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The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has condemned an incident at a school in Hatton in which its principal assaulted a female student with a broom-handle.

The victim, a 10th grader at Bogahawatta Sinhala Vidyalaya in Kotagala, is receiving hospitalised treatment.

Secretary of the CTU Joseph Stalin says the attack is a blemish on the entire teaching profession. According to the girl, she was repeatedly attacked with a broom-handle after she asked the principal not to use bad language on her younger brother, a student of the same school, for not contributing money for a teacher felicitation.

Charging any money from schoolchildren goes against all circulars, notes Stalin, and calls for the enforcement of the law against violators.

Indictments were filed against Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and two others at the Colombo High Court on Wednesday (28).

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption had served the indictments.

The suspects have been charged by the Commission over allegations of causing loss to the state.

Following the submission of indictments, the Colombo High Court released the suspects, including the minister on bail.

The case will be taken up for hearing once again on the 3rd of November 2022.

A discussion on the national weather plan contributing to the development of the country was held on Thursday (29) at the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s Media Division (PMD) reported.

The discussion was held under the leadership of President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and the Deputy Leader of the United National Party, President’s Advisor on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene.

Consultants of the Weather Risk Forum Sara Jane Ahmed and Miniyat Fabbiha participated in the discussion, while the corresponding draft was presented to the President’s Secretary.

The PMD said the discussions focused on taking the initiative of the Ministry of Environment, identifying the potential of the irrigation, agricultural, and other related fields contributing to the national climate plan and their implementation.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Tokyo on Tuesday (27), and said that his priority was to bring into effect the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore.

During the discussions President Wickremesinghe informed the Singaporean Prime Minister that an international trade office was being established in the President’s office.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong welcomed the news, and stated that Singapore was looking forward to investing in Sri Lanka once again.

President Wickremesinghe invited the Singaporean Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka next year when the country celebrates its 75th Independence Anniversary.

Children and elders will be allowed to enter zoos free of charge in commemoration of the World Children's and Elder's day, says the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, Mahinda Amaraweera.

The Minister said that accordingly, the Zoological Department has been instructed to provide an opportunity for school children and adults above 60 years of age to enter all zoological gardens free of charge.

Many educational programs have also been organized at zoological gardens for children to gain an opportunity to learn about animals.

Minister Amaraweera said that adults have also been given ample opportunities for enjoyment, as they will be able to feed animals at the zoo and take photographs with them.

Sri Lankan authorities have imported the wrong type of crude oil, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) revealed.

PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said that it contains the wrong type of Naphtha liquid.

He explained that the Naphtha in the newly imported stock of crude oil contains a high rate of sulfur which cannot be used for the production of electricity at power plants.

Stating that the new stock of crude oil was imported by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Janaka Ratnayake added they can only drink it up now as it is of no use.

He made the revelation during an interview with a local media channel.

Minister of Transportation Bandula Gunawardena today launched the ‘Kandy Odyssey’ train service between Colombo Fort and Kandy.

The new train service has been launched for the benefit of local and foreign tourists visiting the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens in Kandy.

The ‘Kandy Odyssey’ will operate every weekend and will leave Colombo Fort at 6.30 am and is scheduled to reach Kandy at 9.18 am.

The train will also leave Kandy at 4.50 pm and arrive at Colombo Fort railway station at 7.40 pm, while the duration of the train journey is 02 hours and 48 minutes.

A first-class ticket is priced at Rs.2000/- and a 2nd class ticket at Rs.1500/-

ALI SABRY, Minister for Foreign Affairs for Sri Lanka, said that confronted with overlapping challenges, developing countries and their economies are at extreme risk with Governments facing debt-default and financial collapse due to a lack of access to adequate capital, while people face rising poverty, unemployment, hunger and education disruption.

He called for the international community’s cooperation and support as his country embarks on political, social and economic reforms. “We are pleased to have reached a staff level understanding with the IMF,” he said, noting his country’s efforts to reach the most vulnerable through economic reforms.

