August 13, Colombo (LNW):The prevailing showery condition over the island is expected to continue further due to the low-level atmospheric disturbance in the vicinity of Sri Lanka.
Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and Uva provinces. Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places elsewhere of the island during the evening or night.
Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern and North-western provinces.
Showers may occur over the eastern coastal areas during the morning too.
General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Government has announced that the shipping agent will be held responsible for any environmental damage and pollution caused by the explosion at Colombo Port on Sunday. The blast occurred on the MV MSC CAPETOWN III vessel at around 12:30 AM on August 11, near the Bay42 area of the port.
Following the explosion, all operational staff and crew members were swiftly evacuated. The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) promptly mobilized its fire brigade, along with safety, medical, and security teams, to manage the emergency.
Due to the quick response of the Colombo Port’s fire department, the fire that ensued was successfully contained, preventing further harm to the vessel and the port. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported, and the situation remains under control.
The MV MSC CAPETOWN III, owned by a Geneva-based shipping company, had arrived from Singapore and was scheduled to unload 995 containers and load an additional 880 containers before the incident. Following the blast,
Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva, instructed SLPA Chairman Dr. Keith Bernard to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion.
SLPA Chairman Keith Bernard revealed that only one hazardous cargo container was listed on the ship’s manifest and was stored above deck. However, the explosion occurred below deck, leading to an investigation to determine the cause. Approximately 60 containers, including the hazardous cargo, had already been discharged.
At midnight, an explosion occurred below deck on the MV MSC CAPETOWN III. The SLPA’s fire brigade, navigation team, and other officers acted promptly to bring the situation under control. By around 1:00 AM, the temperature below deck had risen to 101°C but was reduced to 40°C by Sunday morning through the use of CO2.
All staff and crew were evacuated immediately, and the fire was successfully extinguished. A detailed investigation is now underway to uncover the cause of the explosion. Bernard mentioned that there were about 100 containers below deck, mostly intended for transshipment to Tanzania and other African countries.
The 60 containers above deck had already been removed before the incident. The fire was contained with all available resources, and the ship’s lashing team ensured that everyone was safely evacuated.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Department of National Planning within Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies has crafted the nation’s first-ever National Social Protection Policy. To ensure the policy is effectively implemented, a Technical Committee has been set up under the ministry to provide the necessary technical expertise.
Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena emphasized that the policy was developed through a highly participatory process, involving all key stakeholders and incorporating public feedback.
The policy defines social protection as a collection of policies and programs designed to help individuals and communities manage risks and uncertainties, shield them from poverty and inequality, and improve access to economic opportunities throughout their lives.
The core objectives of social protection are to enhance resilience, equity, and opportunity—achieved through various instruments categorized into key pillars: social assistance, social care, social insurance, and labor market and productive inclusion programs.
Social assistance supports vulnerable groups lacking adequate support.Social care involves activities and resources aimed at improving the well-being of individuals, families, and society as a whole.
Social insurance provides government-mandated coverage against risks like old age, disability, the death of the primary income earner, and various health and economic shocks.
Labor market and productive inclusion include both passive and active interventions that align with the decent work agenda.
The policy is guided by principles of equity, inclusivity, and sustainability, ensuring efficient and effective allocation of resources to reduce poverty and social exclusion, ultimately fostering a society where everyone has the chance to succeed.
The primary goal of the National Social Protection Policy is to establish a system that provides all citizens with access to appropriate social protection throughout their lives.
Additionally, the policy aims to offer strategic direction for developing a well-coordinated and harmonized social protection system, engaging stakeholders from the government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations to ensure comprehensive social protection for all.
President Wickremesinghe, in his role as Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies Minister, submitted the policy for Cabinet approval, which was granted on July 15, 2024.
Historically, Sri Lanka has implemented various social protection initiatives since gaining independence. However, these efforts were neither conceptualized nor managed as a unified sector, leading to the absence of a holistic national vision, policy, or strategy for social protection.
There had not even been a standardized government definition of social protection in Sri Lanka.The lack of comprehensive policy guidance and an integrated strategic framework has been identified as a primary reason for the challenges in the current social protection system.
This has led to numerous issues, including gaps in beneficiary coverage and the adequacy of benefits. Fragmented programs, schemes, institutions, and products have also contributed to less-than-optimal developmental outcomes. The National Social Protection Policy seeks to address and rectify these weaknesses.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Tourism unveils Rs. 1.6 billion PR and digital campaign to boost visitor numbers It has welcomed 26,889 tourists in the first four days of the month of August, according to the latest data issued by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA).
Indians have topped the list, with 3,922 tourist arrivals recorded within the first four days of August, making up 14.6% of the total arrivals.
The United Kingdom claimed the second spot with a record of 3,350 tourist arrivals, corresponding to 12.5% of the total arrivals from August 01 to 04.
