Experimental brain implant zaps patients, quells food cravings, helps with binge eating

Body odour has held four in 10 people back socially, a survey claimed. The 2019 poll asked 2,000 British adults their feelings of their own body odour, with 30% saying they avoided talking to someone amid fear of smelling bad.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Civil & Political activists point out that the recently introduced bill to establish a Bureau of Rehabilitation paves the way to crack down on the Aragalaya protesters.They allege that the bill will also allow Aragalaya Activists to be detained for a long period at Rehabilitation Camps.Justice Minister Dr.

PHILADELPHIA - Police say a lockdown at Boys Latin Charter Middle School has been lifted after a student who was seen with a loaded magazine on a bus was detained by officers at the school. According to authorities, the incident happened just before 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning. The school was placed on lockdown after a student was seen with a magazine in his backpack on the bus, police say. Boys Latin Charter Middle School has been placed on lockdown after a student was observed with a loaded magazine on the bus, according to police.MORE LOCAL HEADLINESOfficials say the student was detained by police when he arrived at school and they recovered the loaded magazine. According to authorities, police were on location and the lockdown was lifted at 10:08 a.m.Boys Latin Charter High School, located about two miles away, was also placed on lockdown just before 9 a.m., per police officials. Police say K-9 units are en route to the high school. No additional information was released by authorities. This is a developing story.

NAPLES, Fla. - Firefighters in Naples waded through deep floodwater Wednesday to rescue a woman trapped in her car as Hurricane Ian pounded Florida’s west coast.Footage by Naples Fire-Rescue shows a firefighter breaking the rear passenger window and helping the woman to safety. Her condition was not immediately clear but she appeared unharmed in the footage.Collier County officials said on Wednesday night that half of the streets in Naples were "not passable" due to high water, and tides might further raise the water level.

Protesters hold signs in front of the South Carolina Statehouse as lawmakers debate an abortion ban. (Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) COLUMBIA, S.C. - Abortion laws in South Carolina almost certainly won't get more restrictive, after Republicans in the General Assembly could not agree on a total ban on the procedure during a special legislative session Tuesday.South Carolina was for decades at the forefront of more restrictive abortion laws that challenged Roe v.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida's property insurance market was already in peril. Then came Hurricane Ian.The massive storm that barreled into southwest Florida delivering catastrophic winds, rain, and flooding is likely to further damage the insurance market in the state, which has strained under billion-dollar losses, insolvencies, and skyrocketing premiums.The scale of the storm's destruction will become more clear in the coming days, but there is concern it could exacerbate existing problems and burden a state insurance program that has already seen a sharp increase in policies as homeowners struggle to find coverage in the private market."Florida’s property insurance market was the most volatile in the U.S.

The language appearing to have been used by nursing staff to - and about - mental health patients is jarring. "She's a c***t."

NEW DELHI : Newly introduced Gandhinagar Capital- Mumbai Central Vande Bharat Express will be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gandhinagar station on 30 September at around 10:30 am. The indigenous developed train shall also come with a befitting Health Conscious Low Calorie Millet Rich Regional menu, the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Attorney Amila Egodamahawatte filed a special application with the Supreme Court on Thursday (29) seeking a ruling that the Bill titled the Bureau of Rehabilitation is one that leads the country to militarization and is one that violates the constitution of Sri Lanka.The attorney General was named as the respondent in this petition. The petition was filed through Attorney Manjula Balasuriya. The petitioner pointed out that, this act provides legislature to vest the judiciary power of the people to this Bureau without following the judicial process. They also pointed out that by introducing the Burea of Rehabilitation the government is attempting to usurp the powers of the court and vest it with the bureau, and enable it to act without any orders from the court. The petitioners pointed out that although the preamble of the bill states that it is an act to rehabilitate rebels, the lack of a proper interpretation of this term could lead to the people of the aragalaya being taken away to be rehabilitated using the military. The petitioner requests the court to issue a determination requesting the legislature to pass this bill through a majority in the parliament as the bill violates the people's freedom of expression and the right to hold peaceful demonstrations. At the same time, Civil & Political acitivists point out that the the recently introduced bill to establish a Bureau of Rehabilitation paves the way to crackdown on the Aragalaya protesters.They allege that the bill will also allow Aragalaya Activists to be detained for a long period at Rehabilitation Camps.Justice Minister Dr.

