Colombo (LNW): A group of Russian delegates is set to arrive in Sri Lanka this September and October to initiate discussions on establishing a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, revealed Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan S. Dzhagaryan.
Russian delegates may arrive to commence negotiations in this regard, and these discussions will hopefully be commenced in the autumn season, Dzhagaryan said.
That being said, the discussions to establish a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka may take place in September and October, and the outcome of which will hopefully be positive, he added.
Colombo (LNW): In a bid to expand the operations of seizing illegal firearms and hand grenades throughout the country, all Police personnel and private tippers will be encouraged by increasing the amount of cash rewards granted through the Police Reward Fund for a period of one month, informed Inspector General of Police (IGP) all senior Police officers in writing.
The move has been taken based on the order of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, and will be valid for the period of 25.06.2023 – 31.07.2023, the IGP informed.
Below are the details on the manner in which the cash rewards entitled to Police personnel who seize illegal firearms and hand grenades and those who tip on such information will be increased.
Colombo (LNW): All Ruling Party MPs and Ministers have been urged in a special notice to stay in Colombo next week as a mandatory requirement, starting from tomorrow (26).
This has been informed through the Office of the Chief Organiser of the Ruling Party, due to a series of special meetings and what sources elaborate as ‘a special Parliament resolution’ pending next week.
The retention in Colombo being a priority, all Ruling Party MPs have also been instructed to halt their foreign travels as well, according to sources.
PMD: Senior Consultant Physician Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama says that there is a risk of a dengue epidemic with the upcoming monsoon, thus dengue control needs to receive more attention from all sectors.
He emphasized that everyone’s assistance is important for this because neither the Government nor the Health Authorities cannot control dengue virus on their own.
There has been a clear increase in the number of dengue cases this year, according to Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama, and more over 47,000 cases have been reported since January.
Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama mentioned that the majority of the patients recorded thus far are from the Colombo and Gampaha districts and the Health and Security Forces will work together to launch a special initiative to clean up the garbage in those areas.
He stated so while joining the ‘101 Katha’ program produced by the President’s Media Division yesterday (23).
Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama further noted;
The Ministry of Health is working to adopt a number of strategies to prevent the spread of dengue in the upcoming period. Implementing dengue control measures by the Government, the private sector, and the public is also crucial. The possibility of controlling dengue fever exists, if this program is sustained for a considerable amount of time. With the upcoming monsoon season, there is a risk that dengue cases would increase. In general, the months of June and July see an upsurge in dengue patients. Therefore, all parties should work with utmost care to control the dengue virus.
Dengue can affect any age group. 75% of reported cases involve people older than 15 years. Nowadays, young people are more likely to contract the disease than small children, despite the fact that it used to spread among them more frequently. Dengue is a virus. As a result, there is a strong likelihood that dengue can be easily transmitted via mosquitos from one infected person to another.
Eliminating mosquito breeding places is vital. The dengue mosquito typically exists in in areas where clean water gathers. Anywhere, including waste plastic, used tires, flower pots, coconut and king coconut shells, serves as a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. Such areas should receive as much attention as possible, and should be removed immediately. In addition, precautions should be made to avoid mosquito bites.
It is important to take precautions against mosquito bites in order to avoid spreading the dengue virus to others. For that, the body might be covered with clothing. Additionally, there are mosquito repellents. It can also control mosquito bites. But none of these approaches is completely effective.
The Local Government authorities, Public Health Inspectors, Health Departments, and Security Forces have all stepped in to help control the disease by destroying mosquito breeding grounds. Special programs are being implemented focusing on the provinces where dengue is spreading most. Within the coming week, a special initiative will begin, with a focus on the Colombo and Gampaha districts, where the majority of cases are reported. There will be a clean-up of the garbage in such areas. It has been agreed to provide the labor contribution of Army for this purpose.
Even if water is removed from containers full of water, mosquito larvae can remain. Therefore, they should be cleaned thoroughly and water should not be allowed to collect again. The typical lifespan of a mosquito is five to six days. Therefore, weekly cleaning of the surroundings is crucial. Keeping your surroundings clean is a must. Controlling dengue cannot be done by one person alone. And it cannot be done only by a few institutions. This requires the support of everyone in the country.
A person suffering from dengue should not work hard. Rest is essential. If not, the chances of complications are high. Any fever patient should only receive Paracetamol, it has been advised. Paracetamol may occasionally fail to entirely bring down fever. However patients should not be afraid in such cases. Having a fever does not escalate to a major issue. Complications can be minimized through physical rest. Meanwhile, it is vital that fluid intakes are given to patients to keep them hydrated. King coconut water, orange and lime juice, and Jeevani are generally recommended for this purpose.
