Provident: Latest News

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will virtually attend the 'Voice of Global South Summit' in India.Ranil Wickremesinghe will be among 20 world leaders who will participate in the two-day summit, which has the theme “Unity of voice, unity of purpose”, and will bring together developing countries on a common platform.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the virtual Voice of Global South Summit on Thursday (12).The summit will provide a platform to developing countries to present their priorities and challenges related to developmental issues.The summit envisages 10 sessions, four on Thursday and six on Friday.Each session is expected to witness the participation of leaders and ministers from 10 to 20 countries.Modi will chair two sessions for heads of state and government, one each at the start and conclusion of the summit.The summit is also part of India’s effort to strengthen its credentials as a representative of the Global South.According to the Hindustan Times, the Indian external affairs ministry said last week that more than 120 countries were being invited to the summit, though there was no clarity on the confirmed participants.

COLOMMBO (News 1st) – The Committee on Public Finance chaired by Dr. Harsha De Silva unanimously expressed its displeasure over the operations of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission as its senior officials did not appear before the Committee and had not provided with a proper notice of absence under the due process.Whilst emphasizing on the importance of the Port City project for the purpose of generating investments and the work done thus far, the Committee unanimously expressed their dissatisfaction and advised the officials present that a better sense of responsibility needs to be exercised as professionals handling such project of importance.Therefore, the Secretary to the Commission was instructed by the Committee on Public Finance to submit by way of writing a reasonable explanation as to why high officials to the Commission are not present before the committee when they were summoned before the Committee on Public Finance on the 21st of December.

Some of the world’s most powerful hedge funds and other investors are holding up vital help for crisis-hit Sri Lanka by their hardline stance in debt-relief negotiations after the Asian country’s $51bn (£42bn) default last year, according to 182 economists and development experts from around the world.Instead of geopolitical manoeuvring, all of Sri Lanka’s creditors must ensure debt cancellation sufficient to provide a way out of the current crisis, said a statment from the economists and experts on Monday (9).In a statement the group that said that extensive debt cancellation was needed to give the economy a chance of recovery and that Sri Lanka would be a test case of the willingness of the international community to tackle a looming global debt crisis.The group – including the Indian economist Jayati Ghosh, Thomas Piketty, the author of the bestselling book Capital, and Greece’s former finance minister Yannis Varoufakis – said private sector creditors such as investment companies and hedge funds were preventing a deal.Private creditors own almost 40% of Sri Lanka’s external debt stock, mostly in the form of international sovereign bonds, although the higher interest rates levied on the bonds mean they receive more than 50% of external debt payments.Such lenders charged a premium to lend to Sri Lanka to cover their risks, which accrued them massive profits and contributed to Sri Lanka’s first ever default in April 2022, said the statement."Lenders who benefited from higher returns because of the “risk premium” must be willing to take the consequences of that risk. Indeed, ISBs are now trading at significantly lower prices in the secondary market.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Ministry of Power and Energy says it is confident that the highly controversial proposed electricity tariff revision will be approved by the Cabinet today.The Ministry says a week was given for all other Ministers to present their views on the proposal submitted to the Cabinet last week. The Ministry says the cabinet will approve the electricity tariff revision after considering the views today.The Ceylon Electricity Board says it expects to provide a continuous supply of power, without power cuts in future, if the electricity tariff hike is approved as expected and proper inputs are received for coal and fuel power plants.However, the move has drawn vociferous opposition from citizens groups across the country, already battered by the skyrocketing cost of living which includes a steep electricity tariff increase less than six months ago.

