The Parliamentary Staff Sports Club recently won the group A and C championships in the 2023 State Service Carrom Tournament.
The Parliamentary Staff Sports Club won the championship by beating the Colombo University team in the final match of Group A and the Moratuwa University team in the final match of Group C. Representing the Parliamentary Staff Sports Club, Sujeewa Lasantha (Captain), Rasika Rajapaksa, Gayan Perera, Priyantha Dharmasena and Sanjay Fernando participated in the Group A matches and Tharindu Perera (Captain), Bawanta Shamika, Pradeep Pushpakumara, R.M Ratnayake and Chathushka Madhusanka participated in the Group C matches.
The Parliamentary Staff Sports Club, who won the championship, was congratulated by the Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadheera, Assistant Secretary General Mr. Hansa Abeyratne and other senior staff members.
Tamil political leaders condemn a member of the government under the guise of parliamentary privileges and pressuring the judiciary by denouncing the race of a judge.
Tamil political leaders point out that MP Sarath Weerasekera is trying to stir up racist feelings among the Sinhalese people by saying that a Tamil judge will intervene in the case related to the controversial Kurundi temple built at the Kurunthurmale archaeological site.
The Mullaitivu Bar Association, which unanimously passed a resolution condemning the statement of Rear Admiral Weerasekera, who is also a former Minister of Public Security, is scheduled to hold a protest in front of the Mullaitivu Court today (Tuesday 11).
MP Weerasekera’s quarrel with Mullaitivu Magistrate T.Saravanaraja has arisen when the judge took steps to stop him from speaking during a court inquiry held at the Kurunthurmale archaeological site on July 4.
When Magistrate Saravanarasa and all parties went there to investigate the complaint made by Adisivan Iyer Temple Administrator Council that the construction of the Kurunthurmale archaeological site was being carried out despite court orders, Parliamentarian Sarath Weerasekera was also present there along with a group of lay priests.
The MP Sarath Weerasekera has tried to state the facts when the Buddhist monks were allowed to perform religious ceremonies there by the order of the magistrate while the courts are investigating.
But Justice Saravanaraja, who refused to give his opinion, said that it cannot be allowed to publish the opinions of MPs, politicians or religious leaders. He emphasized that since it is a judicial matter, only the submissions of the lawyers are sufficient.
The magistrate also said that although other MPs were also present, none of them were allowed to express any opinion during the observation.
Ilangei Tamil Arasu Katchi Media Spokesperson, Member of Parliament MA Sumanthiran says that the judge came there with other parties to see if the court order related to the Kurunthurmale archaeological site has been violated, condemning the threatening statement of the government member.
“It is inappropriate for MP Sarath Weerasekera to criticize the litigant who came to fulfill his responsibility by using parliamentary privileges.”
Saying that Sri Lanka is a country of Sinhalese Buddhists, he cannot accept the views of this MP, who incites Sinhala racism, says the leader of the Tamil People’s National Alliance, Member of Parliament CV Wigneswaran.
The general secretary of the Tamil National Janata Peramuna, Member of Parliament Selvarasa Gajendran emphasizes that it clearly shows that his main aim is to intimidate the magistrate who started by using parliamentary privileges and to incite racism among the Sinhalese.
It is not known whether the Sri Lanka Bar Association or the Judicial Service Commission said anything regarding the statement made by the Rear Admiral in Parliament against the Mullaitivu Magistrate.
Meanwhile, Mullaitivu Magistrate T Saravanarasa has ordered that the reports of the Archeology Department and the Police should be submitted on August 8 regarding whether the new constructions have been carried out contrary to the court order.
During an official visit to the State of Goiás in Brazil on July 7, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Brazil, Sumith Dassanayake, held meetings with key officials to foster political and commercial partnerships between Sri Lanka and the State of Goiás. The State of Goiás is known for its rapid development, boasting a GDP of over BRL 42 billion and excelling in commerce, agriculture, livestock, mining, and food production.
Ambassador Dassanayake engaged in constructive discussions with Mayor Rogério Cruz of Goiánia, where the proposal to establish a “Sister City” project between the Municipal Council of Goiania and a prominent Municipal Council in Sri Lanka was warmly accepted. The ambassador also provided insights into the socio-political developments in Sri Lanka and highlighted trade, tourism, and investment opportunities available for the business community in the State of Goiás.
