LTTE Terrorism immediately prior to 1981
by Vijaya ChandrasomaBoth the Constitution of the United States and the National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner, were adopted during the “halcyon days” of slavery. Old Glory, the original flag of the United States, was saved from the Confederate Army during the Civil War and its modern version has been proudly flying in the name of the United States throughout the world. The Constitution of the United States in operation since 1789, is the longest surviving written charter of government. The words really meant “We The White Men”, as the rights of all women or African American slaves were excluded. These Southern states today remain the bastions of the Republican Party, and the Electoral College still favors them in the election for the presidency.
Source:The Nation
August 08, 2021 00:00 UTC
Oceanfront Condominiums Galle by ICC obtains COC
Expack was also named in the Best Workplaces in Sri Lanka for the fourth time. It is the first and only packaging provider to be listed consecutively in the Best Workplaces for both in Sri Lanka as well as in Asia. It is an ISO 9001-2015, ISO 14001-2015 and FSC COC certified company, placing quality and consistency in every step of the way, and the first corrugated carton manufacturer in Sri Lanka to receive WRAP certification. The company’s mindset is firmly set upon sustainability and takes measures to implement many eco-friendly policies in its entire value chain. The company has also been recognized at NCE- Exports Awards, NCCSL-National Business Excellence Awards, The Lanka Star Awards by Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging, CNCI Achiever Awards, Sri Lanka CSR Awards and Green Awards.
Source:The Nation
August 08, 2021 00:00 UTC
Boris Johnson 'considers demoting Rishi Sunak'
By Tom Pyman For MailonlinePublished: 14:27 EDT, 7 August 2021 | Updated: 02:34 EDT, 8 August 2021Boris Johnson is considering demoting Rishi Sunak, after the Chancellor called for the easing of travel restrictions before relaxations are announced next week, reports suggest. Maybe it's time we looked at Rishi as the next secretary of state for health. Mr Johnson was frustrated after only learning of details of the letter via the press, after officials failed to bring it to his attention, sparking a hunt for the leaker. The newspaper reported that Mr Johnson is not expected to carry out his threat and noted the Prime Minister's reputation for off-the-cuff remarks made 'half in jest'. That could put him on collision course with a Prime Minister who has promised there can be no return to austerity.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 22:07 UTC
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G bags Bluetooth certification
The Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G has moved a step closer to the launch as it has bagged Bluetooth SIG's certification. It's listed on the certifying authority's website with three model numbers - SM-A528B, SM-A528B_DS, and SM-A528N. The listings don't include any specs about the Galaxy A52s 5G, but thanks to Geekbench, we know the A52s 5G with model code SM-A528B will be powered by Snapdragon 778G SoC, run Android 11, and have 8GB RAM onboard. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G gets Bluetooth certifiedThere's no word from Samsung about the Galaxy A52s 5G yet, but previous leaks suggest the A52s 5G will just be a Galaxy A52 5G with a Snapdragon 778G chip under the hood and cost €450 in Europe with 128GB storage. Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G leaked render (Source: @_snoopytech_)While we wait for official information from Samsung about the Galaxy A52s 5G, you can read our initial impressions of the Galaxy A52 5G here.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 20:03 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Objections to social media
Since there is no legislation to regulate social media in the country, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva last week claimed that the Government should take steps to either block or regulate the sector in the country. Speaking in Parliament last week, the Minister had said that China had banned social media networks. “Social media has to be held responsible for most of the issues at present. We either have to introduce laws to regulate social media or we should ban it. Look at China, they have banned social media,” de Silva had said.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 19:01 UTC
Pending Chinese loan expanded to $ 350 m
He said that even though it is a $ 700 million loan agreement, CDB is now expected to add another $ 150 million, making the second tranche of the loan $ 350 million, which is yet to be received by Sri Lanka. Speaking to us last month, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) Governor Prof. W.D. Sri Lanka received a $ 500 million loan from China in April. Issuing a statement, the Sri Lankan Embassy in China said: “This loan will infuse vitally required foreign exchange into the Sri Lanka economy. Sri Lanka is also liable to repay nearly $ 4.5 billion in foreign debt annually until 2025.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:56 UTC
Fitbit Sense buyer’s guide: Everything you need to know
Our verdict: Fitbit Sense reviewFitbit Sense at a glanceFitbit Sense Manage your stress and heart health The Fitbit Sense is Fitbit's flagship health-focused smartwatch. See more: The best Fitbit trackers and smartwatchesIs the Fitbit Sense worth buying? However, she adds that the Fitbit Sense “isn’t perfect, though,” and the Fitbit companion app could use some work in particular. Read more: The ultimate Fitbit buyer’s guideFitbit Sense vs Fitbit Versa 3: What’s different? A: Yes, all versions of the Fitbit Sense come with Fitbit Pay support.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:56 UTC
Protecting our underwater ecosystems
With marine conservation on everyone’s minds, Brunch chatted with Rajasuriya on coral reefs in Sri Lanka, the issues they face, and how they can be conserved. Understanding the role coral reefs play in our marine environmentPut very simply, coral reefs are very important for coastal protection, marine biodiversity, and fisheries. Coral reefs are built by and made up of thousands of tiny animals – coral “polyps” – that are related to anemones and jellyfish. The threats that coral reefs faceSpeaking to Brunch, Rajasuriya explained that the biggest threat to coral reefs is rising ocean temperatures because of climate change and global warming. Other threats to coral reefs are largely man-made, Rajasuriya explained, listing activities like destructive fishing, pollution, and increased sediment in oceans as other major threats to coral reefs.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:33 UTC
