If President wanted to trim public service, why appoint 37 State Ministers? SJB questions

ArriveCAN, mask mandates among changes as Canada drops COVID-19 border rules He says airplanes hold a lot of people in a small space and there can be COVID-19 transmission even with everyone masking.Keegan says he will still wear a mask to protect himself, but notes masking works best to prevent transmission when everyone is wearing one.The Public Health Agency of Canada still strongly recommends that people wear masks, particularly in crowded environments such as planes and trains.

FILE PHOTO: Fans gather outside the stadium before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Darrell Brooks and defense team WAUKESHA, Wis. - Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow ruled Darrell Brooks can defend himself and waive his right to an attorney in the Waukesha Christmas parade attack trial.Judge Dorow found Brooks "competent" and "coherent" but noted a number of past outbursts in court in her ruling.Brooks' now former defense attorneys, Jeremy Perri and Anna Kees, had "no comment" following their firing by Brooks. Both had represented Brooks since November 2021.Brooks' now former defense attorneys, Jeremy Perri and Anna Kees Brooks met the 9 a.m.

For the first time in a decade, M&M’S is expanding its iconic crew with the introduction of a new character - Purple - a permanent addition as the brand seeks to use the power of fun to help more people feel they belong. (Credit: Mars, Incorporat NEWARK, N.J. - For the first time in a decade, a new M&M’s character is making its debut and joining the iconic candy cast.Mars, Inc.

Adele continued: "I thought, 'just throw it on the pile'. My body is absolutely knackered."So it looks like I’m going to need a blood transfusion for the anaemia and a ballon for my bum.

HONOLULU – The Department of Health (DOH) is enhancing the Hawai‘i COVID-19 data dashboard to include reinfections. The percentage of COVID-19 cases involving individuals who had a prior infection is growing over time and now accounts for about 10% of new confirmed cases.“The data on reinfections underscores what we have been saying; that limited immunity from previous infection only lasts so long.

Plane crash in Lehigh County. LEHIGH COUNTY, Pa. - Emergency crews are on the scene of a plane crash in Lehigh County.SkyFOX was live over the scene where a plane could be seen crashed onto the front lawn of a home in Salisbury township.Crews sprayed down the plane, which appeared to be completely destroyed under a tree on the property.It is unclear if anyone was injured, or what lead to the crash.This is a developing story.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is in custody after police say he fled the scene of a tragic car crash that claimed the life of a woman last month.Anthony Ruiz Sotelo, 22, is charged with accident involving death, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and related charges.Police say Sotelo was speeding when his car crashed into a light pole, then flipped on its side at Deveraux Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard on August 19.MORE HEADLINES:After pulling a female passenger out of the sunroof, the suspect reportedly tried to remove the license plate then flood on foot.

PHILADELPHIA - The City of Philadelphia is offering $40,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction in a deadly shooting near Roxborough High School. Philadelphia police officers responded to the 300 block of Fairway Terrace just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday for reports of a shooting. Police say they found four teens suffering from gunshot wounds and rushed them to local hospitals.

PHILADELPHIA - As gun violence continues to plague Philadelphia, officials are asking for the public's help to make the city a safer place.By dialing 211, residents will receive real-time support and access to resources and services "related to gun violence."The Violence Prevention Hotline is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week by phone, call text of website chats.

COVID-19 vaccines are associated with a temporary average increase in menstrual cycle length of less than 1 day but no change in period length—confirming previous study findings, according to an international study published yesterday in BMJ Medicine.

A new strain of Covid thought to be even more contagious has been spotted all over Europe, and experts fear it will continue to spread.

UPPER DARBY, Pa. - A middle school in Upper Darby that was briefly placed on lockdown is now in the clear, according to police. Authorities say the Beverly Hills Middle School on Garrett Road in Upper Darby was in a "lock in" status due to an ongoing police investigation. According to officials, no one was allowed to exit or enter the school grounds. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESAfter less than one hour, the lockdown was lifted.

Saffir-Simpson scale, but only four hurricanes have ever struck the U.S. with stronger winds.Long before hurricanes were named, this monster storm known as the Labor Day Hurricane remains the strongest storm ever to hit the U.S.HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER ON TVA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reanalysis of the hurricane found that maximum sustained winds of 185 mph impacted the Florida Keys on Sept.

