Bill to increase minimum wage of private sector employees discussed
The Bill to amend the National Minimum Wage for Private Sector Employees in Sri Lanka was discussed at the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Labour chaired by the Minister of Labour Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Communications Department of Parliament said. Accordingly, it is intended to amend Section 03 of the Minimum Wage of Employees Act No. 03 of 2016 to increase the current minimum monthly wage from Rs. 12,500 and the minimum daily wage from Rs. Thus, the Committee drew its attention towards referring the Bill to the House for approval, the release said.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 10:30 UTC
Another website owner arrested over child sex trafficking case
The owner of another website has been arrested in connection with the case of selling a 15-year-old girl online for sexual exploitation. The arrested website owner has published the advertisement made to sell the girl, Police said. Investigations have revealed that at least 04 websites have published the relevant advertisement. A total of 04 individuals connected to two of those websites have been arrested so far. Further, the additional magistrate has directed the Child & Women Bureau to apprehend all suspects linked to the crime regardless of their status.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 08:26 UTC
Good Housekeeping announces its Good Food 2021 awards
By Bridie Pearson-jones For MailonlinePublished: 03:02 EDT, 8 July 2021 | Updated: 03:59 EDT, 8 July 2021Good Housekeeping has announced the winners of its annual food awards with Heinz Ketchup picking up the gong for best store cupboard essential while Aldi was named best supermarket. Now in its 16th year, Good Housekeeping asks its readers to give their views on their star items across a different categories, including best vegetarian products, best organic product and best tea. This year, UK-based readers also voted for their favourite home delivery services to reflect the ever-changing landscape of food. Aldi was a big winner, picking up awards for best supermarket, best premium range and best wine retailer while Iceland got the gong for best online retailer. Here, FEMAIL reveals the full range of winners...Good Housekeeping has announced the winners of its annual food awards with Heinz Ketchup (left) picking up the gong for best store cupboard essential while Aldi was named best supermarket.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 07:52 UTC
31 including Joseph Stalin arrested over protest violating quarantine rules
The police have arrested a total of 31 individuals for staging a protest at the Polduwa Roundabout today (July 08), in violation of prevailing health regulations. The Inter University Students’ Federation, the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union and the Frontline Socialist Party had organized the demonstration against the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill. General Secretary of the teachers’ union Joseph Stalin, Rathkarawwe Jinarathana Thero, another Buddhist monk and two women are also among the arrestees, the police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana stated further. Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) carried out a demonstration, alleging that the government is suppressing the people’s right to protest. Joined by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and several SJB lawmakers, the protest was staged near the main entrance of the Parliament this morning.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 07:18 UTC
Hattian police announce arrests in presidential assassination
Mr Moise said back in February that he survived another assassination attempt, describing it as 'a coup'. 'We are shocked and saddened to hear of the horrific assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the attack on First Lady Martine Moise,' the US President said in a statement. Joseph, meanwhile, was supposed to be replaced by Ariel Henry, who had been named prime minister by Moïse a day before the assassination. Henry told The Associated Press in a brief interview that he is the rightful prime minister, calling it an exceptional and confusing situation. 'We are shocked and saddened to hear of the horrific assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the attack on First Lady Martine Moise,' Biden said in a statement.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 06:56 UTC
Basil takes oaths as MP before Speaker
Basil Rohana Rajapaksa was sworn in as a new Member of the 09th Parliament before the Hon. Speaker, he signed in the Member Roll kept before the Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake. Parliamentarian Basil Rohana Rajapaksa was elected to Parliament from the National list of the United People’s Freedom Alliance in 2007. He has held a number of positions as Senior Advisor to the President and head of Presidential Task Forces. Born in the year 1951 in Giruwapaththuwa, Hambantota Basil Rohana Rajapaksa is the head of the Presidential Task Force for Economic Reviewal and Poverty Eradication and Presidential Task Force on Creating a Green Sri Lanka with Sustainable Solution to Climate Change.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 06:00 UTC
Jaffna fishers to be involved as stakeholders
Fisheries Ministry Media Secretary N.S. They have now sought legal permission to operate a sea cucumber harvest farm at Poovarasanpatti,” said Edirisinghe. Sea cucumber is primarily used as a luxury seafood item and as an ingredient in traditional Chinese medicines. In Sri Lanka, sea cucumber fishery currently occurs in Kalpitiya, the Puttalam Islands, Trincomalee, Pottuvil, and Kalmunai. Although the harvesting of sea cucumber is banned in India, license holders are allowed to operate in Sri Lanka.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 05:48 UTC
