelawala University, were also revealed.

The President expressed the government’s commitment to alleviating financial burdens on students by providing concessional loans, aiming to curb the trend of selling property or sending students abroad for higher education. He invited private sector participation, echoing R.I.T. Alles’s example in establishing new educational institutions.

In tandem with the President’s vision, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha lauded R.I.T. Alles’s legacy and outlined initiatives to modernize education. Dr. Premajayantha detailed advancements in D.S.Senanayake Vidyalaya and efforts to ensure technological integration, pandemic resilience, and educational material accessibility for students.

The event, attended by prominent figures and stakeholders in education, signified a unified effort toward revolutionizing Sri Lanka’s educational landscape. The collective commitment to advancing education showcased a shared determination to propel the nation toward a brighter educational future.

Sri Lanka clinched a spot on the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2023-2027 term during the 42nd General Conference in Paris on November 15. Out of 188 member states voting, Sri Lanka garnered 144 votes, aligning it with the third-highest count in the region, shared with Bangladesh. The election saw six members from the Asia-Pacific Region, including Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Republic of Korea, and Australia, making it to the Executive Board out of nine candidates.

The UNESCO, dedicated to fostering international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication, and information, stands as a beacon for global peace and security, contributing significantly to the Sustainable Development Goals. Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to UNESCO’s values and principles dates back to its membership in 1949, shortly after gaining independence. This commitment reflects the country’s dedication to promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, furthering universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and fundamental freedoms.

Since its inception in UNESCO, Sri Lanka has played a pivotal role and actively contributed to advancing the organization’s objectives. The Sri Lanka National Commission for UNESCO, operating under the Ministry of Education’s guidance, serves as the government’s arm for implementing UNESCO’s agenda in the country.

The successful election to the UNESCO Executive Board was spearheaded by collaborative efforts between the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Paris, and the Education Ministry, serving as the national focal point.

Noteworthy is Sri Lanka’s recent streak of success in securing positions in three UN bodies/committees: the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (CMW), and now, the UNESCO Executive Board.

Extreme, a world-leading, purpose-driven adventure brand, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) aimed at transforming Sri Lanka into a world-class adventure and leisure destination.

Extreme is a world-leading, purpose-driven adventure brand whose vision is to drive positive change through extreme and adventure sports.

This exciting partnership will leverage Extreme’s expertise in adventure sports, hospitality, and tourism to enhance the appeal of Sri Lanka for global adventure enthusiasts and leisure travellers.

The partnership was sealed last week during a short ceremony that took place on the Sri Lanka Tourism stand at the World Travel Market in London, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Extreme CEO and Founder Alistair Gosling and SLTPB Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu.

With over 25 years’ experience in the global extreme and adventure sports industry, Extreme will support the Sri Lankan Government’s agenda to drive an active, healthy lifestyle, sport participation, positive mental health, job creation, infrastructure investment as well as support local communities and tourism through adventure sports in the destination.

“This partnership is testament to Extreme’s commitment to drive positive change through extreme and adventure sports, across global destinations, regardless of their size or location.

Sri Lanka’s renowned natural beauty, rich ecosystem and culture and amazing topography, offers the perfect canvas to cater to adventure tourism and hospitality.

The Extreme Destinations development team is looking forward to being part of the journey to bring adventure sports hospitality and experiences to this destination,” said Alistair Gosling.

Adventure tourism is playing a key role in helping Sri Lanka rebuild its economy after a turbulent few years for the South Asian nation.

The country’s tourism sector was particularly affected in recent years due to a foreign currency crisis resulting from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to months of food and fuel shortages, along with runaway inflation and prolonged blackouts.

One of the main strategies is to diversify their offerings and target those seeking adventure holidays.

“We are not going to try and make Sri Lanka expensive but we want to make it the destination of choice when it comes to affordable luxury”, said Harin Fernando, Sri Lankan Minister of Tourism and Lands.

“We have just launched the Pekoe Trail, a 23-day hike through the mountains — that’s just one of the adventures we are offering,”.“We’re also investing in marine diving, mountain climbing and hiking, he said,

“Another activity we are looking to bring to Sri Lanka is ski diving.”Visitors from the GCC will play a key role in ensuring Sri Lanka continues to rebound from its troubles in recent years, the minister added.

Economic expert MP Dr. Harsha de Silva dissected Budget 2024, emphasising three critical pillars for Sri Lanka›s recovery: eradicating corruption, creating economic opportunities, and ensuring social equity.

The seasoned politician delved into each point, offering a pragmatic assessment and proposing viable alternatives.

He underscored the need for robust measures to combat corruption across various sectors.

He criticised the absence of tangible anti-corruption initiatives, citing examples like the cricket scandal, sugar tax scam, and fraudulent activities in the liquor industry.

The SJB parliamentarian questioned the Government’s inaction and proposed the implementation of the Stolen Assets Recovery (STAR) program and the establishment of an independent prosecutor’s office, as outlined in the SJB blueprint.