A health board which acted negligently in caring for a mentally ill mum of two who committed suicide has been ordered to pay £250,000 to her family. Judge Lord Arthurson found that Lanarkshire Health Board failed to look after 35-year-old Lynette Giblen who lost her life at her mother’s house in Glasgow on October 10 2016.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Ministry of Power and Energy said that a shipment of 60,000 MT of coal will reach the country on Friday (6).The Ministry said that another five coal shipments are expected to reach Sri Lankan shores in January and payments for the fives shipments have already been made.The generator at the Norochcholai Power Plant that was the shutdown for maintenance will be reactivated on Sunday (8), said the Ceylon Electricity Board.One generator at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant was shut down on the 22nd of December 2022 citing early maintenance and resulted in the loss of 300 MW to the national power grid.In the midst of all this, a proposal is made to once again increase the electricity tariff.According to the country's Power & Energy Minister the objective of this tariff hike is to cover the cost of providing a continuous supply of electricity.One of the scenarios presented by the CEB engineers will be used for this purpose, and according to the Minister the generation plan is as follows:27% from hydro-power 28% from Coal 13% from Diesel and Furnace Oil 2% Wind Power  12% from Private Diesel or Furnace Oil Power Plants. 13% from Solar power plants 4% from rooftop solar panelsThe CEB Employees' Union allege that this is an attempt to reduce the low cost production using coal, and to increase the production that would cost more.According to them, it only costs Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Fisheries launched a modified multiday fishing vessel in Colombo to improve the quality of fish and reduce postharvest loss in the Fisheries sector.The FAO in a statment said that fish products are an important source of animal protein for Sri Lanka and the sector contributes about 1.1 percent to Sri Lanka’s GDP.  However, studies by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) indicate that the fish quality loss in some harbours is at 60 – 70 percent.Some of the issues contributing to these losses include the lack of an adequate cooling system in multi-day fishing vessels that use weeks-old ice to maintain low temperatures and the captured harvest not being handled or stored properly by fishers, which reduces the quality of the overall harvest and damage the bottom layer of stored fish. To address this issue FAO, together with the Ministry of Fisheries and NARA, modified the design of a multi-day fishing vessel as a pilot project to introduce new boat designs that provide an economically viable solution to minimize the quality loss of fish harvests. By reducing the existing post-harvest losses, the investment for the proposed new design can be recovered within 3.5 years.The modified multi-day vessel features a pilot coolant system in fish holds and storage as well as a modified fish holding facility to minimize the physical damage to fish due to overload.

Trigger warning: suicideThe mental wellbeing of Love Island contestants has increasingly taken center stage in as more and more Islanders have been subjected to trolling and criticism during and after the show has aired.Questions about whether the show bosses were doing enough to prepare and protect their came under fire after former Love Island and Celebs Go Dating contestant Mike Thalassitis took his own life in 2019.Thalassitis is the second former Love Island contestant to die by suicide after appearing on the show. Sophie Gradon died in June 2018 and , who hosted the show, took her own life in 2020.

State Pension provides essential financial support for nearly 12.5 million older people across the UK, including 981,399 living in Scotland. This regular payment is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which is now 66 for both men and women, and have paid at least 10 years worth of National Insurance Contributions.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Chairman and an activist of the Student Union of the University of Kelaniya were arrested by Thalangama Police.They were arrested for damaging the gate of the Education Ministry on the 10th of July 2022.The Chairman of the Student Union of the University of Kelaniya  Kelum Mudannayake, and activist Dilshan Harshana were arrested by Thalangama Police when they visited the Police Station to provide a statement.They will be prododuced to the Kaduwela Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (3).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The proposal containing the electricity tariff amendment that will be in effect from 2023, will be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (2).The Cabinet Paper will be presented by Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera.The process that should be followed with respect to amending the elctricity tariffs is mentioned in Article 30 of the Sri Lanka Electricity Act.Accordingly, the Ceylon Electricity Board must prepare a proposal and produce it to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.Thereafter, the proposal will be reviewed for justification, and when necessary public opinion will also be obtained.If concessions are to be provided, the treasury needs to be consulted and thereafter a process will be adopted to amend the electricity tariff.According to the country's Power & Energy Minister the objective of this tariff hike is to cover the cost of providing a continuous supply of electricity. He made this remark during a media briefing in December 2022.One of the scenarios presented by the CEB engineers will be used for this purpose, and according to the Minister the generation plan is as follows:27% from hydro-power 28% from Coal 13% from Diesel and Furnace Oil 2% Wind Power  12% from Private Diesel or Furnace Oil Power Plants.