Senior federal bureaucrats examined whether cryptocurrencies protect against inflation not long after Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre made the claim as a candidate in the Conservative leadership race, according to an internal government document.

BEESLEY'S POINT, N.J. - A cooling tower at a former power plant in Cape May County is set to be imploded Thursday morning. The implosion of the cooling tower at the B.L. England Generating Station in Beesly's Point, New Jersey, is set for 9:30 a.m. According to a press release from Upper Township, Beesley's Point Development Group hired Controlled Demolition Inc.

An espresso stands with a saucer on a wooden table. (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images) Thursday, Sept.

Pierre Poilievre has overtaken Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the candidate seen as the best choice to lead the country, a new poll suggests.The Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News found 35 per cent of Canadians surveyed believe Poilievre is the best candidate for prime minister, while 31 per cent said the same of Trudeau, who trails the new Opposition leader in a majority of provinces — including Ontario. 1 in 3 Canadians believe Trudeau should stay in power as Tories edge ahead: poll Those numbers mark the latest sign of trouble for Trudeau’s Liberals, who are facing an increasingly dissatisfied public that polling suggests is concerned with affordability and inflation.“Now that Mr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe said amidst major economic stress, Sri Lanka is undertaking an unprecedented fiscal effort as part of the government’s commitment to restoring the country’s debt sustainability. Therefore, he expressed hope and expectation that Sri Lanka’s creditors, and all stakeholders, will support Sri Lanka in these efforts to restore the country’s debt sustainability and help put the country back on the path of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.President Wickremesinghe presided over the annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors on Thursday (29) which was held at the ADB headquarters in Manila, Philippines and attended by Governors and official government delegations.President Wickremesinghe noted that the government has already undertaken major macroeconomic policy reform measures and this program is aligned with the commitment of the government to implement an ambitious and comprehensive package of reforms that will help restore the sustainability of the country’s public finances, addressing external imbalances, and restarting the growth engine through structural reforms and improvements in governance.“Amidst major economic stress, Sri Lanka is undertaking an unprecedented fiscal effort as part of our commitment to restoring the country’s debt sustainability.

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - Southwestern Florida was slammed by a historic Hurricane Ian Wednesday afternoon, making landfall with 150 mph winds and a record-setting storm surge.Ian came ashore as a Category 4 hurricane near Cayo Costa in Lee County just after 3 p.m. EDT, according to the National Hurricane Center, knocking out power to over 2 million customers across Florida as of early Thursday morning and triggering dozens of water rescues in the southwestern part of the state.President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Florida and ordered his team to mobilize additional federal resources to help with recovering, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs, the White House said.FOX WEATHER WIRE FOR SEPT. 28: HURRICANE IAN MAKES LANDFALLSo far there are no reports of injuries or deaths for the storm that tied for the fourth-strongest hurricane on record to strike Florida.Video from Joel Franco shows storm chasers and weather reporters on the street in Punta Gorda as "the full fury" of Hurricane Ian arrives.Videos and images from south Naples and Marco Island in Collier County painted a dangerous picture of how serious the storm surge would become as Ian’s eye wall came ashore, forcing 2.5 million to flee.HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TVHurricane Ian's winds whipping through Naples knocked down trees and storm surge reached an all-time record hours before landfall.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that two fuel dispensers at a Colombo 7 filling station were sealed.These fuel dispensers were used to dispense 92 Octane Fuel, and the PUCSL uncovered a short delivery of 1.2% per litre of 92 Octane Petrol which is Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Colombo District Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne told News 1st on Thursday (29) that the people who were displaced following the blaze that ripped through over 80 houses in Kajimawatte are being provided with relief.At the same time, LOLC Holdings also provided these families with essential relief packages via its Divi Saviya social welfare program.Eighty houses were completely destroyed following a fire that broke out in a series of houses in Kajimawatte, Grandpass on Tuesday (27) night.Sri Lanka Police said the fire was contained by over fifty firefighters who battled the blaze for several hours.Sri Lanka Police added that 300 plus people were displaced by the fire, and they were moved to a community hall and a temple temporarily until the area is cleared.The area that was burnt to the ground is a place where people were housed temporarily until they can be moved to a housing complex owned by the Urban Development Authority.President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was on an official visit to Japan, had instructed the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to take steps to provide immediate relief to all the residents affected by the fire that broke out at the Kajimawatta, Colombo.The President had instructed Secretary Saman Ekanayake to intervene immediately and direct the Colombo GA, Tri Forces Commanders, the Fire Brigade, the Health Department, the Urban Development Authority and all other relevant government agencies to look into the needs of the people who were residing in the apartment complex and provide them the required facilities immediately.

