Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the most provinces of the island after 02.00 p.m, and fairly heavy showers above 75mm are likely at some places in Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and North-Central provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (06).
Showers may occur in Northern and Eastern provinces during the morning too, the statement added, revealing that misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the morning.
The 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 sea areas around the Island particularly during the afternoon or night.
Winds:
Winds will be North-easterly or variable in direction and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph.
State of Sea:
The sea areas around the island will be slight.Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
Colombo (LNW): The Mawbima Janata Party (MJP) led by prominent Sri Lankan business magnet Dilith Jayaweera held its first ever district conference on November 05 in Galle at the Galle City Hall.
High-profile attendees, including Dr. Hemakumara Nanayakkara, a senior leader of the MJP, and Party President Dr. Sarath Amunugama, graced the event.
In his address, Jayaweera revealed that he had an indirect involvement in in politics for the past three decades, representing the nationalist perspective in Sri Lanka. He expressed his decision to directly enter politics to safeguard these values, which he believes have been compromised by leaders driven by personal ambitions.
The Party Leader emphasised that the Nationality Camp represents patriots who deeply care for the country and that he will ensure no one else claims this mantle. Any affiliation with the Nationality Camp will only occur through the MJP, he added.
Following the conference, Jayaweera engaged in friendly discussions with attendees.
This series of district conferences for the MJP is centred on the theme “Creating A Happy World Through An Entrepreneurial State.”
Colombo (LNW): In October 2023, the government’s approval rating plummeted to 9%, marking a sharp decline from 21 per cent in June 2023, revealed the recent ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll conducted by Verité Research in a Gallup-style approach.
The survey also indicated a substantial decrease in overall satisfaction with the state of the nation, with only 6 per cent expressing contentment, down from 12 per cent in June 2023. Additionally, the economic confidence score experienced a negative shift from (-) 44 in June to a more pessimistic (-) 62 in October.
The ‘Mood of the Nation’ poll, conducted thrice annually, utilises an island-wide, nationally representative sample to ensure a maximum error margin below 3 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level.
Regarding government approval, a mere 9% expressed their approval, with 7 per cent remaining undecided. This 9% rating closely resembles the figures from January and October 2022 and February 2023, which stood at 10 per cent.
For general satisfaction with the state of Sri Lanka, only 6 per cent claimed to be satisfied, hitting a low of 4 per cent in February 2023.
Economic confidence is determined by a range of multiple-choice questions addressing the economic condition and trajectory. Scores can range from a negative (-) 100 to a positive (+) 100, with a positive score indicating a more optimistic outlook on economic conditions. Notably, the current (-) 62, although a decline from June, is an improvement from the levels in 2022, which ranged between (-) 96 and (-) 78.
The ‘Mood of the Nation’ survey aims to assess public sentiment concerning government approval, overall satisfaction, and economic confidence. It encompasses responses from 1,029 Sri Lankan adults, collected from October 21 to 29, 2023. The survey is conducted as part of Verité Research’s syndicated survey instrument in collaboration with Vanguard Survey (Pvt) Ltd, enabling other organisations to gauge public sentiment in Sri Lanka.
The government initiated measures to establish a Social Intelligence Unit to ensure the protection and social security of the young generation through the creativity of the students and this would facilitate the students to rid themselves from the drug menace.
Efforts are also being made to popularize and promote the activities of our talented children and National Cadet Corps (NCC) Cadets through modern technical methods.
State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon made these remarks at the NCC Training Centre at Rantembe while gracing the passing out parade of the NCC Hermann Loos and De Soysa Championship 2023 as the Chief Guest two days ago (Nov 02).
NCC Director Brigadier Sudantha Fonseka warmly welcomed the State Minister and the dignitaries on the arrival to the premises.
This year’s Parade which was also attended by Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne as a special dignitary, is the maiden annual spectacle held since the President’s Colours and the Corps Colours were awarded to the NCC in 2023 this year by President Ranil Wickremasinghe recognising the national value of the National Cadet Corps.