AB-HWCs also encompass wellness sessions on yoga, zumba, cyclathons, walkathons and provide guidelines on diet, physical activity, positive parenting, tobacco, alcohol cessation among other aspects to imbibe a mindset for community well-being New Delhi: In a significant achievement demonstrating strengthening of the country’s health infrastructure, India has surpassed a notable landmark- 150,000 Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) have been operationalised before 31 December, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded the efforts of the nation in accomplishing this feat before the set deadline and said that these centres will help provide citizens easy access to primary healthcare facilities.

Eamonn Holmes has provided a "soul destroying" health update as fans rushed to send him sympathy.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe instructed the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary and Commissioner to immediately provide 30 acres of abandoned land adjacent to the Ambewela Farm to them and provide the necessary facilities to develop it as grazing land to meet the food requirement of the dairy cows.President Wickremesinghe issued these instructions during an observation tour of the United Dairies Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd, which belongs to the Ambewela Farm Group.The President commended the systematic growth achieved by the Ambewela Farm in the dairy production industry adding that it has set an example for other dairy farms as well. The President also instructed to open this farm for research activities for university students in the country to gain experience in the dairy farming field. General Manager of the Ambewela Farm Group Sarath Bandara said that the Ambewela Farm is the main centre in Sri Lanka as well as in South Asia which can boast of the highest technical application in dairy production and farming technology.Presently, there are about 1,000 dairy cows at the Ambewela Farm.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera on Tuesday (27) announced that the country's Attorney General granted approval to award a coal tender to an Indonesian company with a joint local partnership to supply coal to the island nation from February 2023.The Minister said that nine suppliers had placed bids for the tender, and the Indonesian company was selected as it was the lowest bid."They grant a credit period of 180-days.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will distribute 36,000 metric tonnes of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer to all paddy farmers in Sri Lanka through the Ministry of Agriculture. The amount of TSP provided per farmer will be determined based on the area they cultivated in the 2022/2023 Maha cultivation season.The distribution list, along with the land extent cultivated during this Maha season, has been published and displayed at all Agrarian Service Centres of the Department of Agrarian Development. FAO invites all eligible paddy farmers to visit their respective Agrarian Service Centre and ensure their details have been incorporated. The distribution lists will be displayed until 5 January 2023, and the date of fertilizer distribution will be shared through the Agrarian Service Centres.

I have a basic health insurance policy with a coverage limit of ₹5 lakh. However, I want to upgrade to a better plan to get higher coverage. What is the most effective way to increase the amount insured? - Name withheld on request With today’s medical inflation rate, which is growing approximately 10% every year, ₹5 lakh sum insured is an incredibly low amount for health insurance.

PHILADELPHIA - Santa Claus may have already made his rounds, but plenty of helpful elves in the form of volunteers are making sure everyone gets a Christmas in Philadelphia."The important thing now is to take care of the children, and really give them the joy of Christmas," said Brian Jenkins, executive director of Chosen 300 Ministries. The local non-profit handed out warm meals and over 500 wrapped gifts to families and children in need on Christmas Day."This is about Jesus Christ being born, bringing joy to the world, and giving his ultimate gift to us," Jenkins said. "We are simply reciprocating it and extending that love."MORE HEADLINES:Volunteers come together every year to lend a helping hand and provide a Christmas to as many families as possible.

