Colombo (LNW): Appointment letters for roughly 5,000 school principals across all three service grades will be distributed next month, announced Education State Minister Aravinda Kumar.
The Minister also hinted at a potential salary increase for teachers in the forthcoming budget.
Colombo (LNW): Steps are being taken to expedite the process of restructuring public institutions, announced Finance State Minister Shehan Semasinghe, addressing a briefing in Anuradhapura today (22).
The restructuring of loss-incurring state bodies is currently being carried out successfully in a move to provide solutions to the current economic crisis, he told media.
He added that the necessary discussions regarding the foreign debt optimisation programme are also underway.
By: Isuru Parakrama
Colombo (LNW): Atmospheric conditions are favourable for thunderstorms at most of the places over the island during the evening and night, with thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning being expected at several places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, North-central, Eastern and Uva provinces, the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology said in two separate advisory statements today (22).
Heavy showers, above 100 mm are likely at some places in Central, Sabaragamuwa, Uva and Eastern provinces, and temporary localised strong winds may occur during thundershowers.
The General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to
minimise damages caused by lightning activity.
Colombo (LNW): The foundation stone for the “Kuwait Zakath” Housing Village – Phase 2 in Erukkalampetti, Mannar was laid today (22) under the patronage of Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.
Funded by the Zakat House of the State of Kuwait at the invitation of the Minister of State for Rural Economy, Kader Mastan, this housing development will feature 125 homes.
These homes are designed to aid Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) beginning resettlement in the Mannar district, with each house receiving Rs. 1.8 million for construction.
The project’s first phase, which already opened, comprised 75 houses and cost Rs. 105 million.
The resettlement of those displaced by conflict is overseen by the Urban Development and Housing Ministry.
Present at the event were the Deputy Ambassador of Kuwait to Sri Lanka, Badar Alno Waim, representatives from Kuwait, Minister of State for Rural Economy Kader Mastan, Director General of Kuwait Zakat House Majed Sulaiman Alazmi, National Housing Development Authority Chairman, Mr. Rajeev Suriyarachchi, Mannar District Manager, Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim, among others.
By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The highly anticipated international standard Havelock City Mall opened to the public on Thursday 19 with many firsts to Sri Lanka including security guards thuggery against customers.
“We look forward to providing a diverse and exciting retail environment, entertainment options and dining experiences for all our shoppers.
Havelock City Mall is poised to become the ultimate modern lifestyle suburban mall, catering to the entire family – a happy place for all.”CEO of the management company Pravir Samarasinghe told local news papers recently.
He disclosed that they invested US$ 130 million for the office tower and the Mall.
But Mr. Samarasighe’s pledge of catering to the entire family – a happy place for all has become mere words as a restaurant mall security guard was in the practice of harassing customers seating at the overcrowded “Food Studio”.
Some of them were having dinner at the restaurant and the majority had to wait for their food to be ready for hours due to crowd control by security guards at very low ebb and one of them was very rude going beyond his limitations as a security guard.
He tried to forcibly remove some customers who were eating at the restaurant waiting for two of their family members who had gone to buy food and bring it to them at around 9.30 pm yesterday.
He wanted to remove those who were seated at that time to enable some other customers who came late and were facing difficulties to find seating place.
Mr. Samarasighe should tell the people of Sri Lanka that who has given permission to unseat customers who are visiting the Havelock City Mall harassing them in rowdy manner by a thug like security guard as you have told newspapers that this Colombo’s premier lifestyle mall is offering an unparalleled range of shopping and dining options.
Food court of the food studio space was in a common seating area; to be able to attract people from different demographics and walks of life and give them enough choice to come and choose whatever they wanted to eat.
How Can you come to the food court and choose whatever they wanted to eat during crowded times amidst security threatening the visitors to vacate their seats making way for other customers by an unruly security guard behaving like a thug a disgruntled customer complained.
The food court culture in Sri Lanka’s malls, which have been around since the 1990s, had a rather generic offering.
