Colombo (LNW): The President has granted his approval to import chicken for food industrial purpose, revealed Trade Minister Nalin Fernando today (31).

Speaking to media this afternoon, the Minister added that the decision to import chicken has been taken in a move to control prices in the market.

Colombo (LNW): The Fort Magistrate Court has issued an order barring a group of people including Leader of the National People’s Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Tilvyn Silva and several others from staging demonstrations within several areas in Colombo, after taking into consideration certain facts presented by the Fort Police.

These areas are;

The Presidential Secretariat,
The President’s House,
The Ministry of Finance,
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka,
The Police Headquarters,
Olcott Street from Colombo Fort Railway Station to CTO Junction,
Lotus Road from CTO Junction to Ceramic Junction NSA Roundabout,
York Street,
Bank Street,
Chatham Street,
Mudalige Street,
Baron Jayathilaka Street,
In front of the Police Headquarters,
Scouts Street
Temple Road,
President’s Street,
The Galle Road from the Gallface Roundabout to the NSA Roundabout and the Galleface Green premises up to the Presidential Secretariat

Accordingly, the order stands in effect barring the NPP activists from staging this demonstration from 12 pm noon to 06 pm today (31).

Colombo (LNW): More than 56,000 cases of dengue have been identified in Sri Lanka this year, with the highest number of cases being detected in the Western Province, revealed the National Dengue Control Unit,

Over 50 per cent of the cases were found in the Western Province, and the risk of the contagion still remains, warned Director of the Unit, Dr. Nalin Ariyaratne.

He added that a large number of dengue cases were also found in the Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Puttalam districts, with a considerable account of cases being traced in the Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts as well.

Colombo (LNW): Employees of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses attached to several depots have launched a strike action this (31) morning, in objection to an assault of a depot inspector at the Horowpathana depot, Lankadeepa reported.

Accordingly, the strike action has been endorsed by employees attached to the depots in Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Kekirawa, Horowpathana, Polonnaruwa, Kebithigollewa, and Kantale, according to the report.

The strike action has reportedly affected public transportation in the said areas.

Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka firmly stands against terrorism and will not tolerate any form of support or actions that contribute to terrorist activities, said State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, addressing a meeting with Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler.

The Turkish government commended the Sri Lankan government and its security forces, including intelligence agencies, for their significant efforts in combating the Fethullah Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ) led by the Fethullah Gulen groups.

Colombo (LNW): A special discussion will be held on August 04 under the patronage of Public Security Minister Tiran Alles.

The discussion will focus on the government’s drug eradication policy, and is expected to be attended by about 100 government officials involved in drug eradication in Sri Lanka.

1. Chairman of the PSC to study the practical problems and difficulties arisen in relation to enhancing the rank in the Ease of Doing Business Index in Sri Lanka and make its proposals and recommendations Madhura Withanage says President Wickremesinghe has provided guidance and support for the implementation of numerous programs aimed at creating a conducive environment for investment in the country.
   
2. Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital Director, specialist Dr. Ratnasiri Hevage says safeguarding Sri Lanka’s free health sector, renowned for having one of the best health systems globally, is not solely the responsibility of the government, but also falls upon the healthcare staff, the public, and the mass media: asserts no country manufactures a category of drugs termed “inferior drugs,” and the importation of unregistered drugs is strictly prohibited.
   
3. Education Minister Susil Premjayanth says new graduates will be recruited as teachers for the subject streams of Science, Technology, and English and foreign languages; adds the next steps regarding the recruitment of new graduates as teachers will be undertaken at the provincial level.
   
4. Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says the depreciation of the Sri Lanka Rupee in recent times is a temporary fluctuation caused by changes in demand and supply: asserts the government has allowed the value of the US Dollar and the Sri Lanka Rupee to be determined based on market conditions, and the situation was influenced by the need for banks to collect enough foreign currency to provide for depositors who invested in Sri Lanka Development Bonds.
   
5. JVP/NPP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake expresses gratitude for France’s willingness to support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring programme; adds all creditors, however, should simultaneously probe into what happened to the debts they had given to Sri Lanka; The Auditor General reveals that external debt not properly allocated on projects for which they were granted: Out of Rs. 08 trillion of debt, only Rs. 02 trillion (25%) identified as assets.
   
6. The GMOA urges the authorities to immediately launch an impartial probe into the recent death of a toddler during a kidney operation at the LRH Hospital: GMOA Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe says it is essential to promptly launch a probe into the incident as to ascertain the cause of death; adds it is unfair for both parties, the victim’s party and the medical officers, to draw early conclusions on what exactly happened without a comprehensive analysis.
   
7. The Human Rights Commission says it has looked into the reports claiming that journalist Tharindu Uduwararagedara was assaulted and arrested by Borella Police while covering a story on a protest held in Colombo: adds its Rapid Response Team visited Borella Police station and inquired about the condition of the journalist: asserts the Commission will call for reports from relevant parties alleged to have been connected to this incident and summon all the concerned individuals as well for an inquiry.
   
8. Defence State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon says Sri Lanka firmly stands against terrorism and will not tolerate any form of support or actions that aid terrorist activities: Turkey commends the GOSL and its security forces, including intelligence agencies, for their significant efforts in combatting the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) led by the Fethullah Gulen groups.
   
9. Sri Lanka welcomes 748,377 tourists from January 1st to July 27th, 2023, exceeding the 2022 total of 719,978: July sees over 120,000 tourist arrivals, surpassing 100,000 arrivals for the sixth time in the first seven months of the year: India remains the top source market, contributing 17% of total arrivals with 20,770 tourists: China emerges as one of the top three markets, making up 7% of total arrivals in July with 8,446 tourists.
   
10. Sri Lanka Netball Team led by Gayanjali Amarawansa defeated fighting to Wales by 56-68 in their World Cup Netball fixture played at Cape town, South Africa: Wales dominates the game with a gap of 12 points to win the match after good battle.