Robert Cormier, a Toronto TV and film actor who played Finn Cotter on the long-running Canadian drama series Heartland, died on Sept. 23. He was 33.

SEPTA train derails in Trenton TRENTON, N.J. - Emergency crews are responding after a SEPTA train derailed in Trenton Wednesday afternoon.SkyFOX was live over the scene, where at least two train cars could be seen off the tracks.Police and SEPTA crews could be seen surveying the derailment.SEPTA says service has been suspended near Trenton in both directions. It is unclear when service will resume.No injuries reported at this time.This is a developing story.

Police say an 82-year-old man was attacked and robbed at Willow Grove Park Mall. MONTGOMERY COUNTY - An 82-year-old man's innocent trip to the mall ended with violence after an unprovoked attack earlier this month.Police say the man was walking to his truck in the parking lot of Willow Grove Park Mall when he was attacked from behind by two teen suspects.He was hit in the back of the head, and forced to the ground as the suspects told him, "This is a hold-up.

FILE - Nurse assistants prepare a room at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, on April 14, 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Human-elephant conflict is one of the biggest environmental and socio-economic crises in rural Sri Lanka, and this is not something new.Development projects carried out in an ad-hoc manner over the years threatened the habitats of the Wild Elephants.However, this time around Wild Elephants charge at villages in search of the fresh paddy harvest stored inside the houses.During such encroachments, five people lost their lives in just two days in rural Sri Lanka.An 80-year-old woman from Kebithigollewa was killed early this morning following a wild elephant attack when she was heading to town to obtain her Senior Citizen's Benefit.She was killed at her doorstep, and it was reported that her late husband also died last year in a similar wild elephant attack.A 56-year-old man was killed by a wild elephant in Kekirawa when he was returning from a swim in a local lake.Reports said that his eldest son was seriously injured in a wild elephant attack some time back.It is reported that the Wild Elephants caused serious damage to 10 houses and a school in the Kalu-Ebe village in KekirawaThe victims' brother alleged that local authorities are not giving any attention to the threats posed by the wild elephants.A 45-year-old mother of two was killed in a wild elephant attack in the Udagawa area in Kebithigollewa.She was returning home with her two children after attending her brother's funeral.Her children were spared in the wild elephant attack."I was riding the bicycle with my sister. My mother stopped because there was an elephant on the road.

Freddlie Lee Trone is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock.  LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday released the name and photo of the man suspected in the brutal killing of rapper PnB Rock, 30, in broad daylight while he was dining with his girlfriend at a Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles earlier this month.Local communities, celebrities and officials are mourning the loss of Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock, who was reportedly killed during a robbery at a popular Los Angeles-area restaurant on Monday.LAPD investigators named Freddie Lee Trone as the suspect in the deadly shooting.Authorities believe Trone approached the rapper, demanded his jewelry, and then shot him several times in front of the rapper’s girlfriend, along with terrified patrons and staff.RELATED COVERAGETrone is considered armed and dangerous and authorities are asking anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately. PnB Rock's Germantown neighborhood gathered to honor the artist, killed in a Los Angeles restaurant during a robbery.This is a developing story.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka is importing 95 Octane Petrol at a price cheaper than 92 Octane Petrol, and concerns have been raised over the government's fuel price formula as well.The Fuel Price Formula that is adopted in Sri Lanka has become a cause of concern.Recently, Sri Lanka's Power and Energy Minister made public the Fuel Price Formula on his social media account.According to the document made public by the Minister, 95 Octane Petrol is purchased at a price that is less than what is offered for 92 Octane Petrol.As per data obtained on the world fuel refining industry, there is no great price difference between 95 Octane Petrol and 92 Octane Petrol as Market Rates determine the fuel prices globally.According to the documents Sri Lanka is purchasing Diesel and Petrol as per the PLATTS rates.Sri Lanka purchases a Barrel of 95 Octane Petrol for USD 100 and 75 cents as per the PLATTS  rates.At the same time, Sri Lanka purchases a barrel of 92 Octane Petrol for USD 100 and 19 cents.The difference between the two is 76 Cents US.Now, what happens next?A litre of 95 Octane Petrol is unloaded at the Port for Rs. 243 and 88 cents.A litre of 92 Octane Petrol is unloaded at the Port for Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Asian Development Bank said it is prepared to offer more financial help to Sri Lanka.Asian Development Bank President Masatsugu Asakawa said that as a key long-term partner, the ADB stands ready to provide further support to Sri Lanka.He said that after the IMF programme is completed, ADB will consider to join another, by providing additional financial resources to join other rescue packages for Sri Lanka.The remarks came after an ADB pact this month for an emergency loan of $200 million to ensure access to food and protect livelihoods in Sri Lanka which is suffering its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades.Asakawa said that Sri Lanka’s economy has contracted and is dealing with high inflation which has severely affected living standards.Asakawa said he was confident Colombo was working to finalise a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan of about $2.9 billion, by seeking financing assurances from creditors, among other steps.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner took aim at attempts to impeach him from office while defending his own policies and the city's effort to combat gun violence as he appeared on Good Day Philadelphia on Wednesday."We have a terrible crisis in this country when it comes to gun violence," Krasner said when asked about the tragedies plaguing the city of Philadelphia.The District Attorney's appearance comes less than 24 hours after one teenager was killed, and four others were injured after a football scrimmage at Roxborough High School. Local leaders reacted to the ambush shooting of five teenagers who police say had just left a high school football scrimmage when they were shot. One of the victims, a 14-year-old, died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest.Krasner was on location with other city leaders following the shooting, and says it was "one of the most heartbreaking cases we have seen.""When you see kids leaving the football field, and they're gunned down, and they're between 14 and 17 years of age, it's just absolutely heartbreaking," he said.

