June 16, Colombo (LNW): In a lively event on 14th June 2024, a total of four hundred and fifty-eight recruits from the 254th intake of the Sri Lanka Navy’s Regular and Volunteer Forces completed their training at SLNS Nipuna, Boossa.
The ceremony, overseen by Rear Admiral Nalindra Jayasinghe, Commander Northwestern Naval Area, celebrated the achievements of 355 Regular Force recruits and 103 Volunteer Force members.
During the ceremony, outstanding recruits were honoured with awards presented by Rear Admiral Jayasinghe, highlighting their exceptional performance in basic training.
Among them, Recruit EAMLS Jayasinghe received the Best Recruit trophy, while Woman Recruit PAPM Peramuna excelled with the Highest Aggregate in All Subjects.
Recruit WMPKM Dissanayake was recognised as the Best Marksman, and awards for Best Sportsman/woman went to Recruit NHWK Dissanayake and Women Recruit WANA Weerapperuma.
The ‘Sagara’ Division was commended as the Best Division of the 254th intake.
Addressing the recruits, Rear Admiral Nalindra Jayasinghe congratulated them on their accomplishments and stressed the importance of upholding discipline and proficiency in their naval careers.
Their role in safeguarding national security and ensuring the future prosperity of the Sri Lanka is of vital importance, he emphasised.
The ceremony featured impressive drill displays by the recruits, complemented by vibrant performances from the Navy Band and Cultural Troupe, enhancing the event’s grandeur.
Dignitaries including senior naval officers, clergy members, and proud parents of the recruits attended the ceremony, expressing support for the new graduates as they embark on their careers in the Sri Lanka Navy.
It was late in the year 2000 when I first heard of Steve Jobs, through the words of my marketing teacher, Ravi Banuthevan. His passionate recounting of Apple’s ‘Think different’ campaign was spellbinding.
Have you ever felt that electric spark of inspiration when you learn about a visionary leader? Jobs was that spark for me, despite his many imperfections. What made him so remarkable? Was it his relentless drive, his daring to be different, or perhaps his ability to see the extraordinary in the ordinary?
Over the years, I realised that true greatness isn’t about being flawless; it’s about embracing our imperfections and learning to be better, and if possible, to change our circle of influence.
If Apple’s ‘1984’ campaign was a masterpiece, ‘Think different’ hit the notes of Mozart. ‘Think different’ was universal and timeless.
Round pegs in square holes
Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli, the two authors of ‘Becoming Steve Jobs’ captured the ‘Think different’ campaign’s inside story. I quote:
“When the time came for Clow to present his work, he and his team had ‘Think different’. Steve hesitated briefly when shown the first boards for the campaign, which paired the phrase with photos of noteworthy creative mavericks. His worry? That any campaign celebrating individual genius would suffer from the idea that Steve was simply out to celebrate his own creative genius. But he went with Chiat\Day anyway.
“‘His decisiveness was so different from the crew that had been there,’ Clow remembers. ‘No sending things off to some marketing exec somewhere for approval, no vetting by some committee. In the old regime, you never knew who was making the decision. With Steve, it was totally different. It was him and me. You don’t get that at any companies – no CEO gets involved the way he does.’
“The campaign went through several iterations over the course of a few anxious weeks, with Steve fretting the details right up until the final night. Clow pushed hard for Apple to go with a recording of Steve narrating the stirring free-verse essay that elaborated upon the campaign’s motto. He sent the studio that was to broadcast the ad during the network premiere of ‘Toy Story,’ both Steve’s version and another read by the actor Richard Dreyfuss. In the morning, Steve called Clow to tell him that they had to run Dreyfuss’ version. ‘If we go with mine,’ Steve said, ‘it will become about me. And this can’t be about me. It’s about the company.’
“It was not the decision of an egomaniac, of someone only put for himself. ‘Which is why,’ Clow remembers, ‘he is the real genius and I am just the ad guy.’ So on the day of the broadcast, it was Dreyfuss’ voice behind a slideshow of portraits of Albert Einstein, John Lennon, Pablo Picasso, Martha Graham, Miles Davis, Frank Lloyd Wright, Amelia Earhart, Charlie Chaplin, and Thomas Edison, among others.”