Colombo (LNW): Showery conditions are expected to be enhanced in the southwest part of the country to some extent today (25) and tomorrow (26), announced the Department of Meteorology in its daily weather forecast today.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts, and fairly heavy showers above 50mm are likely at some places in the Western province and in Galle and Matara districts, the statement added.
Several spells of showers will occur in North-western province, and showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night, the Dept revealed.
Fairly strong winds about (40-45) kmph can be expected at times in Western slopes of the central hills, North-central province and in Puttalam, Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershower.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (25-40) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-60) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and off the coast extending from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar. Wind speed may increase up to (40-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil and from Kankasanthurai to Puttalam via Mannar will be rough at times. The sea areas off the coast extending Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle will be fairly rough at times. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
Instruction on setting up a mechanism to check whether stickers are affixed to every bottle of liquor in the distilleries. Instructions to digitize the work of Excise Department Instructions for periodic exchange of officers attached to Excise Department working in liquor factories.
The Excise Department was instructed by Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage to apprise this Committee of the pending laws and regulations necessary to increase the efficiency of the Department.
Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage instructed the officials of the Excise Department at the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Economic and Physical Plans held june (22) in Parliament.
Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Member of Parliament, pointed out to the officials of the Excise Department that the expected revenue from the Excise Department the year is 217 billion rupees and as of June, only 72.985 billion rupees have been earned. He said that due to this, the Excise Department of Sri Lanka has not reached the expected income.
The officials present here pointed out that the production and sale of alcohol has decreased due to the increase in the price of alcohol. The officials pointed out presenting data that the expected income cannot be reached due to this.
Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that the revenue of the Excise Department has not increased for a considerable number of years. Because of this, it is not observed that the income has decreased only due to the increase in the price of alcohol. Therefore, to collect taxes directly from the large-scale alcohol production companies in this country. He also instructed to revoke the licenses of the manufacturing companies that fail to pay taxes in any way.
Furthermore, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage pointed out the need for digitization of the Sri Lankan Excise Department. He pointed out that this institution is with a history of 110 years and the lack of digitization of this institution is a weakness.
The Committee also instructed to prepare a system to check whether stickers are affixed to each liquor bottle in the liquor factories. It was mentioned that there is a trend of liquor bottles being released in to the market without stickers. Due to this, the Committee instructed officials to prepare a proper mechanism to check the matter. The Chair also instructed to take the necessary steps in order to cancel the liquor license of the liquor shops selling alcohol without the sticker. The Chair also advised to check the quantity of liquor supplied to the liquor factories and the quantity of bottles distributed from the factories and take necessary measures if any irregularities occur.
Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage further instructed that the officials attached to the Excise Department who are working in the liquor factories have been working in those companies for a long time, thus it is observed that corruption and irregularities are taking place and therefore to prepare a system to exchange these officials periodically.
The Chair of the Committee instructed to inform the Committee of the laws and regulations that have stopped in the middle, which are necessary to increase the efficiency of the excise department. Accordingly, the Chair of this Committee, Hon. Mahindananda Aluthgamage, recommended to give a report to this Committee within two weeks showing the necessary plans to increase the income of the Sri Lanka Excise Department in relation to these discussed matters. Hon. Harshana Rajakaruna, Hon. Gunathilaka Rajapaksha, Hon. Nipuna Ranawaka, Hon. Sudath Manjula, were present at the Committee meeting held.
In a momentous occasion, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, the Commander of the Air Force, recently declared open the newly established Surface Treatment Plant at SLAF Station Palavi. This inauguration marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance the engineering capabilities of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).
The establishment of the Aircraft Overhaul Wing at SLAF Base Katunayake in 2015 aimed to address the comprehensive overhaul needs of Chinese origin aircraft. As an integral part of this wing, the Surface Treatment Plant plays a vital role in facilitating the surface finishing of spares during the overhaul process for F-7BS/GS and K-8 aircraft.
The design of this cutting-edge workshop was executed by a team of experts from the China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC). Under their supervision, the construction and installation of equipment were carried out, ensuring adherence to aviation standards and quality.
