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Sri Lanka gained from Geneva crisis :
Govt ready to face challenges
Since terrorism was eradicated, peace, national
integration, political stability and sound economic management have
fortified Sri Lanka to defeat any challenges. Consequently, the
national development project, one project for each village linking
every village could be launched, said Economic Development Minister
Basil Rajapaksa.
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Palestinian rights issue :
United States isolated before international community
The US stood isolated before the international
community when a resolution on the rights of the Palestinians was
taken up last week at the UN Human Rights Council, the same day the
resolution on Sri Lanka was taken up. Of all 47 members of the
UNHRC, 46 voted in favour of the text that supported the right of
Palestinians for self-determination with only the US opposing it.
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UNHRC vote shows declining US popularity
The resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC
sessions in Geneva shows the declining US popularity, said Youth
Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma. Sri
Lanka obtained 15 votes and eight countries abstained from voting,
he said.
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Power conservation – LG bodies respond positively
The Local Government Ministry has responded
positively to the Government’s ‘Electricity Conservation Program’ by
directing all local bodies to switch off additional street lights
and refrain from using high voltage street lights. Accordingly,
local authorities countrywide have taken steps not only to switch
off additional street lights and replace low voltage street bulbs,
but also to keep a close tab on street lights kept on even after
6.00 a.m.
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Resolving problems without outside help more important
The US-sponsored resolution adopted at the UNHRC
Geneva sessions is not a matter for concern but what is important is
resolving our own problems without any extraneous interference,
Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera told the Sunday Observer.
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President Maithripala Sirisena is in Thailand making a three-day official visit and attending the second Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit. The Dialogue Summit that brings together 34 nations in the Asian region takes place from October 8 -10 in Bangkok under the theme "One Asia, Diverse Strength".
Official level discussions have commenced between Sri Lanka and Iran on reviving trade agreements that were signed between the two countries and will be put into operation soon after ironing out technicalities, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen said. 
Pakistan on Friday (September 30) officially postponed the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on November 9 and 10. A new set of dates for holding the Summit will be announced soon through the Chair of SAARC (Nepal), reports said. 
Due to the prevailing drought, water levels of the main reservoirs have dropped to half its capacity, with authorities warning that drastic measures may need to be taken if water is to be continuously released from the reservoirs for power generation. 
To avert a possible dengue outbreak in the next three months, when the number of mosquito breeding sites are likely to surge with the monsoon rains, the Dengue Control Unit of the Health Ministry will launch an island-wide Dengue Control Week starting on Tuesday, September 27 to Monday, October 3.
Sir Richard Jolly, former Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, and Special Adviser to the Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (1996 to 2000), and Principal Coordinator of the widely-acclaimed Human Development Report will deliver a lecture on, “Development: Can Sri Lanka be a model for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs)?” on September 28 at 5 pm at the BMICH Committee Room D, on the invitation of the Gamani Corea Foundation. 
Richmondite Charith Asalanka joined the elite band of school cricketers by winning the coveted Schoolboy Cricketer Of The Year 2016 title for the second year in succession emulating the feats of former Sri Lankan greats Arjuna Ranatunga, 1980/82' ( Ananda) Roshan Mahanama, 1983/84'(Nalanda) Thilan Samaraweera 1994/95' ( Ananda) 'Lahiru Peiris 2004/2005 (St.Peter's) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2010'2011 (Royal) who had also won the award twice .
Cricketing legend and former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will grace the occasion at the 38th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards night scheduled to take place at the Galadari Hotel on September 20. 
Stern action will be taken against traders who sell sugar above the controlled price of Rs. 95. Instructions have been given to the relevant authorities to launch island-wide search operations, a press communique from the Minister of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said. 
Refuting speculations, Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said, no decision has been taken to impose power cuts on account of the current dry spell in the country. 