‘Think different,’ launched in 1997, was after Steve’s return to Apple, to save Apple from inevitable bankruptcy. Dreyfuss’ voice captured the soulful narrative:
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round peg in the square holes.
“The one who sees things differently. They are not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
“About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.
“Maybe they have to be crazy.
“How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
“We make tools for these kinds of people.
“While some see them as crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
This is the most beautiful creative copy I have seen in my life. It touches the soul. It pierces through your heart. It’s universal. It’s for everyone. It’s for you and for me. Because there is a rebel in everyone. There is a side of all of us, never explored because of what others may think. If you are reading this, break free for once. Imperfections we all have; that should not deter you.
A student, a leader
‘Becoming Steve Jobs’ was written by Schlender and Tetzeli after countless stories and half-truths about Jobs. Just like everyone, he was imperfect. But after reading and watching him for years, I see a student in him. That’s probably why Laurene, his wife, said he was a “learning machine”.
Born on 24 February 1955 in San Francisco, Jobs was given up for adoption by his birth mother, Joanna Schieble. His biological father was Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian PhD candidate studying Political Science in 1954. However, a childless working couple, Paul and Clara Jobs, adopted him just a few days after his birth.
If you are a critic of Jobs, yes he was imperfect, just like you and me. However, this man moved forward, created Apple, got fired as he started from Apple (there are counterclaims for this), created NeXT, created Pixar, got back to Apple to save the company from bankruptcy, and battled with pancreatic cancer before his demise. He led the personal computer revolution and created multiple industries.
On a lighter note, if you are using the Apple brand, it was actually the brainchild of a half-Syrian, and distributed through a supply chain managed by millions of people in over 50 countries, with significant contributions from China, Vietnam, Taiwan, India, and Israel.
The successor of Jobs in 2011, Tim Cook, was a Baptist; his father was a shipyard worker and his mother was a pharmacist. Cook’s rise was attributed to his humility and ability to bring diverse stakeholders to a common objective.
Today, Apple is designed in California and made by millions of people world over with different religious beliefs, colours, shapes, sizes, genders, and sexual orientations. That’s the truth and leadership matters.
‘Effortless is a myth’
Why Steve Jobs now?
Perhaps the most watched commencement address in the world was given by Jobs at Stanford University. I watched it multiple times. Have you? I liked that speech, because the story was authentic and it showcased his vulnerability.
All records are meant to be broken. His speech was great, but Roger Federer gave an insanely great commencement address at Dartmouth University.
Since the age of nine, I have played team sports. Individual sports were not my cup of tea. However, how could you miss a Federer-Nadal final? Federer is legendary. A fantastic global icon. He was never an egoistic, megalomaniac celebrity. But at Dartmouth University, he revealed to the world why he was a legend. He was vulnerable, opened out, and it’s a speech worth watching, not once but many times.
Here are handpicked excerpts from his speech:
“Hello, Class of 2024!
“It’s an incredible feeling to be here with you.
“I am so excited to join you today.
‘Really, you have no idea how excited I am. Keep in mind, this is literally the second time I have ever set foot on a college campus. Second time ever.
“But for some reason, you are giving me a doctorate degree.
“I just came here to give a speech, but I get to go home as ‘Dr. Roger’. That’s a pretty nice bonus.
“‘Dr. Roger’. This has to be my most unexpected victory ever!
“President Beilock, the Board of Trustees, faculty members – thank you for this honour.
“President Beilock, I’m incredibly grateful. And I’ll try my best not to choke.
“I’m a little outside my comfort zone today. This is not my usual scene…
“And these are not my usual clothes.
“Do you dress like this every day at Dartmouth?
“The robe is hard to move in. Keep in mind, I’ve worn shorts almost every day for the last 35 years.
