Following our introduction to ‘DP Coding School,’ which is an innovative platform unravelling future career opportunities by learning computer languages, today’s write up elaborates the benefits of learning computer programming.

Those who learn coding and acquire basic knowledge will be eligible for applying for careers with a higher pay rate in a number of positions, including Web Developer, Full-stack Web Developer, Software Application Developer, Computer Programmer and Data Scientist.

Parents often find it problematic as to what would be the benefits of learning coding for their children, apart from being able to apply for a job. To provide a sound answer, below are some of the most key benefits of learning coding for school students;

1. Develops students’ logical thinking.
2. Improves students’ creativity.
3. Improves persistence.
4. Develops resilience and flexibility.
5. Improves communication skills.
6. Improves students’ structural thinking.
7. Improves students’ problem solving skills.
8. Helps students develop their mathematical ability.
9. Helps students to feel satisfied.
10. Develops students’ self-learning ability.

That being said, learning to code will positively impact your child’s day-to-day schooling activities, whilst making it the foundation to receiving a high-paying, dollar-earning job in the future.

Refer your child to dpcode.lk website today to follow a free and international level coding course in Sinhala language.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has approved power cuts of 2 hours and 20 minutes this week.

The PUCSL said the power cuts will be enforced from Wednesday, 27th December to Friday, 30th December.

The power cuts will be implemented for groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W during this period.

1. Ceylon Petroleum Corporation says national diesel and petrol consumption has dropped 50% in latter part of 2022, compared to the first few months of the year: daily fuel consumption averaged 5,500 MT from Dec’21 to Feb’22.
2. Crime statistics released by Police indicate 497 Sri Lankans killed in violence during the first 11 months of 2022: 223 deaths by shooting and assault: 3,596 instances of kidnappings with ransom intention.
3. Retired Rear Admiral and SLPP MP Sarath Weerasekera says Foreign Minister Ali Sabry owes an explanation as regards his claim that the IMF had demanded the enactment of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution as a prerequisite for the finalisation of the USD 2.9 bn loan.
4. SL Embassy in Moscow says a national carrier of the Russian Federation “Red Wings” will start charter flight operations to Sri Lanka’s Mattala International Airport twice per week with effect from December 28: it will be the 3rd Russian airline serving direct flights to Sri Lanka.
5. Colombo Crimes Division arrest 4 suspects for allegedly assaulting social media “Aragalaya” activist Dilan Senanayake with sharp weapons on 14th Dec: the suspects too identified as those who had been frequenting the “Aragalaya” site.
6. CB Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe predicts economy will stabilise in Q1 of 2023: claims the “IMF-based ongoing economic adjustment programme” will keep inflation under control and increase reserves: during Weerasinghe’s tenure of 9 months so far, inflation up from 18% to 69%: reserves down by USD 100mn: growth down from +3.4% to -11.4%: “money printing” up by 64%: T-Bill interest rates nearly triple: forex debt defaulted.
7. Over 60 top & mid-level officials of the Central Bank including Superintendent of Public Debt Dr A Z M Aazim and Deputy Governor Dhammika Nanayakkara, quit this year: officials claim there are multiple resignations each day: CB Trade Unions collectively express displeasure over Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe’s actions.
8. Australian Government appoints Sri Lankan-born Minoli Perera as Australia’s next Ambassador to Zimbabwe: the first time a Sri Lankan born person has been appointed to such a position.
9. Kandy Mayor Kesara Senanayaka says that the main reason for flooding of Kandy City is illegal constructions: also says steps will be taken to immediately remove all buildings that are blocking canals and other drainage systems.
10. Elections Commission Chairman Nimal G Punchihewa says District Returning Officers will issue Gazette notifications calling nominations for Local Government polls on 2nd, 3rd or 4th Jan’23: expresses regret over delay.

Several spells of showers will occur in Northern, North-Central and Eastern provinces.

Showers or thundershowers will occur in few places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-Western provinces during the afternoon or night.

General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

The world finds priority in economic diplomacy rather than traditional diplomacy, said Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, speaking at a meeting held between him and the newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassadors and High Commissioners to other states at Temple Trees today (26).

The Prime Ministers instructed the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to uplift the image of Sri Lanka, which is a friendly, unbound and neutral state, by resorting to attracting investment opportunities and promoting exports and the tourism industry, and urged them to extend their maximum support to the committees appointed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe for investment and export promotion.

Commenting on the economic crisis befallen the island nation and the move of restructuring debts, Gunawardena emphasised that all Ambassadors and High Commissioners should work towards investments, joint ventures and bilateral partnerships to enable production, export and rapid development rather than relying on aid and credit.

The expatriates and their associations should be closely cooperated with for receiving more investments, career opportunities and development aid, he went on, stressing that friendly states can work together with Sri Lanka towards its efforts to develop the fields of Agriculture, Industries, Information Technology and Tourism for making the Island Nation self-sufficient with food.

The event was attended by 16 newly appointed Sri Lankan Ambassadors and High Commissioners, including Chithrangani Wageeswara (Australia), Admiral Prof. Jayanath Kolambage (Indonesia), Maneesha Gunasekara (France), H.M.G.R.R.K. Mendi (Bahrein), Dr. A.S.U. Mendis (Viet Nam), Waruni Muthukumarana (Germany), Kapila Jayaweera (Lebanon), M.H.M.N. Bandara (Israel), K.K. Theshantha Kumarasiri (Ethiopia), Dr. Chanaka H. Thalpahewa (Philippines), Priyangika Wijegunasekara (Jordan), B. Kandeepan (Kuwait), Himali Arunathilaka (Geneva), Udaya Indraratna (United Arab Emirates) and Sandy Emirates Samarasinghe (Consular General – Melbourne).  

The Liberal Democratic Party says it will take legal action against social media activist Rasika Jayakodi.

This is due to a recent announcement that the Liberal Democratic Party has been withdrawn from the Liberal Democratic Movement. Rasika Jayakodi was the convener of the Liberal Democratic Movement.

But the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) says that the Liberal Democratic Movement (LDM) is only an affiliated organization of its party and that Rasika Jayakodi acted only as its social media manager.

Accordingly, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) says that Rasika Jayakodi and his group have misused the Liberal Democratic Movement (LDM) for their personal interests and legal action has been taken against him.

Sources in the party further said that Rasika Jayakodi has also received a monthly salary of 250,000 rupees from the party for the post of social media manager.

The price of crude oil in the world market has increased significantly.

It is special that Russia is hinting that it will cut its oil production.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Western countries of the G-7 group imposed a maximum price limit of $60 on Russian crude oil, and in response, Russia has indicated that it may have to cut its daily crude oil production by between 500,000 and 700,000 barrels.

Accordingly, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has increased by 2.94 dollars or 3.63% in a day, and the price of a barrel of that oil is recorded as 83.72 dollars.

The price of a barrel of American WTI oil has also increased by 2.07 dollars or 2.67%. The price of a barrel of oil is $79.56.