A bill with errors produced to Parliament – Dr. Harsha

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka has been categorized as a FAO – WFP Hunger Hotsport or a major food crisis by the UN GRFC.This was revealed in a recent statement by the International Monetary Fund.Sri Lanka is among the 48 countries designated as Hunger Hotspots that are considered as countries highly exposed to fed insecurity. The other countries include a series of nations in the African Continent. Food insecurity has been rising since 2018. Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the increasing frequency and severity of climate shocks, regional conflicts and the pandemic were all taking their toll, disrupting food production and distribution, and driving up the cost of feeding people and families.The situation took an even more dramatic turn with the war in Ukraine.

Mel B today revealed how she 'felt suffocated' at the thought she could have spent the Covid lockdown with her ex-husband and admitted she may have taken her own life. Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, the Spice Girl told an audience how she 'would have died' if she had still been with her former spouse during the pandemic. The 47-year-old pop star is a patron of the Women's Aid charity, which campaigns on behalf of domestic abuse survivors.

Lindsey Buckingham cancelled the remainder of his UK and European tour dates due to “ongoing health issues”.The former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and singer was currently midway through a run of rescheduled UK gigs, which were due to be played earlier this year before he was forced to postpone the tour after he and members of his live band and crew contracted COVID.After playing the London Palladium on Saturday night (October 1), Buckingham shared a message on his social media the following day, revealing that the remainder of the dates – including a show set for tonight (October 3) in Glasgow – are now cancelled.The message said: “Due to ongoing health issues, Lindsey is regrettably having to cancel the remaining shows on his current European tour.“Refunds will be available from the point of purchase. Lindsey sends his deepest apologies to all of his fans who were planning to attend and hopes to return to Europe in the future.See the message and the cancelled tour dates below.News on Lindsey’s remaining European tour dates.

Covid-19 damaged the DNA in heart tissue, which was not detected in influenza samples. Notably the researchers also found that while Covid-19 and influenza are both severe respiratory viruses, they appeared to affect cardiac tissue very differently. "In comparison to the 2009 flu pandemic, Covid has led to more severe and long-term cardiovascular disease but what was causing that at a molecular level was not known," said Arutha Kulasinghe from the University of Queensland, Australia.

Targeted at consumers who are health aware and active, this new product by ABHICL looks at rewarding them for their good health behaviour. Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Parliament will convene this week from Monday (03) to Friday (07).The Secretary-General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake stated that the Committee on Parliamentary Business decided to set aside the 6th and the 7th of October to debate the 22nd Constitution Amendment Bill.The 3rd of October is set aside for the purpose of taking up 50 Questions for Oral Answers which were postponed due to various reasons.From 4th to 6th except for Friday 7th October, 9.30 am to 10.30 am is reserved for Questions for Oral Answers.Furthermore, it has been decided to extend the time allotted for the debate pertaining to government business by half an hour from the 4th Tuesday to allocate that time for the independent Members of the Parliament to express their opinions. Accordingly, the time for debating the government business, scheduled to end at 4.30 pm, will extend until 5.00 pm. It was agreed upon to allocate the remaining 30 minutes until 5.30 pm, for the Motion at the Adjournment Time on one day and Questions at the Adjournment Time on every other following day. October 4th from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm Order under the Strategic Development Project Act, No. 14 of 2008 published under the Gazette Extraordinary No.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The two men who were arrested for looting a tavern in Danowita, and engaging in a shootout with police were remanded to the 14th of October 2022.The two suspects were subject to an inspection by the Magistrate while they were being treated at the Ragama Hospital.The magistrate had ordered the suspects be remanded until the 14th, and be produced to the Attanagalla Magistrate's Court. On Sunday (2) morning a shootout took place between police, and a gang of thieves who were on the process of looting a tavern in DANOWITA, located along the Colombo – Kandy main road.A woman who was inside a bus traveling from Galunbindunuwewa to Colombo, that was passing the area was caught in the crossfire and lost her life.She was identified at 29-year-old Iresha Shamali from Bentara.The two men who were arrested for looting a tavern in Danowita, and engaging in a shootout with police were remanded to the 14th of October 2022.