“I’m not a person who gives a lot of speeches like this. Maybe the worst… but an important speech… was when I started out on the Swiss national team. I was 17 years old, and I was so nervous that I couldn’t even say more than four words: ‘Happy… to… be… here.’
“Well, here we are, 25 years later. I still feel a little nervous, but I’ve got a lot more than four words to say to you. Starting with: I’m happy to be here! Happy to be with you, here on the Green.
“I’m even more impressed, because I left school at the age of 16 to play tennis full-time.
“So I never went to college… but I did graduate recently.
“I graduated tennis.
“No, in truth, I’m loving the life of a tennis graduate. I graduated tennis in 2022, and you are graduating college in 2024. So I have a head start in answering the question of what’s next.
“‘Effortless’… is a myth.
“I mean it.
“I say that as someone who has heard that word a lot. ‘Effortless’.
“People would say my play was effortless. Most of the time, they meant it as a compliment… But it used to frustrate me when they would say: ‘He barely broke a sweat!’
“Or ‘Is he even trying?’
“The truth is, I had to work very hard… to make it look easy.
“I spent years whining… swearing… throwing my racket… before I learnt to keep my cool.
“The wakeup call came early in my career, when an opponent at the Italian Open publicly questioned my mental discipline. He said: ‘Roger will be the favourite for the first two hours, and then I’ll be the favourite after that.’
“I was puzzled at first. But eventually, I realised what he was trying to say. Everybody can play well the first two hours. You’re fit, you’re fast, you’re clear… and after two hours, your legs get wobbly, your mind starts wandering, and your discipline starts to fade.
“It made me understand… I have so much work ahead of me, and I’m ready to go on this journey now. I get it.
“So, you know, I tried not to lose.
“But I did lose… sometimes big. For me, one of the biggest was the finals at Wimbledon in 2008. Me vs. Nadal. Some call it the greatest match of all time. Okay, all respect to Rafa, but I think it would have been way way better if I had won…
“Losing at Wimbledon was a big deal… because winning Wimbledon is everything.
“In tennis, perfection is impossible… In the 1,526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches… Now, I have a question for all of you… what percentage of the points do you think I won in those matches?
“Only 54%.
“In other words, even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play.”
SL needs a move forward story
Roger Federer’s speech at the University of Dartmouth is a must-watch for everyone. It’s not just a source of inspiration; it’s a masterclass in humility.
Imagine a man who has conquered the world of tennis, winning numerous Grand Slams and triumphing in 80% of the 1,526 singles he played, humbly stating that he “graduated from tennis” only upon his retirement in 2022.
In a world where education is often mistaken for intelligence, fame for brilliance, wealth for superiority, and bloodline for entitlement, Federer’s words are a powerful reminder of what it truly means to be a legend. His humility, despite towering achievements, teaches us that greatness is not just about victories but about the grace with which we handle them.
There is learning from Federer’s speech. You need to move forward. Moving forward can not be done effortlessly. As he correctly points out, effortlessness is a myth. Every champion is born out of hard work, commitment, and a lot of sweat. It applies to a person, a family, a village, a city, and a country.
It’s important to move forward. Especially Sri Lanka needs to move forward. Like any other country, Sri Lanka is imperfect. Having been born to a generation battled with terrorism, rebellions, chaos, recessions, corruption, nepotism, inequality, racism, threats, and harassment, the 65,000 square kilometre island – still it’s the best island in the world of its size.
Sri Lanka needs to have a move forward story which every Sri Lankan can be part of. A story every Sri Lankan can embrace. Sri Lanka’s perceived strengths are its geolocation and biodiversity. But the real strength is its 22 million people, irrespective of which corner of the world that they are living in. The power lies in diversity.
With Asia rising, Sri Lanka should be part of Asia’s move forward story. To move forward, it requires humility, self-confessions, and breaking the status quo. To move forward, it requires being open to learning and embracing the world.
In Sri Lanka, my friends in the corporate C-suite, entrepreneurs, and family business owners increasingly look to be part of the global supply chain. There is urgency, by necessity, even if it’s not the choice. Sri Lanka needs to move inch by inch, everyday – just like Al Pacino’s speech from ‘Any Given Sunday’.
