July 20, Colombo (LNW): The Health Ministry reports a significant rise in diabetes cases among pregnant women and young children over the past decade.

Dr. Uditha Bulugahapitiya, an endocrinologist at Colombo National Hospital, highlighted that approximately 20% of individuals living in urban areas are affected by diabetes.

Dr. Bulugahapitiya emphasized that maintaining a body weight proportional to one’s height can prevent the onset of diabetes. He further stressed the importance of proactive measures to avoid diabetes, stating that at least half an hour of exercise daily is essential for an individual’s health. The consumption of high-sugar foods has contributed to the increase in diabetes cases.

Dr. Bulugahapitiya warned that diabetes can damage various organs in the body, including the eyes. He also noted that if a family member has diabetes, there is a higher likelihood of other family members developing the condition.

July 20, Colombo (LNW): Construction work to modernise the Hingurakgoda domestic airport for international flight operations commenced under the initiative of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday (19).

Originally built during World War II as RAF Minneriya for the British Royal Air Force, the airport is located in the middle of the country. The government has decided to transform it into an international airport to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economic growth. The 2024 Budget has allocated Rs. 2 billion for its initial construction and development. In Phase I, the current 2,287-metre-long and 46-metre-wide runway will be extended to 2,500 metres.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in six months to accommodate Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. The Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry emphasized that the total construction cost, estimated at around Rs. 17 billion, will be carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The total supervision of the project is entrusted to Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited.

State Minister Siripala Gamlath, Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry Secretary K. D. S. Ruwanchandra, Sri Lanka Air Force Commander – Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman – G. S. Withanage, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman – Eng. Athula Galketiya, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority – Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotakadeniya and several other officials attended the event.

Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that the modernisation project aims to transform Hingurakgoda Airport into an international airport.

He mentioned that Rs. 2 billion had been allocated through the 2024 Government budget for the airport’s development and that the government would continue to allocate funds each year for its construction.

“Our ultimate goal is to operate Hingurakgoda Airport as an international civil airport, similar to Mattala, Katunayake, Ratmalana, and Palali Airports. Therefore, to make this development project a success, I request the collaborative support of all concerned parties,” the Minister said.

July 20, Colombo (LNW): The Chinese government has removed long-standing barriers to the import of chicken, eggs, and pineapples produced in Sri Lanka, according to Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

Minister Amaraweera announced that a Chinese delegation, led by Chinese Deputy Minister of General Administration of Customs Wang Lingjung, made this announcement during a recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan pineapple cultivators, exporters, and poultry product manufacturers will now be able to export their goods to the Chinese market.

The Ministry emphasized that significant efforts were made to eliminate the obstacles preventing the export of these agricultural products to China. A comprehensive process will be adopted to ensure the quality of poultry products and the cultivation of pineapples in the country.

Minister Amaraweera credited the dedication of the officials from the Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry for the successful negotiation of market opportunities with China.

July 20, Colombo (LNW): Due to the active South-west Monsoonal condition, the prevailing windy condition over the island is expected to continue further.

Showery condition over the island is expected to reduce during the next few days temporarily.

Several spells of light showers will occur in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts.

Strong winds of about (50-60) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provincesand in Trincomalee, Monaragala and Hambantota districts. Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times elsewhere of the island.

July 19, Colombo (LNW): During the rainy season, approximately 4,000 hectares of paddy fields around the Nilwala River are consistently flooded and damaged due to the salinity barrier installed in the river. This barrier, while preventing seawater from contaminating the Nilwala River, has inadvertently caused significant flooding, adversely affecting local agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industry Mahinda Amaraweera has directed the Department of Agricultural Development to prioritize this issue, following numerous complaints from farmers about crop losses due to flooding. Over the years, flooding in the Matara district has led to substantial crop damage, prompting the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board to compensate affected farmers.

The Minister emphasized that the salinity barrier is crucial for preventing seawater intrusion, which would otherwise compromise the district’s drinking water supply. However, this barrier has led to the flooding of paddy fields, necessitating a review of the suitability of paddy cultivation in these areas.

On Wednesday (17), a discussion was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries with Minister Amaraweera and Agrarian Development Department officials to address this issue. A committee has been appointed, per a Cabinet decision, to explore compensation options for the affected farmers and the potential transfer of the paddy lands to the government. However, no final decision has been made yet.

The Agrarian Development Department has recommended against expanding paddy cultivation in these flood-prone areas due to the likelihood of heavy rains in upcoming cropping seasons. Instead, a program will be developed to encourage farmers to grow alternative crops, providing necessary financial and technical support.

Agrarian Development Commissioner General A.M.H.L. Abeyratne and other officials participated in the discussion, reinforcing the commitment to finding a sustainable solution for the affected farmers and ensuring agricultural viability in the region.

July 19, Colombo (LNW): The Jaffna Teaching Hospital celebrated the establishment of its new Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and the donation of a C-arm X-ray machine worth Rs 50 million. This state-of-the-art equipment, which is used to take images of the spine, bones, and soft tissue, was donated under the patronage of Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana.

During his visit, Health Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana conducted an extensive inspection tour of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. This tour included the Out-Patient Department, clinics, wards, Eye Unit, kitchen, laboratory, drug stores, operating theaters, emergency treatment units, and special units. The Minister emphasized that this special inspection was aimed at identifying shortcomings and ensuring the provision of quality and efficient health services to the people of the Northern Province.

