January 22, Colombo (LNW): A few showers may occur in Eastern and Uva Provinces, with showers or thundershowers being expected at a few places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 4.00 p.m, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (22).
Mainly fair weather will prevail in the other areas of the island, the statement added.
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts during the morning.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Mainly fair weather will prevail in the sea areas around the island.
Winds:
Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph. Wind speed may increase up to (40-50) kmph at times in the sea areas off the coasts extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota.
State of Sea:
The sea areas off the coasts extending from Colombo to Mannar via Puttalam and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota can be rough at times.
Jaffna district MP S Sritharan elected Leader of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) at the Party election, by secret ballot: overcomes the challenge of MP M A Sumanthiran PC and former MP Sinithamby Yogeswaran.
SL Deputy High Commission in Chennai delivers the 1st batch of passports to “SL nationals resettled in Tamil Nadu”: this initiative has been implemented under the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Trade Minister Nalin Fernando says an imported egg which was previously sold at Rs.35, will soar to Rs.43 after the recent VAT imposition.
Police arrest the person in robes claiming to be “Vishwa Buddha” & issuing statements which are allegedly “demeaning” Buddhism: Gangodawila Magistrate remands him until 26th January.
Police arrest 3 minor staff members of the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital following a complaint of assault by the Karapitiya Hospital’s senior oncologist who was earlier arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman staff member.
Fort Magistrate issues detention orders for 7 days on 11 suspects apprehended by the SL Navy in 2 trawlers off the Southern coast, while in possession of 65 kgs of heroin.
Elections Commission Chairman R M A L Ratnayake says the Commission will start to implement campaign finance laws ahead of the Presidential election this year.
Cabinet Spokesman & Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena says development schemes are set to recommence in February’24 following the finalisation of agreements related to the “debt restructuring” and ongoing discussions with foreign creditors.
Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association Chairman Gemunu Wijeratne says his Association will refrain from operating buses if the Police implement the action of sending “fine sheets” to bus owners based on CCTV footage: insists it is unfair to send the fine sheets related to the mistakes of the buses to the owner of the bus.
SL beats Zimbabwe by 39 runs under DLS in their ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup: SL 204 (48.3 overs), D Kalupahana 60: ZIM 89 (21.1 overs), M Tharupathi 4/17.
January 21, Colombo (LNW): Over 100,000 refugees who fled the North and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka to India in the early 1980s have resided in Indian camps for more than four decades.
Due to the absence of provisions in the Indian constitution for providing nationality, the only available option has been an exit permit back to Sri Lanka.
Under the guidance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the directive of Advisor to President Sagala Ratnayaka, Sri Lanka’s Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, Dr. Venkadesh, facilitated a programme to issue Sri Lanka International travel passports in India, offering a new perspective for the refugees’ future.
Despite repeated proposals to several Sri Lankan heads in the past, no progress had been made until Wickremesinghe prioritised and supported the initiative to provide a new life for the people from North and East Sri Lanka living in India.
This development is seen as a milestone in the reconciliation and rehabilitation efforts for Tamils by the Sri Lankan government led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Sri Lankan Ambassador to India, Shenuka, played a crucial role in ensuring the success of the programme.
Tamil Nadu Minister Senji Masthan took special care of the Sri Lankan refugees, providing necessary documentation support for the programme’s completion.
Gratitude was expressed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Minister of External Affairs Jai Shankar, Minister of Home Affairs Amith Sha, and Tamil Nadu BJP State President K. Annamalai for their continuous support to the Sri Lankan refugees.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on candidates to the 14 February 2024 Indonesian general election to voice their support for press freedom and commit to an agenda of related reforms.
In one month, Indonesia, the third largest democracy in the world, will call upon its 205 million eligible voters to cast their ballots. With the Indonesian presidential and legislative elections scheduled for 14 February 2024, RSF calls on the candidates to commit to reforms aimed at strengthening the physical and digital security of media professionals, and putting an end to abusive defamation proceedings.
RSF addresses the following presidential candidates: former Jakarta governor and independent candidate Anies Baswedan and his running mate Muhaimin Iskandar from the Coalition of Change for Unity; former governor of Central Java province Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD from the Alliance of Political Parties Supporting Ganjar Pranowo; and, current defence minister Prabowo Subianto running with Gibran Rakabuming from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition.