I quote: “You know, when you get old in life, things get taken from you. I mean that’s… part of life. But you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out life’s this game of inches. So is football. Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small – I mean one half a step too late, or too early, and you don’t quite make it. One half second too slow, too fast, you don’t quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They’re in every break of the game, every minute, every second.”
Sri Lanka should not miss inches which are everywhere in a connected world. Instead of waiting for the world to come, Sri Lanka should move forward to meet the world.
The greater within the lesser
In a deeper Zoom conversation with Roberto Alvarez from Brazil, we ended the conversation with a question from him: “With all that’s going on in the world, are you positive, negative, or in the middle?” I said I was positive. He echoed the same view.
I cannot find in any literature that the world was free from terrorism, rebellions, chaos, recessions, corruption, nepotism, inequality, racism, threats, and harassment. Perhaps this is the problem with humankind and the human mind. Despite that, the world always moves forward. There are millions of things we can agree on that the world is broken. But in the same way, there are millions of things that we can agree on that the world is a much better place.
Friends like Roberto founded and invested in multiple startups including space tech and are moving the world forward. The more you learn from others, the more your achievements look insignificant. The more you listen to others, there is always a student in you.
Here’s to the ones who are not afraid to speak up. To the ones who want to shape the world. To the ones who can rise above adversity. To the ones who could see beyond religion, caste, creed, gender, ethnicity, age, and geography. To the ones who can celebrate failures. To the ones who can see their imperfections. To the ones who want to change themselves before changing others. To the ones who can say ‘us’ instead of ‘I’. To the ones who can lift others. This story is for you.
June 16, Colombo (LNW): Several spells of showers will occur in Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts, the Department of Meteorology said in its weather forecast today (16).
Strong winds of about (40-50) kmph can be expected at times over the Western slopes of the central hills, Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Trincomalee, Hambantota and Monaragala districts.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers may occur at several places in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Matara via Colombo and Galle.
Winds:
Winds will be south-westerly in the sea areas around the island. Wind speed will be (35-45) kmph in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Puttalam via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil. Wind speed can be increased up to 60 kmph at times in these sea areas. Wind speed will be (25-35) kmph in the other sea areas of the island. Wind speed can be increased up to 50 kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Trincomalee to Puttalam via Kankasanthurai, Mannar and from Hambantota to Pottuvil can be rough at times. The sea areas off the coasts extending from Puttalam to Hambantota via Colombo and Galle can be fairly rough at times. Naval and fishing communities are requested to be attentive in this regard.
Indian authorities have granted permission for the prosecution of the Booker prize-winning Indian novelist Arundhati Roy over comments she made about Kashmir at an event in 2010.
The top official in the Delhi administration, VK Saxena, gave the go-ahead for legal action against Roy, whose novel The God of Small Things won the Booker prize in 1997, under anti-terrorism legislation, alongside a former university professor, Sheikh Showkat Hussain.
The action against Roy and Hussain, a former professor at the Central University of Kashmir, is over allegedly making provocative speeches, the Press Trust of India reports, citing officials from Saxena’s office.
Saxena, who is serving as the lieutenant governor, is a politician from prime minister Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP.
While Roy, 62, is one of India’s most famous living authors, her activism and outspoken criticism of Modi’s government, including over laws targeting minorities, have made her a polarising figure in India.
Friday’s development follows the news that Saxena had last October given approval for the case to proceed before the courts – more than a decade on from when a criminal complaint against Roy and several others was originally filed. The complaint concerned Roy’s comment that the disputed territory of Kashmir was not an “integral” part of India, and accused her and others of giving speeches advocating the secession of Kashmir from India.
Roy’s home in Delhi was besieged by protesters in 2010 when her comments from the panel discussion were published, when about 150 members of the BJP women’s organisation demanded that she retract her statement or leave the country.