Sri Lanka’s future lies in its cybersecurity
TekSek was the cybersecurity company that introduced risk-based vulnerability management to Sri Lanka, and helps companies proactively protect themselves against threats to their cybersecurity. Most cybersecurity companies conclude their services at providing penetration testing reports, but TekSek and CSW take things further by delivering their results through the industry leader in risk-based vulnerability management, RiskSense. Most cybersecurity companies will give you back a spreadsheet of these 10,000 vulnerabilities for the company’s IT team to resolve. “Because, like Sri Lanka, they too don’t have data protection laws and regulations, but these markets are not very lucrative. Becoming truly future-readyWhile apologising for going on about the lack of security, Liyanage spoke about where Sri Lanka is improving.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:33 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Mangala’s book on Buddhism
August 8, 2021 by News Admin No CommentsFormer Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera is currently in the process of compiling a book for Buddhists. Named “The Cry of a True Buddhist” (Sebe Baudhdhayekuge Vilapaya), Samaraweera had explained that most Buddhists in the country did not follow the true philosophies of Buddhism and were being misguided by a different illusion. He had claimed that he would continue to attack this illusion, as he believed in being a true Buddhist.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:33 UTC
Sunny Side Up: Ranjan’s handcuffs
August 8, 2021 by News Admin No CommentsA photograph clicked of former MP Ranjan Ramanayake, when he was brought for a family funeral in Negombo last week, went viral on social media. The picture depicted a handcuffed Ramanayake trying to take a sip of a Nescafe while seated with family members at the funeral house. The picture was posted on social media saying: “Not committed any murder, not robbed anyone, but handcuffs were not removed for him to have a cup of Nescafe at the funeral.”Meanwhile, Ramanayake tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday (6) at the Angunakolapelessa Prison.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:33 UTC
Covid-19 goes viral: Islandwide hospitals beleaguered
As alleged by the healthcare unions, the shortage was mainly due to the sudden spike in the number of Covid-19 patients reported within a short period of time. Mediwatta stressed that there was a severe shortage of PPE such as gloves, medical masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, gowns, and aprons. “Hospitals are overflowing with Covid-19 patients, and they are everywhere. This poses a huge risk to healthcare workers as well. If this issue is not remedied, the PPE shortage would leave doctors, nurses, and other frontline workers dangerously ill-equipped to care for Covid-19 patients, he claimed.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 18:00 UTC
Certain fertilisers to be imported: Local organic fertiliser production continues
BY Yumiko PereraDespite the recent controversy surrounding the move to import certain types of fertiliser in spite of the prevailing ban on the use and import of chemical fertiliser, the Agriculture Ministry stated that the local production of organic fertiliser was going ahead as planned, with a view to supplying the needed stocks for the upcoming Maha cultivation season starting in September. However, in a recent statement to the press, the President’s Media Division (PMD) revealed that such imports would only be allowed through a special license programme. Accordingly, nitrogen (N) fertiliser, phosphate (PO₄³⁻) fertiliser, potassium (K) fertiliser, fertiliser containing such minerals, and chemical fertilisers that contain a combination of fertilising elements, would be allowed to be imported. Speaking on the progress of the production of organic fertiliser locally, Prof. Jayasinghe-Mudalige further added: “The production of organic fertiliser locally is running as planned, and we are diligently monitoring it for the time being. Weeratunga, however, noted that certain steps have to be taken in order to achieve that objective.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 17:03 UTC
Oil refinery in Sapugaskanda: Investor yet to be finalised
He told The Sunday Morning that no investor had yet been finalised for the proposed new oil refinery in Sapugaskanda, which, according to him, are the only refinery plans being executed by the corporation as of now. Nevertheless, as The Sunday Morning reported, in November 2019, that the Board of Investment (BOI) entered into an agreement with Hambantota Oil Refinery (Pvt.) In May 2018, the Iranian Government announced plans to help Sri Lanka construct a new oil refinery and refurbish Sapugaskanda. While Iranian support bodes well for the country’s oil refinery capacity, obstacles may arise during project development, particularly regarding financial transactions resulting from sanctions. The country consumes around 30 million litres of gasoline, 130 million litres of diesel, and 18 million litres of kerosene each month.
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 17:03 UTC
Child pornography probe: Three police teams deployed
By Yoshitha PereraThree police teams have been deployed to probe and arrest individuals who are posting child pornography on the internet, Police Media Spokesperson and National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Director SDIG Ajith Rohana told the media yesterday (7). “The suspect is a resident from the Badalkumbura area and was arrested last Saturday for posting child pornography on the internet. SDIG Rohana further stated that according to police reports, the 25-year-old suspect has been using two fake accounts to add pornographic videos to the internet on a daily basis. Meanwhile, the President has appointed SDIG Rohana as the Director of NCPA in addition to his duties. Meanwhile, speaking to The Sunday Morning, Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) Information Security Engineer Ravindu Meegasmulla said that at present, investigations into child pornography are solely carried out by the Cyber Crimes Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Source:The Nation
August 07, 2021 16:52 UTC