Sri LankaSri Lanka are all set to encounter Uzbekistan in the Central Asian qualifier for the Senior Asian Volleyball Championship at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The Asian Volleyball Championship, which was first held in 1975, is conducted every two years. The two teams have met only twice (2011, 2013) and on both occasions Sri Lanka beat the Uzbekistan team 3-0. In the first round Sri Lanka beat their counterparts 3-0 but later in the tenth place match the Uzbekistan team emerged victorious in a five set thriller (3-2). In the Asian region where there are 65 countries, Sri Lanka is ranked 10th while Uzbekistan is ranked 24.

“We are closely watching the situation,” MP Kaviratne said, adding that she intended to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus. Edirisinge of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had been among those arrested; he was granted bail. She noted that the local government politician was not the only person who had received bail. Earlier, the court granted bail to the girl’s mother. Senior DIG Rohana said altogether nine persons had so far been granted bail.

The warning comes after Thailand announced it would allow patients to get one shot each of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines to combat a current surge of COVID-19 cases. Thailand will mix the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines for health workers, a move the WHO advises against. Thailand now plans to give medical staff with only one shot of the Sinovac vaccine the AstraZeneca vaccine for their second shot. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the two available vaccines that use mRNA technology. The goal is to find if there are any potential benefits to mixing and matching different vaccines.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka missed their kicks, but England manager Gareth Southgate was clear yesterday where the responsibility lay: on himself. Being national manager is, in many ways, harder than being a club manager. Changing this would be key to changing the view of his England team, and the results. He also consoled Colombian player Mateus Uribe whose missed penalty saw England reach the quarter-finals. Next year he will probably lead England in the World Cup, when they will be more hardened, together and determined.

The Department of Census and Statistics has reported that Sri Lanka’s economy has grown by 4.3% in the first quarter of 2021 in comparison to a negative growth rate of 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020. These estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other macroeconomic indicators were released at current prices and fixed prices (2010) under the Product Process for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2021. It was also noted that businesses and economies continued to operate despite the restrictions imposed by the second wave of the Covid wave, and that the conduct of many economies remained at a satisfactory level throughout the first quarter of 2021. According to the Department of Census and Statistics, the country’s economic growth in the first quarter of this year is estimated to bounce back in line with the GDP growth in the first quarter of 2020.

12 July1943 – Whatever he did in 30 Tests, New Zealand all-rounder Bruce Taylor, who was born today, will always be remembered for his startling debut. The only player to have scored a century and taken a five-wicket haul on Test debut, Taylor passed away in February aged 771991 – Colombian footballer James Rodríguez was born today in Cúcuta, Colombia. France won the match 3-0 to claim their maiden World Cup. He is the only player to do so in history of tennis1930 – First-ever football World Cup competition begins in Uruguay. At the 1957 World Rowing Championships in Nottingham, the Hansen brothers won the world championship title in the double sculls.

The 24th Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka – Singapore Business Council (SLSBC) of The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce was held on 16 June 2021 via Zoom. Managing Partner Prajeeth Balasubramaniam was re-elected as the President of the Council for the year 2021-2022. Ltd. Vice President Jerome Brohier, SLSBC Vice President Tan Beng Chuan, MAC Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd. Chief Financial Officer Tilak Gunawardana, SLSBC Vice President Janaka Gunasekera, SLSBC President Prajeeth Balasubramaniam, Tengri Aero Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. Chairman Eric Wikramanayake, SLSBC Immediate Past President Rohitha Mendis, Overseas Realty (Ceylon) PLC Head of Leasing Kumi Miranda, Kalhari Enterprises Chairman/Group Managing Director Indhra Kaushal Rajapaksa, SLSBC Vice President Shiluka Gunawardena, Spear International (Pvt) Ltd. Chairman/Managing Director Shamil Mendis, Star Promotions member Sharhan Muhseen

The JB Vantage Value Equity Fund was set up with the intention of sharing equity management expertise with the average investor. The JB Vantage Value Equity Fund provides the average investor with an easy way to get started investing in the equity markets. JB Vantage’s Value Equity Fund is the largest pure equity fund in the Sri Lankan market, aiming to maintain over 90% of its holdings in equities. JB Vantage unit trusts have been proud gold winners at three of the five Best Unit Trust Award ceremonies. Investing through an equity unit trust is honestly the most trouble free way to make this happenInvest a set amount regularly into your equity unit trust.

