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Sunday, 13 October 2013

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President to address ACD Summit today

[October 09 2016]

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".

Sri Lanka, Iran revive trade agreements

[October 09 2016]

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.

SAARC summit put off

[October 02 2016]

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.

Reservoir water levels drop, authorities warn of drastic measures

[October 02 2016]

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.

Dengue Prevention Week

[September 25 2016]

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 to visit Sri Lanka

[September 25 2016]

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.

Charith joins elite band

[September 25 2016]

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 .

Mahela at Schoolboy Cricketer Awards

[September 18 2016]

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.

Errant sugar traders warned

[September 18 2016]

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.

No immediate power cuts

[September 18 2016]

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.

Kusal Mendis of Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa was adjudged the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year at the annual awards ceremony held for the 35th successive year at the Galadari Hotel on Friday night. It was a fitting tribute to the Chairman of Selectors and former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, the chief guest who returned to the mega event exactly 25 years after he won the prestigious Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year (Outstation) in 1988. Here the new Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2013 Kusal Mendis with the glittering trophy he won. From left: Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association Secretary Dilshan de Silva, Director, SLT Mobitel and Attorney-at-Law Wijesiri Ambawatte, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Deputy Minister of Postal Services Sanath Jayasuriya, Kusal Mendia, ANCL Chairman/Managing Director and veteran media personality Bandula Padmakumara, Guest of Honour Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella and Editor-in-Chief, Sunday Observer, Dinesh Weer-awansa. Pic: Chinthaka Kumarasinghe

NCPA mulls doing away with Grade 5 schol exam

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has proposed to do away with the Grade 5 scholarship examination as part of a new Child Protection Policy which is yet to receive Cabinet approval. NCPA chairperson Anoma Dissanayake said the NCPA has conceded that children are pressurised excessively by teachers and parents due to competitive examinations in early school years and this is tantamount to child abuse.

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Over 4,000 GNs to be appointed shortly

Four thousand Grama Niladaris will be appointed by the end of this year, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister John Seneviratne said. Interviews were being held to select suitable officers, out of a total of 8,000 applicants. Vacancies exist for 14,000 Niladaris whereas only ten thousand have been appointed so far.

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Allocation for higher education increased by 114 percent

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the allocation on the Higher Education sector from 2005 to 2013 has been increased by 114 percent. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office in 2005, the allocation for the Higher Education Ministry was Rs. 63,000 million. This allocation has been increased to Rs.136,000 million, the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

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Pharmacies warned: Sex enhancement drugs only on doctor’s prescription

The Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Authority (CDDA) has cautioned pharmacies that sex enhancement drugs should be sold only on prescription of a registered medical practitioner. This is a sequel to the sharp increase in these drugs. “There are around 30 registered brands of sex enhancement drugs available in pharmacies across the country and they should be sold only on a doctor’s prescription,

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Gazette soon on user fee for Colombo-Katunayake expressway

The Ministry of Port Development and Highways will shortly issue the gazette notification regarding the user fee for vehicles using the Colombo-Katunayake expressway after its opening on October 27 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Secretary to the Ministry Ranjith Pemasiri told the Sunday Observer.

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:: Political		:: Security
Fisheries, agricultural and tourism hubs in NWP in the near future TNA should sort out burning issues in North - Minister S.B. Dissanayake Dharmasiri Dassanayake , new NWPC Chief more »		Policemen on bribery charges Attack on Weliveriya temple: Three arrested Son incurs father's wrath after failing examination more »

:: Features		:: Finance
Editorial: Canada too will have a change of heart Opinion: Human Rights abuses don't match the rhetoric Commonwealth has implicit faith in Sri Lanka 'We walked the talk': Sri Lanka on the right path to economic growth more »		CBF to attract huge economic benefits Mauritius mulls air links with Lanka Budget 2014: Women entrepreneurs present proposals Unemployment rate higher among women more »

:: Sports		:: World
Take cricket seriously and benefits will accrue - Sanath Jayasuriya Cambrian Kusal Mendis Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Sunday Observer/Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Award Winners more »		Over 40 dead - two more boats sink in the Mediterranean Boyfriend puts ‘chastity lock’ on girlfriend Red alert issued as cyclone bears down on India more »