Flood mitigation programme in Colombo
Flood warnings in Colombo have been a mainstay during heavy rainfall, with its frequency only increasing each year. According to Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) data, Colombo has a total of 42 flood-prone areas. This is to be done when the water quality of the Colombo North canal system is declining. This will also aid in the pumping of water from the Kelani River to uphold the quality of the Colombo North canal system. The total cost of the St. Sebastian’s North Canal Project is Rs.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:52 UTC
Health concerns or suppressing dissent?
Many trade union activists claimed that the crackdown on dissent under the current administration has seen an increase and that anti-Covid-19 laws are being used to pressure, assault, threaten, and carry out arbitrary arrests of these trade union and civil society activists. Even in the last incident, the Police must have definitely consulted the public health inspectors (PHIs) and relevant medical officers of health (MOHs).”While stating that the people have a right to protest, Maj. Gen. Alwis said that if people are violating health regulations, the Police have to take action according to the recent health guidelines. “If there was a letter issued by the health authorities, the Police have to produce it before courts. It was also mentioned that the rights under Article 14(1) may be restricted by law in the interests of public health. Speaking to The Sunday Morning, senior lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma also raised concerns and said that quarantine regulations could not be used to crack down on dissent.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 22:41 UTC
Most sections of PTA will be relaxed: Dinesh Gunawardena
So why shouldn’t Sri Lanka recognise the progress of one of its friends and get into possible agreements for economic progress? We do not think this is going to be any new problem for Sri Lanka. Since then, so many organisations have raised issues and objected to us, which has created various one-sided figures. Sri Lanka has been acting very independently and we have even supported some of the candidatures of countries which did not support Sri Lanka at the Geneva sessions. Sri Lanka has a good relationship with the UK and we maintain that at a very high level.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 21:45 UTC
Porn and the developing psyche
However, in psychology, pornography is generally viewed as harmful when consumed by children, adolescents, and young adults. Such children have a higher tendency of developing an addiction, be it to porn, video games, recreational drugs, or anything else.” He further said that children, adolescents, and young adults may use pornography to fill a void within them. This particular law is rather extensive and describes in great detail the various aspects that are criminal offences as recognised in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, categories of pornography such as rape porn or unrealistically portrayed BDSM porn can cause violent and aggressive behaviours in those who consume it. However, in children, adolescents, and young adults, where cognitive and personality development is an ongoing process, the consumption of porn – especially the excessive consumption of it – can be gravely detrimental.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 21:45 UTC
Editorial: Saving the day
For a government that has shown signs of hypersensitivity to its carefully curated image, the forced quarantining of trade union leaders has proven to be an unmitigated public relations disaster. The very same trade union leaders find themselves thrown from the frying pan into the fire. Given the mess it finds itself in, the Government must surely be ruing the day it decided to storm the peaceful protests and send the union leaders in to hibernation. The authorities must keep in mind that no government has ever won a battle against an education sector trade union collective. As for the administration, given the intellectual resources at its disposal, saving the day is fast becoming the order of the day.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 21:22 UTC
Art therapy: When words are not enough
One of the more unusual forms of emotional therapy is art therapy – a form of psychotherapy where art is used as a medium of communication and expression when words are insufficient. Art therapy sessions in progressArt therapy involves art and its creation whereas traditional therapies such as talk therapy focus mainly on talking and finding solutions. While traditional art focuses mainly on the end product, art therapy focuses on the process of creating art. It is not an art class.”People believe that they are expected to create a beautiful image and have artistic skills and a background in art to attempt art therapy. ‘Moments of change’ with Art Therapy Sri LankaPerera, being the only qualified art therapist in Colombo, remembers the challenging journey she embarked upon to establish the brand name “Art Therapy Sri Lanka”.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 21:00 UTC
Decline likely in crop yields
The main focus of the authorities, however, has become the local production of organic fertiliser. Although the decision to convert from chemical fertiliser to organic fertiliser has triggered a massive shortage of fertiliser in the markets, many have polarised views on the matter. We have enough fertiliser stocks for tea until September, as well as other crops such as vegetables, cardamoms, etc. 100 billion on chemical fertilisers, agrochemicals, and pesticides yearly, whereas the earnings went to four international companies. However, one of the key objectives behind converting to organic fertiliser is to be able to put that money to the benefit of the country’s economy.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 20:48 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Welgama’s belief
A senior member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Opposition MP Kumara Welgama said he believed State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara would one day leave the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Government and would join him (Welgama). Welgama, who entered Parliament under the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) after the last general election, recently announced that he is forming a new political party under the Bandaranaike policies, which initially formed the base of the SLFP. The New Lanka Freedom Party is being spearheaded by Welgama and Jayasekara, as the SLFP General Secretary, has petitioned the Election Commission about the misuse of the SLFP’s name.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 20:15 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Objections over Padeniya and Rathana Thera
