Daily Exchange Rate from CBSL

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The University Grants Commission says that about 93,000 applications have been received for consideration of university admission this year.The UGC Chairman, Senior Prof.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The restaurant owners' association says that although the price of petrol has decreased, the prices of foodstuff at bakeries and restaurants will not be decreased.Its Chairman, Asela Sampath stated that the price of food and drinks including milk tea can be reduced only if the prices of other services in the market are reduced.The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation on Saturday (1) took steps to reduce the price of petrol.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission says that there will be no reduction in the duration of power cuts despite the resumption of Norochcholai power generation activities.The PUCSL Chairman Janaka Rathnayake stated that the power cut of two hours and twenty minutes will remain unchanged.The Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekara stated on Saturday (1) that one power unit of the Norochcholai power plant has been reconnected to the National grid after being fixed. In the meantime, the Public Utilities Commission stated that the inspections of pumps at filling stations, which was initiated with the increase in complaints received regarding the quality of fuel, will continue.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A 29-year old woman was killed during a shootout in Danovita early Sunday (2) morning .Police said that a woman who was traveling in a bus was shot when a group who had come to rob a liquor store were about to be arrested.Later, she died upon admission to the Wathupitiwala hospital.Two others were injured in the incident.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Veteran actor Darshan Dharmaraj has passed away on Sunday (2).A Spokespeson for the Colombo National Hospital stated that he passed away on Sunday morning due to a heart attack.He was 41 years old at the time of death.Born in Rakwana, Dharmaraj entered the industry with the television drama A-9 directed by Sydney Chandrasekaran.In 2008, Darshan Dharmaraj made his debut in the movie Prabhakaran.Since then, he contributed to many Sinhala and Tamil films including Machang, Iniwan, Mata, Tsunami and Komali Kings.Constantly praised by critics as an actor full of realistic acting skills, Dharmaraj retained his popularity among Sinhalese as well as Tamil fans.

WISSAHICKON - An apparent road rage situation led to the shooting of a 37-year-old man in Philadelphia's Wissahickon section.According to officials, 5th District officers were called to an alleyway near the 3900 block of Manayunk Avenue, just off the 300 block of Hermit Street Saturday night, around 9:30, on a report of gunshots.When police arrived, they found a 37-year-old man suffering with at least three gunshot wounds and the alleged shooter was also on location.Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace explained an apparent road rage incident took place on Ridge Avenue between the driver of a white Jeep SUV and the driver of a large, dark-colored Chevrolet van.Somewhere on Ridge Avenue, the driver of the Chevy got out, approached the Jeep and pounded on the hood of the vehicle.Inside the Jeep was a male driver, his wife and 7-year-old child.The driver of the Chevy got back into his vehicle and drove off, according to Inspector Pace, but the driver of the Jeep pursued the Chevy, down Ridge, onto Hermit Street and into the alleyway, with the Chevy crashing into two vehicles parked on the Manayunk Ave.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has planned to initiate an investigation into the causes of the economic crisis in the country.The HRCSL said that special attention will be given to the impact of ever-changing political reasons that resulted in policy changes within the economy.Moreover, the Commission  expects to pay attention to the way in which authorities have acted in making policy decisions that caused the economic downturn, such as ignoring national interests while separating ministries from their scope.The commission also stated it expects to record statements from officials at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Finance, the ministries related to the implementation of national policies, which are directly related to the economy of the country, and those who are currently working at those institutions in addition to those who had worked at the relevant ministries in the past.Accordingly, the support of several economic experts will also be obtained for the relevant matter.The Human Rights Commission emphasized that the investigation is being conducted due to the violation of people's right to life through the economic crisis.Recently, the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner had also explained facts regarding the economic crimes in Sri Lanka in the report presented to the 51st Human Rights Council session held recently.In that report, she pointed out that in order to obtain a permanent solution to the economic crisis that has affected the human rights of all communities, attention must be paid to the corruption that is rooted in this country.The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner also emphasized the need to take action regarding past and recent human rights

extra hydration to your sinuses, it makes them function better," said Amy Baxter, from Augusta University, US. "If you have a contaminant, the more you flush it out, the better you are able to get rid of dirt, viruses and anything else," said Baxter, corresponding author of the study.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

PHILADELPHIA - The trash talk started well before kickoff, several Phillies sat on clubhouse sofas dissecting their fantasy football teams and giving grief to the players already off to slow starts. And after the Phillies waited out a 3 1/2-hour rain delay — a break interim manager Rob Thomson sheepishly admitted he spent watching the NFL — Rhys Hoskins crowed to the media he was beating Bryson Stott in their fantasy matchup."Literally the whole world knows now I’m beating you in fantasy football," Hoskins yelled down to Stott after his interview ended.Who’s hot, who’s not, which QB stinks, it’s all on the table for a lively debate.But inside the clubhouse, one topic largely consciously avoided is Philadelphia’s spot in the NL postseason standings.