The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in August 2022 there were 5.6 million people across the UK receiving financial support through Universal Credit, a benefit intended to help those out of work or on a low income with daily living costs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Hanaa Singer, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka, who is leaving upon completion of her service, met President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (19).The President engaged in cordial conversation with Singer and thanked her for the services she had rendered to Sri Lanka and wished her the best of luck in her future endeavours.  Hanaa Singer herved as the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka since September 07, 2018.  As the UN Resident Coordinator in Srilanka, Ms Hanaa Singer led a UN Country Team of 22 resident and non-resident UN Agencies.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka will stop sending workers overseas to serve as housemaids from March 2023, said the country's Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara on Monday (19).He said that a program will be introduced to send Sri Lankans as domestic aides overseas by adopting an international standard.The Minister said that measures will be taken to ensure that Sri Lankans leave for overseas employment via legal channels, and for their earnings to be remitted to the country legally.The Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment said multiple programs will be introduced for the benefit of Sri Lankan expatriates, including the provision of a vehicle import permit, and a pension scheme.Sri Lanka recently opened a special gate named the ‘HOPE GATE’ at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, for workers leaving and returning from foreign countries, where all necessary facilities are provided to expatriate workers at the airport.The Minister said that for the first time in the history of the country, the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau registered and facilitated over 300,000 expatriate workers in 2022.A majority of these workers have travelled to Kuwait, and that figure is 76,579.In addition, a total of 69,992 people left for Qatar, and another 51,421 people left for Saudi Arabia for employment.A further 4,410 Sri Lankans left for Japan for employment as well.

Colombo (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Police and the Criminal Investigations Department recorded statements from 23 people in connection with the murder of respected Colombo-based businessman Dinesh Schaffter.A homicide investigations is underway involving the CID, Colombo Crimes Division and two other police teams.The incident sent shockwaves across Colombo when Dinesh Schaffter was found tied up and strangled inside his car at the Public Cemetery in Borella on Thursday (15) evening. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.Questions are being raised regarding the motive for the murder: Was it premeditated? Was this an attempted intimidation tactic gone wrong? Reasons for suspicion arise when taking into account the fact that Dinesh Schaffter was still alive when he was found at the Public Cemetery in Borella.The Sri Lanka Police are investigating the homicide on multiple leads and angles.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela on Friday (16) imposed an overseas travel ban on Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas over the murder of Colombo-based businessman Dinesh Schaffter.It was reported that Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas is in possession of two passports, and the overseas travel ban was imposed for both these passports by the court.The Borella Police making submissions to the court requested for an order to be made on telecommunication service providers to provide a telecommunication analysis report on the mobile device used by the late Dinesh Schaffter.Court granted permission to obtain the record from the service providers.Police Investigation: Four police teams are investigating the murder of Dinesh Schaffter, a Colombo-based businessman who was a Managing Director of a leading financial institution in the country, and a Director of a leading Insurance Company in Sri Lanka.Schaffter was found bound and choked inside his car on Thursday (15) afternoon at the Public Cemetery in Borella.He was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital but succumbed to his injuries while being treated in the ICU.What Happened To Dinesh Schaffter?Businessman Dinesh Schaffter had left his residence on Thursday (15) afternoon and had told his wife that he was heading to Borella.Sri Lanka Police said that Dinesh Schaffter had told his family that he was going to meet Former Cricket commentator Brian Thomas.Police said that Dinesh Schaffter had left home at around 2 PM, and that multiple calls made by his wife had gone unanswered.After using an App and tracing the phone to the Public Cemetery in Borella, the wife of the late Dinesh Schaffter had called his work place and informed of

