S&P downgrades SL on debt servicing risks, outlook stable Source:FT Govt. revenue expected to decline to below 10% of GDP Economy projected to contract 0.3% before rebounding with 4.6% growth in 2021 External position to deteriorate, current account deficit to grow to 3.4% Debt to balloon to 195% of reserves and external assets   Standard & Poor Global Ratings yesterday downgraded its long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Sri Lanka to B- from B, citing a deterioration in the country’s already weak fiscal position amid an expected economic contraction. Issuing a statement, S&P said the country’s fiscal position weakened in 2019 as the Easter Sunday attacks affected economic activity and tourism earnings. Expenditures rose due to security-related and election spending while tax cuts led to a fall in revenue, the rating agency noted. “With COVID-19 dampening domestic economic activity and lower excise duty earnings due to broad import ...

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Science and medicine were part of my life – Dr. Maheshi N. Ramasamy, Principal Investigator for the Oxford COVID-19   This young lady is the daughter of old Royalist Dr Ranjan Ramasamy. He was first to get 8Ds at the 1964 O Level exam  Dinner table chats with her scientist-parents and hospital ward rounds with her Puncha, these were what inspired her, says Dr. Maheshi N. Ramasamy, Principal Investigator for the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Trial, in this interview with Kumudini Hettiarachchi (Source: Sunday Times Sri Lanka)   Totally relaxed, she comes on Zoom on Wednesday – at the appointed hour of 12 Greenwich Meantime Time (GMT) in Oxford, England, and 5.30 p.m. in Sri Lanka. No one would imagine that pretty Dr. Maheshi N. Ramasamy, who is quick to smile and chats leisurely, has been having a “crazy” time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. Dr. Ramasamy delivering a lecture on vaccines ...

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THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP MINISTER FOR POPULATION, CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACTING MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, MIGRANT SERVICES AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS  MEDIA RELEASE 30 November 2020 Further changes to support Family visa applicants The Morrison Government is making further changes to the Family visa program to support applicants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has been working over recent months to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on visa holders and has already introduced a number of arrangements to support those who have been impacted. This includes providing visa holders flexibility to remain in Australia, or to continue their visa pathway even if they have been unable to travel due to the current international border restrictions.   In addition to these changes, the Government will allow certain Family visas which have been applied for outside Australia, to be granted while the visa applicant is in Australia. This temporary concession will ...

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Fitch downgrades SL on debt sustainability Despite pro-growth policies outlined in Budget 2021, including for construction, Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded Sri Lanka on growing debt repayment concerns    Source:FT Reduces Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC’ Main reason cited as challenging debt repayment position worsened by COVID-19  SL has to repay $ 23.2 b from 2021-2025, but reserves of only $ 5.9 b  Says Govt. plans to meet debt repayments increasingly challenging, debt-to-GDP ratio to increase to 116% by 2024 Warns Budget projections of revenue and deficit targets too ambitious, expects growth to be 4%, revenue 11% of GDP  Expects growth to contract by 6.7% in 2020, but record turnaround of 4.9% in 2021     Fitch Ratings yesterday downgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC’ on increasing challenges to its external-debt repayment position, worsened by COVID-19 impact.   Issuing a statement, the international rating agency ...

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TELLING STORIES TO ENSURE OLDER PEOPLE ARE VALUED AND RESPECTED Nominations are now open for the prestigious Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing (MACA) Media Awards. Acting Minister for Seniors Geoff Lee says two new categories have been added this year for Influencers on social media and for media that has focused its efforts on Responding in Crisis, especially with the impact of COVID-19 on seniors. “Media deserve to be recognised for tirelessly working to create a community where older people are respected and valued,” Mr Lee said. ...

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Nige learned to cook in immigration detention – now he’s teaching Australians his recipes     Source:-theguardian Launched in response to the pandemic, a national meal kit service shares the stories and cuisines from chefs of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds “My belly is laughing when I try some curry,” says Nigethan ‘Nige’ Sithirasegaram into one of the three cameras pointed at him. “Even the smell makes me happy.” It’s a gloomy Melbourne morning but Sithirasegaram is positively beaming. Perched in front of a bright yellow backdrop at Free to Feed – a social enterprise and cooking school in Northcote – he’s telling stories for the suite of short films that will accompany a meal kit he’s releasing nationally on 17 November. Before the pandemic, Free to Feed ran sell-out cooking classes that enabled customers to learn how to make dishes like Assyrian Mutabal Kousa (fried zucchini with a yoghurt tahini dressing) ...

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THE HON ALAN TUDGE MP MINISTER FOR POPULATION, CITIES AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACTING MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, MIGRANT SERVICES AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS 18 November 2020 Citizenship appointments resume in all states and territories More people now have the opportunity to become Australian citizens, with citizenship testing and appointments now available in all states and territories following COVID-19 shutdowns. In-person citizenship tests and appointments resumed in Melbourne this week, after COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria eased. Testing has progressively resumed in other states and territories as COVID-19 restrictions have allowed. ...

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Over 200 acres of forest in Ampara destroyed Radalla and Kumbukkan forest reserves near Pottuvil and Lahugala at high risk-by Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka Source:Dailymirror After the court order, those who were clearing forests discreetly began to use dozers and engage in large-scale deforestation Evidence points to an officer of the Security and Law Division of the Forest Department being complicit in the destruction of the Radalla forest reserve While the country focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of large-scale deforestation are emerging from Pottuvil in the Ampara district. Deforestation has been continuing in the area since 2000 and the Department of Forest Conservation has been unable to stop it due to interference from politicians and officials. Furthermore, all Governments have turned a blind eye to the issue for political gains. Local residents have continued to clear forests for cultivation and settle on protected lands. The Radalla forest reserve, brought under ...

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Sri Lanka tea industry facing up to new challenges Source:Island Since the Spanish flu infected close to a third of the, then global population a century ago, not even the First & Second World Wars could bring about an enormous tragedy on the human race until the COVID 19 pandemic hit all corners of Planet Earth. The New Corona Virus cases are already racing towards the 50 million mark and the death toll exceeding 1.2 million people with just the Second Wave of the pandemic beginning to spread all over the world like a wild fire aided by the natural wind. The in tropical & mystic island of Sri Lanka blessed with abundance of rich culture and fertile nature, rain forest, daily direct sunlight of at least 6 hours throughout the year resulting in a conducive climate, soil and weather ideal for growing tea. ...

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SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS (OCTOBER 2020) – Compiled by Victor Melder With England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) not willing to put their players through a two-week quarantine and the sudden spike in COVID-19 positive cases in Sri Lanka, there is uncertainty surrounding the proposed England Test tour to the country. England was in Sri Lanka in March to play the two-match Test series but returned home just days ahead of the first Test following the global outbreak of the virus. Though dates are yet to be confirmed, both Boards agreed to play it in January next year. “We are working to ensure the business of international cricket keeps going,” Tom Harrison, the ECB Chief Executive, was quoted as saying. “(But) the Bangladesh tour to Sri Lanka is an understandable situation for the Bangladeshi team; two weeks of quarantine is not an easy thing to agree to for players and ...

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