November 09, Colombo (LNW): The recent National Electricity Plan released by India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) announces a significant development in regional energy collaboration. 

India and Sri Lanka have agreed on the detailed project report (DPR) for constructing a transmission line that will link their power grids, marking a major milestone in a project that has been in the works for over two decades.

The India-Sri Lanka interconnection, which will feature a 1000 MW Voltage Source Converter High Voltage Direct Current (VSC HVDC) bipole line, will connect the Indian city of New Madurai with Sri Lanka’s Mannar.

The project will be executed in two phases, each with a 500 MW capacity. This long-awaited initiative first surfaced in 2002, and despite a series of feasibility studies, it had been put on hold by 2011 due to concerns over its viability. 

However, the revival of the project in recent years has been largely driven by the global surge in renewable energy and Sri Lanka’s wind potential.

India’s commitment to the “One Sun, One Grid, One World” vision, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has further reinforced the importance of this interconnection. 

This initiative aims to create a global grid that facilitates the exchange of renewable energy, and Sri Lanka’s potential 65 GW of onshore wind power has made the project particularly appealing. 

The wind energy, much of which can be exported to India, is considered a more cost-effective alternative to offshore wind energy in India.

In 2019, both countries agreed to proceed with the DPR for the interconnection project. In 2022, PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted a new feasibility study, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which focused on the construction of an undersea cable linking New Madurai in India with New Habarana in Sri Lanka, crossing 120 km of sea. 

The cost of laying 40 km of undersea cable is estimated at $694 million (₹5,800 crore), and the overall project is projected to cost ₹9,900 crore.

Sri Lanka’s government has prioritized energy regional integration, and the grid link is expected to be operational by 2030. The World Bank has been supporting Sri Lanka’s state-run Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in exploring technical and business models for the project.

 In addition, Sri Lanka and India signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in 2023 to cooperate on renewable energy, including the development of an energy hub in Trincomalee.

This grid interconnection project builds on earlier discussions dating back to the 1970s and has received renewed focus since 2002, with support from USAID and the Power Grid Corporation of India. 

The updated feasibility studies suggest that a 500 MW short-term link could be established initially, with the potential to scale to 1000 MW in the medium to long term.

A 2022 study found that lower doses of a widespread chemical in beauty products, such as shampoos and soaps, could have links to breast cancer. 

Despite previous research associating parabens with the condition, this most recent study suggested that even smaller amounts may pose a risk. Found also in many lotions and sun creams, these chemical preservatives can disrupt normal hormone functions, especially during critical periods like puberty and pregnancy.

The chemicals in question encourage the production of estrogen, which imitates the naturally occurring hormone oestradiol; both of which are connected to breast cancer and reproductive issues. The insight came from various American research centres and was reported by the Daily Record.

What are parabens?

According to the experts at Holland & Barrett, parabens are a chemical compound of para-hydroxybenzoic acid. They have been used for over eighty years as a preservative in most skincare and beauty products to keep them fresher for longer.

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GET SURREY

1. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says an allowance will be provided for school children who are unable to purchase stationary books and equipment. He stated that this allowance will be provided when the new school term begins at the end of January next year.
2. As per data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), US$ 2,533.7 million has been recorded as tourism earnings from January to October 2024. This marks a significant 59% increase compared to the same period in 2023, where US$ 1,593.4 million was recorded as tourism revenue.
3. The Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) says that the courts have temporarily suspended over 3,000 driving licenses during the time elapsed this year (2024). The Commissioner General of Motor Traffic, Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasingha, stated that a total of 3,249 driving licenses have been temporarily suspended since January this year due to court orders following trials for various traffic violations committed by motorists.
4. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has announced that all schools across the island will remain closed on November 13 and 14 due to the 2024 General Election. The closed schools are scheduled to reopen on November 18.
5. The Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Rathnayake requests all the voters in Sri Lanka to exercise their franchise in the upcoming General Election. He stated that as voting is a right granted to people by the country’s Constitution, the public should cast their votes.
6. Sri Lanka has recorded an 11.7% increase in workers’ remittances from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to latest figures released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).The cumulative figure for the period from January to October 2024 stands at USD 5,431.5 million, reflecting this significant growth.
7. Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe says despite the International Monetary Fund (IMF) having projected Sri Lanka’s growth to be moderate in 2024-25, at around 3%, it was at 4.4% at present. Speaking at a public event, the former President said that Sri Lanka’s growth has the potential to reach 5% next year.
8. Sri Lanka Police says it has so far received 340 complaints related to the upcoming parliamentary election. Police Media Spokesperson DIG Nihal Thalduwa stated that a total of 364 individuals, including 11 candidates and 356 supporters, have been arrested for election law violations.
9. The Ministry of Education has issued a circular for school principals and relevant education authorities to oversee and minimize the adverse effects of school social media groups, introduced following the Covid-19 pandemic. The circular states that as reports of negative effects of school groups on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram etc., introduced for students’ use during the Covid-19 pandemic have been reported, the relevant principals and education authorities are instructed to act as admins of said groups to reduce such negative effects.
10. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya convened a meeting with senior officials from key government institutions, under the Ministry of Technology and public sector institutions providing information technology services. The Prime Minister underscored the importance of advancements in science and technology within the ministry and reviewed the ongoing progress of IT services to foster Sri Lanka’s development.