TAMPA, Fla. - Hurricane Ian’s winds rapidly intensified early Wednesday as it approached Florida, hitting 155 mph — a threshold just shy of the most devastating Category 5 hurricane status.The hurricane was expected to make landfall late Wednesday afternoon or early evening along the heavily populated Gulf Coast, with the Naples to Sarasota region at "highest risk" of a devastating storm surge. Other impacts could include strong wind, torrential rain, flooding, and widespread power outages.RELATED: Where will Hurricane Ian make landfall in Florida?Ian was centered about 55 miles west of Naples at 8 a.m., swirling toward the coast at 10 mph.The projected path and intensity of Hurricane Ian.

FILE IMAGE - In this photo illustration, processed meats, including hotdogs and bacon, cook in a frying pan on Oct. 26, 2015, in Miami, Florida.

Justin Trudeau deserves to remain in power appears to be slightly lower than it was one year ago amid the federal election, a new poll suggests.Polling done by Ipsos exclusively for Global News indicates 33 per cent of Canadians say Trudeau deserves to be re-elected, which is a drop of four per cent compared to polling done last fall.Sixty-seven per cent say it is time for another party to take over.“What we’re seeing in the numbers right now is not so much that there’s been a ‘new leader bump’ for the Conservatives, though they’re up just a little bit but within the margin of error,” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. “It’s really more that the Liberals have been losing.”He said the data suggests people who have previously voted Liberal are bleeding out to not only the Conservatives, which are also seeing a consolidation of some voters from the People’s Party of Canada, but also to the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois.“It’s not so much about the surge of the Conservative Party as it is about the slipping of the Liberals.” Trudeau criticizes ‘buzzwords, dogwhistles’ as Poilievre crowned Tory leader That Ipsos polling suggests it is the federal Conservatives that now hold a five-point lead on the Liberals among decided voters, with 35 per cent of those surveyed saying they prefer that party compared to 30 per cent for the Liberals, 20 per cent for the NDP, and seven per cent nationally for the Bloc Quebecois.Those numbers represent a one-point increase since the election for Conservatives, and a three-point decrease for the Liberals.

Millions of people are being urged to have flu and Covid vaccines after experts said they were increasingly worried about a bad flu spike this winter.