The decision to prosecute was denounced by the Communist party of India (Marxist), which said in a statement: “Condemnable. The Delhi LG has granted permission to prosecute Arundhati Roy under the draconian UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act] for a speech reportedly made 14 years ago – in 2010. Defies logic except the fascist kind. Timing is suspect since courts are on vacation, as are lawyers.”
The UAPA – under which the prosecution has been granted – is unconstitutional and undemocratic, say critics. UAPA, ostensibly a terrorism prevention law, has been routinely used by the Modi government to try to silence government critics, including lawyers, activists, journalists, priests, poets, academics, civil society members, and Kashmiri civilians.
In recent years, Roy has stood out as one of the most high-profile critics of Modi’s government, which has been accused by rights groups and others of targeting activists and the suppression of free speech.
June 15, Colombo (LNW): Flight Lieutenant (Rtd) Subodha Angammana, a distinguished figure with a multifaceted career spanning hospitality management, military service, and entrepreneurship, has marked a significant milestone with the launch of his latest book, “Hospitality Supervision.”
The book launch, hosted by Samudra Book Publications, represents a notable achievement in Sri Lankan literature as it is the first of its kind authored specifically for supervisors in the hospitality industry.
Having commenced his career in hospitality with studies at Trinity College Kandy, Angammana later pursued professional training in Australia, achieving qualifications including Certificate IV in Hospitality and a Bachelor of Hospitality Management (Human Resource Management). His tenure included pivotal roles at prestigious venues such as the Sydney Tower Buffet and participation in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games catering team.
Transitioning to a career in the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2005, Angammana exceled as a Resident Manager Cum Base Catering Officer across several military bases. His exemplary service during critical humanitarian operations earned him prestigious awards, including recognition for his contributions during the North and East Humanitarian Operations.
Notably, he hosted Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, during his visit to the Air Force Base Anuradhapura in 2009.
Following his tenure in the Air Force, Angammana continued to excel in hospitality management, serving as Duty Manager at Hotel Topaz/The Tourmaline, Kandy, and subsequently establishing himself as an entrepreneur with ventures like “Home Away From Home” and “Area 51.”
His academic pursuits culminated in a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship & Innovation and ongoing studies towards a PhD in Business Administration.
Beyond his professional achievements, Angammana is committed to social causes through the “Flight Lieutenant Subodha Angammana (Rtd) Social Service Foundation”, which organises charitable initiatives such as book donation drives and providing essential supplies to low-income families.
The launch of “Hospitality Supervision” follows his debut book, “Master Guide on Hospitality,” which similarly broke new ground as the first hospitality book authored by a Sri Lankan in Sri Lanka.
Reflecting on his journey, Angammana expressed his pride in contributing significantly to the advancement of Sri Lankan literature in the field of hospitality.
“I have been working in the Hospitality industry since 1997 in Australia, United Kingdom and Sri Lanka. My book “Master Guide on Hospitality” is the first ever Hospitality book authored by a Sri Lankan in Sri Lanka,” Angammana told LNW.
“My second book, “Hospitality Supervision” will be published on first of July this year at Kandy Book Fair at Kandy City Centre, Kandy, Sri Lanka,” he added.
The book launch event is expected to be attended by esteemed guests, colleagues from the hospitality industry, and well-wishers, highlighting Angammana’s enduring commitment to excellence and innovation in both hospitality and literature.
“Hospitality Supervision” is poised to become an essential resource for supervisors and aspiring professionals in Sri Lanka’s vibrant hospitality sector, hence the book being pivotal for anyone pursuing career in the field, he remarked.
June 15, Colombo (LNW): The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Sri Lankan government to sustain the momentum of the current reform agenda to guide the economy towards enduring recovery and stable, inclusive growth.
A major challenge highlighted by the Chamber is the implementation of fiscal reforms, particularly the broadening of the tax base, supported by digitization efforts.
The Chamber emphasized the importance of addressing ongoing issues related to governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities to ensure the effectiveness and credibility of the reform process.
Furthermore, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce is urging Sri Lankan citizens to actively participate and take ownership of the reform agenda, recognizing that collective effort is essential for the success of these initiatives.
