By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): Cinnamon Air, Sri Lanka’s premier domestic airline, recently launched scheduled flights to Jaffna, which will provide travellers with easy access to the most popular city in the northern region of the island along with an exceptional travel experience.

Scheduled flights to Jaffna commenced from June 16, 2023, with weekly departures from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Sigiriya Airport to Jaffna International Airport every Sunday.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. At the same time, Cinnamon Air will resume daily scheduled flights to Trincomalee and Batticaloa from BIA.

As the only domestic airline to offer scheduled flights from its dedicated domestic terminal at BIA, Cinnamon Air has meticulously designed its scheduled flight service between Colombo and Jaffna in order to meet the needs of discerning travellers who need a quick, seamless, cost-effective and reliable transport option.

While these scheduled flights ensure speed and comfort, the careful synchronization of departure times with arrival times of major international airlines substantially reduces transit times for connecting passengers.

In order to maximize the utility of the service for travellers, Cinnamon Air’s scheduled flights to Jaffna from Colombo are routed via Sigiriya, providing swift access to Jaffna from Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle.

The stopover in Sigiriya enables tourists who are exploring the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka in regions such as Polonnaruwa, Habarana and Dambulla to widen their exposure to the diverse Sri Lankan culture by easily travelling to Jaffna.

Furthermore, the resumption of scheduled flights to the East Coast destinations offers speedy travel to the coastal tourist attractions in Trincomalee and Pasikudah (through Batticaloa).

Sri Lanka domestic carrier Cinnamon Air, has resumed scheduled flights from December 15, 2022 which were suspended during the Coronavirus pandemic.

It will fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Sigiriya, Castlereagh, Trincomalee, Batticaloa (serving Pasikudah), Koggala and Weerawila and Water’s Edge Colombo.

“To ensure smooth connectivity with our flights, without long transit times, we have synchronized our flight times with the arrival and departure times of Sri Lankan Airlines and other major international airlines,” Sean Dwight, the Chief Executive Officer of Cinnamon Air said in a statement.

Cinnamon Air has a code-share with SriLankan Airlines allowing its seats to be bought from anywhere through booking systems.

Cinnamon Air is the operated by Saffron Aviation (Pvt) Limited, a joint venture between John Keells Holdings PLC, MMBL Leisure Holdings and Phoenix Ventures.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW):The grand finale of Mrs. India Inc, Season 4 will be held at the iconic Nelum Pokuna, a world-class venue known for hosting magnificent events in Sri Lanka.

The contestants will have the privilege of staying at the luxurious Cinnamon Grand Colombo, one of the finest hospitality destinations of Sri Lanka, ensuring their utmost comfort and convenience throughout the event.

Mrs. India Inc, the esteemed beauty pageant celebrating the essence of womanhood, is all set to unveil its highly anticipated Season 4.

This year promises to be a truly remarkable and international affair, as the grand finale will take place in Sri Lanka. It will also be the first time in the history of Mrs. India Inc, that the prestigious event will be held on an international stage.

With an impressive participation of 75 contestants from various parts of India and across the globe, Season 4 of Mrs. India Inc, is to take place from 13 and 14 July, offering a captivating schedule filled with exhilarating events and experiences

With an impressive participation of 75 contestants from various parts of India and across the globe, Season 4 of Mrs. India Inc, is expected to be the most diverse and enthralling edition yet. The pageant has attracted talented individuals from different countries, making it a truly global celebration of beauty, grace, and cultural diversity.

Following the ceremony, a series of rigorous training sessions, workshops, and rehearsals will be conducted to polish the contestants’ skills and enhance their confidence.

Throughout the week, the contestants will have the privilege of exploring the picturesque beauty of Sri Lanka, immersing themselves in the vibrant local culture, and creating cherished memories.

Prior to the main event, Sri Lankans have the opportunity of meeting with the elegant finalists at a Gala Party which will be held on Monday 17 July 2023, at the Waterside Marquee, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo.

Bollywood fans in Sri Lanka will surely be in for another treat when the After-Party to the Grand Finale takes place on 19 July at the Breeze Bar, Cinnamon Grand Colombo.

Malaika and Dino are both tipped to make special appearances at this celebration along with the newly crowned beauties. Tickets priced at Rs. 15,000 for this event are also available at events desks at both Cinnamon properties.

Mrs. India Inc, Season 4 has partnered with several esteemed organisations to create an unparalleled experience for its participants and attendees.

Mrs. India Inc, Season 4 promises to be a spectacular celebration of beauty, talent, and diversity, bringing together participants from around the world. This prestigious event will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the global pageant landscape.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recommended Sri Lanka to develop an aviation blueprint so as to generate greater economic growth and prosperity through having a stronger aviation industry.

