An Indian National Defence College (NDC) delegation led by Rear Admiral Sanjay Sachdeva called on State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon at his office in Colombo yesterday (28).
The delegation of senior foreign military officers who arrived at the Island as part of their tour on strategic neighbourhood studies was warmly received by the State Minister and had a cordial discussion with them.
Representing the delegation, Brig. Rajat Kumar and Col. Ushakov Rusian Leonidovich were also present at the meeting.
At the culmination of the discussion, the Minister Tennakoon conveyed his best wishes to the visiting delegation for successful future endeavours.
Assistant Defence Advisor to the Indian High Commision Lt. Col. Puneet Sushil was also present at the event.
Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee continues to remain steady against the US Dollar as revealed by several leading commercial banks in the country today (29) in comparison to the day before.
Accordingly, Peoples Bank reveals that the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 315.56 and Rs. 330.38, respectively.
At Commercial Bank, the buying price of the US Dollar has increased to Rs. 315.70 from yesterday’s Rs. 314.73, but the selling price remains unchanged at Rs. 328.
At Sampath Bank, the buying and selling prices of the US Dollar remain unchanged at Rs. 317 and Rs. 328, respectively.
Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Health announced that it will be conducting a full investigation into the recent death of a patient at the National Hospital in Colombo upon being administered an antibiotic.
The decision was taken during a special discussion held on the matter yesterday (28) at the Ministry, according to Deputy Director General of Health Services Dr. G. Wijesuriya.
He noted that the cause of the death of the patient was an infection caused by the antibiotic administered, and the post-mortem examination had raised concerns about it.
The deceased was a 50-year old male who was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for treatment for a cut wound.
In the meantime, the use of the antibiotic in question, Co-Amoxiclav, has temporarily been suspended.
Colombo(LNW): Educate Sri Lanka Colombo Expo 2023, the prestigious annual higher education and study abroad exhibition, is set to empower students with knowledge, inspiration, and opportunities as they seek to navigate today’s world of higher education. The event is organized by Evolution Events and Corporate Services (EECS) and will be held from 1st to 3rd September 2023 at the BMICH. The Colombo Career Expo 2023 will be held in parallel on the same days and venue.
Educate Sri Lanka Colombo Expo 2023 serves as an informative event where aspiring students, parents, universities and higher education institutions gather on one platform in Colombo to explore a wide range of educational prospects for the students and help them navigate the world of higher education and international study with ease. The event is ideally suited for students who have received their local O/L and A/L results, Cambridge O/L and A/L results as well as those who have completed their undergrad studies.
The dynamic dual event serves to meet several key objectives. It provides a platform for students to explore higher education opportunities in various fields based on their preference. It helps them to independently select the most suitable career pathways through professional career guidance and counselling. It also provides an opportunity for leading universities and educational institutes to engage with these students directly, allowing them to create awareness about scholarships, grants, and financial aid options available for Sri Lankan students pursuing higher education in foreign countries. It also facilitates networking opportunities for students, allowing them to connect with professionals from various industries and explore potential internships and job opportunities.
Sharing his thoughts on the event, Mr.Meshach Reuben, Director/CEO of Evolution Events and Corporate Services (EECS) stated, “The year 2023 marked a momentous milestone for Evolution Events as we successfully concluded a series of exhibitions under the brand Educate Sri Lanka Expo in Gampaha and Batticaloa as well as the prestigious Jaffna Education Fair in Jaffna. These events stood as shining examples of our commitment to empowering students across the nation with access to quality education and delivering unparalleled opportunities. I warmly invite all students and their parents to join us at this extraordinary dual event as we unlock the doors to knowledge, inspire lifelong learning, and pave the way to a brighter future for our younger generations.”
The Colombo Career Expo 2023 is an exclusive career and internship fair designed to provide a platform for job seekers, students, and professionals to explore exciting career opportunities and connect with leading organizations in the country. Recent graduates in IT, Business, Engineering, Marketing, Law, and many other disciplines will find the Career Expo the perfect setting to launch their careers and fulfill their career aspirations by exploring internship opportunities at the best organizations in Sri Lanka. Participating organizations gain access to this talent pool, increasing their chances of finding qualified candidates who align with their varied requirements and company culture.
Evolution Events and Corporate Services (EECS) specializes in organizing exhibitions, trade fairs, corporate events and conferences and provides a wide spectrum of event related solutions and media services to the corporate sector.
Colombo (LNW): The government is undertaking a programme to issue national identity cards to those above the age 40 who are unable to obtain one due to the absence of a birth certificate, Commissioner General of the Department of Registration of Persons Pradeep Saputhanthri said.
Accordingly, a circular was issued in this regard to all Divisional Secretariats, he added.
Sri Lankans above the age of 40, who are permanently resided in a Grama Niladhari Division and are registered in the voter’s register, but have not yet obtained a national identity card due to the aforementioned issue, will be eligible to apply for the opportunity.
Fort Magistrate prohibits 24 individuals belonging to trade unions and political parties from entering several areas in Colombo: nevertheless, massive crowds demonstrate opposite the Fort Railway station against the Domestic Debt Re-structuring, the slashing of EPF & ETF Member balances, and the hardships of the IMF Programme.
Cardinal Ranjith says if a bridge is to be constructed connecting Sri Lanka and India, a referendum should be held in order to seek the people’s consent for such a move: also says it is the rulers who betrayed the country to foreigners throughout history.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles charges that the Catholic Church hadn’t given the Govt an opportunity to thrash out all issues regarding the continuing controversy over the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage: claims the Church, instead of frankly discussing any outstanding issues with the government and law enforcement authorities, had turned down that request.
