Sri Lanka has entered the 'high human development category' according to a report released yesterday by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on the human development of more than 40 countries.
According to the Human Development Index (HDI) monitored annually by the Human Development Report (HDR), Sri Lanka makes it to the high human development category with a HDI ranking of 0.715 against the global average of 0.694.
The Human Development Report 2013 (HDR 2013) - "The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World" published by the UNDP was launched in Sri Lanka yesterday as a collaborative effort of UNDP Sri Lanka and the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) under the patronage of the Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris.
The report analyses more than 40 developing countries that have made striking human development gains in recent years and attributes their achievements to some strong national commitments: better public health and education services, innovative poverty eradication programs and strategic engagement with the world economy.
The report says that Sri Lanka had high income growth as well as a notable reduction in HDI despite years of internal conflict. Overall, Sri Lanka has been ranked at the 92nd place among 186 countries.
Delivering the keynote address at the launch, Minister Peiris noting the importance of ensuring GDP growth accompanied by social equity said the growth must produce a tangible improvement in the lives of people.
"We should also ensure that all people of the country can derive benefits from the GDP growth," Prof. Peiris said.
The Minister stressed the need to maintain the state intervention measures to achieve the targets highlighted in the report. He said it was necessary to ensure the rural population receives infrastructure and other facilities.
The Minister also acknowledged that although there is no gender inequality in any field in Sri Lanka a big gender gap remains in politics and suggested that pragmatic compliance is required to increase participation.
Mr. Subinay Nandy, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka noted that the 2013 HDR highlighted the experiences of a new group of Southern countries that are experiencing rapid developmental progress.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Sri Lanka ranks high in human development
Sri Lanka opposition against setting up casinos
Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) says the country should not be a hub of betting and gaming.
UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the government's move to support the setting up of casinos in the country would give the country a bad image before the international community.
He said that Sri Lanka is known as a Buddhist country and permitting the establishment of a large number of casinos in the country would make Sri Lanka the 'casino country.'
Attanayake made these comments in reference to the granting of land by the government to Australian businessman James Packer to set up his Crown Casino in Colombo.
According to Attanayake, the government is giving priority for the setting up of betting and gaming centers instead of trying to provide relief to the people.
He questioned whether becoming a hub of betting and gaming help Sri Lanka become the Wonder of Asia.
Safety of Sri Lankan expatriate employees in South Korea guaranteed
The Chairman of Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau Amal Senalankadhikara says that steps have been taken to guarantee the safety of the expatriate Sri Lankan workers in South Korea.
He said that discussions had been held with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and International Organization of Migration (IOM) regarding the needs for urgent evacuation in case of an emergency.
Mounting tensions in the Korean Peninsula, North Korea recently threatened South Korea announcing that it has entered a "state of war" with South Korea.
The official further stated that the employment process with South Korea takes place normally and the possibility for war is minimal.
Around 20,000 Sri Lankans are employed in South Korea as skilled and semi-skilled laborers. Remittances from migrant workers are one of the major foreign income earners of Sri Lanka and South Korea is one of the major employers in the market.
Daily physical exercises compulsory for Sri Lanka's school students
Sri Lanka's Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena says the government has decided to make daily physical exercises compulsory for the school students.
The principals of island wide schools will be notified about the measure through a circular.
According to the circular, the students are required to perform daily physical exercises for 10 minutes after the religious observances. They will start academic activities after the physical exercises.
The programme will be started from the beginning of the next term.
School sources say currently physical exercises are performed several days per week but it is not compulsory.
Lack of exercises among school students has resulted in poor health and increase in non-communicable diseases among the younger generation.
Sri Lanka Public Utility Commission seeks public proposals on electricity rates
The Public Utility Commission says that a decision will be taken on revision of electricity charges after the New Year.
Chairman of the Commission Dr. Jayatissa de Costa said the decision will be based on the analysis of public proposals and opinions.
Public opinions are being sought at the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute in Malalasekera Mawatha, Colombo 7, from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm tomorrow.
The Chairman says people's proposals are essential to consider a reduction in electricity charges and a decision to revise rates will be taken only after considering all the ideas.
Sri Lanka is considering to gradually increase electricity tariffs to cover the losses its power authority, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is incurring as the cost of production of electricity rises.
It has been estimated that this year's cost on power generation will be 228 billion rupees.
The aim of the Commission is to revise electricity rates while considering the welfare of the consumer and ensuring the continuous operation of CEB without losses, according to the Chairman.