The Surface Treatment Plant boasts a wide range of surface finishing capabilities, encompassing various methods such as Electroplating (including Chrome Plating, Copper Plating, Cadmium Plating, Nickel Plating, Bright Nickel Plating, Tin Plating, Zinc Plating, Silver Plating, and Black Zinc Plating), Anodizing (including Passivation of stainless steel, Chemical conductive anodizing, Sulphuric acid Anodizing, Chemical oxidation of aluminium and its alloy, Chrome acid Anodizing, and Hard Anodizing), and Chemical Treatment (including Phosphating, Bluing, and Passivation of copper).
The successful implementation of this state-of-the-art Surface Treatment Plant not only elevates the engineering capabilities of the SLAF but also positions it as a valuable resource for sister services and external organizations. The facility has the potential to cater to the surface treatment needs of entities such as the Port Authority, Sri Lankan Airlines, and other relevant organizations.
The inauguration of the Surface Treatment Plant reflects the SLAF’s commitment to advancing its engineering capabilities, ensuring the efficient maintenance and overhaul of aircraft. This development signifies a significant step forward in the Sri Lanka Air Force’s ongoing efforts to enhance its operational readiness and contribute to the nation’s defense.
In a significant development, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed his sincere appreciation to the United States for its assistance in Sri Lanka’s debt relief measures and increased financial support for sustainable development. The President conveyed his gratitude during a meeting with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the sidelines of the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact.
President Wickremesinghe commended Secretary Yellen’s leadership in facilitating this support, acknowledging the United States’ backing for Sri Lanka’s reform agenda. Secretary Yellen, in turn, reaffirmed the US government’s commitment to assisting Sri Lanka and sought an update on the country’s progress with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) procedures.
During the meeting, President Wickremesinghe provided an overview of the current situation and highlighted the challenges faced in the debt restructuring process. However, he emphasized that Sri Lanka has chosen to take control of the situation and move forward with determination. The President also shared updates on ongoing discussions with bilateral creditors and briefed Secretary Yellen on the government’s economic objectives and climate prosperity plan. Notably, he emphasized Sri Lanka’s intention to involve the private sector in this process.
The US delegation was also informed about the upcoming visit and engagement between the two countries. In a gesture of goodwill, President Wickremesinghe extended an invitation to Secretary Yellen to visit Sri Lanka.
The President’s Media Division added that the meeting was productive, underscoring the mutual commitment to strengthening cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States. President Wickremesinghe’s expression of gratitude reflects the importance of international support in Sri Lanka’s efforts towards sustainable development and economic stability.
Jay Jayasinghe, a resident of Windsor and originally from Sri Lanka, has struck gold by claiming the top prize of $35 million from the June 6 draw of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s (OLG) Lotto Max. Jayasinghe, who expressed his long-held hope for such an opportunity, plans to enjoy his winnings by purchasing a new Dodge Charger Hellcat and embarking on a cross-country trip across Canada.
Jayasinghe’s stroke of luck came just a week after his daughter’s graduation from university, making the victory feel doubly significant for him. Initially, he and his wife discovered that the winning ticket was sold in Windsor, igniting a glimmer of hope. However, Jayasinghe admitted that he didn’t truly expect to win and put the idea out of his mind.
When he finally checked his ticket and saw the staggering prize amount displayed on the screen, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Overwhelmed with emotions, he scanned the ticket multiple times to confirm the number of zeros in his winnings. The reality of the situation began to sink in, leaving him in a state of disbelief and recounting the following days as a blur.
Jayasinghe immediately called his wife to share the extraordinary news and then rushed to pick her up, bringing her to the store where they validated the ticket together. In that moment, the world seemed to fade away as they embraced each other, oblivious to their surroundings.
With plans for his newfound fortune, Jayasinghe intends to provide his family with a new home and support his daughter’s education. He also has a strong desire to explore Canada’s natural beauty and take a road trip across the country, particularly to see the Rockies. Additionally, Jayasinghe wants to visit family and allocate a portion of his winnings to charitable causes that hold a special place in his heart.
As a lifelong car enthusiast, Jayasinghe will finally fulfill his dream of owning a muscle car. Reflecting on his childhood, he mentioned his father’s habit of saving automotive catalogs for him, a reminder of his deep-rooted passion. He shared with his wife that if he ever won the Lotto Max, he would treat himself to a Dodge Charger Hellcat.
Jayasinghe purchased the winning ticket from a Mac’s convenience store on Tecumseh Road. Overwhelmed by excitement, he admitted that this incredible blessing has overshadowed everything else. Memories of the sacrifices he and his family made for their future continue to replay in his mind, emphasizing the profound impact of this stroke of good fortune. Grateful for the opportunity to build a better life in Canada, Jayasinghe sees no limitations on their dreams now.