Despite the growth of the F&B industry in the city, driven by franchises and standalone restaurants, it didn’t significantly influence the existing food courts within malls.
Colombo (LNW): Haldummulla Divisional Secretary K.A.J. Priyangika has chosen to immediately relocate 33 families living near the previous landslide site in Meeriyabedda Koslanda in Haldummulla and the surrounding areas, due to a heightened risk of further landslides.
Given the perilous circumstances, a school and a nursery in the region have been permanently moved, a report by Neth News disclosed.
Locals have been advised to avoid using the Meeriyabedda road until the current heavy rainfall eases.
In the meantime, residents in several parts of Haputale have been temporarily moved from their homes to safer locations due to the landslide risks exacerbated by the ongoing rain.
The Meteorological Department has forecasted heavy rainfall of about 100mm in certain areas across the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, Central, Eastern, and Southern provinces.
The department also highlighted a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal that’s expected to develop into a depression in the next 24 hours.
This is predicted to move northeastwards towards the Bangladesh coast, away from Sri Lanka.
Consequently, they’ve issued a warning for the naval and fishing communities to exercise caution in specific sea areas over the next day.
By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA), at its 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM), stressed on industry collaboration and a resurgent export economy through sustainability to uplift the sector.
In the mean time Sri Lanka has generated US$315 million in revenue from the export of gems and jewellery so far in 2023, recording a growth rate of 34 percent.
“In the previous year, we achieved a significant income of 230 million dollars through gem exports. Notably, in the year 2023, our gem and jewellery exports have yielded a substantial revenue of 315 million,” official sources said.
The Each exported gem is meticulously assessed to ensure the inflow of foreign exchange, while, in the past, Sri Lankan gems were auctioned abroad, robbing the country of appropriate remuneration, a senior official said.
“The Central Bank’s reports confirm a remarkable 34 percent growth in export revenue for the Gems and Jewellery Authority.
Steps have also been taken to resolve exporters’ challenges, with open lines of communication for exporters accessible at all times,” Dassanayake was quoted as saying in a statement released by the President’s Media Division (PMD).
SLGJA Chairman Ajward Deen addressing the AGM asserted that the association has dedicated substantial efforts to implementing a series of strategic initiatives, with the aim of elevating and enhancing the industry.
By adhering steadfastly to ethical mining standards, the association aims to empower miners to augment gem production and explore new mines in a sustainable and responsible manner.
The long-term approach of the SLGJA is specifically designed to ensure the sustained growth of the industry, enabling it to meet the ever-increasing global demand for precious stones.
Anticipated enhancements, such as streamlined export processes and more flexible regulations pertaining to gem exports, are poised to reinvigorate the industry, reaffirming its pivotal role as a substantial contributor to our local economy, said Deen.
He went on to affirm that the SLGJA would continue in its endeavours to bring about substantial advancements in the upcoming year, with the objective of ensuring the industry’s continued robust growth.
As the foremost authority acknowledged by the Sri Lankan government in the field of gem and jewellery, the SLGJA stands as the collective voice for all facets of this industry.
From miners, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, exporters to lapidarists and beyond, the SLGJA is committed to tirelessly advocating for the rights and interests of the entire trade.
By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The farmers of Norochcholai and Kalpitiya have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Agriculture to designate the area as an agricultural zone.
“Vegetables and fruits needed by our country are grown in large numbers in Norochcholai and Kalpitiya. Low country vegetables as well as up country vegetables, and potatoes are also cultivated in these areas,” the agriculture ministry said in a statement.
Farmers in the area claim they do not get the concessions given by the government to the farmers who grow paddy in other parts of the country.
The minister of agriculture has instructed officials to assess the proposal and present a report on the benefits of designating the area an agricultural zone.
During an earlier era the Kalpitiya area was famous for its production of dried fish. However today, the area despite its sandy soil and arid climatic condition, is better known for its production of fruits and vegetables.
