Colombo (LNW): Marking an increase of the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) compared to the previous year, 485 new infections of HIV have been identified in the past few months this year, disclosed Dr. Janaki Vidanapathirana, Director of the National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP).

“The estimated number of HIV cases in Sri Lanka for this year is 4,100. Between January 1st and the end of September this year, we identified 485 new cases of HIV. This reflects an increase compared to the previous year. Our efforts have been enhanced through collaborations with non-governmental organisations. It’s noteworthy that 80 per cent of these cases are reported among men, particularly in the age group of 15 to 49 where HIV infections are increasing the most,” Dr. Vidanapathirana told media.

The national HIV response has established 40 STI clinics under the NSACP across the island, and HIV self-testing kits can be delivered through the Know4Sure app for at-home HIV testing, she noted.

She added that in conjunction with World AIDS Day on December 1st, the NSACP has launched a special campaign to educate the public.

“Most of our programmes are concentrated in the Colombo and Gampaha districts, as these areas have the highest vulnerability. The core message under the theme ‘Let Communities Lead – prevent AIDS’ is to encourage people to get tested for HIV and know their status. Throughout the island, there are 40 national STD clinics available under the National STD AIDS Control Programme. We also provide the option to use the Know4Sure app for at-home HIV testing.”

1. President Ranil Wickremesinghe raises serious concerns with Heads of Inland Revenue Dept, Excise & Customs Depts over their failure to gather the required revenue: queries as to why only an estimated 500,000 tax files continue to be on the tax base when the actual number should be far higher.
   
2. SJB MPs Eran Wickremaratne & Harsha Silva say a hopeless & hapless Govt is continuing to heap burdens on its citizens through excessive taxation: oppose the increase of VAT from 15% to 18%: analysts point out that the same MPs previously advocated higher taxes, flexible LKR, higher interest rates, debt restructuring, and an extensive IMF programme.
   
3. SL Customs collects its highest-ever monthly revenue of Rs.109bn in October’23: total revenue in the first 10 months of 2023 reaches Rs.760bn.
   
4. Police arrest Sanjeewa Dhammika, Secretary of the Electricity Consumers’ Association, a Buddhist monk, and 4 others during a protest at Horagasmulla on the Colombo – Divulapitiya main road: these activists were protesting against the increase in electricity tariffs.
   
5. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives on a 3-day “official visit”: expected to deliver the keynote address at a conference organized by the SL Govt to mark the 200th anniversary of the arrival of India-origin Tamils (IOTs) to SL: also expected to make the keynote address at the India-SL Business Summit on ‘Enhancing Connectivity – Partnering for Prosperity’, jointly organized by Confederation of Indian Industries, Indo-Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
   
6. Colombo Magistrate says the Expert Committee that probed Dinesh Schaffter’s post-mortem has concluded that death was due to pressure exerted on the victim’s face & neck: orders the CID to investigate & apprehend the suspects.
   
7. Vietnam overtakes SL in terms of per capita GDP: as of 2022, Vietnam’s per capita GDP has risen to USD 4,164, compared to USD 3,354 of SL: SL’s current per capita GDP is almost the same as that of 10 years ago, when it was USD 3,352: over the 5 years (2017-2022), about one-fourth of SL’s per capita GDP got wiped out: at end 2014, SL’s per capita GDP was USD 3,819 while average GDP growth over the 5 years (2010-2014), was 6.5%.
   
8. Workers’ remittances in September’23 amounts to USD 482mn, compared to USD 359mn in September’22 & USD 499mn in August’23: total departures for foreign employment in September’23 and during January to September’23 was 25,648 & 222,794 respectively: in 2022, the total departures were 311,056.
   
9. World Bank MD – Operations Anna Bjerde encourages the Govt to see”stay the course on reforms for recovery & sustainable growth”: affirms WB’s “continuous commitment to investing in people, strengthening human capital, & creating jobs”: in the past 18 months in SL since following an IMF programme, poverty in SL has more than doubled, an estimated one million jobs lost, and hundreds of thousands of SME businesses have crashed.
   
10. ICC Brand Ambassador and SL spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan says champion sides are not made in one day, & it is a long process: asserts that building players is more important: laments that after 2015, SL hasn’t nurtured players and when someone fails, he is unfortunately dropped from the team: recommends that players must be given more chances and given a backing.

Agriculture and Plantations Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has clarified that there is an adequate supply of fertilizers in the country, countering claims made by some farmer organizations regarding a shortage of various fertilizers, including urea.

Minister Amaraweera has revealed that the government, in collaboration with two public sector fertilizer companies and the private sector, has made arrangements to ensure a sufficient supply of fertilizers for the current season. The government has also taken steps to credit farmers’ accounts with Rs. 15,000 per hectare to facilitate their purchase of fertilizers, offering flexibility to choose between chemical and organic options.

In terms of urea fertilizer, both government fertilizer companies are selling a 50 kg bundle at a price of Rs. 9,000, while the private sector has reduced the price to Rs. 8,500. The Minister emphasized that fertilizer distribution has covered all regions of the country, and if any area experiences a shortage, the Agriculture Ministry should be informed promptly for immediate action.

