PUCSL has approved power cuts of 02 hours from November 09th to November 11th.

Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW – One hour during the daytime and one hour during night.

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe addresses COP27: says colonialism transferred rich resources of Asia and Africa to Europe, and used those to industrialise colonising countries: states the countries that were plundered, became poor: asserts “umbrella industrialisation” of developed economies is root cause of climate change.
2. NFF Leader and “independent” Opposition MP Wimal Weerawansa says CB Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe earns salaries from CB and IMF: asserts that creates a major “conflict of interest”.
3. Senior Advisor to the President Sagala Ratnayake says World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos had been
   “amazed” by the action policy and vision of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, and had expressed support for the President’s vision.
4. Former Minister and SJB MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has brought the country to a stable level by providing solutions for the immediate problems: SLPP MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage says the President has provided solutions for the
   burning problems.
5. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene blames
   Opposition for President’s
   criticism of Parliament: Speaker’s Media Secretary attributes reasons for such blame, including delay in appointing joint Committees: Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella says Opposition would not join Committees until Government discloses agreement with IMF, in Parliament.
6. International Organisation for Migration says 303 Sri Lankans have been rescued from a distressed vessel and taken to the Port of Vung Tau in Vietnam, 1800 km away from Hanoi.
7. Former CB Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal publishes book titled “ආර්ථික ඝාතකයන් මැද” (“Among Economic Hitmen”): book said to contain “answers to all questions” pertaining to the manner and persons behind the bankruptcy of the country.
8. Colombo Additional Magistrate Keminda Perera orders the remand of 2 police officers and a school principal for torturing Grade 5 students at the Millaniya Primary School, Horana.
9. Sri Lanka Cricket appoints 3-member panel of Justice Sisira Ratnayake, Attorneys at law Niroshana Perera & Asela Rekawa to inquire into the alleged incident involving Danushka Gunathilaka and a woman introduced to him via an Australian “dating” site.
10. UN teams in SL and NGOs extend a “Humanitarian Needs and Priorities” (HNP) Plan that aims to provide life-saving assistance to 3.4 million people amid SL’s worst economic crisis since independence.

The first ever SportUnleash Throwers Championships, which will host some of the world-class competitions for the throwing events in the sport of track and field will take place on Saturday, the 12th of November from 9am to 4pm at the Torrington Grounds, Colombo 07.

This will feature Shot Put throw, Discus throw and Javelin throw for both boys and girls for age categories under 14, 16 and 18. Individuals and schools from around the island are invited to compete, and registrations are currently taking place online through its website www.sportunleashthrowers.com.

There will only be 24 competitors per event and a maximum of 12 competitors in a heat, out of which the best 8 will receive 6 throws with every throw being measured. The top eight performances will also receive certificates, and the top three best throwers will receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. Three Sri Lanka Athletics Association (SLAA) judges will be present at each event to officialize and verify when Sri Lankan records are broken.

Talavou Alailima, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, said, “The SportUnleash Throwers Championships 2022 sets the foundation for a new culture of hosting competitions that are Athlete centric. If we, as a country, desire to realize any noteworthy achievement in the World Arena, every organized competition must ensure that the Athlete can deliver exceptional performances. The SportUnleash Thrower Championships will be an example of what such a competition would look like. We have set ourselves a high standard and plan to achieve them each time until there is a paradigm shift in the Sri Lanka Athletics sphere.”

The Organizing Committee Talavou Alailima – Chairman, and coaches Major Upali Wickramasinghe (Retd), Joy Danushka Perera, Jayakody, Fonseka, and Chethan Silva including coaches Mendis, Hemantha, Janaka in the Sub-Committee. 

This inaugural initiative is by SportUnleash which strives to maximize the sports gifting of children and is well known for its Sports Talent Identification Report that exhibits a 360-degree comprehensive evaluation for children between the ages of 9 – 11.

For registrations to the SportUnleash Throwers Championships 2022, please visit https://www.sportunleashthrowers.com/register/ or contact Chethan on 075 219 8524 or Upali on 077 351 1897, or Joy on 077 362 2383.

The Consul General of Sri Lanka in Toronto, Thushara Rodrigo participated at the Annual Festivals of the Murugan Kovil in Scarborough on 30 October, 2022 at the invitation of the Chief Priest of the temple. The religious programme was attended by over 2000 devotees from the Sri Lankan Canadian Tamil community.

The Chief Priest in his address to the gathering recognized the representation of the Consulate General in the festival and commended the Consulate General for the continued engagement in the religious activities of the Kovil.

Consul General Rodrigo also met with a group of senior Tamils on 29 October 2022 at Scarborough Civic Center to discuss the importance of further strengthening the Consulate’s engagements with the Tamil community and requested them to actively participate in these efforts. They commended the efforts of the Consulate General and agreed to work collectively by encouraging the young people of their community to work with the Consulate General.