Dr. Pathirana announced that, based on the budget allocation, Rs 500 million will be allocated for the construction of new treatment units and buildings at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital in the coming year. He also directed hospital officials to ensure the provision of optimal human resources from trained groups to meet the hospital’s needs.

The event was attended by Health Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala, Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena, Jaffna Teaching Hospital Director Dr. T. Satyamurthy, and hospital staff.

July 19, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced a bold initiative to transform the Western Province into a major city capable of accommodating approximately 5 million people.

As part of this vision, the government is launching a revolutionary program to provide freehold land and housing rights to residents across villages, towns, and plantations. This initiative aims to alleviate the hardships faced by the country’s citizens by granting them secure property ownership.

The President made these remarks at the “Randora Urumaya” event, which was held on Wednesday afternoon at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. During this event, 50,000 low-income families residing in flats in Colombo were granted freehold deeds.

Outlined in the 2024 budget proposals, the Urumaya programme aims to grant freehold land rights to 2 million people and full ownership of houses to 250,000 low-income families living in Colombo flats.

In the initial phase, 50,000 families will receive freehold deeds, with a total of 1,117 title deeds already awarded. This includes 937 houses from the Urban Development Authority and 180 houses from the National Housing Development Authority.

These “Randora Urumaya” title deeds will be distributed to residents of Mihindu Sethpura, Sirisara Uyana, Metro housing complexes under the Urban Development Authority, and 31 flats under the National Housing Development Authority.

Businesses including banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, TV and radio broadcasters, and supermarkets have been taken offline following a mass global outage.

Major US airlines including American Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines have been grounded, while airports in Germany and Spain are also reporting issues.

In the UK, Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Great Northern – all four of Govia Thameslink Railway’s brands – said its services were experiencing widespread IT issues.

“We are unable to access driver diagrams at certain locations, leading to potential short-notice cancellations, particularly on the Thameslink and Great Northern networks,” the company said.

“Additionally, other key systems, including our real-time customer information platforms, are also affected.”

It comes as Microsoft said it was continuing to address the “lingering impact” of its 365 applications and services that are in a “degraded state” – it is unknown if this is the same issue affecting airports and train services across the globe.

The outage appears to be affecting Windows PCs globally, including Sky News in the UK which was not able to broadcast live TV on Friday morning.

Users on the subreddit for cyber security firm Crowdstrike reported issues in India, the United States and New Zealand.

While users in Australia began reporting issues early on Friday, stating they had been locked out of their workstations.

SKY NEWS

July 19, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has announced new measures to facilitate voting for the visually impaired and hearing impaired communities for the first time in the upcoming Presidential Election. Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake stated that a special system is being implemented to provide ballot papers in braille for visually impaired voters.

To assist hearing-impaired voters, facilities will be available to inform them about the ballot paper using sign language. This initiative follows several successful pilot projects that were conducted in the past.

Additionally, special facilities will be provided to ensure that people with physical disabilities can access polling stations. Rathnayake added that visually and hearing impaired voters at each polling station will be identified through Grama Niladhari officials, who will ensure they receive the necessary support.

These measures reflect the Election Commission’s commitment to making the voting process more inclusive and accessible for all citizens.

July 19, Colombo (LNW): Dr. IZUMI Hiroto, head of the Japanese delegation visiting Sri Lanka, praised the successful completion of the country’s debt restructuring process, highlighting that it has paved the way for the resumption of Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects. These projects, which include several initiatives that were previously suspended, are now set to restart, marking a renewed phase of cooperation and development between the two nations.

Dr. Hiroto emphasized that the international community’s confidence in President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership is evident in the expedited success of the debt restructuring agreements. This achievement, accomplished in partnership with the Official Creditors’ Committee and the International Monetary Fund, signifies a remarkable turnaround for Sri Lanka.

The high-level Japanese delegation, which includes representatives from the housing, construction, and urban sectors, met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on the morning of the 18th. During the meeting, Dr. Hiroto reiterated the successful completion of Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process and announced that previously suspended ODA projects are set to resume.

The discussion also focused on new investment opportunities in Sri Lanka, with an emphasis on enhancing cooperation between the two countries. The delegation expressed their appreciation for Sri Lanka’s economic progress and the swift achievement of debt restructuring agreements. They commended President Wickremesinghe’s leadership in steering the country through its financial challenges, restoring international confidence, and paving the way for renewed development initiatives.

President Wickremesinghe, recalling Japan’s invaluable support during Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring process, emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation with Japan across various sectors, including education and agricultural modernization. He stressed the importance of resuming stalled projects under Japanese cooperation to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Furthermore, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the critical role of the Colombo Dockyard, underscoring its significance as a key institution in Sri Lanka’s maritime and industrial landscape.

The Japanese delegation noted that several suspended projects, including the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Development Project, the Colombo Port Eastern Terminal Development Project, the Central Expressway Construction, and the Digital Broadcasting Project, can be promptly restarted. They also discussed the potential to resume the Light Railway Transit (LRT) project, which was halted by the previous government, recognizing its significant potential to alleviate traffic congestion in Colombo city.

Both sides emphasized the importance of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in executing housing for low-income earners and other urban development projects. The Government of Sri Lanka is committed to promoting environmentally friendly projects and renewable energy in line with its policies and international agreements.

The Japanese delegation expressed their willingness to recruit Sri Lankan graduates in the field of technology for job opportunities in Japan’s private sector. This initiative aims to improve the electricity supply sector in Japan. Additionally, they highlighted the Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM), which encompasses projects designed to promote environmental sustainability by utilizing advanced Japanese technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.