IATA’s Regional Vice President for Asia Pacific, Philip Goh pointed out that aviation connectivity can play a much bigger role in Sri Lanka’s economic development and social advancement. “But this will not happen by chance.”

He called for the Sri Lankan government’s support, which he deemed ‘critical’ to grow a strong airline sector and develop Colombo as an aviation hub.

Assuring that IATA stands ready to support through its expertise and sharing of industry best practices, Goh urged the Sri Lankan government and all industry stakeholders to collaborate on developing an aviation blueprint to strengthen the aviation industry’s competitiveness and bring greater prosperity to the island nation.

Aviation has a role to play in 15 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Trade and tourism rely on aviation, and this helps to create jobs, alleviate poverty and generate prosperity.

In a 2018 IATA study, Sri Lanka’s aviation sector supported some 700,000 jobs and contributed $8 billion to the GDP. The association says this has the potential to increase to over 1 million jobs contributing nearly $30 billion to the GDP by 2038.

In his keynote remarks at Aviation Day Sri Lanka, organized by IATA and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), Goh suggested three areas to consider in the aviation blueprint: facilitating sustainable growth, safety, and sustainability.

With regard to facilitating Sustainable Growth, Goh said: “Sri Lanka’s aviation blueprint needs to facilitate the sustainable growth of the industry and having an updated airport masterplan is the first step

Goh urged Sri Lanka to digitize processes for passenger and cargo facilitation. “Many of the country’s passenger and cargo processes continue to be paper based.

As traffic grows, digitization will be key to addressing capacity constraints, increase efficiency and improve the travel experience. IATA’s One ID and One Record initiatives can help support this,” said Goh.

Goh also highlighted the need to keep costs low, in particular jet fuel. Airlines pay more for jet fuel in Sri Lanka than at other major airports in Asia.

He recognized much has been done in recent months to lower the cost of jet fuel. He encouraged the government to review and consider placing limits or capping the amount that CEYPETCO can mark up for supplying fuel at the airport.

Goh encouraged the government to explore how the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) can be used to contribute to greater aviation safety in Sri Lanka.

By: Staff Writer

Colombo (LNW): A key milestone in Sri Lanka’s IT education was marked recently by the DP Education of Dhammika & Priscilla Perera Foundation (DP Foundation) and the University of Ruhuna (UoR) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the facilitation of free online program on data science, machine learning, and AI development and delivery.

The objective of this project is to provide opportunities for free learning and unlimited access to IT knowledge for IT enthusiasts in Sri Lanka.

DP Foundation, through its DP Education IT Campus arm, will facilitate the UOR on this new initiative by providing the required full funding, research input in curriculum development, and EdTech assistance for the online course delivery.

The program consists of five courses and they are: Foundation course; Data analysis; Machine learning; Data engineering, and Data science.

All courses would be offered completely for free for anyone of any age through an online platform.

The program will ensure the highest quality of content delivery aimed at offering job opportunities in computer engineering and computer programming.

The aim of the online program development between DP Education and the UOR is to increase the contribution of the IT sector to the GDP enabling economic growth in the country.

Furthermore, DP Education and the University of Kelaniya are also working on launching an open online course development and delivery in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) specialized in SAP. They are Foundation Course; ERP Functional Course; ERP Technical Course and ERP BASIS Course.

The University of Moratuwa in partnership with the DP Education has launched the world’s first free online skills program on Project Management.

The program is aligned with the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Exam Content Outline of the Project Management Institute (PMI) of the USA.

The program comprises 12 modules Initially the program has been launched with the first four modules – Foundations of Project Management, Project Scope and Schedule Management, Project Communication and Stakeholder Management and Agile Project Management in ICT Projects.

The program incorporates the latest 2022 version of the PMI, USA curriculum.The online learning platform is available at open.uom.lk, and can be used by any university which is interested as well as hold the relevant exam.

The Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM) is a globally recognized credential that opens the door to opportunities at every stage of your career in the field of project management.

As per PMI, 25 million new project management oriented employees are needed to meet global talent demands by 2030.

The launch of online learning of Project Management is the second collaboration between DP Education and Moratuwa University. Last year they launched the full stack developer online program which has been a major success with over 200,000 registering.

Murtaza Jafferjee, the Chief Executive Officer of JB Securities Ltd, emphasized the need to avoid “distortion” when implementing tax reform in Sri Lanka. He made these remarks during the two-day Tax Symposium organized by CA Sri Lanka, which focused on macroeconomics, IMF proposals, and the way forward.

Jafferjee highlighted the discrepancy in taxation between diesel and petrol in Sri Lanka, where diesel is taxed at a lower rate while petrol is taxed at a higher tier. He pointed out that in many other countries, diesel is taxed higher and is more expensive than petrol. The argument in Sri Lanka against increasing duty on diesel is that it would negatively impact the transportation sector and various other industries. Jafferjee also noted the “distortion” created by granting tax holidays to specific sectors and suggested the need for uniformity in such policies. As an example, he mentioned the disparity in taxes paid by Lanka Lubricants compared to LIOC in the lubricant business.