King Charles III has been proclaimed the Canadian head of state at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

What was billed as a “battle for the soul of the Conservative Party” is looking increasingly like a rout.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

The Philadelphia Police Department is searching for two men accused of a gunpoint robbery at a Rite Aid.

Susanna Reid has penned an emotional tribute to Her Majesty the Queen on Instagram amid growing concerns for the monarch's health.It follows news on Thursday (September 8) that the Queen has been placed under medical supervision at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.A statement from Buckingham Palace said doctors have grown "concerned" for Her Majesty's health and that she remains "comfortable" at Balmoral.READ MORE:Susanna Reid, 51, hailed 'super sexy' by fans as she shares glam snap ahead of GMBThe full statement read: "Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision."It added: "The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral."GMB host Susanna took to Instagram with a poignant tribute to the monarch, where she admitted she wished the Queen were "immortal".The ITV star shared two beautiful snaps of Her Majesty smiling as she wore her iconic pearl necklaces.One was from many moons ago and saw her sporting her iconic jewel-encrusted crown, with the second showing her clutching her walking stick in a gorgeous blue jumper.Susanna wrote: "No one more likely to be so loved, admired and respected than Her Majesty The Queen and although she cannot be immortal, I think we have always hoped she might be."Fans of the GMB star flooded to the comments to pen thoughtful messages of their own.One fan wrote: "Very true [heart emoji] cannot imagine the monarchy without our Queen."Another said: "Think we all agree on that sentiment, the greatest woman of our time."A third commented: "You’ve expressed my thoughts exactly.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

Federal authorities allege photos show Richard Michetti inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 (Department of Justice)  PHILADELPHIA - A suburban Philadelphia man charged in the Jan.

The Bank of Canada is expected to announce it will be raising its key interest rate Wednesday, making it the fifth consecutive increase this year.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

interest rates today, efforts to get inflation back to manageable levels could leave some debt and mortgage holders feeling the pain for years to come.The Bank of Canada is widely expected to raise its benchmark interest rate again on Wednesday, marking the fifth time it would have raised the cost of borrowing so far this year in an attempt to cool the economy and tamp down rampant levels of inflation. Bank of Canada expected to raise key interest rate again as inflation persists CIBC deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal argues that thanks to the structure of Canadian household debt, the direct impact of rising interest rates is currently limited to roughly one in four debt holders, largely focused around homeowners with certain kinds of mortgages.“When people hear about higher interest rates, they assume that everybody will be paying more.

Traffic is shown on Interstate 95 near Thurbers Avenue on Sept. 5, 2022, in Providence, Rhode Island.

In the last 24 hours, more than 6,032 people recovered from covid, with total recoveries since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020 at 4,38,86,496. NEW DELHI: Daily fresh covid cases continued to decline in India, with 4,417 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, according to an update by the Union health ministry on Tuesday. India’s active cases now stand at 52,336.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe told News 1st that after an IMF Staff Level Agreement is reached 'Radio Silence' is observed, adding that Sri Lanka does not have a practice of revealing such programs to parliament ahead of finalizing it."As authorities, we should not reveal the debt restructuring parameters," he said noting that it is a very market-sensitive process.The Governor said Sri Lanka had 16 IMF programs in the past, and during that time when the government reaches a Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF, the contents have not been disclosed in advance.The Minister of Finance and the Central Bank Governor sign a document called the Memorandum of Understanding on Economic Policies on the basis of conditions and all the policies that we are going to implement over the years, he added.Governments in the past have never tabled this document in the Parliament, and it had not even been submitted to the Cabinet, he pointed out."For the purpose of transparent policies, it would be good to share as much as possible with the Public and the Parliament.