Consulate General of Sri Lanka

Toronto

08 November, 2022

President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the first speaker after President Xi Jinping to address, virtually, the well-attended and highly prestigious 5th China International Import Expo CIIE and the Hongqiao Economic Forum Opening Ceremony. In addition to the President of Sri Lanka, the opening ceremony was addressed by the Heads of State or Government of Mauritania, Mozambique, Belarus, Guyana, Solomon Islands, and the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. 

Vice Premier Hu Chunghua moderated the opening session., the new Standing Committee member Li Qiang, who is tipped to succeed Li Keqiang as Premier, wrapped up the session. They were both physically present at the opening ceremony.

President Xi underlined the continued high-level opening up of China and its firm commitment to multilateralism. He emphasized his vision of a shared future, and common prosperity for humanity. High quality development will continue to be pursued by China in a dual circulation economy.

Speakers noted the growth of exports to China. China will import ten trillion dollars worth of goods in the next few years creating vast opportunities for all countries. China, even today, is the largest exporter of goods in the world. It is the second largest importer of goods and services.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised the importance of China as a destination for Sri Lankan exports, the most important source of imports, and a significant source of FDI and tourists.

Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona represented Sri Lanka at the ceremony.

Embassy of Sri Lanka

Beijing

08 November, 2022

The Consul General of Sri Lanka in Karachi Jagath Abeywarna met with the newly elected Senior Vice-Chairman Sohail Nisar and the members of the Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association on 02 November, 2022 at its head office in Karachi to promote collaboration between the two countries in the field of yarn materials.

The Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association was established in 1960 and has interests in yarn of all grades including cotton & mercerised yarn, silk & rayon yarn, woolen yarn, staple fibre yarn and all other synthetic yarns.

The Association has in its fold more than 600 leading yarn companies in the country.

Sri Lanka exported around US$ 34 Mn. yarn materials in 2021 to the world including US$ 0.7 Mn. to Pakistan while it imported US$ 525 Mn. worth of yarn from the world including US$ 22 Mn. of yarn from Pakistan in the same year.

The senior Vice-Chairman and their members showed their interest in collaborations with the Sri Lanka private sector companies and as a first step, the Association agreed to have a webinar with the Sri Lankan companies in the near future. 

Consulate General of Sri Lanka

Karachi

08 November, 2022   

Colombo, 07 November 2022: The United Nations (UN) team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organizations have today revised and extended their joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, which aims to provide life-saving assistance to 3.4 million people amid Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis since independence.

Since June, the HNP has been responding to the Government’s request for UN-backed multi-sector support for Sri Lanka’s debt and food and medicine shortages. Governments and donor agencies have helped the humanitarian community reach over 1 million of the country’s most vulnerable people with cash, food, school meals, medicine, protection, and livelihood support. The HNP—aligned with appeals from other UN agencies—has raised US $79 million for Sri Lanka thanks to landmark support from the U.S and USAID, Australia, Japan including JICA, the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), as well as Canada, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Italy, EU, Switzerland, France, and with additional support from the UK, Germany, Thailand, Sweden, Georgia, Latter Day Saint Charities and private individuals and organizations including Brandix Apparels Ltd, Hemas Holdings PLC, Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC, Daraz (Alibaba Group), Amana Bank PLC and the Citi Foundation. The HNP’s revision extends the plan through 2022 and requires US $70 million in additional funds to reach a total of US $149.7 million.

“We are immensely appreciative of the solidarity the international community has shown with the people of Sri Lanka, including through their generous contributions to the HNP. This solidarity must be sustained if we are to insulate the most at-risk people from the impacts of the ongoing crisis,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy.

In response to the humanitarian community’s updated estimates on the number of people in need across all 25 of Sri Lanka’s districts, the extended appeal will improve nutrition for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers; secure safe drinking water; and protect vulnerable farming and fishing households. Ms. Singer-Hamdy stressed the importance of strengthening local food production and delivery. “At this point, safeguarding livelihoods is safeguarding lives in Sri Lanka,” she said.

Food insecurity in Sri Lanka has increased dramatically due to two consecutive seasons of poor harvests, foreign exchange shortages, and reduced household purchasing power. With a poor harvest season forecast for 2023 and food inflation of 85.6 per cent in October 2022, many Sri Lankans are struggling. Twenty-eight per cent of the population—or 6.3 million people—face moderate-to-severe acute food insecurity. According to the World Bank’s 2022 Development Update, the poverty rate rose from 13.1 percent to 25.6 percent between 2021 and 2022.

The revised HNP complements existing emergency operations carried out by the UN and humanitarian partners. Among its targets are immediate food assistance for 2.4 million vulnerable and food-insecure people; provision of support and fertilizers for 1.5 million farmers and fishers to revive food systems that have been severely disrupted.

The appeal also seeks to provide nutrition support for 2.1 million people, including pregnant women and schoolchildren; safe drinking water for over 900,000 people; and essential medicines and healthcare, including sexual and reproductive healthcare, for 867,000 people. It will enable protection services to continue for vulnerable women and children at risk of violence.