The Mayor expressed confidence in further strengthening the relations between Sri Lanka and the State of Goiás across multiple fields following the productive meetings with Ambassador Dassanayake and his team.
In another significant meeting, Ambassador Dassanayake met with Marco César Chaul, the President of the Federation of Trade in Goods, Services, and Tourism of the State of Goiás (Fecomércio-GO). During the discussion, the ambassador emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in collaborating closely with the industrial sector in Goiás, particularly in pharmaceuticals, ICT services, tourism, and rubber-based industries. He also highlighted investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka, specifically in the Colombo Port City and the Industrial Zone in Hambantota, for Brazilian investors.
Both parties agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on trade, tourism, and investment promotions between Fecomércio-GO and a leading Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Brazil will undertake preliminary arrangements for the MoU, facilitating closer cooperation between the two entities.
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal put forth by the Urban Development and Housing Minister to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order to obtain a satellite technology-based oil spill monitoring service. Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana made this announcement during the weekly Cabinet media briefing held at the Government Information Department.
With the shipping industry and port development experiencing growth, there has been an increase in the number of ships navigating Sri Lankan waters. Consequently, it has become imperative to establish a system that can swiftly gather information about oil spills caused by ships. Such a system would enable prompt measures to prevent marine pollution, identify the responsible vessels, and take appropriate legal actions. As a pilot project, the Economics and Finance Ministry of France has agreed to provide a grant of 601,810 Euros through Collected Localization Satellites (CLS) to support this endeavor.
The draft Memorandum of Understanding prepared for this purpose has received clearance from the Attorney General’s office. Subsequently, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Urban Development and Housing Minister to proceed with signing the MoU, solidifying Sri Lanka’s commitment to effective oil spill monitoring with the aid of satellite technology.
A friendly meeting between Rohitha Bogollagama, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Governor, and Ananda Sangari, the leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), took place at Bogollagama’s house in London Place, Colombo 07.
Furthermore, Rohitha Bogollagama is scheduled to start his duties as the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Great Britain on 01.08.2023.
A measles outbreak has been identified at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, with four confirmed cases, according to Dr. Deepal Perera, a Consultant Paediatrician at the hospital. Speaking to the media, Dr. Perera disclosed that as of Monday (10), 12 children have displayed symptoms of measles, with four cases officially diagnosed.
Measles symptoms encompass high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a characteristic rash known as the Measles rash, as explained by Dr. Perera. He further revealed that among the children exhibiting symptoms, some had not received the MMR vaccine for measles.
The MMR vaccine, which is administered free of charge at 9 months and 3 years of age, is strongly recommended by Dr. Perera to ensure the health and safety of children. He emphasized the importance of parents ensuring their children receive these vaccines to prevent the spread of measles and safeguard against potential complications.
Dr. Deepal Perera issued a warning regarding the significant increase in measles cases observed in recent days. He urged parents to remain vigilant and stressed the potential severity of health complications that could arise for children affected by the disease.
In light of the outbreak, he reiterated the necessity for parents to promptly seek the MMR vaccine for their children, underscoring its role in preventing adverse health consequences associated with measles.
The Sri Lankan Rupee experienced a depreciation against the US Dollar at commercial banks in Sri Lanka today (July 12) compared to the previous day.
At Peoples Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar rose from Rs. 304.61 to Rs. 305.58, while the selling rate also increased from Rs. 319.59 to Rs. 320.61.
According to Commercial Bank, the buying and selling rates of the US Dollar increased from Rs. 304.61 to Rs. 305.83 and from Rs. 317 to Rs. 319, respectively.
At Sampath Bank, the buying rate of the US Dollar increased from Rs. 302 to Rs. 305, while the selling rate rose from Rs. 317 to Rs. 320.
Colombo (LNW): In a bid to scale up its dairy production and improve the quality of local milk to become self-sufficient, Sri Lanka is set to sign joint declaration of intent with India for cooperation in dairy farming.