“The current president Joko Widodo’s eight years in office have been marked by a series of broken promises regarding press freedom. We call on all candidates to the general elections to take measures ensuring the safety of journalists, and to put an end to abusive proceedings against media professionals. These two conditions are necessary to improve the media sector and thus contribute to the consolidation of Indonesian democracy.”
Cédric Alviani RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
A vibrant yet restricted media landscape
Third most populous country in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia, Indonesia enjoys a dynamic media environment, with around a hundred thousand journalists. Their work, however, is regularly hampered by acts of violence or intimidation, as well as by the persistence of taboo subjects in society, such as gender identity.
In recent years, several journalists have been detained for their reporting, such as Muhammad Asrul, sentenced to three months for defamation in 2021 after revealing a corruption case. In November 2023, the house of journalist Weren Timo was destroyed by arson shortly after the journalist had received several threats linked to his reports on illegal gambling activities.
Even more concerning is the region of West Papua, which lies in the east of Indonesia, where a genuine information blackout has been established. Journalists are not allowed to report about the military brutal crackdown on the Papuan separatist movement. Despite the election promises of incumbent president Joko Widodo, it remains very difficult for journalists to report from the region. In August 2019, after pro-independence demonstrations broke out, the Indonesian authorities imposed an internet blackout in the region, preventing journalists from covering the protests.
RSF’s recommendations to the candidates:
Ensure the protection and safety of journalists against all forms of violence, pressure, and harassment. This includes all attempts to prevent them from carrying out their work or to undermine their ability to do so. Conduct impartial and independent investigations to identify and prosecute those responsible for crimes of violence against journalists;
Remove limitations to the right to information in the West Papua province by guaranteeing that all journalists have, in practice, unhindered access to the region and to ensure that the internet, including social media, remains open, accessible, and secure;
Reform defamation laws by removing the prison sentences and disproportionate fines from the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE Law), and by introducing legislation to identify gagging proceedings against journalists;
Establish regulation against disinformation in line with international safeguards for freedom of expression, and based on the recommendations from the Forum on Information and Democracy report on Infodemics (2020). Such policies should also provide for an appropriate judicial review process for governments or online platforms’ decisions to block or delete content;
Emphasise critical thinking and media literacy in academic curricula and public education actions by ensuring that school children are being taught from a young age to discern fact from fiction.
Indonesia, ranked 108th out of 180 in the 2023 RSF World Press Freedom Index, guarantees freedom of the press in principle in its legislation.
REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES / REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF)
January 21, Colombo (LNW): Public Security Minister Tiran Alles expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Roshan Kumarathilake, who tragically lost his life in a recent shooting incident in Narammala.
In a post, the Public Security Minister stressed that he unequivocally condemns this senseless act and vowed to take swift and strict action against the wrongdoers.
Tragedy unfolded when a civilian was ordered to stop his vehicle by a Police sub inspector in Narammala area and shot dead upon ignoring his order.
The Police sub inspector in question was in civil attire at the time of the incident, and the event sparked controversy leading to widespread criticism against the Police.
My heartfelt condolences to the family of Roshan Kumarathilake who tragically lost his life in the shooting incident in Narammala. I unequivocally condemn this senseless act and vow to take swift and strict action against the wrongdoers. #lka#publicsecurity
January 21, Colombo (LNW): President Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the 3rd South Summit in Kampala, Uganda, underscored global challenges, including conflicts, pandemic repercussions, climate disasters, and financial market uncertainties.
Emphasising the disproportionate impact on vulnerable G77 economies, he urged urgent reform of the global financial architecture.
President Wickremesinghe criticised the current international debt resolution architecture, noting its relevance during the dominance of the Paris Club and London Club.
With global debt now dominated by international bond markets and non-Paris Club lenders, he lamented the diversion of financial resources to debt service, hindering essential public services and human development, impacting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets.
Expressing concern about the Common Framework’s delays in resolving sovereign debt distress, he urged swift debt resolution.
Regarding climate finance, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the global financial system’s failure to meet the Global South’s needs for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Introducing Sri Lanka’s Tropical Belt Initiative, he aimed to catalyse private investments for global public goods. Addressing rising protectionist tendencies, the President advocated multilateral decision-making in global trade, emphasizing coordination between G77 and BRICS for efficient global trade and investment.
Quoting Joseph Stiglitz on technological changes affecting job creation, President Wickremesinghe called for G77 + China to formulate strategies for energy transition, digital transformation, the green economy, and a skilled workforce.