During this season, the government and the private sector are supplying Urea and MOP fertilizers, with the private sector taking the responsibility for mangroves. Minister Amaraweera has voiced his concern that some individuals associated with political parties are attempting to undermine farmers by spreading false information about fertilizer shortages, which, in reality, has been effectively addressed with a well-implemented supply system in the country.

A historic moment unfolded as the first-ever direct flight from the Czech Republic to Sri Lanka departed from Prague International Airport. LOT Polish Airlines is operating these direct charter flights, which will run every Tuesday from October 24, 2023, to March 26, 2024, utilizing Boeing 787 Dreamliners configured to accommodate 251 passengers. The introduction of this new route is set to draw approximately 5,800 tourists from the Czech Republic to Sri Lanka during the winter season, offering a significant reduction in travel time, with the one-way journey taking just ten hours.

In a collaborative effort with the Sri Lanka embassy in Vienna, Austria, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) has partnered with Cedok, a prominent travel services provider in the Czech Republic, which has been in operation since 1920. This partnership is part of a co-marketing campaign launched in conjunction with the launch of direct charter flights.

The inauguration ceremony of these direct charter flights, jointly organized by Cedok and LOT Polish Airlines at Prague Airport, was attended by distinguished guests, including the Counsellor of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Vienna and Chargé d’ Affaires for Czechia, Charitha Weerasinghe. Also present were Cedok CEO Stanislav Zeman, Executive Director of Prague Airport Jiri Vyskoc, Spokesperson of LOT Polish Airlines Krzysztof Moczulski, and Sri Lanka Honourary Consul in Czechia Marek Nemec. This new flight route promises to further strengthen the ties between the Czech Republic and Sri Lanka while boosting tourism in both countries.

Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has vehemently denied any plans to sell water to farmers for agricultural purposes, dismissing these claims as the tactics of a certain political group seeking to gain political advantage. During a media briefing held in Kandy, Minister Amaraweera clarified that the government is actively exploring methods for more efficient water usage in agriculture rather than selling water.

The minister emphasized the ongoing tests to determine the feasibility of cultivating crops with reduced water consumption. He stressed the importance of using water economically for agricultural purposes, particularly in light of reports predicting a more severe drought during the upcoming Yala Season compared to the previous one. Farmers have been advised to begin cultivation during the current rainy season to mitigate the potential water shortage in the Yala Season.

Minister Amaraweera condemned baseless allegations and rumors spread by certain groups for political gain, specifically the false claim that the government intends to charge farmers for the water provided. He clarified that the government’s objective is to raise awareness among farmers about using water judiciously and conducting cultivation activities with minimal water usage, not to impose water charges on farmers.

Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana, announced a significant development in the education sector. He revealed that a Cabinet sub-committee, led by the President, and a 25-member expert committee under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Secretary, have been appointed to craft a comprehensive national education policy framework tailored to the current global requirements. This framework is poised to revolutionize the education system and adapt it to the needs of the modern world.

During a Cabinet press conference, Minister Gunawardhana explained that the expert committee has diligently designed the national education policy framework, concentrating on pertinent subject areas and matters of significance. This ambitious project, titled the National Education Policy 2023-2033, has been further refined with inputs from the Ministerial Sub-Committee. The final draft of this ten-year policy has been submitted to the Parliament’s Oversight Committee on Education for review and will subsequently be presented in Parliament.

The minister emphasized the uniqueness of this ten-year national education program, which aims to cultivate a future generation of children with diverse talents, skills, and creative abilities. The overarching goal is to ensure that the entire education system aligns with the demands of the modern world.

Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana also disclosed that the President’s proposal to introduce the new National Education Policy for further discussion in the Sectoral Committee and Parliament has received Cabinet approval. This initiative marks a significant step toward reshaping the educational landscape to better prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has reported a slight depreciation of the Sri Lankan Rupee against the US Dollar on November 1, compared to the rates observed on the previous day. The updated rates are as follows:

• Buying rate of the US Dollar: Increased from Rs. 322.17 to Rs. 322.34.
• Selling rate of the US Dollar: Increased from Rs. 332.50 to Rs. 332.63.

While the Sri Lankan Rupee has demonstrated slight fluctuations against the US Dollar, it has also shown minor appreciation against a basket of other foreign currencies.

Sri Lanka Police intervened in a protest march that originated from Divulapitiya, organized to voice opposition against the recent increase in electricity tariffs. The demonstration was led by several groups, including the Electricity Users’ Association, the Citizens’ Advisory Council, and the Collective of Civil Organization.

The march commenced from Divulapitiya’s Bus Stand and aimed to proceed to the Colombo-Kurunegala Main Road after addressing the media. A significant police presence was observed in the area.

Tensions escalated when the Sri Lanka Police obstructed the protest march. While the protesters initially moved aside to allow traffic to pass, a heated exchange unfolded when the police blocked the road.

During the course of the confrontation, Chairman of the Citizen’s Movement Against Fraud, Corruption, and Waste, Jamuni Kamantha Thushara, and Secretary of the Electricity Users’ Association, Sanjeewa Dhammika, were arrested. Subsequently, Venerable Balangoda Kassapa Thero and several others were also detained by the authorities.

The protest was in response to the recent hike in electricity tariffs and reflects the ongoing concerns and grievances of citizens regarding economic challenges in Sri Lanka.