Objections have recently been raised against Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya of the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) and MP Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera when they had attended a meeting at Committee Room 1 in Parliament on the fertiliser issue. Rathana Thera had, at this juncture, tried to explain the importance of organic fertiliser usage. He had asked whether there will be sufficient stocks of fertiliser in the future, whether there will be seeds to engage in organic agriculture, and whether the consumers will be able to bear the cost of organic agriculture produce. However, many people at the meeting had started to leave since there had been no satisfactory responses to the questions.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 20:15 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Bring clothes to protest
Trade unionists and activists planning to engage in protests in the near future have been asked to bring a bag of clothes along with them when engaging in their respective protests. State Minister Sanath Nishantha had last week made this observation, saying it was not a threat but a message given with affection to protesters. The State Minister’s statement has been made at a time when trade unionists and activists have formed a broad coalition to agitate against the enforced quarantine of several trade union activists by the Police, following a protest campaign recently. According to Nishantha, holding protests at a time when the country was battling against Covid-19 would result in the emergence of another wave of the pandemic. He had added that quarantine regulations would strictly be enforced against all those who engage in protests and the protesters should therefore bring a bag of clothes along with them when going to participate in a protest.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 20:00 UTC
IPL franchises left in lurch
It has been 47 days since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 phase-2 will begin in the U.A.E. but the teams/franchises are still left in the lurch about the official dates of the remaining 31 matches, as well as foreign players’ availability, the Indian media revealed. BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla has told media that the remaining games will be played between 19 September and 15 October. But the BCCI is yet to inform the franchises officially the fresh dates, making the latter jittery on the plans and logistics with barely two months left for the possible start of the pandemic-hit league’s second phase.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 20:00 UTC
Sunny Side Up: RW and Rathana Thera challenged
The National List slots in Parliament occupied by United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera on behalf of the Our People’s Power Party (OPPP) have been challenged before the Supreme Court (SC). The FR petition was filed by Vinivida Peramuna General Secretary Nagananda Kodituwakku. According to Kodituwakku, the parties have failed to fill the two National List MP slots allocated to their respective political parties by the EC. The EC, former Chairman of the EC Mahinda Deshapriya, EC Chairman Nimal G. Punchihewa, former UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya General Secretary Ven.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 19:41 UTC
India vs. Sri Lanka match times changed
Sri Lanka during their practice this week at R. Premadasa Stadium under new Captain Dasun Shanaka (3rd from left) as their Fast Bowling Coach Chaminda Vaas (extreme left) looks onThere have been significant changes in the match timings of India vs. Sri Lanka 2021 white-ball series starting on Sunday (23). Changed match timesThe ODI series will conclude on 23 July when the third match will be played. The T20I series will now start on 25 July with the final match of the tour to be played on 29 July. Not only the dates but the match timings have also been altered. The ODI matches were to originally start at 2.30 p.m. but will now start 30 minutes later at 3 p.m.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 19:41 UTC
Renewable energy generation: Pressure mounts on meeting targets
The President’s renewable energy targets have faced a hurdle, as experts claim that achieving 70% of the country’s electricity generation by renewable energy sources by 2030 was not practical. But prior to execution, the renewable energy plan should be included into the Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) Long-Term Energy Generation Plan and approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL). Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Samarakoon explained: “We are preparing the renewable energy plan to achieve 70% renewable energy by 2030 based on the instructions given by the President. Accordingly, at the end of 2018, the total renewable energy capacity reached 2,009 MW, which includes 1,399 MW of major hydro and 610 MW of other renewable energy. When queried about the solar power rates, Samarakoon stressed that there was a proposal from the CEB, stating that the present solar power rates are high and when going for tendering, solar power can be purchased at around Rs.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 19:18 UTC
Education sector TUs to continue strike
He noted that several measures have been put forth to tackle the situation at hand, especially when it comes to distance education. “Several programmes such as ‘Gurugedara’, ‘E-Thaksalawa’, and ‘Sathi Pasala’ have been introduced at the national and provincial levels to facilitate online education for students, and students can access these free of charge,” he noted. “One of the main national programmes conducted by the Ministry is E-Thaksalawa, which has nearly 65,000 lessons, from grades one through 13. Furthermore, he added that the Ministry of Education has identified 2,096 centres where students do not have the right infrastructure to access the internet. According to him, nearly 30% of the teachers and staff across the island have been vaccinated, thus far.
Source:The Nation
July 17, 2021 18:56 UTC