With Dananjaya, Sri Lanka’s final squad includes three specialist spinners — Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana – who are all right-armers. Yet Dhananjaya de Silva aka DDS has been included in the final squad even without testing him in the two practice games against Oman last week. The way Sri Lanka beat Oman last week was far from convincing – this is not an understatement. Have they picked the best available combination to the World Cup? Will selection blunder cost Sri Lanka dearly?

Cement companies say that the price of cement will be increased with affect from today (11). Accordingly, the price of a 50 Kg cement bag has been increased by Rs. This will bring the new price of the 50 Kg cement bag to Rs. Following repeated requests from the relevant companies and importers, the government last week decided to remove the price controls imposed on milk powder, LP Gas, wheat flour and cement. Prima and Serendib Flour Mills announced today that the price of wheat flour has been increased by Rs.

Ltd says that the price of wheat flour will be increased by Rs. The price of Prima whet flour is also expected to rise by the same amount. Following repeated requests from the relevant companies and importers, the government last week decided to remove the price controls imposed on milk powder, LP Gas, wheat flour and cement. As a result of this, milk powder importers decided to increase the prices of their products from Saturday (09) while the prices of LP Gas cylinders were also hiked from yesterday. A decision on the increase of wheat flour prices and cement prices were expected to be taken today.

A speeding car crashed into the back of a truck, parked near the TV Derana recording studio in the Delkanda area on the High-Level Road, before bursting into flames and destroying both vehicles in the fire last night. The truck, which had transported production equipment required for the recording of a TV programme at the studio, had been parked on the roadside as workers were onloading the equipment from the truck. Following the crash, the car in question had caught fire with flames also spreading to the truck. Both vehicles as well as the equipment stored inside the truck were completely destroyed in the fire. The driver of the car and a passenger have been admitted to the Kalubowila Hospital with injuries.

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western and Northern provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Fairly heavy showers above 75mm can be expected at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, North-western and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places elsewhere in the afternoon or night. Wind speed can be increased up to 50 kmph at times in the western slope of central hills, Northern, North-Central and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the other sea areas around the island.

The announcement of Joe Root’s 17-man Ashes squad was accompanied on Sunday by a change of tactics, as head coach Chris Silverwood promised to target stumps rather than bodies in a bid to regain the urn England last won in 2015. Until injuries struck down Jofra Archer and Olly Stone during the summer, Silverwood had hoped to hit Australia with express pace. Chris Silverwood says England will play it straight Down Under amid a host of injuries‘Every plan has got to be adaptable,’ he said. Silverwood admitted both Livingstone and Parkinson were discussed but their omission is in keeping with the ‘bore them out’ strategy for the bowlers. Silverwood also heaped praise on Joe Root for instilling confidence in his stars about the tour‘There’s no pressure,’ said Silverwood.

By Daily Mail City & Finance ReporterPublished: 16:50 EDT, 10 October 2021 | Updated: 05:55 EDT, 11 October 2021A Welsh biotech firm will today unveil fresh data which suggests its drug delivery technology can help treat serious neurological illnesses such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. ReNeuron said the results of its latest studies provided 'clear pre-clinical proof-of-concept' that its exosome technology can deliver therapeutic proteins to the corpus striatum, a region of the brain that is affected by disabling neurological diseases and strokes. Exosomes are microscopic fluid-filled sacs that transport molecules between cells in the human body. Study: ReNeuron said the results of its latest studies provided 'clear pre-clinical proof-of-concept' that its exosome technology can deliver therapeutic proteins to the corpus striatumWhile pharmaceutical companies have identified different proteins that can help treat neurological illnesses, they often do not last long enough inside the body to be effective. However, ReNeuron said studies performed with the University of Salamanca in Spain showed its exosome technology could deliver therapeutic proteins to areas of the brain at a higher level than administering a protein by itself.

In a first for Asia, Hitachi Digital Payment Solutions (HDPS) has successfully developed a touchless ATM solution which is currently live at Sri Lanka’s Sampath Bank. The goal was to create a solution that utilized existing technology and services for a fast and cost-effective rollout. By creating a solution that used a consumer’s personal mobile device and the bank’s existing ATM technology, we were able to achieve just this,” said Dinesh Rodrigo, CEO, HDPS. Further, the use of the bank’s mobile application validates users’ credentials and biometrics. Crucially for banks there is no need to change or upgrade existing ATM hardware ensuring no added capital expenses.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (10) stated that steps would be taken to amend the Constitution and introduce a new electoral system, as promised during his election campaign. I will also introduce the new electoral system that the public expects within the same year,” he said. During his electioTn campaign, the President had pledged to replace the 1978 Constitution with a new one. To this end, a nine-member expert committee to draft a new Constitution was appointed in September 2020, led by Romesh de Silva PC. President Rajapaksa inaugurated the newly constructed drill ground at the Gajaba Regiment Camp at Saliyapura and handed it over to the war heroes before observing the military parade accorded to him.