Hermann Loos and De Soysa Trophies – 2023 were won by Colombo Ananda College Cadet Platoon and Girls’ High School Kandy Cadet Platoon.
During the ceremony, the Chief Guest pinned medals on the winners of the Hermann Loos and De Soysa platoons followed by the presentation of awards to the winners.
Subsequently, State Minister Tennakoon addressed the Cadets and the audience. During the speech, the Minister emphasised the measures initiated to uplift the NCC.
During the ceremony, the State Minister also extended his special gratitude to Hon. President for spearheading the NCC for the benefit of the education sector and amalgamating the NCC with the Education Ministry when Wickramasinghe was the then Minister of Education.
Minister Tennakoon also congratulated the national champions as well as other Cadet Platoons who performed admirably in the competition. Further, he thanked their parents for directing these children for NCC training activities and for being a source of continuous support for them.
Religious dignitaries including Venerable Maha Sangha, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Additional Secretary – Civil Security and Development, Commander of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Navy, Military Liaison Officer of the Defence Ministry, members of the diplomatic corps, state officials, the Commandant and the training staff of the NCC Training Centre, Armed Forces and Police Officers, Provincial and Zonal Directors of Education, Principals, invitees and parents also attended the event.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounces the recent shutdown of the independent media outlet Development Media Group (DMG) by Myanmar’s military junta and calls for the release of the two employees who were arrested in connection with the raid.
Myanmar junta’s relentless assault on independent online media outlet Development Media Group (DMG) continues. On October 29, 2023, Htet Aung, a Myanmar journalist working for DMG, was arrested while covering a cultural festival in the western city of Sittwe. A few hours later, soldiers raided DMG’s premises and arrested the night guard, Soe Win Aung, while the rest of the staff went into hiding. The military junta sealed off the outlet’s office and seized several cameras and laptops without providing any explanation.
“Amidst Myanmar’s unprecedented crackdown on journalism and the right to information, Development Media Group is one of the last media outlets providing the public with independent information on the crimes perpetrated by the military junta. RSF denounces the arbitrary shutdown of this media outlet and urges the international community to step up its pressure on the regime for the release of the 71 journalists and press freedom defenders currently detained.”
Cédric Alviani RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
DMG is a community media organisation covering conflict and human rights violations in the state of Rakhine in the west of the country. In 2019, the military-controlled Home Affairs Ministry filed a criminal case against its editor-in-chief Aung Min Oo for alleged unlawful association. The military also filed defamation lawsuits against other DMG reporters two years later.
Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s media landscape has been shattered. The junta quickly issued a list of banned media outlets, including the emblematic Democratic Voice of Burma, and killed at least four journalists: freelance photographers Aye Kyaw andSoe Naing, Federal News Journaleditor Sai Win Aung, Pu Tuidim, founder and editor of the Khonumthung Media Group.
Myanmar, ranked 173th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2023 World Press Freedom Index, is one of the world’s biggest jailers of journalists, second only to China.
REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES / REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF)
Colombo (LNW): The inauguration of ESHA EURO PARTS Pvt. Ltd.’s new showroom, a prominent player in the luxury motor vehicle spare parts industry, took place at 139 Gallupara, Dehiwala.
The ceremony was led by Dr. Amila Kankanamage, former President of the Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC), with the participation of Mr. Gotabaya Jayathilaka, a renowned entrepreneur, and Mr. Nuwan Lasantha Medage, the Managing Director of ESHA EURO PARTS.
The company emphasises its seamless accessibility, stating that spare parts required for luxury automobiles can be procured from ESHA EURO PARTS without any difficulty.
Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is anticipating the arrival of 54 essential medicines, including those for critical conditions like cancer and kidney diseases, within the next week, Health Minister Ramesh Pathirana said.
The Minister disclosed that these medicines, valued at US $58,000, will provide much-needed relief to the healthcare system.
