The opening of the Avium Wildlife Photography Exhibition and the launch of the Tusker foundation was held at the High Commission of Sri Lanka on 01 November 2023 under the patronage of the High Commission of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom.
The Avium team which includes few photographers; Dushyantha Silva, Milinda Wattegedera, Raveendra Siriwardene, Melisa Fernando, Mevan Piyasena and Sadeepa Gunawardena have dedicated to leopard identification in Sri Lanka, through meticulous analysis of facial spot pattern, and successfully identified over 220 leopards in Yala and Kumana national parks.
This endeavour challenged common notions about leopards and leopard behaviour, leading to some fascinating ground-breaking discoveries such as that “A leopard can change its spots”. Additionally, the Avium team has observed that the behaviour of Sri Lankan leopards marked differently from that of other subspecies worldwide.
Speaking at the event, Deputy High Commissioner Manorie Mallikaratchy stated that the objective of the event is to promote purposeful tourism, and echo to the world what Sri Lanka has to offer is not just sun and sand, but an Island with rich biodiversity and home to many endemic species of both fauna and flora.
The CEO of VA Distilleries and the President of the Tusker Foundation, Kasthuri Hettiarachchi partnered with the High Commission for this event. The Tusker Foundation is committed to the conservation and welfare of wild tuskers of Sri Lanka, by contributing a proportion of their revenue from Tusker Brand beverages sales.
The Avium exhibition of a collection of photographs portraying the diversity of wildlife continued to 02 & 03November 2023. Over 100 guests attended the event from throughout the United Kingdom.
The decision to expel MP Raheem was made following a thorough inquiry by the Disciplinary Committee of the Party led by MP Rishard Bathiudeen.
Raheem’s actions, involving smuggling gold and mobile phones, have tarnished the party’s reputation, contravened the expected conduct of an ACMC Member of Parliament, and constituted a serious breach of party discipline, ACMC Chairman M.S.S. Ameer Ali said in a statement.
MP Raheem contested in the last General Elections under the symbol of the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) as per the Electoral Agreement with the ACMC.
The expulsion notification has been sent to Raheem and the Secretary General of MNA, Mr. Naeemullah, and the ACMC Chairman hopes for immediate action by the Secretary General of MNA.
Raheem was detained at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake on May 23, 2023, with undeclared gold and mobile phones. Customs officials confiscated 3.5kg of undeclared gold and 91 mobile phones. He was released after paying a fine of Rs. 7.5 million.
Colombo (LNW): The Education Ministry will allocate Rs. 237 billion via the 2024 Budget for education-related expenses across nine provinces, a statement by the Education Minister disclosed.
The Cabinet has approved a policy framework for education reform aimed at establishing a stable and enduring education policy.
The reforms target four key areas, focusing on transitioning from an exam-centric system to more diversified and inclusive classroom assessment to provide quality education for students and educators.
The academic year will commence on February 19, 2024, ensuring the completion of the curriculum from the first to the eleventh year within the same academic year. Advanced-Level Examinations and Ordinary Level Examinations are on schedule.
Efforts are being made to fill teaching service vacancies and address challenges related to teacher and development officer appointments, Education Minister Susil Premjayanth said.
The Treasury approved the recruitment of 5,450 personnel for specific subjects like science, mathematics, English, foreign languages, and technology.
Textbook distribution and school uniform work are nearly completed, with plans to provide meals to all school students starting next year and aiming for lunch for every school child by 2030.
Additionally, professional training in skills and technology will be offered to students post-general and advanced level examinations through evening classes.
The government remains committed to improving the education system and ensuring timely academic schedules.
PMD: In a significant development, the Cabinet of Ministers has convened to address the pressing issues facing the country’s cricket landscape. The attention of the Cabinet was drawn to various concerns within Sri Lanka Cricket. In the cabinet meeting held Nov (06), the Cabinet discussed and decided on a course of action to address these concerns.
The Cabinet has resolved to appoint a special sub-committee with the mandate to examine the current situation and work in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including input from esteemed former cricketers. The primary objective of this sub-committee is to recommend immediate, viable measures to resolve the outstanding issues in Sri Lanka Cricket.
The members of this sub-committee, who have been entrusted with this vital responsibility, include: Ali Sabry – Minister of Foreign Affairs as the Chairman while Kanchana Wijesekara – Minister of Power and Energy Manusha Nanayakkara Minister of Labour & Foreign Employment and Tiran Alles – Minister of Public Security as its members.