From scary to funny to cute and even tasty, there’s no shortage of costume choices for your cat or dog this year. FOX TV Stations searched Chewy, Amazon and Walmart online so you don’t have to.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Former Chairman of COPE Professor Charitha Herath was not included in the list of COPE members announced by the Speaker on Monday (3).Professor Charitha Herath is among the several ruling faction MPs who decided to remain independent and sit with the opposition in Parliament.Professor Charitha Herath tweeted that after a delay of two months COPE member list is out, and as predicted, his name isn't on the list. He said that thieves, deal makers who are in favor of a corrupted system WON for the day, and the people behind the economic crimes wanted him out of their way.Professor Charitha Herath said that the President and the Prime Minister should be ashamed of what had happened.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Monday (3) announced that 27 members each have been appointed to the Committee on Public Enterprises & Committee on Public Accounts. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministerial Consultative Committee on Justice is scheduled to meet on the 4th at 2.00 pm in Parliament to consider the twenty-second Constitution Amendment Bill to be debated in Parliament on the 6th and 7th.Members of Parliament will also have the opportunity to present their views and proposals regarding this bill in the committee chaired by the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms, (Dr.) Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.Meanwhile, the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Power and Energy is scheduled to meet at 11.00 am on that day under the chairmanship of Minister Kanchana Wijesekera.The Committee on Public Finance is scheduled to meet on the 3rd at 1.00 pm and the Committee on Ethics and Privileges is scheduled to meet on the 4th at 3.00 pm.Also, a special meeting of the Select Committee of Parliament to look into and report to Parliament its recommendations to ensure gender equity and equality in Sri Lanka will be held on the 5th at 11.00 a.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission congratulating President Ranil Wickremesinghe on his election as the President of the Democratic of Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka has assured its support to the government of Sri Lanka for the efforts to overcome the crisis successfully.Issuing a statement, Ursula von der Leyen noted that at a time of unprecedented challenges faced by the people of Sri Lanka, the European Union remains committed to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to overcome the crisis successfully, including the necessary reforms that will bring the country back to a path of inclusive prosperity and lasting national reconciliation.She further stated that in this process, freedom of expression and assembly, dialogue among all stakeholders, as well as respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights will remain essential.She has also made a reference to the assessment by the European Union on the progress made by Sri Lanka on GSP+ commitments.

The race to become Alberta’s next premier may be damaging to the governing United Conservative Party’s brand, a longtime pollster says, casting doubt on how long the winner will be able to hold on to the top job.

A suspicious package was found in a vehicle at the Ambassador Bridge, closing North America’s busiest land border crossing connecting Detroit, Mich. and Windsor, Ont., late Sunday evening.

OPEC+ delegates said a final decision on the size of the cuts won’t be made until ministers gather in Vienna on Wednesday. West Texas Intermediate jumped around 3%, putting prices on track for the first gain in three sessions. “The slide in oil prices is likely over," said Ed Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda Group.

Covid-19 update: Active cases in the country has now declined to 36,126 from the earlier 37,444. A decline of 1,318 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. India sees slight drop in infections with 3,011 Covid cases reported in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Monday.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka(PUCSL) approved power cuts of 2 hours and 20 minutes for 03rd October as follows;Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW: 1-hour during daytime 1-hour and 20-minutes during the night

COLOMBO (News 1st); Today’s exchange rates from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:USD Buy 359.1618 Sell 369.9103GBP Buy 396.3452 Sell 412.4602EUR Buy 349.9242 Sell 364.6306JPY Buy 2.4669 Sell 2.5686AUD Buy 231.3223 Sell 242.2604

BRADENTON, Fla. - Five days after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, close to 700,000 residents were still without power.Governor Ron DeSantis said an army of 42,000 utility workers responded to the call for help to restore outages.They answered, from Pennsylvania to Kansas and beyond. MORE: Alafia River flooding peaks at 18 feet after Hurricane Ian, surrounding nearby homes with waterThe streets of Paradise Bay Estates, off Cortez Road in Bradenton, were lined with utility trucks Sunday afternoon.Gary Wilt is a snowbird from Illinois. He returned home to Paradise Bay Sunday after evacuating ahead of the storm.Crews from Illinois, Kansas and Pennsylvania helped restore power in Florida Most of his community was still in the dark, but hopefully not for much longer."I’m telling everyone, ‘thanks for being here,’" Wilt said of the linemen in his neighborhood.

