LankaWeb – Sri Lanka must call all Foreign Embassy Heads and Diplomats & brief them on the Swiss ‘temporary kidnapping’
Sri Lanka must call all Foreign Embassy Heads and Diplomats & brief them on the Swiss ‘temporary kidnapping’By shenali WadugeUntil such time the investigations officially conclude after the Swiss release a Sri Lankan National kept inside the embassy compound since 25th November 2019, it is only correct that the distortions and lies being spread is corrected officially by the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry. 25 Nov MondayFemale local staffer of Swiss Embassy ‘temporarily abducted’ & threatened(note news not made public in Sri Lanka but relayed via foreign media-why?) Did you inform the Sri Lanka Police or Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry of incident that evening itself (25 th Nov) if not why didn’t you? What is the relationship Nishantha & Swiss Embassy have been having in secret and for how long? Did the victim and Swiss embassy jointly connive this drama to embarrass the Govt and the new President?
Source:Sunday Times
December 02, 2019 08:15 UTC
LankaWeb – Can the Swiss Embassy Colombo keep a local recruit inside the embassy compound by force?
Can the Swiss Embassy Colombo keep a local recruit inside the embassy compound by force? Sorry, but Sri Lanka is not ready to be humiliated until we come to the bottom of this. The Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry may have a list of staff and probably that will include her name. Shouldn’t the police seek magistrate intervention for both questioning and examination of this Sri Lankan citizen by a Sri Lankan doctor? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-protests-arrest-diplomat-devyani-khobragade-in-new-york/So, why is the Swiss Embassy making such a fuss over a questioning which is an universal procedure?
Source:Sunday Times
December 01, 2019 12:00 UTC
Mayweather teases 2020 comeback
LOS ANGELES AFP: Floyd Mayweather has teased a possible return to fighting, writing in an Instagram post he was “coming out of retirement” in 2020. The former welterweight boxing king revealed news of the comeback beneath a photo of him wearing boxing trunks and hand wraps. “Coming out of retirement in 2020,” Mayweather wrote in the Instagram post late Thursday, giving no additional information. In a separate post late Thursday, Mayweather wrote he was working with UFC tycoon Dana White on a event for next year. “@danawhite and I working together again to bring the world another spectacular event in 2020,” wrote Mayweather.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 22, 2019 17:48 UTC
Anger over Games cauldron
MANILA AFP: A cauldron costing nearly $1 million that will hold the Southeast Asian Games flame has drawn anger in the Philippines, sparking comparisons to the excesses that epitomised the Marcos era. Critics in the Philippines, which is hosting the Games in and around Manila from November 30, have said the 50 million pesos ($984,000) would have been better spent helping the nation’s children and poor. The 50-meter (160 feet) cauldron has been built at the main stadium in Clark, north of Manila, for the regional Games which start on November 30. “Do you realise that at one million (pesos) per classroom, we can construct 50 classrooms? As the anger over the cauldron has built, Duterte himself waded into the fray saying there was no “corruption” behind the high cost.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 22, 2019 08:26 UTC
Dr. Weerakoon to deliver annual tax oration
Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS), Dr. Dushni Weerakoon will deliver the 23rd Annual Oration on Taxation organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) on December 2 at the CA Sri Lanka Auditorium. Dr. Weerakoon, will deliver the oration on the topic ‘Tax Policy, Fiscal Consolidation and Growth Challenges in Sri Lanka.’At IPS, Dr. Weerakoon also heads its macroeconomic policy research. She has extensive experience in public policy engagement, and currently serves as an Appointed Member of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. The Annual Tax Oration of CA Sri Lanka is a much-awaited event in the institute’s calendar and attracts a large number of professionals, including high-level tax officials from the public sector, and members of CA Sri Lanka. Mr. Esmond Satarasinghe, a founding member of CA Sri Lanka will sponsor the medallion which will be presented to the orator.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 22, 2019 07:41 UTC
Maradona returns as coach
BUENOS AIRES AFP: Argentine legend Diego Maradona announced on Thursday he would return as coach of Superliga side Gimnasia, just two days after resigning. The 59-year-old former Argentina captain and coach took over at Gimnasia in early September, when it was bottom of the 24-club Superliga. “I hope (the leaders) will provide reinforcements they promised me,” Maradona wrote. The World Cup winner was hailed as a hero on his return to Argentine football after years coaching abroad but he had a limited impact in La Plata. Gimnasia won three of its eight matches with him in charge, all of them away, while they lost five, four of them at home.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 22, 2019 03:11 UTC
Ronaldo ready to make amends as injury-hit Juve take on Atalanta in Serie A
Atalanta’s fortunes have slipped following the thigh injury suffered to Colombian star Duvan Zapata, who scored six goals in six Serie A matches before being sidelined for their last five league games. But the 34-year-old wants to make amends after storming off when he was substituted in Juventus’s last game against AC Milan. Serie A runners-up Napoli are in crisis, having slipped to seventh, and desperately need a result at 14th-placed AC Milan, who are themselves floundering. One to watch: Carlo Ancelotti’s Serie A runners-up last season head for AC Milan amid reports he has two games left to save his job. After being held 1-1 by Salzburg in the Champions League, they travel to Liverpool next week in a key game for the former Chelsea, AC Milan and Real Madrid boss.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 22, 2019 01:52 UTC
Inflation up last month