In addition to the above, an additional secretary to the President, nominated by the Secretary to the President, will function as the Secretary/Convenor to the sub-committee. This appointment ensures efficient coordination and facilitation of the committee’s work.
Furthermore, the sub-committee has been authorized to co-opt the services of any official or expert in the relevant field as they deem necessary for their deliberations. This inclusive approach aims to tap into a wide range of expertise and perspectives to address the cricket-related issues more comprehensively.
The decision made by the Cabinet regarding the formation of this sub-committee is to be treated as confirmed, and it underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by Sri Lanka Cricket. The sub-committee is expected to work diligently to bring forth practical solutions to strengthen and rejuvenate the country’s cricketing landscape.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges the Philippines’ authorities to conduct a swift investigation on the killing of a radio anchor during a live broadcast, and to take strong measures to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists.
On Sunday 5 November, radio anchor Juan Jumalon, also known as DJ Johnny Walker, was gunned down in the municipality of Calamba, in the southern region of Mindanao. The journalist, aged 57, was broadcasting a live show on Facebook for the media 94.7 Gold FM when a gunman entered his place, shot him twice in the head, and grabbed his necklace before fleeing with an accomplice.
Operating from a studio set up in his home, Jumalon mainly covered current affairs in Mindanao. While the motive for the crime is currently unknown, the National Union of Journalists (NUJP) points out that many journalists in the region have recently received threats following their coverage of local elections held last month.
“The murder of Juan Jumalon is deeply shocking and must not be left unpunished. We urge the Philippine Department of Justice to conduct a swift investigation to determine the motives and identify the perpetrators. We also call on President Ferdinand Marcos Junior’s administration to take concrete steps to put an end to the violence committed against Philippine journalists with almost total impunity.”
Cédric Alviani RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau Director
Juan Jumalon is the second radio journalist killed in the Philippines in 2023 and the fourth since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in June 2022. As the population is dispersed across thousands of islands, radio plays a fundamental role in circulating news and information, and radio journalists often pay with their lives for being more outspoken and incisive.
In May of this year, radio journalist Cresenciano Bunduquinwas shot dead at his home, located in the central Philippines, after receiving repeated death threats. In October 2022, radio journalist Percival Mabasa, better known by his pseudonym Percy Lapid, was shot near his home in the suburbs of Manila.
With 199 murdered since the restoration of democracy in 1986, the Philippines is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists and press freedom defenders and ranks 132nd out of 180 on the 2023 RSF World Press Freedom Index.
REPORTERS SANS FRONTIÈRES / REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF)
Poll conducted by an internationally funded Research organisation says the approval rating of the Government has plunged from 21% in June’23 to 9% in October’23: economic confidence score has also fallen from negative (-) 44 in June to negative (-) 62.
“Lawyers’ Collective” condemns the 4th extension granted to IGP C D Wickremeratne, who passed the mandatory retirement age 8 months ago: alleges the extension has been granted unconstitutionally without the concurrence of the Constitutional Council.
Urban Development & Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga instructs the UDA to return Viharamahadevi Park to the Colombo Municipal Council: since 2011, the park had been under the UDA & modernised as part of the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project with a World Bank loan.
Media spokesman of the Ceylon Electricity Board Engineer Noel Priyantha says the electricity supply of a staggering 788,235 consumers has been disconnected due to the non-payment of the electricity bills in the last 10 months: 120,474 disconnections of supply have been recorded in August’23, while in July’23, 118,481 disconnections were carried out.
Cabinet appoints a 4-member Ministerial Committee to look into SL Cricket’s future activities & the appointment of Members to a SLC Interim Committee by the Sports Ministet: the 4-member Ministerial Committee to be Mohamed Ali Sabry (Chairman), Kanchana Wijesekara, Manusha Nanayakkara & Tiran Alles.
Former MP & SL Ambassador to Iran M M Zuhair says the US, UK & other European countries must respect the growing global public opinion, mostly in the West, including thousands of principled Jews, against the horrific crimes being committed against the Palestinians under cover of a ‘war on Hamas’ for the past one month.
The All Ceylon Makkal Congress says the Party has revoked the party membership of MP Ali Sabri Raheem who attempted to smuggle a stack of gold & mobile phones into the country.