Manjula made the observations while dismissing a habeas corpus petition against the government’s decision to lodge Premkumar Ratnavadivel at the special camp in Tiruchi after he obtained bail in a criminal case. The Bench also gave liberty to the petitioner to approach the government seeking dislodgement from the special camp. However, if the refugees get involved in criminal cases, they would be lodged in a special camp after they obtain bail. Relatives could also visit them at the special camps and the government provides free medical treatment too at nearest government hospitals. Such committee had considered the case of Premkumar Ratnavadivel but decided not to recommend for his dislodgement from the special camp.

By Dinitha RathnayakeThe Covid-19 vaccination programme for 12-19-year-olds diagnosed with cancer, which commenced at the Maharagama Apeksha Hospital on 4 October, has seen some delays due to parents’ fears over getting their children vaccinated, according to consultant microbiologist in charge of the programme Dr. Samanmalee Gunasekera. Speaking to the media yesterday (10) regarding the progress of the hospital’s vaccination programme, Dr. Gunasekara stated: “This vaccination process is not going fast because of the fears of parents. “Children from all over the country come to our hospital for treatment. In case of any emergency, we have a separate team for that treatment as well,” Dr. Gunasekera added. The Covid-19 vaccination programme for children over 12 years of age who are suffering from chronic diseases commenced on 24 September from the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children (LRH) in Colombo.

By Pamodi WaravitaSri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda announced yesterday (10) that the tea industry has been permitted to import “nitrogen-based chemical fertiliser” for the transitional period from chemical fertiliser to organic fertiliser, following the Government’s decision in late April this year to completely ban the use of chemical fertiliser within the country. “The tea industry has been given permission to import nitrogen-based chemical fertiliser during this transitional period along with mineral fertiliser. It is not going back to the excessive use of chemical fertiliser era at all. Accordingly, nitrogen (N) fertiliser, phosphate (PO₄³⁻) fertiliser, potassium (K) fertiliser, fertilisers containing such minerals and chemical fertilisers containing a combination of fertilising elements, that were previously banned from import, have been brought under the import control licence (ICL) by the aforesaid gazette notification. However, in the aforementioned Facebook post, Molligoda said that “contrary to popular belief the tea production and auction sale figures have not shown any indication that the chemical fertiliser ban has adversely affected tea quality or production”.

By Buddhika SamaraweeraA meeting, scheduled to be held between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and representatives of the teachers’ and principals’ trade unions at Temple Trees today (11), has been postponed indefinitely, according to the teachers’ trade unions. The meeting was to be held to discuss the issues in the education sector, including teacher-principal salary anomaly, and according to the unions, the postponement has been made without providing any reasons. Dissanayake said that arranging such a meeting and informing the trade unions about the solutions before the budget could help them withdraw from their TU action and resume teaching activities. During a media briefing held yesterday (10), the Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) expressed its displeasure over the postponement of this discussion. “The Cabinet subcommittee has recommended a salary increase of approximately 40% for teachers and principals as a solution to the salary anomaly issue.

Archeology Department officials told us that permission has been given for the construction. However, they added that during the construction, artefacts had surfaced, which had immediately garnered the attention of the Archeology Department Director General Prof. Anura Manatunga. They added that while the construction is not a car park, it can provide access to vehicles if necessary. Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs Secretary Professor Kapila Gunawardana yesterday denied any allegations that a car park construction was done last week harming the historic Jetavana Stupa at Anuradhapura. Meanwhile, speaking to The Morning yesterday, Jetavana Monastery Chief Monk Ven.

By Dinitha RathnayakeThe dispute between members of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the Municipal Commissioner has been resolved, according to CMC Councillor I.A. However, Colombo Municipal Commissioner Roshini Dissanayake has now agreed to a budgetary allocation of Rs. Colombo Municipal Commissioner Roshini Dissanayake said there are no funds, and she avoided attending the finance committee meetings,” claimed Rahuman. Meanwhile, stating that the dispute between CMC members and the Municipal Commissioner had put the CMC in crisis, UNP MP Ranil Wickremesinghe requested Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene to resolve the issue. Speaking in Parliament, he had stated: “There is a crisis in the CMC, as a dispute arose between the Municipal Commissioner and the council members.