Additionally, the Health Ministry in Bangladesh has promised a further one million US dollars worth of medical aid for Sri Lanka, he noted.
This generous commitment was conveyed during a meeting between the High Commissioners of both nations and the Minister of Health.
The officials also discussed the prospect of a long-term collaborative program between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to alleviate the current medicine shortage in the country.
Colombo (LNW): The All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association is expressing concerns over the bakery industry’s viability as gas prices continue to surge.
Sales of bakery products have dropped significantly, with a 25 per cent decrease, Association Chief N.K. Jayawardena disclosed.
Despite the mounting gas costs, Jayawardena stresses that the industry will avoid raising the prices of bakery products.
Earlier, state-run LP gas provider Litro Gas announced higher rates for its domestic gas cylinders, with a 12.5 kg domestic gas cylinder being sold for Rs. 3,565, a 5 kg cylinder for Rs. 1,431, and a 2.3 kg cylinder, Rs. 668.
Colombo (LNW): The Welfare Benefits Board is preparing to launch the second round of Aswesuma applications in January.
The first round of payments is scheduled to be finalised by December, according to Board member Kamal Padmasiri.
Aswesuma beneficiaries can expect to receive their September payments by November 15th, with October payments set to be disbursed by the end of November.
Additionally, a special “Aswesuma” week is commencing tomorrow, aimed at streamlining and addressing ongoing concerns within the benefit programme.
Colombo (LNW): Anger over Sri Lanka’s miserable World Cup campaign has erupted after a humiliating 302-run thrashing by India, with the island nation’s sports minister demanding the cricket board’s resignation and informing its malpractices to ICC member countries.
Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, who has long been at loggerheads with the board and previously accused it of being “traitorous and corrupt”, upped the stakes by telling officials and selectors to quit.
He has individually written to all full member countries of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to inform them of the recent controversies concerning the national cricket board.
In a media release issued yesterday (Nov. 04), the Sports Ministry accused Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of misleading the international cricket governing body by implying that it is plagued by political interference.
In his letter, Ranasinghe emphasized that ‘interim measures’ would have to be taken against SLC, assuring that this would be done only to establish good governance principles, to uphold the rule of law and to create a system of governance that promotes ethics and spirit of the game.
He mentioned that cricket in Sri Lanka, since 2015, has seen a gradual degradation in the quality of the sport played both internationally and locally, noting that SLC has been besieged with complaints of player disciplinary issues, management corruption, financial misconduct, and match-fixing allegations.
The lawmaker went on to say that due to the political crises and disasters, no action could be taken against the cricket board despite several ministers before him having initiated inquiries into the purported misconduct of SLC.
Their probes resulted in several reports that substantiate the claims against the SLC officials, he added.
However, recent revelations and audit reports published by the Auditor General’s Department, warrants immediate intervention as the minister in charge to bring the perpetrators of financial crimes before the legal system and to establish good governance and transparency in the Sri Lanka Cricket administration, Ranasinghe said further.
Sri Lanka Cricket boasted that it had surpassed all past revenue rankings and made a colossal Rs 23 billion in profits.
Increase in International Cricket Council (ICC) funding, revenue generated from playing international cricket and sponsorship contracts have all contributed, according to SLC, for the giant leap in the massive financial turnover.
“We have been able to carefully manage our US dollar account in a way to suit the income that we earn,” said SLC secretary Mohan de Silva who himself can count nearly 20 years in cricket administration.
He has resigned from the post sending his letter of resignation to SL cricket board, local media reported.
“Prosperity at SLC has also brought Sri Lanka’s present crop of cricketers untold riches and financial gains in a way that their predecessors who won a World Cup in 1996 did not have and above all made pre-Test era cricketers of the 1970s paupers of their time, thrown into the deep end to fly the flag with nothing asked or given.”
Win or lose it is super luxury pampering for present day players who drive the latest model cars, jet-set to play in enticing Leagues across the globe and get the best Seven-star comforts representing the Sri Lanka team.