Functions of Ministries amended by President
The functions and duties of a number of Ministries have been amended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the President’s Media Division said. The President also gazetted a new Ministry, the Ministry of Economic Policies and Plan Implementation. The functions and duties of a number of Ministries, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Policies and Plan Implementation, State Ministry of Urban Development, Waste Disposal and Community Cleanliness and the State Ministry of Coast Conservation and Low-Lying Lands Development have been amended. The Media Division said that new Ministry of Economic Policies and Plan Implementation will be in charge of the planning and implementation of relevant policies, in order to accelerate economic development and social progress based on the National Policy Statement: “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour”. It will also coordinate with the Presidential Task Force for Gama Samaga Pilisandara Rural Development.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 04:41 UTC
Administering Pfizer as second dose suspended
Army Commander General Shavendra Silva says that the Army has stopped administering the Pfizer vaccine as the second dose of AstraZeneca in the Colombo Municipal Council area. He added that by the third week of July, 1.4 million AstraZeneca vaccines will be available. Meanwhile, the Epidemiologist of the Colombo Municipal Council, Dr. Dinuka Guruge, has posted a note on her Twitter account stating that those who received text messages today (08) should not come. The first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine was administered to people between the ages of 55 and 69 in the Colombo Municipal Council area yesterday (07). Meanwhile, the first dose of Sinopharm vaccine will be given to people over 60 in Anuradhapura today, said the Director of the Anuradhapura General Hospital, Dr. Dulan Samaraweera.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 04:07 UTC
Suspect arrested for abusing schoolgirls through the internet
The Matara Divisional Children and Women’s Bureau has arrested a man for allegedly abusing several schoolgirls through the internet. It has also been revealed that the arrested person had obtained the phone numbers of the students saying that he was providing packages through the internet. The suspect was arrested yesterday (07). The suspect is a 28-year-old resident of Thambuththegama and has been a sales officer for a major mobile phone service in Sri Lanka for about two years, the police spokesman said. The suspect is to be produced before the Morawaka Magistrate’s Court today (08).
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 04:07 UTC
Wind and rain conditions to increase during the week
In the next few days, especially tomorrow (09) and the day after tomorrow (10), wind conditions are expected to increase across the island and in the sea areas around the island. The Met Department said that showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, North Western, Southern and Central provinces. Heavy showers exceeding 75 mm are possible in some parts of the country. Showers or thundershowers during the evening or night in a few places in the Uva and Eastern Provinces and in the Mullaitivu District. The Meteorological Department also forecast strong winds and lightning with thundershowers.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 04:03 UTC
When YOUR $1,080 in tax relief should start arriving in your bank account
In the Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg extended low and middle-income tax offsets for 10million people earning up to $126,000. More than 10million Australians should start receiving tax cuts of up to $1,080 during the next few days. The new financial year started on July 1 which means tax cuts should start arriving next week. The low and middle-income tax offsets were extended for another year in the May Budget at a cost of $7.8billion, providing relief of between $255 and $1,080. The number of tax brackets is also being trimmed from five to four for the first time since 1984 as part of the stage three tax cuts announced in 2019.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 03:56 UTC
All Pre-school Teachers to receive COVID-19 jab
COLOMBO (News 1st): The State Ministry of Pre-schools & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services has decided to vaccinate all pre-school teachers in the country against the COVID-19 virus. The vaccination drive targeting pre-school teachers will commence from next week, Piyal Nishantha De Silva, the State Minister of Women and Child Development, Pre-schools & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services said on Thursday (Jul. According to State Minister Piyal Nishantha De Silva, all pre-school teachers in the country will be administered the COVID-19 vaccine, as per the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 03:00 UTC
Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff walks in Balenciaga runway show
Vice President Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff made her couture debut on Wednesday as she walked the runway at the Balenciaga show in Paris in front of the likes of Kanye West. Fashions shows are usually set to soundtracks, but Ella and the other models walked in silence in the hallowed halls. Cristobal Balenciaga, recognized as one of the top couturiers in the fashion industry, closed his Paris-based atelier in 1968. 'Balenciaga couture,' she wrote. Model moment: Earlier this year, Ella made her runway debut at the Proenza Schouler sshow during New York Fashion WeekCongrats!
Source:The Nation
July 08, 2021 03:00 UTC