Headline inflation as measured by the year-on-year change in the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI, 2013=100)* increased to 5.6 per cent in October 2019 from 5.0 per cent in September 2019. Accordingly, Food inflation (Y-o-Y) increased to 7.3 per cent in October 2019 from 4.9 per cent in September 2019. However, Non-food inflation (Y-o-Y) recorded 4.3 per cent, continuing its decreasing trend observed since May 2019. The core inflation, which reflects the underlying inflation in the economy, remained unchanged at 5.6 per cent in October 2019 on year-on-year basis. However, annual average core inflation increased to 5.4 per cent in October 2019 from 5.2 per cent in September 2019.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 21, 2019 15:33 UTC
Sri Lankan delegation at Ethiopian construction exhibition
A delegation comprising representatives of three local construction companies took part in the 16th Etio-con International Construction Exhibition in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia recently. The exhibition provided a platform for members of the delegation to link with prospective business personnel in this market. It was also a meeting point for international construction companies to explore the potential in Ethiopia and Africa. An EDB (Export Development Board) spokesman said the local construction companies secured new contacts and are in discussion to explore business opportunities in the African region. The EDB and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Ethiopia organised this event as a collaborative program and facilitated the three Sri Lankan companies; APS Lanka, Saw Engineering and International Construction Consortium to participate in the exhibition.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 16, 2019 20:03 UTC
Milroy Perera no more
Milroy Perera, football coach and master in charge of St. Peter’s College passed away early this week. Affectionately called Milroy Sir, he also served as the Sri Lanka Youth football manager and toured Iran for the Asian Youth championships. He also taught mathematics at St. Peter’s College and was much loved by his students.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 16, 2019 20:01 UTC
Finance and Leasing firm ratings under pressure - Fitch
Sri Lankan Finance and Leasing Companies’ (FLCs) credit profiles are likely to remain under pressure in the medium term due to the high asset-quality risks and weakening profit buffers amid a prolonged slowdown in economic activity, says Fitch Ratings. The large FLCs are likely to withstand the asset-quality risk, underpinned by their solid capital buffers. Asset-quality pressure is likely to persist into FY20. Furthermore, higher credit costs under IFRS 9 amidst rising NPLs would remain a drag on FLCs’ profitability in the medium term. Therefore, an inability to arrest further slippage in asset quality could exert downward pressure on their ratings - as reflected in the rating sensitivities.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 16, 2019 19:52 UTC
Cyber Security Act awaits Cabinet approval
The much anticipated Cyber Security Act which will ensure a safe and secure cyber security environment in the country is currently under Cabinet observation and its enactment is likely to take place early next year, according to a Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) official. The objectives of the Act is to ensure the effective implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy in Sri Lanka, prevent, mitigate and respond to cyber security threats and incidents effectively and efficiently, set up the Cyber Security Agency of Sri Lanka and to empower the institutional framework to provide a safe and secure cyber security environment; and protect the Critical Information Infrastructure. The Act has provision for the setting up of a Cyber Security Agency which shall be the apex and executive body for all matters relating to cyber security policy in Sri Lanka and shall be responsible for the implementation of the National Cyber Security Strategy of Sri Lanka. The Act also provides provisions to develop strategies and plans for the protection of CII in consultation with the owners of CII in consultation with stakeholders, act as the central point of contact for cyber security in Sri Lanka, and provide advice to government institutions and other sectors in respect of cyber security matters, act as the interface for the multi-directional and cross-sector sharing of information related to cyber threat indicators, defensive measures, cyber security risks, incidents, analysis and warnings in relation to cyber security for government institutions. CICRA Holdings Director/CEO Boshan Dayaratne said Sri Lanka needs a Cyber Security and Data Protection Act to protect personal data from being hacked and misused by others.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 16, 2019 19:52 UTC
Sri Lanka nominated for technology and innovation award
Sri Lanka has been nominated for the 2019 Destination of the Year Award in the UK for Technology and Innovation by the Global Sourcing Association (GSA), a SLASSCOM official said. The Delivery Destination of the Year Award was established to champion best practice in sourcing programs and to recognise and reward delivery destinations that deliver excellent results and value-addition to the strategic sourcing industry. Chairman, SLASSCOM, Ranil Rajapakse said, “I’m delighted that Sri Lanka is selected again for the Delivery Destination award. We have won this award in 2013 and 2014, and this nomination highlights Sri Lanka’s ingenuity, capability and attractiveness as a compelling global destination. We continue to differentiate ourselves as the Island of Ingenuity offering Captive Innovation Centers, being your Digital Gateway to Asia, and providing access to invest in Digital Disruptors.”The Global Sourcing Association (GSA) is the industry association and professional body for the global sourcing industry.
Source:Sunday Observer
November 16, 2019 19:52 UTC
Protect yourself with simple hygienic rules
Most of the food and water-borne diseases can be cured without long term sequel if treated properly and timely. This is a very important behavioural practice which prevents many diseases, including, diarrhoeal diseases. There are vaccines available for several food and water-borne diseases in Sri Lanka, eg. Has there been any attempts to conduct a national survey on diarrhoeal diseases? Q.Your message to the public and some useful and practical ways to perform the tips on preventing waterborne diseases?
Source:Sunday Observer
November 16, 2019 19:52 UTC