November 09, Colombo (LNW): Amid rising measles cases, the Sri Lankan Health Ministry has rolled out a measles-rubella vaccination campaign in 12 high-risk districts, running from November 8 for four weeks. Targeted primarily at individuals aged 20-30, the campaign also aims to immunize those who missed previous vaccinations.

The initiative follows a public awareness drive held from November 4 to 9, aimed at educating the community about the importance of vaccination to prevent measles transmission. Health officials stress that measles, a highly contagious airborne disease, can spread rapidly, with a single infected person potentially transmitting it to 10-18 others.

Despite earlier success in eradicating measles, cases have re-emerged in Sri Lanka since 2023, largely due to regional outbreaks in other Asian countries. Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana from the Epidemiology Unit noted that priority will be given to individuals who missed their full dose or received only one shot of the vaccine.

The Ministry urges the public to check vaccination schedules with local Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and participate in this critical preventive measure to help contain the resurgence of measles and protect public health.

November 09, Colombo (LNW):The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Dhammika Kumara Ranasinghe, 52, and his wife Surangani Hemachandrara, 42, in connection with an illegal pyramid scheme that allegedly defrauded over Rs. 10 billion from depositors in the Kurunegala area. The couple, who were apprehended at Katunayake Airport upon Ranasinghe’s return from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were remanded by Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage until November 22.

Ranasinghe, the primary suspect, fled Sri Lanka while facing trial in the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court. His wife, who served as a director in their financial institution, was arrested while waiting at the arrivals terminal.

The pyramid scheme, operating under the name “JD’s Business School,” reportedly attracted over 2,500 investors, with CID investigations uncovering a network of more than 3,000 members. CID officials revealed that the suspects had multiple bank accounts and significant assets, including an apartment complex and two large land plots in Kurunegala. Authorities also found 11 accounts in Hemachandrara’s name across three major Sri Lankan banks.

The CID requested that the two suspects be remanded to allow for further investigation, noting that 68 additional individuals are implicated in the scheme. Following the court’s order, a team from the Commercial Crime Investigation Division has taken custody of the suspects. Further investigation will involve collaboration with the Colombo Narahenpita Illegal Assets Division to examine their extensive assets and financial dealings.

November 09, Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts. Fairly heavy showers about 50mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at several places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the evening or night.

Strong winds about (40-50)kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota, Monaragala and Trincomalee districts.

November 08, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Immigration and Emigration Officers’ Association has released a special announcement addressing recent delays in the issuance of foreign passports, which has caused significant inconvenience to the public and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

In a statement issued on the 7th, the Association attributed the delays to incorrect information provided by the department’s higher administration. They emphasized that the situation cannot be resolved by maintaining the arbitrary practices of a few high-ranking officials whose appointments were based on political allegiance.

The Association expressed its responsibility to expose the reality of the situation and called for a formal investigation to identify the officials accountable for the disruption. They also asserted that recent statements by various parties on the issue were contradictory and inaccurate.

November 08, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has contributed $130 million to the national treasury since 2014, earned through its involvement in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

A new SLAF aviation contingent, comprising 20 officers and 88 airmen, is set to deploy to the Central African Republic in the first week of December. These personnel will support peacekeeping efforts in the region, fulfilling roles that include troop and elite transport, food and cargo logistics, inter-country flights, parachute drops, and medical evacuations.