ALSO READ: Covid update: India sees rise in infections; active cases further decline "These findings are important because they show that, while COVID-19 vaccines are successful at reducing the risk of hospitalisation, people who are vaccinated and exposed to polluted air are still at increased risk for worse outcomes than vaccinated people not exposed to air pollution," senior research scientist at KPSC Anny Xiang said. Published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the study estimated air pollution exposure levels for each participant based on their residential addresses.

STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 24: A view of the Penn State Nittany Lions logo on the sidelines before the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Beaver Stadium on September 24, 2022 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Gett STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Beer will be available for sale to the general public at Penn State's Beaver Stadium beginning Saturday when the Nittany Lions host Northwestern, the school announced Wednesday.Penn State will be the ninth Big Ten school to sell beer to the general public at football games.

CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 26: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers poses at 76ers Training Complex on September 26, 2022 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this phot CHARLESTON, S.C. - Doc Rivers was not expecting guests one day this summer when members of his staff turned up uninvited at his house with a direct demand of the Philadelphia 76ers coach: Tyrese Maxey needed an intervention.It was true.Maxey needed help getting out of the gym.

A West Lothian author who shared his experiences around mental health, drug addiction, trauma and social deprivation has been hailed as “brave” by those who listened to him.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Twenty Three Police OICs have been transferred with immediate effect, said Sri Lanka Police.Police Spokesperson Attorney SSP Nihal Thalduwa says the OICs in question were assigned for other duties at different Police stations. The transfers were made as per a directive issued by the Inspector General of Police. 

A pair of new studies describe long-COVID findings, one from Spain showing that nearly 40% of bilateral pneumonia patients had impaired lung diffusion 1 year after hospitalization, and the other from England demonstrating that double-vaccinated adults were 41% less likely than their unvaccinated peers to report symptoms 3 months or more after infection.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The multi-sector mechanism to empower rural economic revitalization centres to ensure food security and nutrition was initiated under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday (13).The vision of the Food Security Programme of the Government is to ensure every citizen has access to enough food at a reasonable price to lead an active and healthy life, at any given situation of the country.The government has initiated this program with the view of achieving dual objectives of ensuring that no citizen of the country should starve due to lack of food and no child should be a victim of malnutrition.In order to achieve these dual objectives, it is required to protect all families in the country from being victims of poverty.The relevant mechanism has been implemented through seven committees while the National Food Security and Nutrition Council will function under the chairmanship of the President.The National Combined Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition will function under the Chairmanship of the President’s Secretary whereas the Technical Advisory Committee on Food Security and Nutrition will be chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary.The Provincial Combined Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition will function under the chairmanship of the Provincial Governors while the District Combined Mechanism on Food Security and Nutrition will be chaired by the District Secretaries.