Thanking President Museveni for hosting the summit and assuming the G77 + China Chairmanship, President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to Cuba for its past leadership.
Commemorating the G77 + China’s 60th year, he emphasised unity to overcome multidimensional challenges based on founding principles.
The 3rd Southern Summit, themed “Leaving No One Behind,” aimed to enhance collaboration among 134 member nations in areas like trade, investment, sustainable development, climate change, poverty alleviation, and the digital economy.
The Republic of Uganda assumed the G77 + China summit presidency from the Republic of Cuba during this session.
January 21, Colombo (LNW): The government is actively engaged in cultivating the necessary quantity of rice domestically, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera asserted.
Consequently there is no imperative for rice imports from foreign countries, he noted.
The Minister has instructed the pertinent authorities to focus on generating a surplus of rice within the country, facilitating the prospect of exporting rice to international markets.
In the year 2022, one-third of the country’s rice demand was met through imports, Amaraweera went on, adding that currently the production of rice within the country is deemed sufficient to fulfill domestic requirements, eliminating the need for external procurement.
January 21, Colombo (LNW): Jaffna District MP Sivagnanam Shritharan has been elected as the new leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) today (21).
Shritharan’s position was previously held by Mavai Senathirajah.
ITAK is a constituent party within the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Sivagnanam Shritharan entered the political arena by contesting the 2010 parliamentary election as a candidate for the Tamil National Alliance electoral alliance in Jaffna District, securing a seat in Parliament.
He subsequently won re-election in the 2015 and 2020 parliamentary elections.
January 21, Colombo (LNW): As a die-hard fan of the novel it feels like a crime if the new series is left unviewed and unwatched. And this is the review.
First of all this is not the first silver screen adaptation done of the famous ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ series; the New York Times bestselling fiction. The first adaptation with Logan Lerman portraying ‘Percy Jackson’, Alexandra Daddario playing ‘Annabeth Chase’ and Brandon T. Jackson taking on the role of ‘Grover Underwood’, the series was anticipated but at the same time criticized as the original hero is only 12 years of age in the actual fiction. But still with Chris Columbus partnering with Direction of the movie, it had a semblance of hope.
Nonetheless of the stellar cast and direction, the movies, both of them, the first one (2010) based loosely on (and using the term ‘loosely’ very lightly here) The Lighting Thief, the first book of the series and the second one (2013) based again loosely on ‘The Sea of Monsters’, the audience had inherently negative reaction which largely transpired due to how unfaithful the adaptation was to the adored fiction.
As a fan myself the movies despite some iconic moments and potential chemistry was disappointing. The mass audience reaction was much the same rating far less than average, even half of the supposed reception, the first one scoring 49% and the second one scoring 42% on Rotten Tomatoes after viewer’s voting and 47 and 39 on Metacritic respectively. It is safe to say the adaptation was not well received. Even the author of the series, Rick Riordan referred to as ‘Uncle Rick’ by the fandom unanimously has expressed his displeasure and disappointment of the adaptations on how they have deviated from the books specially in the second adaptation where they have ‘loosely’ merged the plots of the second and the fifth books and introducing the main villain way earlier than the actual fictional account. He also criticized how the production didn’t take much care for his role as the author of the series and how his opinions were largely limited and the input was not received. All in all the films despite the passable acting and special features were flops.
Thus, when this new anticipation of the ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ TV series hosted by Disney Plus and having Rick Riordan in the writing unit, the fandom was in cahoots. Although the initial casting received some backslash on how the characters haven’t stayed true to their specific racial identities it was soon subdued by the hype and the excitement.
The new series has casted Walker Scobell who rose to fame with ‘Adam Project’ starring side by side Ryan Reynolds in the titular role of ‘Percy Jackson’, Leah Sava Jefferies as ‘Annabeth Chase’ and Aryan Simhadri as ‘Grover Underwood’. After special cast interviews the fandom collectively lost their minds at how similar the trio were to their characters’ personalities.
The initial backlash was also soon forgotten and the first two episodes of the series titled “I Accidentally vaporize my Pre-Algebra Teacher” and “I become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom” was met with such massive hype after its premiere on 19th of December 2023. Especially given the fact that the episodes even stayed true to the chapter names in the actual fiction.
The trio of main cast were also avid fans of the book series and were true to the ages of the characters they portray which probably helped the production to be as accurate and authentic as it could possibly be minus few changes.
