Royal engagements for 2021 revealed
Date Name of engagement Attended 08/01/21 Held a meeting with The President of the French Republic Phone 11/01/21 Attended meeting of the Great Green Wall Investment Forum Video link 11/01/21 Attended meeting of the One Planet Summit Video link 12/01/21 Held a Meeting with Mr. António Guterres (Secretary-General of the United Nations) Phone 15/01/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 15/01/21 Held a meeting with Mrs. Amina Mohammed (Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations) Phone 18/01/21 Attended a Philharmonia Concert soirée Video link 20/01/21 Held a meeting with General Sir John Lorimer (Colonel Commandant, The Parachute Regiment Phone 20/01/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 21/01/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 26/01/21 Held a meeting with Dr. Michael Cantlay (Chairman, NatureScot) and Ms. Francesca Osowska (Chief Executive) Video link 28/01/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 02/02/21 Held a meeting for The Prince's Foundation Video link 02/02/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 03/02/21 Held a meeting with representatives from the Crown Estate Phone 11/02/21 Held a meeting with Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic) Phone 11/02/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 12/02/21 Held a meeting for The Prince's Trust Video link 16/02/21 Held a meeting with Brigadier Phillip Prosser (Commander 101 Logistic Brigade) Phone 17/02/21 Visited Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham In person 17/02/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 19/02/21 Held a meeting with representatives from Historic Royal Palaces Video link 22/02/21 Held a meeting for the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty Phone 22/02/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 26/02/21 Held a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury Phone 03/03/21 Held a meeting with representatives of Business in the Community Phone 04/03/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 08/03/21 Held a meeting with representatives from the Duchy of Lancaster Phone 08/03/21 Held a meeting with Secretary John Kerry (United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate) In person 09/03/21 Visited Jesus House, London In person 09/03/21 Held a meeting with representatives from In Kind Direct In person 09/03/21 Visited NHS England London, Skipton House In person 10/03/21 Meeting of Royal Collection Trust trustees Video link 11/03/21 Held a meeting with representatives of Business in the Community Phone 12/03/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 16/03/21 Received General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith (Chief of the General Staff) In person 16/03/21 Visited Finsbury Park Mosque vaccination centre In person 16/03/21 Held a meeting for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Video link 22/03/21 Held a meeting with Mrs. Minette Batters (President, National Farmers' Union) Phone 22/03/21 Met with Founder Director of University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership In person 23/03/21 Held a meeting with The President of the Republic of Ghana Phone 24/03/21 Arrived at Athens International Airport and were received by Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic In person 24/03/21 Visited the National Art Gallery of Greece, Alexandros Soutzos Museum In person 24/03/21 Attended a dinner given by the President of the Hellenic Republic and Mr. Pavlos Kotsonis In person 25/03/21 Laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square, Athens In person 25/03/21 Attended a parade in Syntagma Square to mark the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Independence of Greece In person 25/03/21 Visited the President of the Hellenic Republic and Mr. Pavlos Kotsonis at the Presidential Mansion In person 25/03/21 Visited the Presidential Guard Barracks, Irodou Attikou In person 25/03/21 Held a meeting with Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis (Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic) at the Maximos Mansion In person 25/03/21 Awarded the Gold Medal of Athens at Athens City Hall before meeting senior business leaders to discuss the 'Terra Carta' In person 25/03/21 Received representatives from the British School at Athens at the Residence of Her Majesty's Ambassador In person 30/03/21 Received Mr. Richard Moore upon assuming his appointment as Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service In person 30/03/21 Visited Kamsons Pharmacy Warehouse, Westminster House In person 07/04/21 Held a meeting with Mr. Brian Moynihan (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bank of America) Phone 07/04/21 Visited the London Islamic Cultural Society and Mosque, London In person 15/04/21 Held a meeting with leaders of the following African Commonwealth countries Video link 16/04/21 Held a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Phone 23/04/21
Source:The Nation
December 30, 2021 18:12 UTC
We look at the most weird and wonderful exoplanets discovered in 2021
Astronomers have discovered dozens of previously unknown exoplanets orbiting distant stars, including hot Jupiter planets and 'Super Earths'. GJ 367 b is the only known planet orbiting its parent star, but the astronomers think there are more to be discovered in this particular system. TOI-2109b: 'Ultrahot Jupiter' exoplanetAn 'ultrahot Jupiter' exoplanet has been discovered with blistering surface temperatures of 6,000°F. Planets 'b', 'c' and 'd' have masses between those of Earth and Neptune with orbits lasting 11.6, 27.6 and 107.6 days, respectively. Planets 'b', 'c' and the newly-discovered 'd' have masses between those of Earth and Neptune with orbits lasting 11.6, 27.6 and 107.6 days, respectively.