Canadian cannabis industry eyeing U.S. push for marijuana legalization “A positive energy if ever there was one, a man who almost always flashed a winning smile, a man who spoke out about what he believed in,” Canadian fighter Sarah Kaufman said on social media.Theodorou took up MMA in 2009 after his first year at Humber College, where he studied creative advertising.He made his pro debut in June 2011 and was 8-0-0 in 2013 when he joined the cast of The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs.

Authorities said three women helped an accused child killer evade police. NEWARK, Calif. - Three women are accused of helping the alleged killer of 8-year-old Sophia Mason evade police for six months.Lieutenant Joe Perez with the Merced Police Department said the alleged killer, Dhante Jackson, 34, was able to avoid capture for so long with the women's help.Authorities said 33-year-old Mayra Gutierrez Gonzalez, of Newark; 42-year-old Laronna Larkins, of Merced; and 40-year-old Daberka Thompson, of San Jose; provided Jackson with transportation, shelter, and money while he was on the run.Dhante Jackson is accused of killing 8-year-old Sophia Mason.

COLOMBO – An estimated 6.3 million people in Sri Lanka are facing moderate to severe acute food insecurity and their situation is expected to worsen if adequate life-saving assistance and livelihood support is not provided, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Monday (12) in a new report.Two consecutive seasons of poor harvests led to a nearly 50 percent drop in production coupled with reduced imports of food grains due to foreign exchange constraints, according to the joint FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) report.The report notes that immediate food assistance and livelihood programmes – including through existing social assistance mechanisms – are critical to enable households to access nutritious food – particularly moderately and severely acute food insecure ones.  Without assistance, the food security situation is expected to deteriorate further, particularly during the October 2022 to February 2023 lean season, driven by poor harvests of staple foods, in particular paddy rice, and the ongoing economic crisis.

A hospital where patients say they were 'bullied and abused by staff' has been placed into special measures. Cygnet Bury Hudson has been ordered to improve safety after its overall performance was judged to be 'inadequate', following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in June.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan delegation in Geneva met with the Core group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.Further, productive discussions took place on a constructive agreement and working together to archive effective and sustainable progress, said the delegation.The Human Rights Council will hold its fifty-first regular session from 12 September to 7 October at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, currently serving as acting High Commissioner, will present the High Commissioner’s oral update at 9 a.m. on Monday, 12 September.At an organizational meeting held on 30 August in preparation for the session, the President of the Council, Federico Villegas, bid farewell to High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, whose term of office ended on 31 August.

People walk past a Chipotle store on August 10, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M.

(Photo: Consumer Product Safety Commission) Tens of thousands of "hearmuffs" designed to protect the ears of babies and children have been recalled over burn risks.According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the recall involves four models of HearMuffs sound compression systems, all of which use AAA alkaline batteries that can rupture and cause projectile or burn injuries. The earmuffs are made by Hearing Lab Technology/Lucid Audio.The four models involved in the recall are LA-infant-AM-WH, LA-infant-ASM-WH, LA-infant-ASM-WHPlus and LA-kids-AM-WH.

Kristin Peck, the CEO of Zoetis Inc, prepared a strategy for her first months as boss in 2020, the pandemic forced her to adapt When Kristin Peck was named chief executive of animal health company Zoetis Inc. in January of 2020, she had a 100-day plan.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The most challenging issued face by Sri Lanka today amid an economic, and political crisis is food security and hunger, and this was highlighted in a recent paper produced to the Cabinet of Ministers.It also states that the situation would grow even worse in the future.Quoting the United Nations, the Cabinet Paper also noted that 1.7 mn Sri Lankans seek immediate food assistance.Sri Lanka used to be known as a country that was self-sufficient in rice. So, how did it fall to its present state?After Sri Lanka invoked a complete ban on Chemical fertilizers, it simply gave away Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Human Rights Council will hold its fifty-first regular session from 12 September to 7 October at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, currently serving as acting High Commissioner, will present the High Commissioner’s oral update on Monday, 12th September.Under agenda item two on the annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General, the Council will hold separate interactive dialogues on the report of the Office of the High Commissioner on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka.In addition, the following reports will also be taken up:The report of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar on the situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.The report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.The High Commissioner’s report on the promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua.At an organizational meeting held on 30 August in preparation for the session, the President of the Council, Federico Villegas, bid farewell to High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet, whose term of office ended on 31st August.  States will have a chance to respond to the High Commissioner’s update and to other reports presented under agenda item two in the general debate on 13th and 14th September.The Council will take action on draft decisions and resolutions on 6th and 7th October, and will also appoint a number of Special Procedure mandate holders before closing the session.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Government of Myanmar donated 1,000 MT of Myanmar White Rice worth Sri Lankan Rupees 170 Million (approximately USD 463,215) to the Government of Sri Lanka recently.The consignment was officially handed over to the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Myanmar Janaka Bandara, by the Myanmar Union Minister for Commerce U.

