Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka appointed Chairman of SLSI
May 12, 2021 06:07 pmDr. Nihal Jayathilaka has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI). He succeeds the former Chairman of SLSI Nushad Perera, who recently stepped down from the post to rejoin the private sector. Dr. Jayathilaka has previously served as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRP). He had also acted as the Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development back in 2014.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:33 UTC
Coronavirus- 1,016 more recoveries reported in Sri Lanka
May 12, 2021 05:49 pmAs many as 1,016 more patients who were being treated for COVID-19 have been discharged from medical care within the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health reported today (May 12). This brings the total number of coronavirus recoveries in the country to 107,657. Sri Lanka has reported 131,098 positive cases of COVID-19 following the outbreak of the virus infection. However, up to 22,591 virus-infected patients are currently receiving treatment at designated hospitals and treatment centres. Sri Lanka’s pandemic death toll meanwhile stands at 850.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:11 UTC
Israel vows more attacks to bring 'total, long-term quiet'
Israel today vowed to bring 'total, long-term quiet' to the Gaza Strip amid growing international alarm at the increasing civilian death toll from retaliatory air strikes targeting Hamas militants. Gantz issued the fresh warning from the southern town of Ashkelon where two Israeli women were killed by Hamas rockets on Tuesday. One of the three women was in her 60s and another in her 80s, and died during Hamas rocket attacks earlier on Tuesday. She added that the Biden administration 'will also continue to support a two state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict.' It comes after militants launched more than 200 rockets at Israel, injuring six civiliansAnother - Hassan Abu al-Atta - was also killed.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:00 UTC
Health Ministry clarifies permitted events & operational restrictions
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has clarified the restriction of Inter-Provincial travel and the revised restrictions on permitted operations and events. Only 15 people can attend a funeral and final rites MUST be performed within 24 hours said the Police Spokesperson. While weddings are prohibited until the 31st of May, Marriage registration is allowed with only 15 people in attendance including the marriage registrar, he said.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 12:00 UTC
HIP sees highest monthly RORO volume in April
The Hambantota International Port has seen a significant increase in their RORO figures during the first 4 months of 2021, compared to the corresponding period last year. The first 4 months of this year saw 193,690 vehicles come into the port for transshipment as against 118,872 vehicles during the same period last year. 62,736 vehicles were transshipped last month, marking the highest volume of RORO the port has handled in a month so far. The April figures have topped increased RORO volumes HIP experienced in December 2020 and January 2021. This is coupled together with the focus on safety and quality as per the global standards of CMPort,” says Tissa Wickramasinghe, COO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG).
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 11:05 UTC
Mona Plastics becomes Sri Lanka’s Greenest Decorative Product Manufacturer
Monday, May 12, 2021: For the last four decades, Mona Plastics (Pvt) Ltd has built a reputation for producing high quality decorative ornaments to meet the diverse preferences of their customer, Hallmark (USA). Mona Plastics worked with The Carbon Consulting Company (CCC), Sri Lanka’s foremost provider of Integrated Sustainability Solutions to assess the greenhouse gas emissions of its organisational operations. This comprehensive study included both direct and indirect emissions sources of Mona Plastics, and several options for reducing the operational emissions of the company were also presented by the CCC Team. As an environmentally responsible business, Mona Plastics, through a JV initiative, had invested in a few Renewable Energy Projects in Sri Lanka. The strong foundation built also enables Mona Plastics to adapt to the anticipated risks associated with Climate Change.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 11:03 UTC
2021 HUAWEI Women Developers Summit: Her Contributions
HUAWEI Women Developers Summit was successfully closed recently, in which women from different fields and at different career development stages joined together and showed their empowerment. HUAWEI Women Developers (HWD), the holder of this summit, empowers women developers to create world-changing apps and tools and encourages more women to join in with technological innovation by providing them with more resources, opportunities, and platforms for learning, communication, and self-expression, with the goal of building a more multiple ecosystem. Both the Product Director of HUAWEI Ads and User Experience Designer of Huawei 2012 Laboratories also discussed how women developers play a more important role in cross-technology fields from the perspectives of business thinking and technical practice. Furthermore, Huawei aims to encourage more women students to take part in technological work and realize their own values. HWD program is now open to women developers from around the world.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 11:03 UTC
Regaining momentum amidst continuing headwinds