Covid cases could rise again. Similarly, every autumn and winter the UK's most vulnerable people are at risk from flu. With vaccines for both available, one pharmacist is urging people to take up the offer.

EGG HARBOR TWP. N.J. - The relentless rain and wind made for a messy day down at the shore.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2020/05/19: Construction workers wearing protective face masks on site. National Grid resumed the North Brooklyn "MRI" Pipeline construction by allegedly authorizing themselves to continue, despite the risks of the A recent survey reveals that not all drivers can recognize and understand different road signs despite having their licenses for many years. Myvision.org surveyed more than 1,060 drivers about road signs and other distractions they face when behind the wheel.

NORRISTOWN, Pa. - Pennsylvania American Water lifted the boil water advisory initially issued September 30, due to a water main break in East Norriton. Officials say the issue is resolved.More than 11,000 customers in parts of Montgomery County had been advised to boil their water before consumption due to the increased risk of contamination. According to Pennsylvania American Water, loss of positive water pressure was experienced after the water main break. West Reading, PA - June 15: A photo illustration of tap water in a clear glass drinking glass in West Reading, PA Tuesday afternoon June 15, 2021.

A view during the game between the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K.

Mark Wahlberg attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's "Me Time" at Regency Village Theatre on August 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) BOSTON (AP) - A home where entertainers Mark and Donnie Wahlberg’s family once lived was damaged by fire Sunday in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, the fire department said.The blaze in a nearby home at around 10 a.m., but spread to another three buildings because of strong winds, Fire Commissioner Paul Burke said.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Meteorology says that showers will occur at times in Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle, and Matara districts. Heavy falls above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa Province and Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.Several spells of showers will occur in Northern and North-Western provinces.Showers or thundershowers will occur at a few places in Uva province and Ampara district during the evening or night.Strong winds of about (50-55) kmph can be expected at times over the western slopes of the Central hills, Northern, North-Central, and Southern provinces, and in Trincomalee and Puttalam districts.

Mulayam Singh Yadav who is currently admitted to the ICU of Gurugram's Medanta Hospital after his health deteriorated. The Prime Minister assured all possible help and assistance to him, according to the news agency ANI. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also spoke to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to enquire about his father's health.

PLAINS, Pa. - State police shot and killed a man who struck a trooper with his pickup truck and then crashed into a police sport utility vehicle after an altercation at a northeastern Pennsylvania bar, authorities said.State police and Luzerne County prosecutors said troopers from Wilkes-Barre were called to the Ole Tyme Charley's Pub and Grill in Plains Township at about 1:30 a.m. Friday after a "highly intoxicated" man was reported to have assaulted a patron and an employee.Police allege that as two troopers arrived, Jason Kilduff, 41, of Pittston "intentionally" drove his pickup toward the troopers in an "attempt to strike them with his vehicle." One trooper was struck and the truck also struck the state police SUV, police said."Both troopers discharged their weapons while attempting to dodge the vehicle," police said.

Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales gestures as he speaks to members of the public outside Norwich Gate on the Sandringham Estate in Sandringham, eastern England, on September 15, 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. - As preparatio This story discusses suicide.