NHS Lanarkshire is set to become one of the first health boards in Scotland to provide a primary care occupational therapy (OT) service to all local GP practices.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The United Nations (UN) team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organisations revised and extended their joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, which aims to provide life-saving assistance to 3.4 million people amid Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis since independence.Since June, the HNP has been responding to the Government's request for UN-backed multi-sector support for Sri Lanka's debt and food and medicine shortages."Governments and donor agencies have helped the humanitarian community reach over 1 million of the country's most vulnerable people with cash, food, school meals, medicine, protection, and livelihood support," said the UN in a statement.The HNP—aligned with appeals from other UN agencies—has raised US $79 million for Sri Lanka thanks to landmark support from the U.S and USAID, Australia, Japan including JICA, the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), as well as Canada, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Italy, EU, Switzerland, France, and with additional support from the UK, Germany, Thailand, Sweden, Georgia, Latter Day Saint Charities and private individuals and organizations."We are immensely appreciative of the solidarity the international community has shown with the people of Sri Lanka, including through their generous contributions to the HNP.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Great Britain has expressed its willingness to provide the necessary technical and practical support to Sri Lanka to implement the “Climate Prosperity Plan”.The Deputy High Commissioner of Great Britain to Sri Lanka, Lisa Whanstall said that Great Britain appreciates the efforts taken by Sri Lanka to address climate change and will work to provide the necessary technical and theoretical support in the future, said the President's Media Division.These remarks were made during a discussion held on Wednesday (7) between the President’s Senior Adviser on Climate Change Ruwan Wijewardene, and the British Deputy High Commissioner, at the Presidential Secretariat.Whanstall also said that she will provide the necessary support for the International University on Climate Change, which is planned to be built on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Furthermore, the Deputy British High Commissioner praised Sri Lanka’s program for renewable energy and pointed out that it is a well-planned step for the future of the country.Ruwan Wijewardene presented the information about President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s upcoming programs regarding climate change and stated that the Act on Climate Change will be submitted to Parliament shortly.In addition, Wijewardene said that a climate change office will be established in Sri Lanka to investigate climate change in the region and that the necessary solutions to address climate change that may occur will be developed.He further said that the government has already focused on green hydrogen energy on the advice of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the government has planned to further develop the potential for renewable energy in Sri Lanka.They also discussed the

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said that earnings from merchandise exports declined in October 2022, on a year-on-year basis, for the first time since March 2022, mainly due to lower earnings from garments exports. The decline in import expenditure continued in October 2022, (y-o-y), for the eighth consecutive month, despite recording an increase, compared to September 2022.The merchandise trade deficit recorded a notable contraction in October 2022, compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the workers’ remittances steadied and earnings from tourism improved in October 2022, whereby earnings from tourism crossed over USD 1 bn during January-October 2022, while workers’ remittances reached about USD 3 bn during January-October 2022.Foreign investment in the government securities market and the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) recorded a marginal net inflow during October 2022. The Central Bank continued to provide forex requirement to finance essential imports, exhausting the liquid level of gross official reserves. Meanwhile, the weighted average spot exchange rate in the interbank market remained around Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Religious leaders led by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith called on the people to cut down on unnecessary spending and help one another this Christmas."The Archdiocese decided that Christmas this year should be celebrated with the poor and needy. We urge the Catholic community and every single citizen in this country, not to waste anything.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a committee consisting of representatives of the public and private sectors of Sri Lanka to work with the multidisciplinary team of the National Dairy Development Board of India to prepare a short, medium and long-term plan to increase local milk production to reduce the country’s dependence on imported milk powder. Accordingly, India's National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Indian Amul Milk Company have taken steps to provide the necessary technical support for the production of liquid milk in Sri Lanka, and a preliminary discussion was held in this regard at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (05) under the chairmanship of President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake. It was discussed at length about doubling local milk production by implementing short and medium-term plans and making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in milk in the long run through a targeted program. Source: PMD

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said recently (29) that due to the fuel crisis, steps will be taken to introduce electric motor boats for fishermen from next year.The Minister mentioned this at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on fisheries in Parliament.The minister pointed out that it is expected to introduce electric motor boats that can travel 100 kilometres using batteries and the cost is only 86 rupees per day to fishermen engaged in small-scale fishing.The Minister also mentioned that attention has also been paid to providing electricity generation facilities through solar panels and wind turbines for boats using kerosene and diesel.State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha, mentioned that a special mobile service is being implemented successfully by the ministry to solve the problems faced by the fishermen.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's housing minister Prasanna Ranatunga told Parliament that 76 MPs who lost their houses and property to arson following the unrest that broke out since May have been given temporary housing at the Viyathpura Housing Scheme in Kalalgoda.He told Parliament that these houses were given for a period of one year, with a monthly rental charged from the occupant MP. "Not a single MP was given a house free of charge," he told the house in response to a claim made by an opposition lawmaker.The Minister said the complex comprises 106 houses for MPs, and 76 of them have been given on rent to MPs, and if any other MP has a requirement a vacant house can be provided on rent.He also said that these houses can be purchased by MPs as well to be used as their permanent residences.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Conservation said that a team of officials have left for the Gal-Ara Buffer Zone belonging to the Yala Park today (28) to investigate the clearing of the area by a group.This is based on the instructions given by the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mahinda Amaraweera to the Secretary of the Ministry Chandra Herath to provide an investigation report on the related incident.Secretary of the Ministry Chandra Herath said that strict disciplinary steps will be taken against the officials responsible for the related incident who have neglected their duties.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The 10.6 million liters of diesel donation by China will be provided free of charge, said the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka.Fuel will be given free to  232,749 farmers for harvesting 342,266 hectares paddy fields across Sri Lanka in Maha season 2022/23 (20L/hectare)In addition, the 3,796 fishing vessels below 40 feet in Sri Lanka (1,000L/vessel) will also be given free diesel courtesy from China.