June 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ali Sabry, PC, has confirmed the upcoming visit of Dr. S. Jayashankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, to Colombo later this month.
This visit aims to review and strengthen existing partnerships between the two countries in key areas such as renewable energy, tourism, and financial cooperation between the central banks and finance ministries.
Additionally, Dr. Jayashankar’s visit is expected to pave the way for a future visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka, further enhancing the bilateral relations between the two nations.
June 15, Colombo (LNW): A recent report by an external mechanism established in Geneva to collect evidence against soldiers and political leaders accused of war crimes in Sri Lanka has uncovered significant evidence against the country’s military leaders, according to MP Sarath Weerasekera, Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security.
MP Weerasekera explained that this external mechanism, set up in Geneva, Switzerland, for the past two years under resolution 46/1, has been collecting evidence related to war crimes allegedly committed by Sri Lankan soldiers and political leaders. The latest report from this mechanism indicates a substantial amount of evidence implicating the military leadership.
He further noted that this external mechanism has the potential to frame the war in Sri Lanka as a conflict against the Tamil population rather than the LTTE. Weerasekera emphasized that this portrayal poses a threat to the self-esteem of Sri Lankan war heroes and national security.
In response to these developments, the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate action to prevent other countries from accusing Sri Lankan military personnel of war crimes and prosecuting them in the International Military Tribunal. The committee has also sought clarification from the Ministry on their strategies to counter the external mechanism brought by Geneva Human Rights Organizations and their preparedness to defend against potential prosecutions.
During the committee meeting held on June 5, it was revealed that several countries are collaborating to file cases in international courts under universal jurisdiction against Sri Lankan military leaders accused of war crimes. Although the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the external mechanism, the continuous collection of evidence by this body creates a scenario where Sri Lankan military officers could be arrested and prosecuted in any country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by stating that it has taken steps to inform impartial countries about the situation and has expressed strong protests against the reports from the Geneva Human Rights Commission. Attorney at Law Darshana Weerasekera, who was present at the committee meeting, recommended that Sri Lanka establish a robust domestic mechanism capable of countering the external mechanism with concrete evidence. He suggested incorporating facts from the LLRC report and the Paranagama report into a comprehensive local data file.
MP Weerasekera also warned that the proposed Commission for Truth, Unity, and Reconciliation might inadvertently support external forces against Sri Lanka.
June 15, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has directed that five luxury vehicles, previously seized by the Bribery Commission, be handed over to Sri Lanka Customs. These vehicles were found to have been imported using false information submitted to the Department of Motor Traffic.
Investigations by the Bribery Commission revealed that the government lost approximately Rs. 300 million in tax revenue due to the illegal importation of these vehicles, which are estimated to be worth around Rs. 600 million.
The vehicles were initially taken into custody by the Bribery Commission based on court orders issued during the investigation.
Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage has now ordered the transfer of these vehicles to Sri Lanka Customs for further investigation, following the presentation of facts by the Bribery Commission.
June 15, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s year-on-year GDP growth rate for the first quarter of 2024 has been estimated at a positive 5.3%, according to the Department of Census and Statistics (DCS).
The DCS released the estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current and constant (2015) prices using the Production approach, along with other macroeconomic indicators for the first quarter (January 1st to March 31st) of 2024.
The GDP at constant prices (2015) for the first quarter of 2024 increased to Rs. 3,329,583 million from Rs. 3,161,963 million recorded in the first quarter of 2023.
In detail, the Agricultural, Industrial, and Services sectors expanded by 1.1%, 11.8%, and 2.6% respectively in the first quarter of 2024.
Issuing a communiqué on the release of the National Accounts Estimates, the DCS confirmed the year-on-year GDP growth rate for the first quarter of 2024 at 5.3%.
Overall, the GDP growth reflects a significant increase, with the GDP at constant price (2015) reaching Rs. 3,329,583 million in the first quarter of 2024, up from Rs. 3,161,963 million in the same period of 2023.