A Significant number of tourist arrivals have also been reported from China, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
From January 01 to August 04, Sri Lanka welcomed a total of 1,224,948 tourists, already reaching the halfway point of the country’s tourism sector target of 2.3 million tourist visits this year.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) Chairman Chalaka Gajabahu confirmed that the tenders, amounting to a total of Rs. 1.6 billion have been awarded to rollout the extensive campaign targeting key source markets.
“We have now completed awarding all the tenders for public relations and digital marketing campaigns,” he added.
He acknowledged the delay in implementation and said that the move is seen as a significant step towards boosting the tourism industry, which is recognised as a key sector contributing immensely to the economy.
Gajabahu detailed the allocation of funds: Rs. 600 million for public relations (PR) and Rs. 1 billion for digital campaigns. The budget breakdown for individual markets includes; Rs. 100 million for PR and Rs. 200 million for digital campaigns in the UK, Germany, France and India. For China, the allocation is Rs. 150 million for PR and Rs. 200 million for digital campaign.
He said the move will help in securing maximum amount of reservations for the upcoming winter season that the industry is longing for.
Additionally, he said more funds will be allocated for Scandinavia, the Middle East, Australia, South Korea and Japan as the market-specific approach commences.
“We are adopting a market-specific approach, requiring individual agencies to apply from each market segment,” Gajabahu explained.
The marketing communication roadmap will be executed in a strategic, phased manner, tailored to the booking patterns of key markets.
“A special report detailing the awarding process is expected to be published early next week,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s ambitious goals for the tourism sector include; attracting 2.3 million tourists and generating over $ 4 billion in revenue this year,” he added. Looking further ahead, the country aims to welcome 5 million visitors by 2030, with an impressive target of $ 21.6 billion in earnings. The strategy also focuses on increasing average spending per visitor to $ 4,000, with 2.5 million high-end tourists expected to spend over $ 500 per day.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): The 15th edition of the premier international textile sourcing platform in South Asia Intex Sri Lanka 2024concluuded in Colombo recently facilitating trade and innovation, and driving business opportunities to support the country’s garment exports.
Over the last 10 years, Intex Sri Lanka has been at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector, playing a pivotal role in facilitating trade and innovation, and driving business opportunities to support the country’s garment exports.
“2024 presents a unique opportunity to reshape the global textile and apparel industry,” said Worldex India Executive Director and Intex Sri Lanka Organiser Arti Bhagat.
“Intex Sri Lanka is at the forefront of driving this transformation by connecting the Sri Lankan manufacturing powerhouse with global and regional stakeholders to create a more resilient, secure supply chain that prioritises efficiency and long-term industry sustainability.
It is setting new industry standards and solidifying our position as Sri Lanka’s premier B2B platform. Sector..
Dedicated country pavilions from China, India, Taiwan, Pakistan, Korea, and Japan with exhibitors from 12+ countries including Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, China, Thailand, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the USA presented the latest natural and MMF fibres and yarns, textiles and fabrics, trims and accessories, dyes and chemicals, and software solutions across four halls at the BMICH.
International buyer delegations from Russia, Mexico, India, and buyers from 20+ countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, UK, USA, and Vietnam visited Intex Sri Lanka.
Buying teams from MAS Holdings, Brandix, Hirdaramani, Maliban, and many more visited Intex Sri Lanka to discover the next big thing.
The Textile Association India (TAI) is also partnering with Intex Sri Lanka and organised the TAI Overseas Conference at the BMICH, where industry leaders from India will network with Sri Lankan businesses at the day-long conference.
The Interactive Business Forum (IBF) Seminar Series shared actionable strategies to future-proof and grow your business internationally by industry experts.
Intex Sri Lanka also presented ‘Trendz Now – The Innovation and Fashion Zone’ by the University of Moratuwa, presenting the future of fashion, latest trends, innovations, upcoming designs, and movements in the fashion world.
This year also witnessed the debut of InMac, the international garment machinery and technology show co-located with Intex Sri Lanka.
InMac showcased the latest machinery and technology including printing, packaging, and automated systems, providing much needed solutions to drive efficiencies empowering Sri Lankan manufacturers and exporters to be globally competitive.
Endorsed by the EDB and the JAAFSL and its member bodies, Intex Sri Lanka is your launch pad to exponential growth.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lankan Rupee indicates appreciation against the US Dollar today (12) in comparison to last week’s Friday, as per the official exchange rates released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL).
Accordingly, the buying price of the US Dollar has dropped to Rs. 295.41 from Rs. 296.28, and the selling price to Rs. 304.66 from Rs. 305.45.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): The Wages Board has officially approved an increase in the daily minimum wage for estate workers in Sri Lanka’s tea and rubber sectors to Rs. 1,700.
Former Labour Minister Manusha Nanayakkara confirmed that this decision was made during a Wages Board meeting at the Labour Department today.