NOIDA, INDIA - OCTOBER 7: A huge Ferris wheel during the Dussehra fair at Ramlila Ground, on October 7, 2019 in Noida, India. (Photo by Virendra Singh Gosain/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) Multiple people, including at least five children, were injured after a high-rise swing at a fair in northern India malfunctioned and plummeted to the ground below. The horrific moment, caught on camera, occurred Sunday around 9:15 p.m.

AllAfrica, "If you've had Covid-19 and your symptoms have not gotten better after about three months, then that is the trigger to seek care. Symptoms to watch for are shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction or 'brain fog', which is how it's commonly described, and symptoms around fatigue." While those are the three major clusters of infections to watch for, Diaz noted that others like chest pain, and loss of taste and smell have also been reported.

COLOMBO (News 1st);  Sri Lanka's Public Utilities Commission approved power cuts of 1 hour from 6th – 9th September as follows;Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW  – 1-hour from 6.00pm – 9.00pm.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

Philadelphia police investigate a fatal shooting at a West Philadelphia gas station. MILL CREEK - Police say a teenager was shot to death in broad daylight at a West Philadelphia fried chicken restaurant on Sunday.The 19-year-old victim was sitting in his car with a passenger in the chicken restaurant drive-thru line when a person in another vehicle, also in the drive-thru line, reportedly got into some sort of argument with the 19-year-old, on the 4600 block of Lancaster Avenue Sunday afternoon, just before 1:45.Philadelphia Inspector D.F.

SMYRNA, Del. - Delaware State Police are investigating a road rage shooting in Smyrna.Troopers were called to South Dupont Boulevard and Twin Willows Road Saturday night, just before midnight, for a reported shooting, officials said.The troopers found a 24-year-old Camden, Delaware woman was shot at during a road rage incident.Troopers learned the woman was driving north on South Dupont Boulevard, in Cheswold. A red SUV passed her on the shoulder.The SUV then began to slow down and stop in front of the woman’s vehicle.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa demanded whether the 'conspiracy' against the current CBSL Governor is a move to reinstate the former Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who fled the country.Participating at a Constituency Committee meeting in Akmeemana, Galle, the Opposition Leader alleged that there is a conspiracy to remove Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who was retired and living in Australia initially, when the Government invited him to take up the Governor position of the Central Bank. Stating that the relevant conspiracy started on Wednesday, the Opposition Leader said that an MP who entered Parliament through the SLPP and is now a supporter of the UNP continued inquiring from Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe emphasized the importance of protecting the low-income population at the bottom of the pyramid, as they are most likely to start protesting next. When people have no means of income they will resort to anything, and such a wave of protests did not happen in our country yet, the CBSL Governer stated, participating in a seminar for Parliamentarians at the Parliamentary complex.Speaking further, the CBSL Governor stated that there is a difference in loans that were taken in the past and loans taken recently, as loans given by the IMF, World Bank, ADB, and Japan at interest rates of about 0.2%, were not a heavy burden, yet, as of late, instead of concessionary loans more non-concessionary loans including commercial borrowings have increased up to 50%.

Radio recordings obtained from the Los Angeles Fire Department reveal grisly details about the rescue of actor Anne Heche after she crashed her Mini Cooper into a home on Aug. 5, igniting an inferno.

COLOMBO (News 1st); IMF Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer pointed out that the printing of money by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to finance the government in the absence of any other creditors is fueling inflation.He told the BBC Sinhala Service that restoring the independence of the Central Bank and eliminating monetary financing will be a very important part to prevent rising inflation."We envisaged that the Central Bank Act, that ensures proper independence of the Central Bank, will be an important ingredient in restoring macroeconomic stability in Sri Lanka," said the IMF Mission Chief.USD 2.9 Billion is not too little, and not too late, said Peter Breuer, the IMF Mission Chief of Sri Lanka in Colombo.He told the BBC Sinhala Service that Sri Lanka has committed to a comprehensive set of economic reforms that will help put the economy back on a strong and durable growth trajectory, and this financing from the IMF will be available upon approval by the IMF Management and Executive Board.He said the Extended Fund Facility from the IMF will help catalyze other financings from other sources, other multilateral lenders, bilateral flows, and private flows, that will help restore confidence in the Sri Lankan economy and regain growth, etc.According to Peter Breuer, before the first tranche of the USD 2.9 Bn is disbursed, there are a number of matters that need to be addressed between the Staff-Level Agreement, and proposing a program to the IMF Executive Board."There are a number of prior actions agreed with the authorities, that they would undertake in order to continue with the economic reform that they have already started," he said citing the 2023 Budget which is consistent with the macroeconomic framework and