Los Angeles Unified School District, officials confirmed Sunday.The data was released Saturday -- two days before a deadline previously given by the hackers -- in an apparent response to LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho's stated refusal to pay ransom to an international hacking syndicate, the Los Angeles Times reported.The newspaper said it reviewed screenshots from the hack that appeared to show some Social Security numbers, but the full extent of the release was not clear.District spokeswoman Shannon Haber would not confirm the release when reached by City News Service on Sunday.The group claiming responsibility for the cyberattack had set a Monday deadline for the district to pay a ransom to the organization.In a dark web post detected and reprinted by Brett Callow of the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft, the hacking syndicate Vice Society listed the LAUSD as one of "our partners," and stated, "The papers will be published by London time on October 4, 2022 at 12:00 a.m."The post did not give any indication about what information had been obtained or what would be published.Carvalho previously acknowledged that the district received a ransom demand from the group responsible for the Labor Day weekend hack -- which he declined to name."We can acknowledge ... that there has been communication from this actor (hacker) and we have been responsive without engaging in any type of negotiations," he told reporters.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk smiles as he addresses guests at the Offshore Northern Seas 2022 (ONS) meeting in Stavanger, Norway on August 29, 2022. (Photo by CARINA JOHANSEN/NTB/AFP via Getty Images) An early prototype of Tesla Inc.'s proposed Optimus humanoid robot slowly and awkwardly walked onto a stage, turned, and waved to a cheering crowd at the company's artificial intelligence event Friday.But the basic tasks by the robot with exposed wires and electronics — as well as a later, next generation version that had to be carried onstage by three men — was a long way from CEO Elon Musk's vision of a human-like robot that can change the world.Musk told the crowd, many of whom might be hired by Tesla, that the robot can do much more than the audience saw Friday.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: J.J. Watt #99 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up prior to an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.

The Supreme Court opens its new term Monday, hearing arguments for the first time after a summer break and with new Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Already the court has said it will decide cases on a range of major issues including affirmative action, voting rights and the rights of LGBTQ people. The justices will add more cases to their docket in the coming months.Here is a look at some of the cases the court has already agreed to hear.

KENSINGTON - A man in his early 30s was found dead, with a gunshot wound to the head, near train tracks in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood.Officials say the shooting happened Sunday afternoon, about 1:30, near some train tracks on the 2900 block of North Front Street.Police found the man with a gunshot wound to the head.MORE HEADLINES:Medics pronounced him dead at the scene.Police are actively investigating the shooting, though no arrests have been made and no weapon has been recovered.___Tips can be submitted by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477) or texting PPD TIP (773847). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, here.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Flooding concerns became all too evident Sunday, as the remnants of Hurricane Ian flooded roads down the shore and some interior sections of Philadelphia suburbs.Route 40 into and out of Atlantic City was closed because of flooding. Some of the streets looked like rivers and water even towered high above storm drains.Route 30 out of Atlantic City was also closed for a period of time because of coastal flooding.Some roads were also reportedly underwater in Sea Isle City and Wildwood.Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties in New Jersey are still under a coastal flood warning.

Russia faces a series of setbacks on the battlefield against Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin only knows how to do one thing, according to one of his most prominent critics: “escalate.”That’s because Putin views the prospect of losing power as an “existential threat,” according to Bill Browder, a U.S. investment fund manager who has influenced Western governments into clamping down on corrupt Russian officials.“If Putin were ever to lose power in Russia, he would lose all the money that he’s stolen over the last 22 years.

A ‘devastating’ Covid wave is about to break in the UK, say experts, who have slammed the government’s guidelines as ‘wrong’ and revealed the main symptom for the latest version of the virus. The autumn wave will be made worse by a lack of testing and limited surveillance of the new immune-evasive variants, according to the health leaders.

CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. - A late-night crash ended with the death of a teenage student in Chester County.Police say a car with two teenagers inside crashed on the 600 Block of Contention Lane in Tredyffrin Township just before midnight Saturday.One of the teens, a student at Conestoga High School, was reportedly killed in the crash.

BUENA VISTA, N.J. - State authorities say a New Jersey police officer will not face any charges in the shooting death of a driver who stole a police car after a crash last year and was shot and killed after a chase. The New Jersey attorney general’s office said last week a state grand jury had declined to bring charges in the 2021 death of 42-year-old Roy K.

