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A partial solar eclipse visible to Sri Lanka on October 25, 2022 near sunset

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A partial solar eclipse visible to Sri Lanka on October 25, 2022 near sunset

A partial solar eclipse will be visible in many parts of Sri Lanka on October 25, 2022, at the sunset. The eclipse will also be visible over much of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and western parts of Asia. In Sri Lanka, the eclipse is best seen from Jaffna said Prof. Chandana Jayaratne, the Director of the Astronomy and Space Science Unit of the Department of Physics, University of Colombo.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in a straight line between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon’s shadow then passes across the Earth’s surface and blocks the Sun’s light as seen from Earth. A solar eclipse occurs on a new moon day.

Areas and times when this partial solar eclipse will be visible:

For the city of Jaffna, the partial eclipse begins at  5.27 p.m. and the maximum eclipse occurs at 5.46 p.m. with 8.8 % of the solar disk covered by the moon. Though the eclipse ends at 6.20 p.m. we can observe it only up to the sunset due at 5.49 p.m.   This eclipse will be visible to Jaffna for 22 minutes.

The northern part of Sri Lanka, from Anuradhapura to Jaffna, is the most suitable region to observe this eclipse.

For those who live in Colombo, the beginning of the partial eclipse can be observed at 5.43 p.m. and the maximum eclipse occurs at 5.49 p.m. with the moon covering about 1.6% of the solar disk. The partial solar eclipse cannot be observed after 5.52 p.m. due to sunset. This eclipse will be visible to the Colombo area for about 9 minutes.

This eclipse is not visible to the southern parts of Sri Lanka.

Professor Chandana Jayaratne also said that since this eclipse occurs when the sun is very dim near the western horizon close to sunset, it is fairly okay to observe the eclipse even without a solar filter. Naked eye observations at the eclipse maximum time and afterwards for a short period of less than 30 seconds will not cause any damage to the eyes. A solar eclipse will again appear in Sri Lanka after 5 years, on August 2, 2027.

Usually, there are two eclipses in a row with a two weeks gap. Accordingly, 14 days later, on November 8th  there will be a total lunar eclipse too visible to many parts of the world. That eclipse will be visible to Sri Lanka as a partial lunar eclipse at the moon’s rise on the eastern horizon from 5.48 p.m. to 6.19 p.m.

Prof. Chandana Jayaratne

Professor in Physics, and Director, Astronomy and Space Science Unit, University of Colombo

Breaking News: Rishi Sunak new PM of UK

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Breaking News: Rishi Sunak new PM of UK

Tory MP Rishi Sunak has been elected as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

His election as new Premier of the UK comes in as contender Penny Mordaunt stepped down herself from contesting.

Sunak secured 193 favours by the Tory MPs.

MIAP

UK: Mordaunt says she has over 90 MPs – despite claim Sunak ‘will be PM by end of the day’

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UK: Mordaunt says she has over 90 MPs – despite claim Sunak ‘will be PM by end of the day’

Rishi Sunak is the strong favourite to be the new prime minister as more than half of Tory MPs back him, with Penny Mordaunt scrambling to get the required 100 before the 2pm cut off.

Rishi Sunak could be announced as prime minister within hours as Penny Mordaunt scrambles to get 100 backers among Tory MPs.

Sky News

Accompanied by 80 contestants from around the world, ‘Miss Tourism 2022’ in SL

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Accompanied by 80 contestants from around the world, ‘Miss Tourism 2022’ in SL

The ‘Miss Tourism 2022’ International pageant will be held in Sri Lanka for the first time in history commencing from December 08, revealed State Minister of Tourism Diana Gamage.

The event will be held from December 08 to December 21 this year and about 80 contestants from around the world will participate, she noted.

During the pageant, the contestants are set to tour in many tourist hotspots in the island including Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Ella, Arugam Bay and Mirissa, paving the way for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry to develop and for the island nation to recover from the economic crisis befallen it, the Minister added,

Global Director of Miss Tourism David Singh and Miss Tourism Spain have already arrived in Sri Lanka and are preparing to initiate the pre-planning activities for the event.

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LP Gas Price likely to further drop

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LP Gas Price likely to further drop

The local LP Gas price may likely to further drop based on the price fluctuations at the global market, said the LITRO Gas Company.

Accordingly, chances are high that the LITRO Gas Price will further drop at the beginning of November, said LITRO Chief Muditha Peiris.

The LITRO Gas price was last revised on October 05, 2022, dropping the price of a 12.5 kg domestic gas cylinder by Rs. 271.

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South Asia’s first Disneyland to open in SL

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South Asia’s first Disneyland to open in SL

Sri Lanka’s Tourism Minister Diana Gamage had earlier said that officials from Disneyland have been in discussions with her to open a Disneyland in Sri Lanka. She said that this project would boost Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.

Colombo: A team from Disneyland has agreed to visit Sri Lanka in November to hold discussions on setting up South Asia’s first Disneyland in Hambantota.

“Diana (State Tourism Minister) walking the talk! Team from Disneyland have AGREED to visit #SriLanka in Nov. to hold discussions on setting up South Asia’s 1st Disneyland in Hambantota!” tweeted Jamila Husain, Associate Editor of Daily Mirror.

“Diana Gamage will be visiting US soon to discuss plans for the $ 18 billion investment following an invitation from Walt Disney,” added Husain.

