In the year 2022, the government has decided to postpone the dates of the GCE A/L examination and Grade 5 scholarship examination.

All arrangements were made to hold the Grade 5 scholarship examination on 04th December and GCE A/L examination from 05th December.

However, after extensive consideration of the requests received from students and public representatives regarding the postponement of the examination, it was decided to postpone the dates of the GCE A/L examination and Grade 5 scholarship examination in the year 2022.

Accordingly, the revised dates are as follows.

2022 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination on Sunday 18 December 2022

2022 GCE A/L Examination from 23rd January to 17th February 2023

Efforts are underway to identify the root causes of food losses in Sri Lanka, with the support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIRA), so that the local authorities are able to address the issue and create a new economic value chain.

Joining hands to help design and demonstrate affordable technologies and organisational options to mitigate these losses are also the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and the Agricultural Sector of the National Planning Department.

The key partners of the project also include the University of Peradeniya, University of Wayamba and Open University of Sri Lanka. A similar effort will also take place for Pakistan under the project.

The stakeholders of the project pointed out that the ground observations and investigations point to a lack of quality and food safety awareness across the fresh fruit and vegetable value chains.

The poor knowledge in this regard hinders the achievement of inclusive growth, food security and national goals, they pointed out.

The project, over the next three years, aims to make practice change attractive across primary production to processing and retail stages by demonstrating opportunities to reduce costs, increase market value and improve business competitiveness.

ACIRA Canberra Programme Manager Agribusiness Howard Hall shared that while progress toward modern food systems in both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are improving, the gap between the desired change and current practices remains large.

Bridging the gap requires working more closely with chain partners, prioritizing ways to remove barriers and making practice change worthwhile.

“Extending such an approach can help farmers gain more stable incomes, adapt to change, including that of climate, increase investment in modern value chains and improve food quality and diversity for consumers.

The ensuring reduction in waste and food loss will improve the environment and decrease the cost for stakeholders,” Hall told the project inception workshop held yesterday.

The agri project that will be rolled out will specifically focus on the tomato and mango value chain to identify key value chain practices that contribute to food loss and value depletion.

It will also explore the emerging trends and contextual factors in the operating environment of these chains, including climate change and COVID-19 implications.

The main accomplishment of the project will be its hands-on approach to improved business practices and recommendations that will lead to the continued adoption of improved business strategies and commercial arrangements to achieve food loss abatement.

Sri Lanka has sought the assistance of the International Development Association to get concessional financing as the nation can no longer afford commercial borrowings, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.

“We have requested the International Development Association to assist us to get concessional financing as Sri Lanka currently lacks credit worthiness to borrow on market terms from World Bank or any other institution.

Countries such as Egypt had followed a similar strategy when their nation suffered economic downturn in the past,” the President said while making a special statement in Parliament.

“We also seek US$ 1 to 2 billion as bridge financing from institutions such as Asian Development Bank and World Bank. We have already in a position to get US$ 500 million from ADB,” the President said.

“Sri Lanka’s economy will recover by the end 2023 while the rupee would also stabilize by that time. However we have to take steps by informing the public on the status of the nation. We will have to stop printing money.

However it has been possible to steady the inflation and keep it at 69.7% in September. However it is essential to restructure state enterprises which run at a loss.

Total losses of state enterprises such as Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and Srilankan Airlines will exceed Rs. 4,000 billion by the end of this year.

The government cannot make the people bear this huge burden anymore. We have already embarked on restructuring these enterprises,” he stressed.

“We also have to increase the tax revenue to 14% of GDP. It is currently 8% of the GDP,” he said.

Focusing on his recent foreign tours, the President said he strove to get maximum benefit for Sri Lanka during the meetings he had, “

He said that he strove to get maximum benefit to Sri Lanka by meeting state leaders from UK, Japan and the Philippines, representatives from international organizations and foreign ministers. It is less time-consuming and cost effective to meet world leaders that way.