Moving to the second point, de Silva highlighted the importance of creating economic opportunities for youth in rural areas, empowering entrepreneurs, supporting small and medium businesses, and ensuring fair prices for farmers.

He argued that eradicating corruption alone is insufficient and advocated for a broader economic vision.

In his exploration of the third key aspect, the SJB MP shed light on the complexities of fiscal consolidation and expenditure reduction, emphasising the profound implications for social equity.

Despite the President’s focal point on revenue-based fiscal consolidation, concerns surfaced regarding the comparatively meagre attention given to reducing overall expenditure.

He acknowledged challenges in curtailing expenditure, particularly in vital sectors like Health and Education, allocated a modest 1.7% of GDP. However, he expressed reservations about funding directed to loss-making SOEs, exemplified by SriLankan Airlines, which sought Rs. 110 billion to settle liabilities to Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) recently.

This raises concerns about fairness in comparison to the total expected revenue from PAYE of Rs. 100 billion annually or essential needs like children’s uniforms, a significant 27 times less.

Criticism was directed toward the extension of tax breaks, citing the Strategic Development Projects (SDP) Act and recent Supreme Court rulings on preferential tax treatment for associates, resulting in substantial losses to the Treasury.

However, concerns were articulated regarding proposed tax changes, especially their disproportionate impact on citizens through heightened consumption taxes. For example, the VAT hike from 15 to 18% and the removal of VAT exemptions for items like petrol, diesel, gas, and fertiliser could drive inflation up and consumption down.

He called for fairness and transparency advocating for the disclosure of tax changes to Parliament, ensuring public awareness amid talks of Government giveaways.

De Silva proposed the Government implement his revised PAYE tax structure, significantly reducing the burden on professionals while still achieving the expected income. The MP lamented the lack of response from the Ministry of Finance to their

In a dramatic climax, de Silva concluded that the proposed tax burden is excessively high, risking a decline in consumption, business failures, and an exodus of professionals from Sri Lanka.

The solar electrification of religious sites across Sri Lanka, with an allocation of US$ 10 million is to be initiated by the end of this year under the $15 million Indian grant extended to Sri Lanka for the strengthening of Buddhist ties between the two countries.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for this significant project was jointly finalized by the governments of India and Sri Lanka.

By the end of this year, the work on the first phase of the solar power project for religious places of worship will be completed, Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake said.

The Minister said this following a discussion with Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera at the Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Ministry.

The project of installing solar power systems at religious places of worship will be implemented under the aid project received from the Indian Government to promote Buddhist relations between Sri Lanka and India.

“Under this project, relief should be provided to Buddhist temples and institutions operating as teaching centers of all religions.

Considering the advantages of a ground-mounted solar panel system, the electricity generated by it should be given to the national grid for electricity consumption in religious places of worship,” Minister Wijesekera said.

The Minister further said that apart from the shrine of Sri Pada, a system will be prepared to provide electricity through solar panels to the streets and other places where people come to worship.

This Indian financial grant will cover around 2,000 religious places of worship, he said.

Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera has announced that each religious place would be provided with a five-kilowatt solar panel, while government institutions would receive solar panels suitable for their roof sizes and the project is scheduled to commence within the next two months.

The announcement on the India-assisted renewable energy project came following the Power and Energy Ministry’s earlier decision to use an extended loan of $100 million Indian credit line to fix rooftop solar panels in government institutions and religious places.

Colombo District Member of Parliament, Patali Champika Ranawaka, voiced serious apprehensions during a parliamentary session, revealing that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has fallen short in tax collection, leaving nearly one trillion rupees uncollected. Ranawaka highlighted that only 50 percent of the anticipated tax revenue has been secured, shedding light on the gravity of the fiscal situation.

Addressing the debate on the second reading of the budget, Ranawaka emphasized the social ramifications of increasing taxes without effectively collecting them, cautioning against major infrastructure projects due to financial constraints. He underscored the impending necessity of a $1.65 billion loan and stressed the importance of completing the Financial Fund to secure these funds. Highlighting the absence of the September loan installment and the urgency to restructure foreign debt, Ranawaka painted a stark picture of the economic challenges facing the nation.

Expressing concern over the migration of skilled professionals like teachers and doctors, Ranawaka emphasized the exodus of human capital from the country, leading to detrimental consequences. He called for a comprehensive recovery program implemented at the grassroots level to avert potential future crises, warning of imminent difficulties for the common man if urgent measures are not taken.

In a historic move, the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) team revealed plans to honor Sri Lanka’s captain, Chamari Athapaththu, by dedicating a special seating zone at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Named “Chamari Bay,” this designated area is set to debut during the upcoming Derby clash against the Sydney Sixers on November 26th.

Celebrating Athapaththu’s remarkable cricketing prowess, this initiative aims to recognize her contributions to the ongoing ninth season of WBBL, where she stands as the third-highest run scorer.

Marking a significant milestone, “Chamari Bay” represents the first instance of an overseas player being bestowed with such an honor in the form of a dedicated seating zone at the SCG. This move underscores the impact and admiration Athapaththu has garnered in the league, solidifying her presence as a notable figure in women’s cricket.