SRI LANKA NEWS                                                                    (SEPTEMBER 2022)                                                              Compiled by Victor Melder. The Lotus Tower, built at a cost of USD 113 mn will be opened to the public on 15 Sept. Former President Maithripala Sirisena declared open the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia on 16 Sept 2019, though it was not opened to the public. The Presidential Media Division (PMD) yesterday said that a Chinese company had provided US$ 88.65 mn. “The loan installments are due to be completed by 2024. Already, USD 66.3936 mn of the loan ...

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eLanka News 2022.08.29 – 2022.09.05 29th August 2022 Due to restrictions on oil distribution, queues have formed near filling stations again. The Petroleum Corporation says that the Corporation has sufficient stocks. This situation is aggravated due to the distribution of oil without proper management. However, the people of Colombo and the areas outside Colombo are suffering again from the oil queues. Meanwhile, due to a lack of proper fuel, public transport and school transport services have reached a crisis situation. The announcement issued by the corporation stated that Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery has been restarted and imported fuel is available in Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela warehouses. The announcement stated that the necessary procurement activities for future oil supply will continue. Meanwhile, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has assured us that he is committed to the development of the people of Sri Lanka as a friendly country. Today is ...

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                  SRI LANKA NEWS (MARCH 2022) Compiled by Victor Melder Sri Lanka’s inflation, as measured by the change in the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) increased to 15.1 percent in February 2022 from 14.2 percent in January 2022, the Department of Census and Statistics reported Monday. The CCPI for all items for the month of February 2022 increased to 160.1 from 158.4 in January 2022. The Year on Year inflation of Food Group increased to 25.7 percent in February 2021 from 25.0 percent in January 2022 and the Year on Year inflation of Non Food Group increased to 10.1 percent in February 2021 from 9.2 percent in the previous month. For the month of February 2021, on year‐to‐year basis, contribution to inflation by food commodities was 8.23 percent and the contribution of Non Food items was 6.85 percent. The moving average inflation ...

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SRI LANKA NEWS (JANUARY 2022)Compiled by Victor Melder. Export earnings from rubber, coconut and cinnamon are on the verge of exceeding $ 4 billion, creating history by recording the highest annual income generated from these crops in a year, Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said. He also said that the Plantation Ministry was committed to make the tea industry a profitable industry in 2022. He said despite not being able to reach the target export earnings, tea crop was estimated to be 305 million kg in 2021. He outlined that the tea industry was a key export crop which contributed significantly to the national economy. “If we want to build up the economy, then we must strengthen the planters. The COVID pandemic and fertiliser problems have caused some setbacks in the industry. But, amidst all these problems, we are working to strengthen the smallholders who contribute to the national ...

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   SRI LANKA NEWS (NOVEMBER 2021) Compiled by Victor Melder According to Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, 626 new COVID-19 cases were reported so far on Sunday. According to the Epidemiology Unit report at 8:30 pm Sunday, a total of 545,088 COVID-19 cases have been reported since the inception of the pandemic. While 16,049 infected patients are currently under medical care at hospitals and homes, 515,183 patients have fully recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Sri Lanka Sunday reported 15 deaths raising the total to 13,856. According to the Epidemiology Unit report, so far total of 15,796,673 people have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 13,577,829 have received the second dose. In addition, 54,031 have received the third booster dose. (Colombo Page, 7.11.2021) Foreign exchange reserves were measured at US$ 2,267.5 million by the end of October, down from US$ 2,704.2 million in September as the Central ...

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SRI LANKA NEWS (OCTOBER 2021) Compiled by Victor Melder. Sri Lanka has turned to China for more fuel purchases on long-term credit as the country continues to face serious issues in raising funds for oil imports. Sri Lanka was having discussions with China through the Chinese ambassador to purchase fuel for six months on a Sovereign Bond – the debt security issued by the Government to raise money for financing government programs.   Existing diesel and petrol purchase arrangements which end in November and January respectively, would be extended to buy fuel on credit for the next six months. The move comes after similar talks with Oman to seek credit for US dollars 3.6 billion to buy refined and crude oil. Minister Gammanpila said initial talks had been held during his recent visit to Oman and agreements needed to be finalised to obtain the facility.Sri Lanka is expecting a five-year grace ...

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SRI LANKA NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2021 A team of research scientists have discovered an unusually large gecko species at Kalthota, Sri Lanka. This new gecko species was named as Hemidactylus kimbulae. Due to its large body size, and so far only found in the environs ofthe Duvili Ella area, the team thought it was better to name it as “kimbulae”, said lead scientist Dr. Thasun Amarasinghe. The research team comprises Dr. Thasun Amarasinghe from the University of Indonesia, Suranjan Karunarathna from Nature Explorations & Education Team Sri Lanka, Dr. Patrick Cambel from Natural History Museum London, Majintha Madawala from Victorian Herpetological Society Australia, and the Father of Sri Lanka’s herpetology, Dr. Anslem de Silva from Amphibia and Reptile Research Organisation of Sri Lanka. Dr. Amarasinghe told The Island that the newly discovered gecko species, almost one foot long, was found only on the walls and in crevices inside rock caves within the ...

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SRI LANKA NEWS (AUGUST 2021) Compiled by Victor Melder. Medical officers raised serious concerns about the surging numbers of COVID-19 patients and deaths, with statistics showing at least three to four patients dying every hour. Vice President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), Dr. Manilka Sumanatillake told the Media that if the country was to win the race between the rapidly increasing COVID infections and the numbers being vaccinated it would have to re-impose stricter travel restrictions for a short period. He also said Sri Lanka’s daily COVID-19 cases count could be several times higher than the official figures. The Ragama and Kalubowila teaching hospitals, where wards were flooded with COVID-19 patients by Wednesday (4), were seen having patients under trees and outside the buildings by last midnight. Meanwhile, with at least 20 children being admitted with COVID -19 to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital per day, measures were taken to ...

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eLanka Newsletter – 04 July 2021 – 1st Edition – Sri Lankans In Australia Click here or on the image below to read this week’s elanka Newsletter Des Kelly (Editor-in-Chief) eLanka Kumar Sangakkara – amongst Royal Box guests at Wimbledon Centre Court Sri Lankan author Kanya D’Almeida wins 2021 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Watch England v Sri Lanka ODI Cricket Highlights June 2021 The misunderstood role of the Attorney General in Sri Lanka By Sunil de Silva P.C Sri Lankan trio sent home from UK for COVID breach-by Althaf Nawaz NSW Community Engagement Update – 30 June 2021 [SEC=OFFICIAL] In Honour of the Great Guru – Mr . E.C.Gunasekara – on his 27th Death Anniversary – 10th June : EDWIN (PETER) CHRISTOPHER GUNASEKARA OF ROYAL COLLEGE – “E.C.Gunasekara” – “V.P.” – “E.C.” – “Christy” – “Kataya” – By Saman Amarasinghe, former Senior Prefect The title song to the Major motion ...

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