Agricultural land in the Thammanawa area in the Hambantota district is now protected with a 15 feet high hanging electric fence that will keep away wild elephants.The Hambantota International Port (HIP) handed over the 5 ½ kilometre fence to the Thammannawa village agriculture committee last week.This area which was frequented by wild elephants will now be safe for villagers who will be able to carry out their livelihoods in peace.The fencing project, which is a part of HIP’s Human Elephant Peace initiative, was done after a scientific analysis was carried out in joint collaboration by the District secretariat and Wildlife Conservation Department.It also included 4 strategically placed roadside warning boards at high risk points and a series of awareness programmes for villages in the area. The next step which has already begun and currently in an exploratory stage is the planting of a Palmyrah tree bio fence.Johnson Liu, CEO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG), said at the handover ceremony, “HIP undertook this project because it is a burning issue within the community.

A group of Lanarkshire pals have kickstarted a new initiative to improve local men's mental and physical health through football.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Commissioner General of Examinations L. M.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – On the 26th and 27th of November, the Dawoodi Bohra community of Sri Lanka will host the Bohra Business Exposition 2022 at the Havelock City Hall, from 10am- 9pm.For generations, the Dawoodi Bohra community in Sri Lanka has played an instrumental role in Sri Lanka's business sphere and continually has had an impact on the lives of million employed and engaged with their sectors. Subsequent to their entry into Sri Lanka's business community in 1830, the Bohra entrepreneurs infiltrated the business community as traders and merchants.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Education says that a report has been called for on several incidents where it was reported that school teachers had reported to school in attire, which is not the Saree or Osariya.A senior official said that to protect the dignity of the teaching profession, they are investigating why teachers decided to deviate from the practice followed for decades.The principals of the respective schools and regional education directors were instructed to provide an immediate report on the matterHe said that every teacher has a responsibility to protect the dignity of the role of a teacher, especially in the presence of the students.The Education Ministry had noted that teachers are not permitted to enter schools in the attire that they prefer.

By Tyrone DevottaThe digital chapter of FITIS on its internet day message says although Financial Technology (FinTech) is now a global phenomenon, in providing financial benefits to the elite and right down to the bottom of the pyramid, Sri Lanka has not cashed in on its full advantages.  This is because we lack the policy framework for Fintech companies to operate in their full capacity.

The Scottish Parliament's COVID-19 Recovery Committee will meet with employees and service users of two Lanarkshire employment support organisations next week.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella says that the Treasury will provide Rs. 2 Billion to purchase essential medicines.The Minister said that the government is to make payments to the tune of Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 32 percent of Sri Lankan households are now food insecure, and 68 percent of households are turning to food based coping strategies such as eating less preferred food or reducing the number of meals and portion-sizes, revealed the latest World Food Program figures.UNICEF estimates that approximately 2.3 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 56,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).In late October, the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities plan (HNP) was extended until the end of 2022, with the aim of providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to 3.4 million of the most vulnerable people in Sri Lanka. United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and implementing partners have stepped up their interventions recently and the number of people reached, currently at around 1.2 million, is expected to further pick up speed in the next few weeks. In November alone, WFP aims to distribute 7,398 MT of food to approximately 400,000 people in five districts.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka’s government promised parliament on Saturday that it would investigate revelations by News 1st of a major sex slave trade in which Sri Lankan women are being sold into slavery in Oman.Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the house that a special team was dispatched to look into the complaints of the sex slave ring in Oman, in order to take swift action. "The President has paid special attention to this situation.