US District Court Judge Denise Cote grants SL’s request for an interim halt on Hamilton Reserve Bank’s legal action against the country until 29th February’24 in it’s ISB dues claim: says the requested “stay action” by SL has been granted for 6 months, to enable the conduct of its sovereign debt restructuring negotiations with sovereign & commercial creditors: also says a breakdown in restructuring negotiations could threaten SL’s progress towards IMF targets & economic recovery.
SL loses to Bangladesh by 3 wickets in their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Group match: SL – 279 all out (49.3 overs), Charith Asalanka – 108, Pathum Nissanka – 41: Bangladesh – 282/7 (41.1 overs), Dilshan Madushanka – 69/3, Mahesh Theekshana – 44/2: Madushanka becomes the highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far, with 21 wickets.
SL top batsman Angelo Mathews becomes the first batsman in international cricket to be given out by way of being ‘timed out’: following an appeal from Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, Umpires rule Mathews out since he failed to receive the ball within the stipulated time from the previous dismissal.
Colombo (LNW): Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in most provinces of the island after 01.00 p.m, and fairly heavy showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in Western, Central, Sabaragamuwa North-western and Uva provinces, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather forecast today (07).
Showers may occur in Northern, Eastern and Southern provinces during the morning too, the statement added, pointing out that misty conditions can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces during the morning.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimise damages caused by temporary localised strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
Marine Weather:
Condition of Rain:
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in sea areas around the Island particularly during the afternoon or night.
Winds:
Winds will be North-easterly or variable in direction and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph.
State of Sea:
The sea areas around the island will be slight. Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.
Colombo (LNW): Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has affirmed the government’s commitment to its policy of requiring a mandatory 28-day training period for individuals seeking employment as domestic workers abroad.
Addressing the inauguration of the training centre and office of Sjong World, an organisation that provides job training programmes for individuals pursuing roles as domestic workers and focuses on the Korean agriculture sector, he emphasised that this training is essential to enhance job security and increase wages.
Domestic workers who depart without prior training often encounter various challenges and receive lower salaries compared to workers from other countries, Nanayakkara pointed out. Certain foreign employment agencies prioritise profit over the mandatory training requirement, he added.
The Minister made it clear that the government would not change its stance on mandatory training, highlighting the crucial role played by migrant workers in bolstering the country’s economy and foreign reserves.
He went on saying that the country has received over US $7 billion in foreign remittances, making it a significant contributor to the nation’s resources and essential services.
Nanayakkara expressed gratitude for the efforts of migrant workers in maintaining access to resources like fuel, electricity, and medicine.
Colombo (LNW): Scott Nathan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), is set to arrive in Sri Lanka for an official visit from November 7 – 8, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo said in a statement.
During his visit, the DFC Chief will participate in an event to launch a new DFC investment at the Port of Colombo, aimed at bolstering critical infrastructure for the South Asian region.
Additionally, he will take part in a signing ceremony for DFC’s investment commitment to Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB), a collaborative effort with USAID Sri Lanka that seeks to promote inclusive lending within Sri Lanka.
Furthermore, Nathan is set to engage with leaders from the country’s top commercial and development banks, hold discussions with high-level Sri Lankan government officials, and visit the facilities of DFC clients to witness firsthand how DFC’s financing is aiding these businesses in achieving their development objectives.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates spearheads key initiatives
Sri Lanka participates in Expand North Star and GITEX 2023, from 15-20 Oct. in Dubai, UAE
25 companies, including startups participate in the event
Business networking session attended by State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama
The Consulate General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, the Sri Lanka IT Professionals Association in Dubai, and Trainocate Gulf, organised a dynamic business networking session for the participating Sri Lankan IT companies at the Expand North Star and GITEX 2023. The event took place at the Millennium Plaza Downtown on 17 October.
The event commenced with a warm greeting by Consul General of Sri Lanka to Dubai and Northern Emirates Alexi Gunasekera, setting the tone for the event with inspiring opening remarks. Gunasekera emphasised the significance of technology and innovation in the modern, globally connected world. He also highlighted the significance of the IT BPO sector to Sri Lanka, noting that the Sri Lankan Government aims to achieve a remarkable milestone of $ 5 billion worth of IT BPO exports by 2030, while simultaneously creating 200,000 Sri Lankan IT professionals.
