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Tourism sector attracts major part:
FDI inflows up $ 205m in 2011
Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), including
loans realised during the first half of 2011 had increased to US$
413 million compared to US$ 208 million in the corresponding period
of 2010. According to the report on “Recent Economic Developments”
by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the FDI which declined during 2009
and 2010 due to the impact of the global financial crisis on foreign
financial inflows, increased during the first half of 2011.
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Jaffna to celebrate Independence Day on grand scale
Jaffna, the heartland of the Northern Tamils now
bustling with activity, will join hands with the rest of the country
to celebrate the 64th Independence Day on February 4 in a peaceful
atmosphere, Additional GA Rubini Varadalingam told the Sunday
Observer. No boycotts or protests have been reported, unlike
earlier, she said.
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Oman ready to help Lanka in oil needs
Omani Oil and Gas Minister Dr. Mohamad Bin Hamad
Al-Rumbi has expressed his Government’s willingness to assist Sri
Lanka in its oil and gas requirements, Petroleum Industries Minister
Susil Premajayantha said. Sri Lanka is rich with investment
opportunities in many areas.
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MTD focuses on increasing number of vehicle
accidents:
Learner drivers should be more disciplined
The Motor Traffic Department (MTD) has focused
special attention on the increasing number of vehicle accidents at
night and called upon driving school instructors to provide more
training for learner drivers after 6.00 pm. A spokesman for the MTD
said that conducting training classes at night would help drivers
avoid accidents.
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TNA adopting a ‘two-nation policy’
The Government aims at uniting all communities
under one banner, while developing the linguistic, cultural and
religious values of every community, under the 10-year national plan
for Trilingual Sri Lanka, Minister of National Languages and Social
Integration Vasudeva Nanayakkara 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. 