Freedom of expression is sacrosanct and must be exercised within the confines of the law. On COVID-19, Sri Lanka’s vaccination drive exceeded WHO targets, yet the country was vulnerable to the pandemic’s economic fallout, he said, stressing the importance of multilateral cooperation through global health networks.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s commitments to the targets of the Paris Agreement and its aim of reducing emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, he called on the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases to fulfil their commitments and assist developing nations in adaptation and mitigation measures. “As an island nation, we are acutely concerned about and sensitive to the impact of pollution and climate change on oceans,” he said, and the sustainable use of their resources, he underscored, while also supporting a sustainable transformation of agriculture to ensure food security, especially for children. Bridging the digital divide is another goal, and on human capital investments, he noted that Sri Lanka is ranked in the high human development category, occupying rank 73 out of 191 countries globally, and is the highest in the Asia-Pacific region.

Turning to disarmament, he said that agreed frameworks for arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament have become fragile and expressed regret that a consensus outcome wasn’t reached at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

He restated Sri Lanka’s consistent, principled position that the Palestinian people have a legitimate, inalienable right to the natural resources in their territory and to statehood and the urgent need to attain a two-State solution. The absence of a regulatory supervisory regime concerning the use of new technologies in cyberspace and in artificial intelligence needs to be addressed urgently, he said, noting the implementation of Sri Lanka’s first Information and Cyber Security Strategy and stressing the importance of establishing a partnership-based approach to protect cyberspace from multinational cyberthreats.

Noting Sri Lanka was a victim of terrorism for several decades, he called for legislative measures and law enforcement mechanisms to counter terrorism and radical ideologies. To contribute to international peace and security, Sri Lanka looks forward to enhancing its participation in peacekeeping operations.

Full Speech : Ali Sabry UN speech

The American Center in Colombo has relocated to the new U.S. Embassy building and opened its doors to program participants once again today.

At a colorful opening ceremony, the new and revamped American Center in Colombo hosted library patrons, Youth Forum members, and past and present program participants as well as program implementing partners.

With an eye on providing Sri Lankan youth the tools they need to seize the future, the new American Center in Colombo shifted its primary focus from being a library and program venue to space for collaborative learning and digital engagement, as well as a state-of-the-art location for technology such as virtual reality and 3D printing.

The American Center will continue to host programs such as English language training, public speaking, entrepreneurship development, coding, web development, media literacy, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM), and, much more, all at no cost to participants.

It will also continue to offer a space for Sri Lanka’s youth, university students, and friends of the United States where information is accessible, freedom of expression is celebrated, and the freedom to assemble is supported.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung joined the celebration and engaged with the patrons of the American Center, remarking, “After three years of mostly virtual programming, my team and I are grateful to be able to continue the tradition of freedom of expression and exchange in this beautiful, modern space.

I hope that over the coming weeks, months, and years we’ll see new and old friends coming together in this space to co-create dreams, programs, and fulfilling futures.

“I often say that the United States and Sri Lanka are both friends and partners, with many shared values and so much shared history,” Ambassador Chung continued. “This is a challenging time for all Sri Lankans, but the United States continues to invest in the people of Sri Lanka, the importance of the bilateral relationship, and the future we share.

This library is a great example of that partnership, that friendship, and that investment in the future!”

Throughout its 73-year history, the American Center has welcomed thousands of Sri Lankans seeking information about the United States of America and beyond.

The American Center was first located at the Galle Face Court on Flower Road before shifting to the historic Sri Ramya at 44 Galle Road.

With the passage of time and the expansion of the programs and activities being conducted by the American Center in Colombo, the center was moved to its current location: the new U.S. Embassy compound.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to leave the island early tomorrow morning (26) on an official visit to Japan and the Philippines.

During his two-day official visit to Japan, the President will participate in the funeral ceremony of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, and will hold bilateral discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister during this tour.

Thereafter, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to leave for the Philippines to preside over the meeting of the Governors of the Asian Development Bank.

During his visit to the Philippines, President Wickremesinghe will hold discussions with the President of the Philippines Bongbong Marcos and the President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Masatsugu Asakawa.

The President is scheduled to return to the island upon completion of his official tour on the 30th of September.

Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayake, Director of International Affairs Dinuk Colomboge, Director of Media Shanuka Karunaratne, Director of Sustainable Development Randula Abeyweera and Private Secretary to the President Sandra Perera will accompany the President on his official tour. The Treasury Secretary will join the President on his visit to the Philippines but Mr. Dinuk Colomboge and Mr. Randula Abeyweera will not join the President on his official visit to the Philippines.