The event was honoured by the attendance of State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama, who shared invaluable insights into Sri Lanka’s IT sector. Minister Amunugama highlighted the remarkable progress achieved under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, emphasising that Sri Lanka has successfully overcome its main economic challenges. He further emphasised the need to attract both direct and indirect investments to Sri Lanka, aligning with the President’s vision of establishing a knowledge-based economy in the country.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to UAE Udaya Indrarathna shed light on the UAE perspective of the IT sector, underscoring the significant role played by the Sri Lankan expatriate community in advancing this industry. Additionally, he highlighted the Embassy’s collaboration with the Consulate General to establish clusters aimed at promoting key sectors of Sri Lanka in the UAE.
The event featured the active participation of both Sri Lankan and UAE IT professionals, such as Injazat, Seven seas, Trainocate, Softlogic, Mindware G42 Cloud, MDS, Parallax, Orel IT, etc. and 16 years old two future IT professionals from Sri Lanka. The audience was captivated by the fascinating presentation delivered by hSenid Software CEO Dinesh Saparamadu. He shed light on the immense potential within Sri Lanka’s IT landscape and outlined the future goals of the IT sector in the country, emphasising the significance of the UAE market for Sri Lanka.
Trainocate Managing Director Zafarullah Hasim emphasised the contribution made by Trinocate in organising the Sri Lanka participation at the Expand North Star UAE. The event fostered engaging discussions, focusing on the latest trends and providing opportunities for attendees to connect with businesses and stakeholders in the IT industry.
The event was made possible through the support extended by the Director General of the Department of Commerce, who provided the necessary financial assistance for its successful execution. The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, EDB Sri Lanka, SLASSCOM and ICTA also contributed to the success of the event.
Ronald Powell representing Injazat, provided a remarkable perspective by sharing success stories from the UAE and the endless opportunities for international collaboration. His insights inspired attendees and underscored the UAE’s commitment to technological advancement.
The event was further enriched by the active support of the Sri Lankan Information Technology Professional Association (SLITPA) Dubai, which worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the evening. SLITPA President Kuminda Liyanage states that the Association is committed and proud to be associated with the Consulate General/Embassy of Sri Lanka in the UAE in promoting the Sri Lanka IT industry in the UAE and wider Middle East. Further, he stated that SLITPA will continue to support building bridges between the IT industry in UAE and Sri Lanka by creating numerous positive engagements.
First Secretary Dinithi Weerasena, on behalf of the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, expressed gratitude to all participants, partners, and attendees who contributed to the success of the event delivering the Vote of Thanks.
The 43rd edition of the GITEX Global, renowned as the world’s largest tech exhibition, serves as a gateway for investors and Tech creators and hosts more than 6,000 exhibitors. Participation in GITEX and North Star provides Sri Lanka with a global platform to showcase its technological innovations, products, and services. This year Expand North Star featured more than 1800 global startup exhibitors, 900 plus investors, 250 speakers and more than 100 countries.
Sri Lanka participated at Expand North Star with My Tudy, Authnex, Asia Pacific Technologies, DMS, Evolza, hSenid, Impact IT, ITX360, One Lexiicon Parallax, KBSL and the highlight was the participation of two 16-year-old future IT professionals from Sri Lanka.
Participation in these events allowed Sri Lankan companies to gain exposure to a vast international audience, including potential investors, partners, and customers. GITEX and North Star attract a diverse range of investors seeking promising technological ventures. Sri Lanka’s participation in these events enhances its visibility and attractiveness as an investment destination, opening doors to potential funding and business opportunities for local IT companies and startups.
AI innovation wave, cybersecurity and launch shows fuel unprecedented growth GITEX Global presented the year’s largest AI showcase and summit, its record growth fuelled by the AI innovation wave currently gripping the globe’s imagination, as 3,500 AI-infused exhibitors revealed how this next big technology shift is transforming lives, governments, business, and society.
The AI boom has also added another layer of complexity to protecting digital assets and critical IP infrastructure, with the elevated GITEX Cyber Valley taking the fight directly to the dark cyber-criminal underworld, gathering leading info-sec brands and global experts at the year’s biggest cyber security showcase. Amplifying this growth, the launch shows GITEX Impact and Future Urbanism Expo promise to be the epicentre of ground-shaking shifts in climate technology while advancing sustainable cities, and co-creating a net zero future ahead of the UN climate change summit, COP28.
In the coming year, Sri Lanka Consulate General/Embassy together with Business Support organisations aims to organise an even larger Sri Lankan participation at GITEX and Expand North Star, further enhancing its presence and showcasing its technological advancements on a global platform thus firmly establishing Sri Lanka as a high-end IT BPO supplier to UAE and the Gulf Region.