State Minister Diana Gamage earlier said that officials from Disneyland have been in discussions with her to open a Disneyland in Sri Lanka.

She said that this project would boost Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.

Notably, Sri Lanka tourism will get a huge exposure after the country won the hosting rights for ‘Miss Tourism World – International Finale 2022’ in Colombo.

Croatia and Russia, which were the other two countries shortlisted to host the 75th edition of the ‘Miss Tourism World 2022′ global Pageant’ voluntarily opted out to allow Sri Lanka to host this event, reported Sunday Observer.

This was because these two countries knew that the event would play a major role towards tourism revival in Sri Lanka, said Global Director of ‘Miss Tourism World – International Finale 2022’, David Singh.

Sri Lanka will host the event from December 8-21 with winners from 80 countries giving a destination value to Sri Lanka of nearly USD 40 million.

During the pageant, they will visit all the important places of tourism in Sri Lanka including Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Habarana, Ella, Arugam Bay, Mirissa, and Galle he said. This will in turn promote these destinations as well, reported Sunday Observer.

Sri Lanka is facing an unprecedented crisis due to economic mismanagement, corruption, and agricultural crises.

Sri Lanka, a country of 22 million people, is under the grip of an unprecedented economic turmoil, the worst in seven decades, leaving millions struggling to buy food, medicine, fuel and other essentials.

NDTV

May we wish for a lightened up country in this Deepavali: Opposition Leader

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May we wish for a lightened up country in this Deepavali: Opposition Leader

May everyone wish for a lightened up country where hate and anger are eliminated and human reconciliation is established for everyone to live in unity and peace, said Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa in his Deepavali Message this year.

Deepavali, a festival of light devoted to saving society from darkness and evil, is recognised as a national day of celebration by the Hindu community, the Opposition Leader noted, adding that this most wondrous festival also contributes to racial reconciliation for better understanding between one another.

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Huge taxes to be imposed on casino

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Huge taxes to be imposed on casino

The annual tax charged from casino centres in Sri Lanka has increased from Rs. 200 million to Rs. 500 million, effective from August 01, 2022, revealed State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya.

In addition, the Betting and Gambling Act has been amended meeting the following tax revisions;

  1. Charging of an unprecedented high registration fee for casinos and charging of a US$ 20 fee for any Sri Lankan entering a casino centre.
  2. Tax revisions for other betting and gambling games are as follows;
  • Live Betting Centres:

The annual levy of Rs. 600,000 increased to Rs. 01 million minimum
Levy on turnover of 10 per cent increased to 15 per cent minimum

  • The annual levy of Rs. 04 million on sub representatives of betting centres increased to Rs. 05 million minimum
  • The annual levy of Rs. 50,000 on non-live betting centres increased to Rs. 75,000

In addition, all businesses related to betting and gambling will be subjugated to an income tax of 40 per cent from their profit/income.

MIAP

Every country helped us then thanks to my ‘friendly’ foreign policy: Sirisena

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Every country helped us then thanks to my ‘friendly’ foreign policy: Sirisena

Former President and Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Maithripala Sirisena attending a ceremony held in Polonnaruwa said that Sri Lanka currently not having a friendly foreign policy similar to that of his during his tenure has contributed to the worsening of the crisis.

He noted that he maintained a cordial relationship with the foreign nations and that the decisions made during the last three years have created conflicts not only among the public but also among the government.

MIAP

President says measures will be taken to avoid delays in universities enabling students to complete education within stipulated duration

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President says measures will be taken to avoid delays in universities enabling students to complete education within stipulated duration

Measures to be taken to avoid delays in universities enabling students to complete their studies within the stipulated duration – President.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the delay in the Sri Lankan university system at the commencement of courses would be avoided enabling students to complete their studies within the stipulated duration.

The President made this observation during a meeting held with the prefects of Royal College, Colombo at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday (22).

Head Prefect of Royal College Colombo Kaveesha Rathnayake and the prefects of the college participated in this meeting.

The matters concerning Royal College as well as matters regarding the country’s education sector were discussed there while the President answered the questions raised by the students on the measures taken by the government for the advancement of the education sector.

The President made queries from the prefects on the university education where the students brought the focus of the President to the vast difference between the duration to complete a degree in a foreign higher education institute and in a local university.

The President agreed with it and assured that remedial action would be taken without delay. He also highlighted the value of education in a local university over foreign education. He also emphasized that the government has taken many steps to expand the educational opportunities for students who have qualified for higher education following the completion of their school education. He added that measures have been taken to commence several new universities in Kurunegala and Batticaloa.

The President also mentioned that the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Colombo would be set up as a separate campus, while the National School of Business Management (NSBM) and the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) would be upgraded as national universities.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe raised the issue of ragging with the students during the meeting and said that it seemed that students who attend the universities from schools such as Royal College, Thurstan College, Ananda College and D. S. Senanayake College turn a blind eye when such ragging incidents happen, although a large number of students from these schools are within these universities.

The President also pointed out that the students of those universities have a responsibility to bring ragging in universities to an end and the head prefects of those schools could perform their roles while in school.

The president further said that university education is interesting but the rate of students suffering from physical and mental stress has increased due to ragging at universities and emphasized that he would take measures to solve the problem.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe also appreciated the role played by the Board of Prefects of the Royal College in the development of the school and its reputation.

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Rathnayake also participated in the event.

PMD

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