The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for the combined proposal to sign a joint declaration of intent between the Government of India and the Government of Sri Lanka, to work together to achieve the goals of improving the quality of dairy products in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the cabinet decision press briefing Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena stated that the programme will assist in making the country self-sufficient in milk production and increasing the income of small-scale dairy farmers.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the combined proposal presented by the President and the Minister of Agriculture to sign the said joint declaration of intent.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the Joint Declaration of Intent (JDOI) that has been drafted for this purpose.
Sri Lanka government has already sought technical assistance from India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and market leader Amul, reviving a collaboration that the island attempted in the late 1990s, but failed to take forward.
Officials from Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Ministry and National Livestock Development Board held a “preliminary discussion” with visiting Indian authorities from the NDDB, the President’s media division sometimes back.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a committee with representatives from Sri Lanka’s public and private sectors, to work with the NDDB and “prepare a short, medium and long-term plan to increase local milk production to reduce the country’s dependence on imported milk powder”, his office said in a statement.
The partnership is not new to Sri Lanka, where former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga invited India’s “milk man” Verghese Kurien to set up the ‘Kiriya’ dairy project, named after the Sinhala word for milk.
A US $20 million joint venture between the NDDB and Sri Lanka’s MILCO was announced, but the project did not take off, in the wake of resistance from nationalist worker unions and powerful business lobbies in Sri Lanka.
Currently, Sri Lanka’s domestic dairy production meets less than half of its requirements. The dollar-strapped island nation spends about $300 million annually on dairy imports, mostly from New Zealand.
As the country’s economy crashed earlier this year, leading to severe shortages, milk powder — widely used in Sri Lanka where fresh milk is scarce — was unavailable to most.
The Cabinet of Sri Lanka has granted approval to sign a joint statement of intent between the governments of India and Sri Lanka for cooperation in the field of animal husbandry and dairying. This announcement was made by Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana during a weekly Cabinet media briefing held at the Government Information Department.
The proposed joint declaration of intent aims to foster collaboration between the two countries in order to enhance the quality of dairy products in Sri Lanka, achieve self-sufficiency in milk production, and increase the income of small-scale dairy farmers.
The Attorney General’s office has given clearance for the drafted Joint Declaration of Intent. Consequently, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the combined proposal presented by the President and the Agriculture Minister to proceed with signing the joint declaration of intent.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra expressed optimism about the forthcoming visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to New Delhi, describing it as a potential catalyst for positive changes in the relations between the two countries. Kwatra’s statement followed bilateral talks held with Sri Lankan counterparts, including Aruni Wijewardane, the Foreign Minister, and Ali Sabry, the Foreign Minister.
The government has taken a significant step towards state-owned enterprise reform with the appointment of transaction advisors for the divestiture of 7 identified entities. The decision is in line with the policy directive set by the government and aims to ensure effective and transparent divestiture of key entities.
Colombo port city highlighted its untapped potential for tourism investors as the island nation is rapidly recovering the tourism industry and Sri Lanka Tourism’s ambitious targets for the upcoming year.
Five suspects have been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for attempting to smuggle out gold from Sri Lanka. According to Sri Lanka Customs, the suspects were arrested at the departure terminal of the BIA with 8.65kg of gold.
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has decided not to renew the money changing permits for well-known communication agency Salaka and 14 others, for the year 2023. Issuing a statement, the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka said that it has decided not to renew the money changing permits of 15 money changers for the year 2023.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has been appointed for the divestiture of three state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (10 July) approved the appointment of IFC for the divestiture of Sri Lankan Airlines Limited, Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC and Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.
The government expects to attract many visitors from Asia, including India, East Asia, South Asia, and West Asia, because it is easier for them to travel. It will open up the Eastern Province, and there will be apartments available for purchase where you can directly stay near the beaches of the Eastern Province. The laws will be changed to accommodate tourism development plans.
The removal of the indigenous tree “Crudia Zeylanica” located in the Daraluwa area in Gampaha, which caused a controversy in 2021, was carried out based on Cabinet approval, Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the media.
The G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination 2023 will be held from November 27 to December 21: Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha announced.
Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has topped off an excellent month to claim the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for June 2023. Hasaranga beat out strong opposition from Australia batter Travis Head and Zimbabwe opener Sean Williams for the coveted award on the back of his superb performances for the island nation at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