Source:The Nation
December 30, 2021 17:08 UTC
Can a £120 necklace really beat anxiety?
‘People need something that can be inconspicuous so they don’t have to say: “Hey, I suffer from anxiety.” ’But does it work? ‘These methods may bring temporary relief for some, but they won’t address the root causes of anxiety,’ cautions Dr Westley. 5/10TRANQUIL TRINKETThe Shift Necklace, £64, komusodesign.comTanith explained that The Shift Necklace (pictured) was inspired by 17th-century Japanese monks who would blow into bamboo flutes for tranquillityWhen we get anxious, our brains go into a state of primal flight or fight. To counteract that, this necklace comes with a two-inch stainless steel tube that looks like a whistle. Indeed, it boldly claims to confer a range of benefits, including decreasing stress hormones, blood pressure and slowing your heartbeat.
Source:The Nation
December 30, 2021 11:03 UTC
Gazette on Bill to prohibit obscene publications to be revised
The Minister of Justice has given directives to revoke the special gazette notification on the Bill to prohibit any form of obscene publications. The decision was taken after taking into account the concerns raised by various parties including civil society organizations, Secretary to the Justice Ministry M.M.P.K Mayadunne said. In a statement, he noted that the Justice Ministry brought forth the relevant Bill with the aim of ensuring the welfare of minors and the privacy of women who are subject to harassment. However, the civil society groups have pointed out that the Bill in question, published on December 24, could hamper the publication rights of creative artists. Accordingly, Justice Minister Ali Sabry, ordering the nullification of the gazette notification, has called for resubmission of an amended Bill to the Cabinet of Ministers after obtaining the suggestions of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) and civil society groups.
Source:The Nation
December 29, 2021 23:07 UTC
People reluctant to take booster dose due to misinformation - GMOA
The general public is hesitant to obtain the booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine due to the misinformation spread by certain people, says the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA). Its secretary Dr. Senal Fernando said most people are turning down the booster dose due to such false propaganda. “We have seen a decrease in the interest of the general public in receiving the third dose [of Covid-19 vaccine],” he added. There is no shortage of vaccines, Dr. Fernando assured, noting that the Health Ministry and relevant authorities are carrying on the national inoculation program properly. He went on to warn of exacerbated infection among those who have not taken the booster dose in March or April next year.
Source:The Nation
December 29, 2021 09:51 UTC
Mother of all challenges faced by SLPP!
The Supreme Court will resume hearing the Fundamental Rights petitions challenging the Yugadanavi-related deals in the second week of January. The President resorted to a tactical move in the wake of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake tabling the hither to secret Yugadanavi agreement. Whatever the outcome of the Yugadanavi case, it’ll deliver a debilitating setback to the ruling coalition, struggling on several fronts. The SLFPer strongly rejected the stand taken by Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando as regards the Yugadanavi agreement. Anidda interviewer should have sought an explanation from lawmaker Jayasekera over the SLFP not being part of the real opposition to the Yugadanavi deal.
Source:The Nation
December 29, 2021 02:20 UTC
No More Resolutions
Changes, not resolutionsWhy do our resolutions always start at a zenith or peak and then slowly crash and disintegrate after a short while? I believe it starts with the word itself: resolutions. These are changes we can set for ourselves with some ease and not mind-boggling resolutions with impractical benchmarks. Sometimes it’s hard to be happy for others when things don’t seem to be going too well for ourselves. That later time may not come, or if it does it may pose many other challenges that life throws our way at that juncture.
Source:The Nation
December 29, 2021 01:05 UTC
The best free strategy games for PC
Strategy games and the PC are made for each other, the genre taking up quite a few slots on our list of the best PC games. These are a few of our favorite strategy games that you can play for free on the PC today. We’re including promising Early Access titles, strategy titles beyond the usual war strategy games, and more. But if you can get this working on your PC, you’ll be able to see where RTS games first began. Still, the Strategy genre tag alone contains a whopping 2,000 games, and most of them are up for grabs for free download.