Nike Inc.’s quarterly results highlight how some U.S. brands have too much inventory at home and in markets like China, where the companies have placed big financial bets.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a retreat with Republican lawmakers at Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland, January 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) The National Archives and Records Administration informed lawmakers that a number of electronic communications from Trump White House staffers remain missing, nearly two years since the administration was required to turn them over.The nation's record-keeping agency, in a letter Friday to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said that despite an ongoing effort by staff, electronic communications between certain unidentified White House officials were still not in their custody."While there is no easy way to establish absolute accountability, we do know that we do not have custody of everything we should," Debra Steidel Wall, the acting U.S.

Ukraine is formally applying for a fast-track membership to the NATO military alliance, but experts say it will likely take years for the country to actually become a member.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – SJB MP Dr. Harsha de Silva says that the law must apply to all those who are responsible for the economic crisis.Speaking at an SJB press conference held on Sunday (2), the MP cited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who said in Parliament that all should be held responsible for the current economic crisis is now refuting his own statement and opposing the condemnation of economic crimes. Pointing out that the former President has now returned and is at Malalasekara Mawatha enjoying his comforts, the MP emphasized that it is Rajapaksa along with his accomplices who should be blamed for the economic crisis. MP de Silva also states that it is not the President who implemented the High Security Zones, but the Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne Kamal Gunaratne.He predicted that an inevitable catastrophe of Kamal Gunaratne's action would be a socio-political explosion. "That group including Kamal Gunaratne only operate according to a single model, which is the same model of the past.

Police officer injured in Spring Garden crash. PHILADELPHIA - An officer was involved in a crash in the Spring Garden section of the city Sunday morning, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.The crash occurred at the intersection of North 22nd Street and Pennsylvania Avenue around 6 a.m.The officer reportedly suffered minor injuries due to the crash.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A decision taken to debate the Social Security Contribution Levy Bill next Thursday (08).Although the Social Security Contribution Levy Bill was supposed to be passed without a debate in Parliament yesterday (06), it was decided to hold the said debate on the coming Thursday as Members of Parliament indicated that a debate was necessary. This decision was arrived at because the leader of the Jathika Janabalawegaya Hon. Anura Dissanayaka and Member of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (Dr.) Harsha de Silva requested the Speaker to take it into debate given that amendments have been submitted for the said Bill. The newly introduced Social Security Contribution Tax Bill is a way of putting the economic burden on the people, National People’s Power Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.The said the levy practically covers the entire economic system in the country, Dissanayake noted.Accordingly, the adjournment debate on the Mid-year fiscal position report for the year 2022, which was scheduled to be held next Thursday, will be held on a later day.The Committee on Parliamentary Business held previously decided to pass the Social Security Contribution Levy Bill yesterday (06) without debate in Parliament.Budget 2022 introduced the Social Security Contribution Levy Bill as a measure to raise government revenue and rebuild the economy hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. This tax is levied at the rate of 2.5 percent upon the annual turnover is Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has requested the government to table the Staff-Level Agreement reached with the International Monetary Fund, to parliament.He told the house on Tuesday (6), Given that parliament has authority over public finance it is important for members, and the general public to understand the contents of the IMF Staff Level Agreement.The Opposition Leader said upon perusing the said agreement, the opposition too would be able to submit its views and suggestions.SJB MP and Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Public Finance Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st): Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP and the Chairman of the Committee for Public Finance Dr. Harsha de Silva stated that although the government has signed a staff-level agreement with the IMF, the Parliament has not been briefed on the terms and conditions of the agreement.Speaking to media, the MP stressed that he cannot allow the Government to move forward based on its own whims and fancies. "Although the Government is pleased that they were able to reach the staff level agreement, the people are still unaware of the terms and the conditions of the agreement," the MP said, pointing out that Sri Lanka fell to its current state due to the wrong economic policies and decisions taken by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa."The IMF and the entire world have acknowledged that Sri Lanka is run by a bunch of rogues.

COLOMBO (News 1st); National Peoples Power MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday (02) called for a new mandate during the debate on the Budget (Amendment) Bill 2022."This government was in favour of the VAT increase to 8 percent. And now, they are in favour of the 15 percent increase.