Worldwide, about 10.5 million children may have lost parents or caregivers to COVID-19 and 7.5 million were orphaned, according to new study that estimated excess mortality using World Health Organization (WHO) data.

Covid, even though mild, may affect people for a longer duration up to a year and create increased incidents of heart attacks and strokes." "We know that Covid itself in the acute phases causes incidences of strokes and clots in the lungs. But we are concerned about long-term effects also as patients with mild symptoms can face heart attacks," he added.

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.

ATLANTA - A Georgia State University student says workers at an Atlanta Popeyes called the police on her after she tried to buy food for a man experiencing homelessness.Video of the whole ordeal has been seen by more than 5 million people on TikTok.GSU senior Jo Ortega told FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo that she was picking up an order for Doordash at the Popeyes near Ponce de Leon Ave when she noticed a man off to the side who looked hungry.When she went to order him a two-piece, employees at the store weren’t happy."No ma’am, you can’t do it," an employee said in the video."Why? He’s asking for food?" Ortega replied."Ma’am, you can’t do it," another employee said. "I could care less about you recording me baby."The takeout window then slammed shut.Ortega’s initial disbelief that employees wouldn’t let her buy food for the man experiencing homelessness turned to anxiety when the police showed up."At that moment I was terrified, I thought I was gonna get arrested," she said.

People enjoy on the beach of the Pacific Ocean in Half Moon Bay, California, United States on September 1, 2022 as the heat wave is expected in California this weekend. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Beach goers in Southern California are being targeted by swarms of tiny, aggressive sea bugs who have an appetite for human feet. The bugs, who have earned the nickname "mini shark," have been identified as water-line isopods (Excirolana chiltoni), a crustacean species that grows to be around 0.3 inches (0.8 centimeters) long and can form swarms of more than 1,000 individuals, according to Walla Walla University in Washington. TROPICAL STORM DANIELLE FORMS IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, NOT CURRENTLY A THREAT TO LANDThe "mini-sharks" live in the shallow waters of the Pacific Ocean and seasonally migrate up and down the coast leaving in their wake beach goers hopping in pain.The bugs quickly find barefoot waders, and will bite into their flesh, drawing blood.

China have been filmed fighting over food after the world’s strictest lockdown has been announced, leaving them desperate to stockpile.With a population of 21million people, Chengdu has been plunged into strict new laws after just 157 infections as China tries to eliminate Covid entirely with its “Zero Covid” policy. Images posted on the site Whats On Weibo have shown people with cars full of goods, damaged shops and people climbing all over stalls.

in London known as The Shard early Sunday, according to local reports.Video posted on social media shows the climber making his way up the 95-story building just after 5:30 a.m. near London Bridge Station as police, firefighters and bystanders watched from the ground.Police said three arrests have been made. A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of trespass while two other men were both arrested on suspicion of causing a public nuisance, a Metropolitan police spokesman told MyLondon.CALIFORNIA CLIMBER LEADS FIRST-KNOWN ASCENT OF ONE OF THE TALLEST SEA CLIFFS ON EARTHThe climber was spotted on the 1,016-foot skyscraper in London early Sunday.

