In honor of the momentous 75th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Turkey, a commemorative stamp was issued on December 8th, marking this significant milestone.

The stamp design, crafted by renowned Sri Lankan artist Vasantha Perera, celebrated for creating 39 distinctive stamps for the Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau, beautifully encapsulates the cultural resonance between the two nations. Symbolic elements such as the tulip and the carnation adorn the stamps, reflecting shared cultural motifs found in both Turkish and Sri Lankan traditional designs.

Demet Şekercioğlu, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sri Lanka and Maldives, highlighted the significance of these floral elements, emphasizing their presence in the artistic heritage of both countries. The tulip and carnation, intricately depicted in the stamp’s design, serve as meaningful representations of cultural affinity and shared traditions between Turkey and Sri Lanka.

In a move set to bolster connectivity, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the capital’s inaugural low-cost carrier, announced the inauguration of a fresh route from Abu Dhabi to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s bustling capital.

Commencing from January 3, 2024, the new direct flights will link Abu Dhabi International Airport to Bandaranaike International Airport, operating three times a week. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We’re pleased to include Colombo in our expanding network, facilitating direct flights from Abu Dhabi. This aligns with Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s strategic expansion to fortify the capital’s connectivity with numerous destinations, bolstering the UAE’s travel and tourism sectors. This new route offers travelers an opportunity to explore the mesmerizing island in the Indian Ocean and underscores our commitment to providing affordable and quality air travel.”

This addition marks Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s 34th destination, amplifying its ongoing expansion strategy. The airline operates a fleet of 10 modern Airbus A320 aircraft, known for their comfort and spaciousness. Passengers can relish an enhanced economy cabin experience, featuring generous seat-pitch, complemented by an array of snacks and meals available through ‘SkyCafe’ at budget-friendly prices. Moreover, the airline offers a free in-flight streaming service called ‘SkyTime,’ allowing passengers to enjoy diverse entertainment on their personal devices. The carrier also boasts the innovative and customer-friendly loyalty program ‘Air Rewards,’ enabling passengers to earn, transfer, and redeem points.

Booking for these direct flights is accessible through Air Arabia’s website, call center, or authorized travel agencies, granting customers seamless access to this new route between the two cities.

During a gathering of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainable Development in Parliament on 28.11.2023, the National Action Plan to mitigate human-elephant conflicts took center stage. Chaired by Hon. Ajith Mannapperuma, Member of Parliament, the committee saw the presentation of this vital plan by Dr. Sumit Pilapitiya and wildlife scientist Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando, who spearhead the committee responsible for its implementation.

The presentation highlighted alarming statistics: 433 wild elephants lost their lives in Sri Lanka during 2022. Officials emphasized that wild elephants now inhabit 62% of the country’s landmass, emphasizing the urgency of addressing human-elephant conflicts. Proposed solutions included the experimental construction of electric fences, such as community-led rural electric fences and temporary ones safeguarding paddy fields.

Emphasizing the need for public awareness programs, the Committee Chair stressed the importance of educating communities about elephant behavior and necessary behavioral changes. Wildlife and environmental organizations were urged to contribute programs tailored to these communities. These organizations emphasized their ability to provide effective awareness initiatives if the conflict areas were accurately identified.

Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sajith Premadasa, stressed the necessity for a national land utilization plan to curb human-elephant conflicts. He underscored the importance of accurately identifying elephant-inhabited rural areas and the severity of conflict in certain divisional secretariats. Additionally, he clarified that an elephant census was not intended for exporting surplus elephants but for conservation purposes.

Several Committee Members, including Hon. Varuna Liyanage, Hon. Tilak Rajapaksa, Hon. Chandima Veerakkodi, and Hon. Chinthaka Amal Mayadunne, alongside officials from Wildlife Sri Lanka and activists from wildlife and environmental organizations, actively participated in the discussions.

The meeting showcased a unified effort by government officials, legislators, and wildlife experts to address the escalating human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka

In a landmark announcement during the 150th anniversary celebration of the Colombo Colts Cricket Club (CCC), President Ranil Wickremesinghe pledged a transformative agenda aimed at depoliticizing and modernizing Sri Lankan cricket within the next decade. His comprehensive strategy, outlined at the CCC grounds, focused on instituting an independent trust to oversee school cricket’s financial administration and development, backed by a substantial budget.

Emphasizing the need for transparency and efficiency in fund utilization, President Wickremesinghe revealed a budget allocation of 1.5 billion rupees for the current year, with plans to increase it annually to 2 billion rupees. Central to his commitment was the eradication of political influence in cricket affairs, including the abolishment of interim committees’ powers and ministerial involvement. New legislation is set to safeguard the sport from such interference.

President Wickremesinghe’s proposal introduced an independent trust tasked with managing allocated funds transparently and driving school cricket development aligned with the 2030 vision for Sri Lankan cricket. Acknowledging the Colombo Colts Cricket Club’s historical significance, he applauded its role in shaping the nation’s cricketing heritage and awarded lifetime memberships to members of the victorious 1996 and 2014 World Cup teams.

Reflecting on cricket’s evolution in Sri Lanka, President Wickremesinghe highlighted plans to enhance cricket infrastructure, especially in less developed provinces like the North Central, Eastern, and Uva provinces. He emphasized the goal of making cricket accessible across all schools, irrespective of location, ensuring a level playing field and fostering talent nationwide.

The President’s vision extended to gender inclusivity, aiming to encourage female students’ active participation in cricket. To ensure effective fund management, a group of experts, including former cricketers Sidath Wettimuny and Aravinda de Silva, alongside a Chamber of Commerce nominee, will oversee fund utilization.

Additionally, plans were unveiled to refurbish the Diyagama ground into a modern sports campus, aligning with Sri Lanka’s ambition to excel not only in sports but also in economic growth.

President Wickremesinghe’s speech signals a pivotal moment in Sri Lankan cricket, promising a transformative journey toward excellence. The event, graced by dignitaries including First Lady Professor Maithree Wickramasinghe and prominent figures from the cricketing world, sets the stage for a new era of cricketing prowess and integrity in Sri Lanka.

China recently announced a strategic reduction in fees for inbound travel visas by 25%, aiming to entice a higher influx of foreign tourists. This initiative, revealed by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is set to be implemented across all of China’s overseas embassies and consulates starting from December 11, 2023, and extending until December 31, 2024.

The Ministry emphasized its eagerness to streamline cross-border travel and collaborate with relevant nations to establish favorable conditions, ensuring increased convenience for travelers. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated China’s commitment to supporting measures that facilitate smooth international travel.

Wang Wenbin highlighted that this decision aligns with China’s efforts in combatting COVID-19 by implementing stringent measures against Class-B infectious diseases since January 8, 2023.

Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekara, confirmed that the anticipated presentation of the Electricity Bill in Parliament on December 13th has been postponed until January 2024. The delay stems from the detection of 42 printing errors within the gazetted Bill, as disclosed by the Ministry.

Assuring corrective measures, Minister Wijesekara mentioned that these errors are slated for review by the Attorney General’s office to ensure accuracy and coherence within the proposed legislation.

In parallel, Minister Wijesekara also revealed plans for a forthcoming electricity tariff revision scheduled for implementation in January 2024. This announcement hints at potential adjustments in energy costs, although specific details regarding the proposed changes remain undisclosed at this stage.

Several spells of showers will occur at Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the other areas of the island after 1.00 p.m.Misty condition can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and Uva provinces in the morning.The public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.