Equally importantly, Sampath Bank played a vital role in stabilizing the economy through the disbursement of the relief package for COVID affected businesses and individuals. Sampath Bank also actively participated in disbursing the Saubhagya Renaissance scheme to eligible customers. Operating ExpensesThe Bank’s total operating expenses, which amounted to Rs 5.1 Bn in 1Q 2020, increased by 6.9% to Rs 5.5 Bn in 1Q 2021. As per the announcement dated 12th February 2020, income tax rate applicable for the Banking sector was reduced to 24% with effect from 1st January 2020. This successful debenture issue reiterates the confidence the investors have placed on Sampath Bank.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 10:02 UTC
Realme 8 and 8 5G launch across Europe
The Realme 8 and Realme 8 5G smartphones officially arrive in Europe today, several weeks after the global launch in the Asia Pacific region. The Realme 8 is available in two memory configurations - 4/64 GB and 6/128 GB, with the respective prices being £199/€179 and £219. The Realme 8 5G also comes in two variants - 4/64 GB or 6/128 GB. A quick reminder that the Realme 8 and Realme 8 5G are quite different smartphones - the 5G version has a 48MP triple camera on the back, while the LTE variant has four shooters, with the main one having a 64MP sensor. Charging on the non-5G is also faster at up to 30W, compared to 18W on the Realme 8 5G.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 09:33 UTC
Island-wide travel restrictions from tomorrow until Monday
May 12, 2021 02:22 pmA decision has been taken to impose an island-wide travel restriction from tomorrow (May 13) until Monday (May 17). The travel restriction will commence at 11.00 pm tomorrow and continue until 04.00 am on Monda, Commander of Sri Lanka Army and Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated. However, the vaccination program in the Western Province will be continued as per usual, he added. In addition, the transport of essential items and food will also be permitted during this period.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 09:01 UTC
SLASSCOM successfully launches the Global Referral Programme in France
Establishing lucrative connections in the international market for Sri Lankan IT-BPM companies by connecting and introducing potential clients and cementing them with a monetary incentive for both parties, SLASSCOM recently utilized their Global Referral Programme (GRP)to build mutually beneficial business relationships in France. Shehan Selvanayagam Co-Head of the SLASSCOM Global Trade and Investment Forum explained the benefits of the Global Referral Programme and SLASSCOM’s role in acting as the facilitator in getting leads in the respective markets and arranging networking opportunities, as well as tracking and assisting the progress cementing the deals made. The Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) is the national chamber for the knowledge and innovation industry in Sri Lanka. 1 export revenue earner for Sri Lanka. SLASSCOM is supported by their Corporate Sponsor Dialog.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 09:00 UTC
Full’r Brings Delicious Burgers Handcrafted with Love
For the good folks at Full’r it is all this, 100% locally sourced ingredients and handcrafted with love. “It all starts with sourcing every element of Full’r burgers from local vendors”, says Thushara Gunawardhana, the creator of Full’r’s range of burgers. The recipes designed and customized for Full’r are a culmination of Thushara’s knowledge, knowhow and pure love of food. Full’r burgers are put together in a state-of-the-art cloud kitchen designed by industry experts. Full’r Burgers are currently available via PickMe and UberEats and their operation hours are 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM every day of the week including holidays.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 09:00 UTC
Sri Lanka suspend passenger flights to UAE: CAA
COLOMBO (News 1st): The operation of passenger flights from Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates was suspended with effect on Wednesday morning (May 12), following a decision reached by the UAE authorities, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said. This decision does NOT affect the operation of passenger flights from the UAE to Sri Lanka, Upul Dharmadasa, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority told News 1st on Wednesday (May 12). However, the suspension of flights will affect transit flights through the United Arab Emirates and passengers travelling from Sri Lanka are NOT permitted to transit at the UAE. Cargo flights can operate to the UAE, without any hindrance despite the flight restrictions imposed on the departure of passenger flights to the UAE from Sri Lanka, the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority further noted. The suspension of passenger flights imposed by the United Arab Emirates is also applicable to India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 08:15 UTC
Islandwide travel restriction in effect from today
May 12, 2021 by Aazam Ameen No CommentsGeneral Shavendra Silva, Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) stated today (12) that islandwide travel restrictions will come into effect from today. Accordingly, the travel restriction will be imposed every day from 11.00 pm to 04.00 am from today until 31 May. However, transport of essential goods will be able to continue during this period. More details to follow…
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 08:03 UTC
An Intermediate Treatment Center for Covid-19 patients in Vavuniya
State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Prof. Channa Jayasumana recently visited the construction work of the Intermediate Treatment Center for Covid-19 patients in Vavuniya which is being constructed in order to tackle the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic in the country. During his visit, the State Minister instructed the relevant officials to expedite the construction work.
Source:The Nation
May 12, 2021 07:52 UTC