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 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.

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.

The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the daytime. In addition, he said that the Zika virus could rarely be transmitted through sexual contact or blood transfusions. The Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. The first recorded outbreak of the Zika virus disease was reported from the Island of Yap (the Federated States of Micronesia) in 2007. To date, a total of 86 countries and territories have reported evidence of mosquito-transmitted Zika infection.

BY Pamodi WaravitaThe Archbishop’s House in Colombo will be seeking an injunction order to halt the proposed development of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant at the Muthurajawela Wetland. “The Bishop’s House will be seeking an injunction order this week as reports are saying 100 acres of the Muthurajawela Wetland have been allocated for a LNG plant by the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). “Not a single new power plant has been built in Sri Lanka in eight years. We had similar complaints during the construction of the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant. We are hoping to construct a 300 MW LNG power plant in Muthurajawela, which would greatly benefit the entire country.

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 happen.

Delete duplicates using the Contacts app on a MacIf you have a Mac, you can delete duplicate iCloud address book entries using the built-in Contacts app. Manually selecting duplicate contacts on iCloud.com.Screenshot: Pranay Parab Manually selecting duplicate contacts on iCloud.com.Screenshot: Pranay ParabNow just press Delete on the keyboard to see a confirmation pop-up that checks if you really want to delete those contacts. Use Gmail to delete duplicate iCloud contactsIf you’d rather not spend hours selecting 10,000 duplicate contacts, you can quickly export iCloud contacts to Gmail and clear duplicates on Google’s service. Delete duplicate contacts using an iPhone appFor those who don’t have access to a computer, there is an iPhone app that will delete all duplicate contacts quickly. Follow these steps:Download Duplicate Contacts Fixer and open the app.Give it access to your contacts, when the app asks for it.You can delete three duplicate contacts for free.

TL;DR Samsung has quietly made its free TV Plus service available on the web . You no longer have to buy a Samsung phone or TV to try the company’s Plus service. Both Protocol and Android Central note that Samsung made its free TV offering available on the web, letting you stream on virtually any device with a browser. The move puts Samsung TV Plus into competition with other free services, including Pluto TV and Fox’s Tubi. Streaming services often need large audiences to thrive, and the web version could help TV Plus grow.

Sajid Javid today confirmed that the government is pulling the trigger on 'Freedom Day' by axing almost all legal restrictions from next Monday - despite pleading for people need to keep wearing masks and not rush back to offices. Health Secretary Sajid Javid (right) laid out the details of Freedom Day in a statement to MPs this afternoon. Transport services such as the London Underground may decide to make wearing masks a condition of travel. Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan is still considering a bid to force passengers to keep wearing masks on trains, Tube and buses in London. The PM is expected to give final approval for Stage 4 of the roadmap tomorrow, with almost all legal restrictions set to be lifted.

The second phase of the Colombo Stock Exchange digitalization process was launched recently at the Presidential Secretariat under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka (SEC) along with the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) commenced the digital advancement in Sri Lanka’s capital market with the launch of the first phase of the digitalization of the Stock Market last September and it was intended to ensure uninterrupted access, facilitate investor participation, enhance operational efficiencies and service standards in the capital market. The stock market authority said that following the digitalization of the capital market, more than 65,000 new investors have entered the market and 17,000 new Central Depository (CDS) accounts have been opened with the capability to swiftly download the stock market information. With digitalization, investors will be able to make transactions in Sinhala, Tamil, or English from anywhere in the world, receive monthly publications, exchange and modify information, as well as to open accounts for local companies. Jayasundera, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission Viraj Dayaratne PC, Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange Dumith Fernando, and other members of the Board of Directors were also present, President’s Media Division stated.

To further underscore the importance recommerce has to eBay’s platform, users, and more, eBay has recently released their 2020 Recommerce Report. If young consumers are forming attachments to recommerce now, that buying pattern may continue for years down the line. If they don’t eliminate their purchase entirely, they tend to favor a more affordable used good over something new. Buying a used good means the water, energy, and resources that would have produced a new good don’t have to be consumed, and selling a used good postpones its trip to the landfill. In the industries of apparel and electronics alone, recommerce on eBay conserved 720,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

July 12, 2021 07:35 pmThe Director-General of Health Services has confirmed 31 more COVID-19 related fatalities that have occurred yesterday (July 12). The new development has pushed the official death toll due to the virus in Sri Lanka to 3,533. According to the data released by the Department of Government Information, the new victims confirmed today include 15 females and 16 males. None of them are aged below 30 years, five victims are between 30-59 years and the remaining 26 are aged 60 and above.

Nothing has revealed the ear (1) will be priced at €99/£99/$99 but some markets will get it even cheaper than that. The upcoming earphones with ANC will be sold in India for INR5,999, which is about $80, said Manu Sharma - VP and general manager at Nothing. Quick math shows the price is 20% cheaper than the American one and even more than the European and British ones where devices are traditionally more expensive due to tariffs. Later, in a press release we received, Sharma has confirmed the earbuds will be sold on Flipkart, which isn’t surprising - the tech company already confirmed the sales of the ear (1) will be predominantly online. The full specs sheet and actual availability dates will be unveiled on July 27 at 14:00 BST (18:30 IST).

It’s offering largely the same display as the original Nord. Now, the Chinese manufacturer has revealed display details, and they look very familiar. This means the Nord 2 essentially has the same screen as the original Nord, which was equipped with a 6.44-inch 90Hz OLED panel and HDR10+ support. The original Nord offered an FHD+ resolution, so we’re guessing the successor is equipped with a similar display resolution too. Nevertheless, a 90Hz OLED panel is still pretty solid for a mid-range phone in 2021.

The government has taken a decision to commence limited inter-provincial transport facilities from Wednesday (July 14). However, these services will only be available for those who are engaged in essential services, State Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama. Speaking to the media at a vaccine drive in Kandy, the State Minister said that railway services too would commence in parallel to this program. He said, “Limited transport services will commence from Wednesday. In addition, the rules laid down for public servants and private-sector essential service employees who travel between the provinces must be followed.