Source:The Nation
December 28, 2021 22:05 UTC
Private bus owners demand 20% fare hike
BY Buddhika SamaraweeraEmphasising that they would not accept a revision in bus fares by 7.5% or 10%, the All Ceylon Private Bus Owners’ Association (ACPBOA) has demanded that bus fares be revised at least by 20%, taking into account the prevailing fuel prices. We say that if the diesel subsidy cannot be given, the minimum bus fare should be revised to Rs. Also, the total bus fare should be increased by 20%.”Following the Government’s decision to increase fuel prices with effect from 21 December, the Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) last week stated that bus fares would definitely have to be increased in line with the revised fuel prices. “We will allow a hike in bus fares under the condition that it is reduced when the fuel prices go down and the restrictions on the passenger capacity are lifted. “It is unfortunate that the Government has hiked fuel prices without developing the public transportation services.
Source:The Nation
December 28, 2021 18:06 UTC
Jaffna Kings Live up to Their Name by Winning the Coveted Title back-to-back by Beating the Galle Gladiators at LPL Final
Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, Dialog Axiata PLC, was the Telecommunication Partner for the 2021 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Five franchise teams, Colombo Stars, Dambulla Giants, Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Kings, and Kandy Warriors battled it out across 24 leagues and knockout matches in the 2021 tourney which commenced on 05th December. The LPL in its second season has proven that Sri Lanka has the talent to play with and against the best players in the world,” Shammi Silva, President – SLC said. With the support of all our stakeholders, we have been able to deliver an outstanding season of LPL. “Cricket is a game that cuts through all boundaries in Sri Lanka and the wonderful audience that has come to witness the grand finale here today is testament to that.”
Source:Sunday Observer
December 28, 2021 10:10 UTC
NASA’s anti-asteroid DART mission sends back its first images
NASA’s DART spacecraft has an unusual mission — to crash into an asteroid, in order to test whether this would be an effective planetary defense concept if an asteroid were to threaten Earth. NASA/Johns Hopkins APLThe images were captured using the DRACO camera (standing for Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for Optical navigation), a high-resolution camera that is the only instrument on board the DART craft. Although it isn’t its primary purpose, DRACO can and will be used to send images back to Earth as well. These two recently released images show that the camera is working as expected, and should be able to send back more images as the mission progresses. DART is currently on its way through the solar system as is scheduled to impact asteroid Didymos on September 26, 2022.
Source:The Nation
December 28, 2021 01:07 UTC
SL investment opportunities to be promoted in India
Investment opportunities in Sri Lanka are expected to be promoted, targeting the investor and business community in Gujarat, which is one of the most industrialised states in India. This was disclosed during a recent investment webinar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)/Gujarat Chapter and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI), partnered with the Consulate General in Mumbai. Titled “Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Investment Opportunities with Sri Lanka”, the webinar primarily explored potential investment opportunities in Sri Lanka for BOI’s strategic development projects based out of its newly established pharmaceutical zone in Arabokka and textile zone in Eravur. Speaking about the current investment climate, he said the investment environment in Sri Lanka, unlike the earlier days, has already undergone tremendous improvement. BOI Executive Director for Investment Promotion Prasanjith Wijayatilake made a comprehensive presentation on the investment opportunities available in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
December 28, 2021 01:07 UTC
Forex market - (Week ended December 24, 2021)
In the Forex market, the USD/LKR rate on spot contracts traded at levels of Rs.202.97 to Rs.203.00 during the week while overall activity remained moderate. The daily USD/LKR average traded volume for the first four trading days of the week stood at US $ 52.25 million. Courtesy: Wealth Trust Securities Ltd
Source:Sunday Observer
December 27, 2021 06:11 UTC
Government Securities Market - (Week ended December 24, 2021)
The secondary market bond yields increased during the week ending December 24, 2021 to record an upward shift of the yield curve for a second consecutive week. At the weekly Treasury bill auction, the weighted average yield of the market favorite 91-day maturity increased by 47 basis points to 7.71% while the auction went undersubscribed for a second consecutive week. Meanwhile, the NCPI for the month of November increased sharply to 11.1% on its point to point against its previous month of 8.30%. In secondary bills, January and February 2022 maturities were seen hitting highs of 7.60% and 7.70% from its week’s lows of 7.18% and 7.50%. (References: Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Bloomberg E-Bond trading platform, Money broking companies)Courtesy: Wealth Trust Securities Ltd
Source:Sunday Observer
December 27, 2021 06:09 UTC
The perfect smartphone does not exist
With that in mind, one of the questions I get asked all the time is what the “perfect phone” would be for someone. The inherent problem with the question of a “perfect smartphone,” though, is the fact that it doesn’t exist. It is perfect.”In my opinion, there is no perfect phone. A phone with four lenses on the back isn’t necessarily a better camera phone than another with three. Obviously, that phone is old enough now that it definitely couldn’t be a perfect phone today.
Source:The Nation
December 26, 2021 22:00 UTC