(Reuters) – Sri Lanka has postponed a round of debt restructuring talks initially expected to be held on Thursday to allow central bank and treasury officials to provide clarifications sought by the country's creditors, its state minister of finance said.The island nation formally kicked off the talks in September after securing a preliminary $2.9 billion bailout with the International Monetary Fund, a step on a path out of the country's worst financial crisis in a decade.But it needs to secure financing assurances from key creditors including China, Japan and India before the funds can be disbursed."There are different concerns that different creditors want cleared so it was decided that these clarifications would be communicated first and then new dates would be set for another round of talks," state minister Shehan Semasinghe Semasinghe told Reuters on Thursday."The dates are yet to be decided."Semasinghe did not provide details on the creditors' concerns or what exactly was being discussed between them and Sri Lanka's central bank and treasury officials.Sri Lanka had earlier set a target of getting board level IMF approval in December for the planned four-year programme."We are focusing on financing assurances. As of now no bilateral creditor has informed us that they are not going to support us," Semasinghe added."We have a target and we are pushing hard to meet it in December."Sri Lankan officials have also had talks with representatives from China EXIM Bank and China Development Bank which together hold about $4.3 billion in loans given to fund large infrastructure projects over the last 20 years.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Countries with large debt burdens are losing even more capital due to climate shocks, and shrinking their fiscal space, and these countries are now looking for other options to ease their burden.Some of these countries are now opting to switch to a debt-for-nature swap deal, which is an arrangement whereby a foreign debt owed by a developing country is transferred to a particular organization, typically in return for the country's committing itself to specified conservation measures.These can be trumped up countries, including Sri Lanka, which has been discussing a deal of up to $1 billion according to people familiar with those talks.Cape Verde, an archipelago nation off West Africa, is meanwhile close to a nature swap that could be worth up to $200 million, said Jean-Paul Adam, a former Seychelles government official who now works for the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), providing financing advice to governments.The potential deals for Ecuador, Sri Lanka and Cape Verde, reported here in detail for the first time, point to a jump in interest for this form of financial alchemy, which was conceived decades ago but has remained something of a niche area until recently.Only three of over 140 or so swaps struck over the past 35 years – the first in 1987 – had a value of more than a quarter of a billion dollars, according to global data published by the African Development Bank.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Inspector General of Police Chandana Wickramaratne and DIG in charge of Administration Nandana Munasinghe unconditionally expressed deep regret before the Supreme Court on Wednesday (16).The duo expressed regret over the delay in carrying out the order issued by the Supreme Court on the 8th of May to promptly pay outstanding remuneration to Sub Inspector of Police Sugath Mendis for the period during which he was interdicted.Sub Inspector Sugath Mendis was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department for allegedly aiding and abetting former Director of the Criminal Investigation Department retired Senior Superintendent of Police Shani Abeysekara to fabricate evidence against former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, and was then remanded.The Supreme Court on the 8th of May issued an order for outstanding remuneration to be paid after taking into consideration a Fundamental Rights petition filed by Sub Inspector Sugath Mendis.However, the Supreme Court after considering facts presented on behalf of the petitioner stating the order has not been fulfilled, ordered the IGP and the DIG to appear before the court in person to provide an explanation.

Director-General and lead of the Public Health Agency Dr Andrew Old, Ministry of Health Chief Science Advisor Dr Ian Town and Te Whatu Ora Interim National Medical Director Dr Pete Watson will host a media briefing today at 12:20pm to provide an update on the response to COVID-19.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The additional secretary has appointed two officers to coordinate and supervise the work of providing fuel for farming, says the Ministry of Agriculture.The Ministry said Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has appointed an officer to supervise these activities.If there is an issue related to fuel during or after harvesting in a certain area, farmers can meet the district secretaries and request a solution.