Hashan Jeevantha, an activist of the Inter-University Students’ Federation, who was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and detained under detention orders, has been released today (07).

That is through the recall of the relevant detention order by President Ranil Wickramasinghe on the recommendation of Public Security Minister Tiran Alas.

50 days ago, Hashan Jeevantha was arrested and on the same day the convener of the Inter-University Student Council Wasantha Mudalige, and Galwewa Siridhamma Thero were also arrested.

Among them, the police had completed the investigations related to Hashan Jeevantha and it was revealed that there was no evidence against him.

Accordingly, Public Security Minister Tiran Alas had recommended to the President to recall the detention order issued against him and the order has been recalled by now.

The Ministry of Public Security stated that Hashan was presented alive today (07) to the forensic medical officer, brought before the Tangalle Magistrate and handed over to his father.

In SCFR 212/2022, leave was granted against former president Gotabhaya Rajapakse, former Finance Ministers Mahinda Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse, former Governors of the Central Bank, Professor W.D Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka and Former Secretary to the treasury S.R Attygala.

In SCFR 195/2022

Leave was granted against former president Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Former Finance Ministers Mahinda Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka, Former Governors of the Central Bank, Professor W.D Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Former Secretary to the treasury S.R Attygala, Former Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundere, Former Finance Minister Ali Sabry P.C., present members of the Monetary Board S.S.W. Kumarasinghe. Court also directed that present members of the Monetary Board who served on the Monetary Board during the matters in question, namely Sanjeeva Jayawardena, P.C., and Dr. Ranee Jayamaha be added as Respondents in this Application.

Court also made the following orders:

1. The Auditor General to conduct an audit and submit a report by the 30th of November, in respect of:

a. The decision made by the Monetary Board to set the value of the Sri Lankan rupee at Rs. 203 against the US Dollar and all matters connected thereto.

b. The delay in seeking assistance from the IMF and all matters connected thereto.

c. All matters relating to the settlement of the sovereign bond of US Dollars 500 million on 18th January 2022, using foreign reserves

d. An audit on the loss caused to the Central Bank by such payments.

2. The Court also directed that Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, governor of the Central Bank produce copies of all communications and recommendations given to the former president Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Former Finance Ministers Mahinda Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Monetary Board of Sri Lanka, Former Governors of the Central Bank, Professor W.D Lakshman and Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Former Secretary to the treasury S.R Attygala, by the Central Bank on or before the 30th of November 2022.
3. The court also directed the Monetary Board to produce copies of all reports given to Former Ministers Mahinda Rajapakse and Basil Rajapakse, as per Section 64 and 68 of the Monetary Law Act, on or before 30th of November 2022.

Matters to be mentioned on 9th of January 2023.

Sri Lanka has been listed as the 9th most friendliest country in the world, based on the outcome of the 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Sri Lanka has been placed 9th among 10 countries.

1. French Polynesia
2. Colombia
3. New Zealand
4. Thailand
5. Costa Rica
6. Botswana
7. Peru
8. Belize
9. Sri Lanka
10. Philippines

https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/friendliest-countries-world

The Ministry of Health says that 110 types of essential medicines in the country are not available for treatment in hospitals.

Dr. Anwar Hamdani, Coordinator of Medicine Grants at the Ministry of Health, says that several new programs are being implemented to prevent drug shortages.

Hamdani also mentions that until the shortage of essential medicines disappears, patient care services will be continued by managing the existing medicines.

The Supreme Court has today (07) granted permission to hear two fundamental rights petitions filed against former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

That was when the petitions were considered before a five-member bench led by Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya.

These two petitions have been filed by former president of the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce Chandra Jayaratne, swimming champion Julian Bowling and University Dr. Mahim Mendis, requesting the government to order an investigation against the people responsible for the current economic crisis in Sri Lanka.

The relevant petitions are scheduled to be recalled on 09 January 2023.