By Imsha IqbalIdeal Finance Ltd. (IFL) became a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Ltd. (MMFSL) last Thursday (8) and expects an exponential growth through Mahindra & Mahindra along with Ideal Finance, The Morning Business learns. Speaking to us, Ideal Finance and Ideal Motors (Pvt.) Speaking about Ideal Motors, Welgama said: “Ideal Motors has been representing Mahindra & Mahindra since 2009,” highlighting that initial partnering with Mahindra took place in 2009. At the same time, the establishment of Mahindra Ideal Lanka (Pvt.) The company was, in fact, formed by two experts in their respective fields of work; Ideal Motors (Pvt.)

The free and open internet is under attack in countries around the world, Google boss Sundar Pichai has warned. At Google alone he oversees Gmail, Google Chrome, Google Maps, Google Earth, Google Docs, Google Photos, the Android operating system, and many other products. Over the past 23 years, Google has probably shaped the mostly free and open internet we have today more than any other company. According to Pichai, over the next quarter of a century, two other developments will further revolutionise our world: AI and quantum computing. Quantum computing is a totally different phenomenon.

The two cricket boards of Sri Lanka and India, following discussions, rescheduled their bilateral white-ball series yesterday (10) owing to the existing Covid-19 situation, particularly in the Sri Lanka squad. This third positive test, that of reportedly Sandun Weerakkody, meant two ‘bio bubbles’ of the home team for the Indo white-ball series are now breached. The situation will force Sri Lanka squad to spend a couple of more days in isolation and face another round of RT-PCR test. It is also understood that, due to Weerakkody’s positive test, Asela Gunaratne, Angelo Perera, and Rajapaksa –Weerakkody’s close contacts– have also been sent to quarantine. That could well be an eventuality which might spell disaster on the already pandemic-hit and extensively complicated India limited-over series.

Capt.Nihal KeppetipolaChairman – Sri Lanka Ports AuthorityAt an exclusive meeting held with the Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA) on 07th July 2021 at Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Capt.Nihal Keppetipola – Chairman SLPA stated that steps would be taken to expedite work at the East Container Terminal (ECT) of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Here, the views and proposals of SLPA as well as CASA were taken into consideration to overcome these challenges. The contribution of the (CASA) towards the development of the Port of Colombo was also commended at these discussions. He said, accordingly, a process would also be implemented to expedite the procurement and purchasing of machinery required to expedite the running of the ECT. The Chairman further emphasized that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) would provide immediate assistance to expedite the constructions of the West Container Terminal (WCT) of the Port of Colombo, keeping in line with the government’s policy decisions.

BY Buddhika SamaraweeraA number of trade unions representing several sectors have decided to launch islandwide trade union action tomorrow (14) and on Friday (16) in protest over the current Government’s alleged attempt to suppress trade unions and other civil activists. “This organisation is affiliated with a number of trade unions representing almost all sectors – government, semi-government, and private. Accordingly, several of these trade unions decided on 11 July to launch islandwide trade union action tomorrow and on 16 July,” he added. He also said that if the Government continues to implement this allegedly repressive programme, it would take steps to further embark on stricter trade union action. “A number of trade union actions are planned to be launched within this week and we will announce other trade union actions from time to time,” he added.

By Dinitha RathnayakeThe Police has vehemently denied social media based allegations that the investigation into the online sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl had been halted, following purported information that several monks were involved in the exploitation of the said minor. I never called the President and asked him to stop this investigation as mentioned on social media. Meanwhile, a former bank manager and a Police officer have been arrested over the controversial case of selling a 15-year-old girl online for sexual exploitation. A special investigation was also launched on websites for advertising sexual services for the procuring of the 15-year-old victim, explained SDIG Rohana. Additionally, a cardiologist apprehended over the sexual exploitation of the 15-year-old girl was suspended from service, according to the Sri Lanka Navy.

By Pamodi WaravitaThe Independent Vaccine Advisory Expert Committee will approve the Chinese Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine only if it deems Sri Lanka to be in need of this vaccine in addition to all other vaccines currently available, and scheduled to arrive, in Sri Lanka. The approval of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) Independent Vaccine Advisory Expert Committee is required for the emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine (CoronaVac), developed by Chinese drug maker Sinovac, in Sri Lanka. Reportedly, the NMRA is to make inquiries from the expert panel about why approval has not yet been granted for the Sinovac vaccine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) granted approval for emergency use of the Sinovac vaccine on 1 June. Now, instead of two Sinovac doses, people will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine after their first Sinovac shot.