ANI, that there was an increase in brain and heart-related issues during the second wave, however, in the present scenario, more data is required. Dr Shetty said informed that the “covid patients especially during the second wave, there was definitely a slight increase in the incidence of Covid patients developing clot forms, and clots in the brain or in the heart.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Department of Registration of Persons has started issuing a digital birth certificate, the National Birth Certificate in the digital format.Registrar General Prabhath Abeywardena said that the birth certificate will be issued for the children who were born from 1st of August 2022. The Registrar General said that the digital birth certificate program will be implemented across the island in the future.He pointed out that the number associated with the baby in the digital birth certificate will be their National Identity Card number when they are of 15 years of age.The program has been implemented across 6 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, and the Registrar General stated that the certificate will be issued in two languages, Sinhala-Tamil or English- Tamil, in order to enable translations.

Pakistan, a Calgary businessman said he got word floodwaters hit the same area where he had been helping people with disabilities move out of the way of the impending deluge.Mohammad Farhan operates multiple charities and orphanages across Pakistan through his organization, House of Dreams. He said his team on the ground in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa called to tell him they had just watched a nearby hotel get inundated.“A lot of people were just flying into the water,” he said. Pakistan floods: Government appeals for more help to aid 33M affected “They were trying to work through the current and some got saved.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa emphasizes that the recommendations presented by the Auditor General in his report concerning the Chinese Fertilizer shipment should be implemented as soon as possible. The report was presented at Parliament on Friday (2).The Opposition Leader, pointing out that a report has been compiled by the Auditor General, said that legal action should be instituted against those responsible for causing a loss to the government by releasing funds for the Chinese Fertilizer shipment with zero supervision.Moreover, Premadasa said that recommendations have also been made to recover compensation from the supplier, which has been blacklisted in Sri Lanka."Therefore, I appeal the Government to actively take steps to reover the loss without waiting for the Auditor General's recommendations" he added.

COLOMBO (News 1st); World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific John Aylieff, currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry on Thursday (1).The Foreign Minister appreciated the support extended by WFP to Sri Lanka over the past decades in many areas including the national health system by supporting national nutrition programs, the National School Meal Programme, in strengthening food systems to ensure access and availability of food and in developing shock-responsive safety net programs, particularly with the Department of Samurdhi. He apprised the Regional Director of the efforts taken by the Government of Sri Lanka in dialogue with all stakeholders including domestic and international partners, to emerge from the challenges facing the country.The Regional Director briefed the Foreign Minister on the progress of the ongoing WFP programs in the country, particularly the social safety net programs, and added that the WFP will continue to support and cooperate closely with the Government of Sri Lanka during this challenging time.

Hong Kong: The IMF staff-level agreement with Sri Lanka on a USD2.9 billion programme, confirmed on 1 September, appears to signal a sharp change in policy settings in order to achieve macroeconomic stability, including through large fiscal adjustment, greater exchange-rate flexibility and more central bank autonomy, says Fitch Ratings. This should facilitate negotiations with official and private creditors, but the timing of any debt restructuring agreement remains uncertain.The Extended Fund Facility will not be approved by the IMF’s Executive Board until the government has implemented a number of agreed prior actions (not publicly specified), financing assurances have been received from official creditors, and good faith efforts have been made to reach agreement with private creditors. The IMF has assessed Sri Lanka’s debt burden as unsustainable, so the outcome of negotiations with creditors should involve debt relief.Tax reform will be an important element of the agreed programme. Personal income tax will be made more progressive and corporate income tax and VAT will be broadened, with a goal of achieving a primary fiscal surplus of 2.3% of GDP by 2025, compared with a deficit of 5.7% in 2021.In line with this, the interim 2022 budget unveiled by the new government on 30 August laid out plans to raise the standard rate of VAT to 15% from 12% from 1 September, and proposed compulsory tax registration for all residents aged over 18 years. The budget sought to raise government revenue/GDP from 8.2% in 2021 to 15% by 2025, and to reduce public debt/GDP from around 110% at end-2021 to not more than 100% in the medium term.