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa alleged there is a conspiracy afoot to remove Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe.Sajith Premadasa said when the Central Bank Governor was invited to the Parliament on Wednesday (31) to apprise the member on "The Current Economic Status and the way forward”, several MPs put forward statements in the nature of making allegations.He said that in Parliament on Thursday (1) certain remarks were made to insinuate that the Central Bank Governor was responsible for the present state of the economy.Sajith Premadasa warned that if attempts are being made to drive away the Central Bank Governor who made sacrifices and returned to the country in a bid to appoint henchmen as the Head of the Central Bank, it can be viewed as a conspiracy, and it cannot be accepted.He slammed the government for such conduct, adding that invitations for an All-Party Government are turned down solely because of such conduct.Leader of the House & Minister Susil Premajayantha said when allegations are made it is wise to understand the past issues as well.Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance Dr.

Colombo (News 1st); The root causes of problems associated with loans taken to finance infrastructure are weak regulatory frameworks in the country and the excessive discretion exercised by both politicians and public officials in making decisions revealed a new report by Sri Lanka's Verite' Research.The publication titled “The Lure of Chinese Loans: Sri Lanka’s experiment with a special framework to finance its infrastructure” highlights that fixing the country’s procurement regulatory framework and improving independent oversight of the procurement process is essential to prevent irresponsible borrowing, cost overruns, and poor project selection.Sri Lanka does not have a procurement law enacted by Parliament, and the procurement guidelines that govern procurement can be modified with Cabinet approval. In 2010, Sri Lanka introduced a framework that allowed the Cabinet of Ministers to approve the processing of projects that originated as Unsolicited Proposals (USPs) outside the normal competitive bidding process. Cabinet approval is given based on the recommendation of a Standing Cabinet Appointed Review Committee (SCARC).This framework was in operation till 2016. The objective was to tap into concessional loans from export credit agencies of emerging economies such as China to finance the government’s ambitious infrastructure development plan.The period 2010-2016 can be considered the golden era for financing from China, with Sri Lanka receiving USD 5,895 million in loans from China.

FlightAware SEATTLE - A pilot took to the skies on Monday and flipped the bird to Washington state, a flight tracking map shows.According to FlightAware, the Piper Navajo aircraft took off at 9:15 a.m. and landed at 4:09 p.m., a 7-hour flight.The motives behind the particular direction the middle finger is pointing are unknown - though it does appear to be motioning toward Whatcom County.Watch an animation of the flight path and follow FOX 13 Seattle on TikTok:This flight map appeared on Reddit in a post tilted "Looks like a Survey Pilot's last day today" and was first reported by the Bellingham Herald.Some top comments on the Reddit post - which has more than 730 comments include: "Talk about detail, he even put a thumb nail on!" and "As a former survey pilot, this is definitely something that would happen at the end of a contract."FOX 13 News looked into other recent flights taken by this aircraft and found a flight on Aug.

Omicron are more transmissible than their predecessors, & the risk of even more transmissible & more dangerous variants remains," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during the weekly media briefing regarding COVID on Wednesday."Subvariants of Omicron are more transmissible than their predecessors, & the risk of even more transmissible & more dangerous variants remains. Meanwhile, vaccination coverage among the most at-risk people remains too low, especially in low-income countries"-@DrTedros #COVID19 He further alerted that the cases are likely to rise again in the coming months. “We are now seeing a welcome decline in reported COVID deaths globally.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka managed to secure a Staff-Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund due to the efforts undertaken by Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, said SJB MP Hesha Withanage.He told the Parliament on Thursday (1) that the discussion between the visiting IMF Delegation to Sri Lanka, and the local authorities were successful mainly because of the progressive steps taken by Dr. Weerasinghe, as the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.He slammed the members of the government for attempting to take credit for the efforts of someone else. He said the government is attempting to portray the Staff-Level Agreement with the IMF as an achievement of President Ranil Wickremesinghe."If one has done something for the country, it is okay to take the credit for that," he remarked reminding the house that it is because of Dr.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