President Wickremesinghe said factors underlining the main crisis is not only economic but are also consequences of evolving geopolitics

Addressing the 55th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors in the Philippines, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said amidst major economic stress, Sri Lanka is undertaking an unprecedented fiscal effort as part of the government’s commitment to restoring the country’s debt sustainability. Therefore, he expressed hope and expectation that Sri Lanka’s creditors, and all stakeholders, will support Sri Lanka in these efforts to restore the country’s debt sustainability and help put the country back on the path of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

President Wickremesinghe presided over the annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors this morning (29) which was held at the ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines and attended by Governors and official government delegations.

President Wickremesinghe noted that the government has already undertaken major macroeconomic policy reform measures and this program is aligned with the commitment of the government to implement an ambitious and comprehensive package of reforms that will help restore the sustainability of the country’s public finances, addressing external imbalances, and restarting the growth engine through structural reforms and improvements in governance.

“Amidst major economic stress, Sri Lanka is undertaking an unprecedented fiscal effort as part of our commitment to restoring the country’s debt sustainability. It is our hope and expectation that Sri Lanka’s creditors, and all stakeholders, will support us in these efforts to restore our debt sustainability and help put the country back on the path of inclusive and sustainable economic growth,” he said.

The President said that whilst Sri Lanka undertakes these deep and often painful reforms, the country is experiencing rising unemployment and a reduction in purchasing power of the consumers. He added that the government is cognisant of the adverse impacts on the most vulnerable members of society, adding that every effort has been taken to allocate greater financing and resources towards targeted support for social protection.

He assured that the government has stabilized Sri Lanka’s economy and many countries and stakeholders are keenly monitoring how they resolve this crisis. Wickremesinghe said that his government is well aware that the evolution of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis includes both domestic policy elements as well as external shocks, adding that the resolution of the crisis also requires both domestic efforts and the support of external partners. “It is incumbent upon Sri Lanka and our creditors and partners to set an example of how collaborative and good faith action can result in sustainable and equitable solutions to sovereign debt issues.”

However, he emphasized that the economic levers alone are insufficient to stimulate global economic recovery. Adding that the factors underlining the main crisis is not only of economic origin, the President said they are also the consequences of evolving geopolitics.

He noted that as this global rivalry intensifies into a new cold war, which will determine a new global power balance by 2050, the inability of the major countries to give leadership to the mitigation of the global climate change crisis is becoming more apparent.

“As they say in many of our countries when the elephants fight, it is the grass that is crushed. This is the predicament of many of our member countries. Therefore, we must overcome the geopolitical rivalries to address the major threats to our existence, otherwise we will all fail leading to instability in our region reminiscent of Europe after World War I. On the other hand, our ability to successfully meet these challenges will lead to remarkable progress in raising the living standards of our people through the rise of the economies of our member countries.”

Hence, President Wickremesinghe said that the ADB’s Strategy 2030 seeks to respond to global challenges, including climate change and natural disasters, food and energy insecurity, whilst also embracing opportunities in the digital economy, sustainable energy, and leveraging technology for inclusive education and healthcare. Thus, he said that the ADB has a crucial role in helping to shape and finance policies that improve people’s lives and livelihoods across Asia and the Pacific.

A solar powered boat service has been commenced from Battaramulla, Diyatha Uyana and Aggona, Heenati Kumbura to Wellawatta.

The Ministry of Urban Development and Housing mentioned that this service is a solution to the daily traffic congestion in Colombo. The boat service was implemented from the 23rd September.

The Land Reclamation and Development Corporation and Genso Power Technology Pvt Ltd have jointly started this passenger boat service, under instructions from Minister Prasanna Ranatunga.

Commenting on this new service, Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga has mentioned that this passenger boat service is the first boat service in Sri Lanka to be operated by solar panels and therefore has zero emission.

These boats can reach Wellawatta from Battaramulla Diyatha Uyana and Heenati Kumbura within 30 minutes. Rs. 200 per person will be charged to travel from Battaramulla to Wellawatta while Rs. 300 will be charged from Aggona, Heenati Kumbura to Wellawatta.

This boat service operates during daily office hours and provides transportation facilities for 8 people in one boat.

Government and private offices in and around Battaramulla, Gateway International School, Nawala Open University, 176 bus route, 138 and 122 bus routes, Wellawatta railway station can be easily accessible by this boat service.