Sri Lanka prepares for New Year festivities, declares additional holiday on 15th
Sri Lanka in preparation to celebrate the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year will declare an additional holiday this year on April 15th and the gazette notification relating to the declaration of 15th as an additional holiday will be released today.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs P.B. Abeykoon says that Government, Corporations and Statutory institutions are entitled to enjoy the additional holiday declared on the 15th of this month on account of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
A request has been made to grant this holiday to the employees in the private sector as well.
The Secretary adds that extra holiday has been declared according to a proposal of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Ministry of Cultural Affairs says that the traditional Nekath Seettuwa or the list of auspices times for the rituals of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year will be declared following presentation of the list to the President today.
The state-run radio said the general public is arriving in large numbers to the towns to prepare for the celebrations of the New Year. The hours of business of trading places have been extended.
The Ayurudu Polas of the Divi Neguma programme will take place from the 5th to the 12th of this month on the regional level. The Consumer Affairs Authority is engaged in conducting special raids to prevent market irregularities during the festive period.
No threats to media freedom in Sri Lanka - Army
There is no threat to media freedom in Sri Lanka but special interest groups engaged in procuring dollars from the international community highlight that there is no media freedom in the country, the Army said.
Army spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya says that certain groups are engaged in efforts to portray to the international community that there is no media freedom in Sri Lanka.
Addressing a special workshop organized by the Sri Lanka Press Complaints Commission on behalf of crime reporters in the police and defence sectors, the spokesman said the government or the security forces have not taken any measures or acted in any manner to cause obstructions on the media or the media personnel.
"There are no obstructions in the country for the publication of news, news reporting or sale of newspapers. No censorship has been imposed on media. The government always acts in a manner to consolidate media freedom," he said.
Brigadier Wanigasooriya pointed out that however, that there are groups attempting to earn money from the international community by highlighting that there is no media freedom in the country.
The Army spokesman further pointed out that there is at present a strong threat to Sri Lanka's unitary nature. This is a bigger threat than what the country experienced during the period of terrorism, he said, adding that although terrorism was defeated from the country, separatism continues to exist.
The Brigadier added that local and foreign elements are continuously extending assistance to set up an Eelam in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan President receives traditional list of New Year auspicious times
Avurudu Nekath Seettuwa', the traditional document that lists the 'nekath' (auspicious times) for the customs to be followed during the upcoming Sinhala and Hindu New Year was handed over to the country's leader, President Mahinda Rajapaksa today at the Temple Trees.
A messenger handed over the traditional document to the President at an event organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Arts.
It is an ancient custom from king's era to hand over the document that list the activities connected with Avurudu (New Year) listed out according to the auspicious times to the head of the country.
The astrologer of the village who is known as the 'Nekath Raala' distributes the paper, which indicates the relevant auspicious times.
Minister of Culture and the Arts T. B. Ekanayake, Secretary of the Ministry Wasantha Ekanayake and the officials of the Ministry were present
Kahawatta Dharmasiri has released in order of attorney-general.
Therewith,Sanath Nandana,three wheel driver,who vanished in Gampaha Henegama was released & command of attorney-general proferred to the court that not objectifying to involve L.H.Dharmasiri & Sanath Nandana henceforth when adjudicating this prosecution.
Released Dharmasiri left there by his own vehicle which had parked before court.
Dharmasiri was arrested relating assassination of an A/L student & his own daughter,Kawindya Chathuranganie Sellahewa & 58 aged mother Nayana Nilmini in Kahawatta Kotakethana in 31st of January 2012.
Pepiliyana Fashion Bug Attack
A businessman, drivers as well as a school student arrested
8 suspects who were arrested day-before-yesterday as having attacked Fashion Bug at Pepiliyana were produced in Courts yesterday.
Among them is a millionaire businessman, a Communication shop owner named Sajith Lakmal, a school student, 2 three-wheel drivers and 1 van driver attached to the municipal council who are supposed to have incited people to boycott shopping at Muslim clothes outlets during the Sinhala New Year. An employee of the Sports Ministry who is supposed to have attacked the Hiru media representative too was produced in Courts.
3 monks who were connected to the incident and were searched for had surrendered to the police yesterday and 1 of them was a monk from a temple in Mount Lavinia. The other two have been brothers of the same family from a temple in Koralawella.
The police has taken action after a study of CCTV tapes at Fashion Bug and media cameras. The police also says that they are on the lookout for several other suspects identified by them.
On the complaint made by the owner of Fashion Bug, Badiudeen Umardeen that his establishment had been damaged by a gang of people after gaining unlawful entry, only the school student was released on a personal bond of Rs.7,500 while the other suspects were ordered to be remanded until an identification parade was called.
When requested to maintain calm during the said attack, 1 of the suspected monks had removed a police officer's cap and flung it away and the monk was accused for disturbing the officer while on duty. The monks would be ordered to be present at the identification parade to be held today.
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