The entirety of the first season based on the first book of the novel consists of 08 episodes, 06 of which is already aired and received positive reviews from critics, who largely praised its faithfulness to the source material, the worldbuilding and the performances of the cast. Especially how young the main cast is they have managed to keep the viewers on their toes and gained the adoration of the most of the fandom at how they could act miles among big names such as Jessica Parker, Jason Mantzoukas, Megan Mullaby, Glynn Turmann, Virginia Kull, Suzanne Cryer, Adam Copeland and Lin Manuel Miranda. The stellar supporting cast as well as the brilliant new talents introduced such as Dior Goodjohn and Charlie Bushnell among the campers of ‘Camp Half Blood’ the series was definitely off to a successful start.
As of now, the TV series maintains a faithful viewer base and 96% rating in Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 7.4/10. Within the first six days alone, the series had 13.3 million viewers on Disney and Hulu platforms.
As a viewer, the series has an exceptional cast, each tapping into their characters with almost flawless accuracy, and phenomenal worldbuilding. The much fantasized places in the series, especially Camp Half-Blood was given the attention and accuracy of every readers’ imagination. Although it does at sometimes varies slightly from the book, the plot remains in a consistent arc of going higher and higher. The changes that had been made had not taken anything from the story that is being narrated but had instead add on to specific themes that TV series is actively promoting and the new changes had been exciting so far. But simultaneously the show still retain the spirit and the core essentials of the fiction. The heart of the PJO universe is very much intact.
Another thing that stood out was how the journey of Percy is shown in the show. To read it and imagine it within 377 pages is comparatively easier than putting it on screen for less than an hour per eight episodes. Each element can’t obviously be included. But the show has given such a thriving storytelling where the most anticipated moments and more is given in perfection. The character building is also quite fantastic in the show, perhaps if I dare say better than the book itself in some aspects. Especially in the case of Grover who inhibits the typical role of the best friend. The show has added more depth and analysis to the already awesomely written character and Aryan plays it like a professional.
Considering Percy and Annabeth as well, their dynamic is something that is infamous within the fandom and perhaps one of the most needed aspects of the book for the viewing audience. Walker and Leah although young retain their hilarious, heart-touching dynamic and their potentiality of a future together in a magnificent way.
All in all the new series so far is crushing it out there giving the fandom what they wanted for over a decade in its accuracy and glory. Given the positive reception it is easier to say that the series is worth the watch and as a fan myself I will say that you will not be disappointed.
January 21, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s dairy industry is facing a major crisis, with around 14,000 small-scale farms shutting down and milk production declining sharply as revealed by the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) in Parliament.
The country’s liquid milk production has dried up in the wake of US intervention to boost industry with a grant of US$27 million two years ago..
While officials from the State Ministry of Livestock Department blamed the closures on animal theft, the MPS expressed skepticism.
They argued that other factors, such as the destruction of grasslands and land-related issues, likely played a more significant role.
The COPA emphasized the need for the Department of Animal Production and Health to maintain accurate and clear data on the industry. This data is crucial for understanding the root causes of the crisis and formulating effective policy responses.
Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, who also attended the meeting, acknowledged the decline in milk production received by Milco, the country’s largest dairy processor. He stressed the importance of implementing the Artificial Insemination Programme and formulating a National Policy on milk production to address the challenges facing the industry.
The death of 104 Australian goats imported for breeding raised concerns about animal care practices. COPA members urged the department to ensure proper care and management of imported livestock to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Diary industry in the verge of collapsing two years after U.S. and Sri Lanka signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture, for a $27 million project that aims to double the milk production of Sri Lankan dairy farmers participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Food for Progress” initiative.
In close partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka, the project began in late 2017 and has already benefited 25,000 Sri Lankan dairy farmers, increasing their milk production by an average of 68 percent to date.
An estimated 80,000 Sri Lankans will ultimately receive assistance from this program, as part of the United States’ continued efforts to support food security and economic growth in Sri Lanka. After unforeseen delays including the COVID pandemic, the U.S. Embassy and the Sri Lankan Department of Agriculture finalized this partnership agreement .
Ambassador Chung stated, “This $27 million contribution is a prime example of the United States’ multi-year commitment to promoting sustainable economic development in Sri Lanka.
Food for Progress’ Market-Oriented Dairy Project partners with a U.S. non-profit organization called the International Executive Service Corps to help Sri Lankan farmers increase dairy production by providing them with the skills they need to improve farm operations and management.
It will also provide better access to financing, so farmers can expand their businesses and reach new markets.