Brother of Foreign Minister Ali Sabry and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Chairman Uvais Muhammad says the proposed forensic audit to ascertain the financial status of the CPC could be conducted despite the absence of a former senior official: also says the CPC had chosen a private organisation to conduct the forensic audit, on the instructions of the Power and Energy Minister.
State Finance Minister Shehan Semasinghe says the Treasury has released Rs.5 bn to banks to provide relief for 800,000 “Aswasuma” beneficiaries and the funds will be transferred to the relevant accounts during the next couple of days.
Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles says unregistered Non-Governmental Organisations will not be allowed to operate in Sri Lanka.
Around 20 public officials reported to have flouted a Presidential Secretariat directive to travel on Economy class instead of Business class for their official visits overseas: a Treasury circular to be issued soon to secure the reimbursements of the difference in fare if it has been out of state funds: the original circular was issued 4 months ago to cut down state expenses.
Dept of Meteorology announces that the sun will be directly over the latitudes of SL from Aug 28 to Sept 7.
State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says legal action will be taken against organizations and individuals who are carrying out or involved in Pyramid schemes; Central Bank also warns people against participating in Pyramid schemes, deeming it a punishable offence.
FIFA Council lifts the suspension of the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, but will continue to monitor the situation until the FFSL elections on September 29, 2023.
Colombo (LNW): The lawsuit filed by the Commission to Investigation Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) against Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Milan Jayathilaka and a Member of the Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha over the allegation of receiving a bribery of Rs. 600,000 for the issuance of a licence for quarrying metal stones will be taken up for hearing from November 11, 2023, ordered the Colombo High Court.
This was when the case was called in before Colombo High Court Judge Navaratna Marasinghe yesterday (28).
The case was filed by the CIABOC on eight counts including the demanding of Rs. 700,000 as bribery for the issuance of a licence to operate a quarry, the reception of Rs. 600,000, and aiding and abetting the affair, during defendant Jayathilaka’s tenure as the Chairman of the Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha in 2012.
Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha Member Ajith Sisira Kuamra is cited as the other defendant to the case.
Colombo (LNW): Secretary to the Ministry of Information Technology Prof. Niranjan Gunawardena has reportedly decided to resign from his position.
Prof. Gunawardena also serves as the Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka and recently has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa.
Gunawardena’s decision to resign from his position as the Secretary to the IT Ministry comes upon the pressure exerted by what speculators describe as ‘a higher fist’ to award the digital identity card tender to a well known blacklisted company, sources said.
Gunawardena, on the other hand, responded to the speculations stating that he has decided to resign from his position at the Ministry due to being appointed as the Vice Chancellor of the Moratuwa University.
Colombo (LNW): Showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, and several spells of showers will occur in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (29).
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in Uva province and in Ampara, Batticaloa and Mulathivu districts during the evening or night, the statement added.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
On the apparent southward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka during 28th of August to 07th of September in this year. The nearest towns of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (29) are Palavi (Kilinochchi District), Chalai (Mulathivu District) about 12.11 noon.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Colombo to Matara via Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly and speed will be (30-35) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (50-55) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Hambantota to Pottuvil, and from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai. Wind speed may increase up to (40-45) 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 Puttalam to Kankasanthurai via Mannar may be rough at times. The sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle may be fairly rough at times.
Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Urban Development has taken steps to implement a project to improve the convection facilities in the Sigiri region which will generate a huge income for the country from tourism.
The project is being implemented at a cost of US$15million under the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB) with the aim of improving tourism facilities, rural development, income generation and investment promotion in Sigiriya region.
Sigiriya tourism zone will be developed under nine sub projects under the ministry of urban development and housing minister Prasanna Ranatunge disclosed adding that this project will be foreign exhnge money spinner after its completion.
The nine sub projects include new car parks for surrounding villages, improvement of sanitary facilities and the Sigiriya entrance road, establishing an information centre at Sigiriya, conservation of Mapangala archeological site,and rehabilitation of Sigiri Lake and the , establishment of a heritage path from Ramakele to Pidurangala.
The othersubprojects are the conservation of the archaeological site surrounding Kaludiya Pond, improvement of infrastructure facilities at Inamaluwa Lake for recreational activities, development of infrastructure for tourist and recreational activities centred on Galewela Lake, and development of a solid waste management system in the Digampathana area.
The Sigiriya Rock Fortress was listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, making Sri Lanka the only Asian country to make it onto the list along with six other iconic sites appealing to the new age traveller with a thirst for adventure.
These marvels include archaeological and natural treasures spanning far wider than the ancient Greek world and catering to all types of modern explorers
Dating back to King Kashyapa in the fifth century A.D., Sigiriya is the “perfect amalgam of human-made treasure and natural wonder” enthuses Bloomberg.
Known as Lion Rock — a reference to the paws sculpted into the base of the 660-foot-tall stone — it includes elaborate cisterns and gardens, frescoed caves, and a winding stairway to the crowning citadel.
Sri Lanka Tourism has strategically embarked on developing Sigiriya, a World Heritage site, into a sustainable destination under the National Sustainable Destination Certification (NSDC) initiative.
Sustainable tourism is essential to protect natural, cultural, and environmental resources which are critical for the wellbeing of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry. If these valuable resources are not sustained, Sri Lanka could see dwindling tourist numbers in the future.