The symposium also featured a special segment where officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank provided insights into property tax and wealth tax proposals that will be implemented in Sri Lanka based on an agreement between the government and the IMF. Sebastian Beer, an Economist at the Tax Policy Division of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, shared his views on the impact of property taxation on the Sri Lankan economy. Alastair Thomas, a Senior Economist from the World Bank, delivered a detailed presentation on wealth taxation in developing economies, including capital income taxation and the benefits of introducing such taxes.

The symposium aimed to shed light on key tax-related issues and provide participants with a better understanding of proposed tax reforms and their implications for the Sri Lankan economy.

In a significant development, the Cabinet has granted approval to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena’s proposal, allowing both local and foreign unpaid leave for government officials while ensuring their seniority and pension remain unaffected.

Minister Gunawardena, responsible for Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, put forth the proposal during a previous Cabinet meeting. The approval was granted, considering the potential benefits of granting unpaid leave to government officials without compromising their seniority and pension rights.

To implement this decision, the State Administration Circular 14/2022(III) was issued on July 13, 2023, under the signature of State Administration Secretary K.D.N. Ranjith Ashoka.

The Provincial Chief Secretaries will be responsible for implementing the necessary measures outlined in this circular within the Provincial public service. Their actions will be conducted under the guidance and approval of the respective Governors. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance will issue instructions regarding the application of these provisions to officers working in public enterprises funded by the government.

The approval of this proposal highlights the government’s commitment to providing flexibility to government officials while safeguarding their entitlements and benefits, including seniority and pension rights.

During a recent meeting with Health Minister, Health officials, and Finance Ministry officials, President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the significance of ensuring timely access to medication and promoting transparency within Sri Lanka’s pharmaceutical sector. The President put forth a proposal to establish websites managed by the Health Ministry, providing real-time information about the availability of drugs across the country, including specific quantities in each hospital, which will be updated daily. To streamline the distribution process, a networking system will be implemented, facilitating the transfer of drugs between hospitals and bypassing bureaucratic hurdles.

President Wickremesinghe emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “Let’s be transparent in what every hospital has. It will be very important, as you say, the transparency of it. Then the people can’t come and complain if things are available.”

Acknowledging the challenges arising from current procedures that lead to drug shortages, the President directed the Health Ministry to expedite the approval process for drugs endorsed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other countries. Additionally, he called for amendments to the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Act to enable swift action and overcome obstacles in drug procurement.

During the meeting, various other issues were addressed, including the extension of the retirement age for doctors, consideration of Arts Stream candidates in nursing recruitment, budget allocations, and the need for fully equipped medical facilities. The President stressed the importance of utilizing existing resources effectively and promoting accountability.

Discussions also took place regarding outstanding payments and service agreements for medical equipment. A plan was devised to ensure timely payments and prevent the diversion of funds for other purposes, emphasizing the need for proper documentation and financial transparency.

The effectiveness and necessity of the NMRA came under scrutiny, leading to the appointment of a team of experts to assess its activities and provide recommendations within two weeks. The President suggested the possibility of directly ordering FDA and UK-approved drugs without going through the NMRA process, proposing an amendment to expedite the approval of such drugs.

Efforts were also made to address medical personnel who have not yet registered with the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), with plans to amend regulations in the next two weeks. The meeting also highlighted the need to review procurement processes within the health sector to reduce government expenditure, with the President encouraging prompt decision-making and consulting the Attorney General for necessary actions and regulation amendments.

Overall, the meeting emphasized the intention to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and tackle the challenges faced by the NMRA and the healthcare sector as a whole.

It has been reported that “several leading private hospitals in Colombo “ are keeping a massive margin sometimes three times the supplier price and making an unethical killing.

At a time that Sri Lanka is going through an economic issue and the population has to tighten their belts, with high interest rates , high inflation, high taxes these hospitals have decided to add a 300% margin .

It was reported in the press that the NMRA is probing these hospitals.
The authorities should impose hefty fines for these businesses and even impose jail terms for their board of directors as it is truly criminal and unethical. If such laws are not present such laws should be drafted.

Families of loved ones are selling, mortgaging and borrowing to pay the hefty bills these hospitals are throwing at them . They are left helpless as the only other option is death.

Reliable sources state that these hospital owners have been mismanaging their businesses. In order to feed their egos, they take the lucrative profits of their hospitals and invest in other businesses where they have no knowledge. They have milked the cow dry and now have no option but to engage in these type of unethical practices of over charging .