This unbelievable change is solely due to the untiring efforts of the farming community who have transformed the once arid area into a lush orchard. Around 8,000 families live in the area extending from Mampuri to Thalawila via Ethalai, Norochcholai, Kalkudah and Senapola.
Today an extent of 2,500 hectares are covered with vegetable cultivation while another 300 hectares are cultivated with a variety of fruits.
According to farmers the agricultural development in the area has led to the creation of around 30,000 job opportunities. The economic centre at Norochcholai has proved a boon to the farmers as they are able to dispose of their products at the centre.
Around 100 tons of vegetable are said to be traded on a daily basis with buyers from all over the country patronizing the centre. However farmers complain that despite their best efforts, they receive no help from the state.
As chemical fertilizers and insecticides are used abundantly in this region, the minister instructed that a soil test be conducted, and that officials inform farmers about cultivation methods that use minimal chemical fertilizers and water.
Both areas, in the Puttalam District, have unique weather conditions, with mostly dry and semi arid climate zones.
“The soil conditions in the Central Highlands, Jaffna and Kalpitiya are unlike other areas, and therefore, we need to focus on cultivating only suitable crops that can be grown in those areas, and that have high demand,” the minister said in the statement.
Ceylon Fertilizer Company and Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd have agreed to provide mixed fertilizer required for cultivation at a minimum price to farmers in Kalpitiya.
By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): A U.S. based Petroleum Company is set to enter into Sri Lanka petroleum retail market soon 52 days after Chinese company Sinopec launched its operations on August 30th by forming Sinopec Fuel Oil Lanka as the local subsidiary of the Chinese company
US-based RM Parks signed an agreement with Sri Lanka on June 8 allowing it to import and sell fuel in the country, less than a month after Chinese petroleum giant Sinopec also acquired rights to enter the retail market, as the Indian Ocean nation grapples with an economic and energy crisis.
The United States-based RM Parks has deposited a required performance bond and the first shipment may arrive in Sri Lanka within the next two months, while the launching of United Petroleum Australia is facing delay, the State Power & Energy Minister D V Chanaka said.
Sri Lanka in July this year awarded retail fuel licenses to three foreign firms, namely, China’s Sinopec, United Petroleum Australia and US-based RM Parks to reduce the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation’s (CPC) pressure on finding foreign currency for the country’s whole fuel import.
“As of now, RM Park has already deposited a $1 million performance bond. They have informed us that they will deposit the $2 million license fee in the next week,” D V Chanaka said on Thursday (19).
“They need to bring the first shipment within 45 days from the day they pay the license fee.”
Sinopec is already importing fuel for $40 million monthly and if all three start operations in its full potential, the government can save up to $1.5 billion from fuel imports, he said.
The government has imposed conditions for all the three fuel retailers to use foreign currency from their mother company for imports while banning the repatriations of foreign currency from Sri Lanka.
United Petroleum Australia, the third new fuel retailer, however is facing a delay after a request in contrary to the earlier conditions.
Confirming the development Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said at that time the Cabinet had approved the awarding of licenses to Sinopec, United Petroleum, Australia and RM Parks, U.S.A, in a collaboration with Shell plc, to enter the retail market in Sri Lanka.
The three companies will each be allocated 150 dealer-operated fuel stations, currently operated by the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, and obtain 20-year licences to import, store, distribute and sell petroleum products in Sri Lanka. A further 50 fuel stations will be established at new locations by each company, the Minister said.
The move is aimed at diversifying Sri Lanka’s retail fuel market that is currently a duopoly, with the state-owned CPC and Indian Oil Corporation subsidiary Lanka IOC, which controls a third of the market.
Colombo (LNW): Veteran beautician Premasiri Hewawasam has passed away aged 64.
He was taken to Homagama Hospital following a sudden ailment, but was later pronounced dead.
Hewawasam significantly contributed to Sri Lanka’s beauty sector through the National Youth Service Council.
Being a pillar in the Sri Lankan beauty industry, his numerous international accolades stand testament to his impactful legacy.