University of Alberta researchers.And with booster doses going out to kids in the same age group on Wednesday, one author of a new study said “public health has a bit of work on their hands.”“Our study showed that although a good proportion of folks got their first dose for their kids, second dose dropped off a little bit,” Dr. Shannon MacDonald, associate professor of nursing and public health at the University of Alberta, told Global News.“So even people who are willing to vaccinate their kids are either forgetting or not getting around to the second dose.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 02: Festivalgoes attend the 2018 Made In America Festival at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 2, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Zachary Mazur/FilmMagic) PHILADELPHIA - As the City of Philadelphia prepares to welcome thousands of visitors to the area for the 2022 Made in America Festival, officials have released information on road closures and other important details ahead of the Labor Day weekend event. The two-day event will take place on Saturday, September 3 and Sunday, September 4, with stages along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The festival is set to run both days from noon to midnight. RELATED: Made In America Festival 2022: Tyler, The Creator & Bad Bunny to headline annual two-day eventRoads in the area will begin closing to accommodate venue staff for the setup and clean-up of the event. The following road closures will be in effect the week of the event: Phase 1: Sunday, August 28 at 7 a.m. to Tuesday, September 6 at 11:59 p.m.Phase 2: Monday, August 29  at 7 a.m. to Tuesday, September 6 at 5 p.m.Phase 3: Tuesday, August 30  at 7 a.m. to Tuesday, September 6 at 11:59 p.m.Phase 4: Wednesday, August 31 at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, September 6 at 5 a.m.Phase 5: Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m. to Tuesday, September 6 at 5 a.m. Phase 6: Friday, September 2 at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, September 6 at 5 a.m. Phase 7: Saturday, September 3 at 3 a.m. to Monday, September 5 at 5 a.m. Officials say all road closures will be lifted before morning rush hour on Tuesday, September 6. The following parking restrictions will be in effect: According to authorities, additional road closures and parking restrictions may be necessary near the event.

PHILADELPHIA - Investigators with the Philadelphia Police Department are searching for two suspects accused of robbing a Rite Aid in North Philadelphia. Police say the robbery occurred on Thursday, August 25 at 6:46 p.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) published the daily exchange rates on its official website.

TAMPA, Fla. - A crowd at a rodeo at the Florida State Fairgrounds got a lot closer to the action than they bargained for this weekend.Christopher Thornton, who was attending his very first rodeo, said a bull had just been moved into a chute when it broke through the side and leaped towards the audience in the stands."Everyone was rushing, the parents were grabbing their kids. People were jumping over the chairs," Thornton recalled.

NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. - A Pennsylvania man turned himself in after police say he strangled a woman during a road rage incident in Wildwood earlier this month. Authorities say on Aug. 20, 49-year-old Christopher Krier was driving erratically and tailgating another vehicle near the area of 13th and New Jersey avenues. The victim, according to police, rolled down her window and commented on Krier's dangerous driving and mentioned there being children in the area.Police say both Krier and the victim pulled over and a Krier attacked the victim, strangling her, which caused a bystander to step in.MORE LOCAL HEADLINESKrier, a Bucks County resident, fled the scene immediately following the incident and turned himself in several days later.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Activists allege that Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son Rohitha Rajapaksa allegedly owned a luxury resort close to the Sinharaja rainforest, which was set on fire during the May 9th violence.However, speaking exclusively to News 1st Rohitha Rajapaksa said that he owns a partnership property in the area in question, and the hotel was constructed after meeting all the legal requirements.Rohitha Rajapaksa also said that if any wrongdoing had been committed, a judicial process can be initiated against it.The Spokesperson for the Sarva-Parshavika Aragalakaruwo movement Nirashan Vithanage told reporters that they requested the Criminal Investigations Department to ascertain the truth about the ownership of the said resort.Citing a local newspaper he said it was reported that the resort belong to Rohitha Rajapaksa, and questioned how he can own a hotel without no proper means of income.SJB Bandaragama Organizer Nayanaka Ranwella alleged that the resort massive environmental destruction during construction, and there are concerns as to where the sewage from the hotel goes.Responding to these baseless and false claims Rohitha Rajapaksa said those making such allegations must be prepared to face the legal action that his faction will be instituting against them.

Geordie Shore's Aaron Chalmers has written a heartfelt message to his newborn son, but warned of tough times to come.The UFC fighter posted on Instagram, announcing the new addition to his family with mother and girlfriend Talia Oatway. Aaron confirmed the news to his 2.4m followers about his baby boy Oakley Bleu Chalmers, and described the anxious week he has had after.