This increase follows legal challenges and opposition from plantation companies, which argued that the previous wage was unsustainable.
The Supreme Court’s intervention, which resulted in the cancellation of a previous Gazette notification, has led to today’s revised wage determination by the Wages Board.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe initiates a groundbreaking initiative to grant land rights to residents of line rooms by reclaiming plantation land from companies: Announced at a Nuwara Eliya business meeting, the plan includes housing development, public amenities, and support for local businesses: also pledges to address social justice issues for Tamil communities and plans a conference early next year.
Former MP Dr. Jayampathi Wickranaratne PC, together with his party the United Leftist Front will back Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Polls: Wickranaratne had been a strong advocate for the adaptation of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which enforced restrictions to the powers of executive presidency, during the 2015-2019 Good Governance regime.
NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake formalises his candidacy for the upcoming Presidential Election: The nomination papers were signed today (11) at the JVP headquarters, witnessed by key NPP figures, including General Secretaries Nihal Abeysinghe (NPP) and Tylvin Silva (JVP): The Presidential Election is scheduled for 21 September.
Finance State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya says pensioners will receive an additional Rs. 6,000 with their October payments, comprising a Rs. 3,000 interim allowance for October and Rs. 3,000 in arrears from September: This follows a Cabinet-approved proposal presented by the President: The Rs. 3,000 interim allowance will continue monthly until salary anomalies are addressed, adding to the Rs. 2,500 extra payment already provided in April: The Finance Ministry has granted formal approval, and the Public Administration Ministry is expected to issue a circular to facilitate the disbursement, but the Election Commission objected to the allowance being distributed in September due to the election announcement.
The Committee on Public Accounts (CoPA) expresses concerns over a Rs. 254 million increase in the Basnagoda Reservoir project’s bid, now totalling Rs. 2,347 million, questioning the Irrigation Department’s adherence to financial regulations: also scrutinises irregularities involving Rs. 352.4 million in cheques and discussed issues with the Ging Nilwala project: Officials acknowledges errors and promised corrective measures.
Minister Ali Sabry has been appointed as the new Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs, and Constitutional Reforms, officially taking oaths before President Ranil Wickremesinghe: The appointment adds to his current role as Foreign Minister: Sabry assumes these responsibilities following the resignation of Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, who stepped down from his positions to participate in the forthcoming Presidential Election.
The Election Commission reports a significant influx of complaints related to the upcoming Presidential Polls: reveals between 31 July and 11 August, a total of 337 complaints were lodged, encompassing various violations of election laws, including one instance of violence and seven other types of infractions: The National Centre for Election Complaint Management received 220 of these complaints, while 117 were recorded by the District Centres for Election Complaint Management.
Sri Lanka’s remittances rose to $566.8 million in July 2024, contributing to a total of $3.71 billion for the year-to-date, a 10.3% increase from last year: This trend highlights the role of remittances in stabilising the economy, alongside recovering tourism and eased commodity prices: The Central Bank’s currency float in March 2022 has also boosted remittance inflows.
Sri Lanka to formally adopt the Sinhala and Tamil translations of the Geneva Conventions, marking their 75th anniversary: The move aims to enhance awareness of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) within the island nation: expected to reflect Sri Lanka’s commitment to disseminating the principles of the conventions, which uphold human dignity during conflicts: A commemorative event themed “75 Years of the Geneva Conventions: Global and Sri Lankan Perspectives” will be held on 14 August in Colombo, featuring a panel discussion and a public photo exhibition at BMICH.
Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu wins the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for July 2024, besting India’s Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma: Her outstanding performance led Sri Lanka to their first Women’s Asia Cup title: Athapaththu, now a three-time winner of the award, played a crucial role with notable innings and key wickets, inspiring future female cricketers.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): Following a successful ODI series against India, the Sri Lankan cricket team has departed for England to compete in a three-match Test series starting on August 21.
Interim Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya has high expectations, urging players to excel in all facets of the game.
The team will play a warm-up match in Worcester before the first Test at Old Trafford, followed by fixtures at Lord’s and The Oval.
Newcomers Milan Rathnayake and Nisala Tharaka have been included, alongside experienced players like Angelo Mathews.
Despite security concerns due to recent anti-immigrant riots in England, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured the team of comprehensive security measures.
August 12, Colombo (LNW): On the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, Sri Lanka will formally adopt the Sinhala and Tamil translations of the Conventions, enhancing awareness of international humanitarian law (IHL) within the nation.
This initiative reflects Sri Lanka’s commitment to disseminating the principles of the Geneva Conventions, which uphold human dignity during conflicts.
A commemorative event themed “75 Years of the Geneva Conventions: Global and Sri Lankan Perspectives” will be held on 14 August in Colombo, featuring a panel discussion and a public photo exhibition at BMICH.