COLOMBO (News 1st); A preliminary round of discussions were held between President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Australian High Commissioner Paul Stephens to explore the opportunities for investment in  renewable energy sector in Sri Lanka.The discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (14) with the participation of a group of Australian investors.President Wickremesinghe has emphasized priority for encouraging new investments in the renewable energy sector as a solution to the current electricity crisis and to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that a national plan should be implemented to ensure food security and nutrition in Sri Lanka.He made this observation addressing the inaugural program of the establishment of the Multi-sector Combined Mechanism for empowering Rural Economic Revitalization Centers to ensure food security and nutrition.The program was held at the President's Office on Tuesday(13).The president pointed out that agriculture should be made a foreign exchange earning sector by way of enhancing production and competitiveness through the modernization of agriculture.The President who emphasized the need to work in an organized and collective manner to solve the food issue in the face of the global food crisis said that everyone should join hands with the government's new program to ensure food security and nutrition.The President’s statement is as follows;-The government has got to face the challenge of provision of food to all since the country experienced a minus seven economy.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces granted approval to appoint Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, with effect from 12 September 2022.Accordingly, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, officially handed over the letter of appointment to Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa today.Air Vice Marshal RAUP Rajapaksa RSP and two Bars, USP, MSc (MOA) USA, MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MA in IS&S (UK), BSc (Def Stu), MIM (SL), rcds, psc joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch in 1988. Having undergone his Basic Combat Training at Kotelawala Defence Academy, Basic Flying Training at No.

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.

COLOMBO (News 1st): A preliminary discussion was held on Monday (12) between the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka focusing on several areas where the ADB can provide support and bilateral cooperation to the Government of Sri Lanka to overcome the current crisis, said the President's Media Division.The discussion was held at the President's Office in Colombo.The discussion was held with a group of representatives including President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Director General of the South Asian Department of the Asian Development Bank Kenichi Yokoyama.This discussion was attended by Chen Chen, Director of the Sri Lanka Mission, Utsav Kumar, Deputy Director of the Sri Lanka Mission, and Sagala Ratnayake, Chief of Staff to the President.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungon who arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (11) for a two-day official visit, is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena today (12).The Secretary General of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Dhammika Dasanayake is also scheduled to meet Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa.The Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungon is scheduled to meet President Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow (13).The officer in charge of the airport said that Dhammika Dasanayake came to the Katunayake Airport special guest room to welcome him.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given an ultimatium to the political parties to decide on electoral reforms."I'm going to call the parliament to say once and for all that they must agree on electoral reform. This has been going on. The parties are arguing among themselves.

COLOMBO (News 1st); USAID Administrator Samantha Power told Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesighe that political reform agenda and the economic agenda go hand in hand.She said that the United States trying to engage the business community to look at Sri Lanka now and to see the opportunities that exist here.She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s vibrant private sector and said measures should be taken to unleash the potential of the private sector. "You have such an incredible private sector, such entrepreneurship.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday (11) congratulated the unbeaten Sri Lankan Netball team after they were crowned Asian Netball Champions having defeated Singapore.Sri Lanka beat hosts Singapore 63 – 53 to clinch the Asian Netball Championships 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be attending the fueneral of late Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom, the Presidential Media Division stated.President Ranil Wickramasinghe expressed his condolences over the death of Queen Elizabeth II.President Ranil Wickramasinghe who arrived at the British High Commission met British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Sarah Hulton and extended his condolences over the death of Queen Elizabeth II.President Ranil Wickramasinghe was welcomed by the British High Commissioner.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Presidential Media Division says that facilities for the newly-appointed State Ministers will be brought under the management of public expenditure. Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has emphasized that authorities should make every effort to utilize public funds spent by the government in a frugal and efficient manner, and therefore several arrangements have been made for better management of public expenditure. Therefore, the President's Secretary has instructed all Ministry Secretaries the following steps; 1- A separate expenditure head is not allocated for state ministries. Secretaries will not be appointed for those government ministries and the most senior additional secretary should be employed among the additional secretaries of those ministries to facilitate the work of the state ministers under each scope.2- The Ministry to which the relevant State Ministers have been appointed should meet the staffing requirements from the currently approved staff.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former minister Namal Rajapaksa announced that a new coalition will be established under the leadership of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.Speaking at an SLPP meeting held in Dedigama, the MP said that the situation today would have proven to be different if former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa implemented law against those who incited violence via social media.However, MP Rajapaksa said that he is happy that the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe is implementing the law against them, as there is a challenging period ahead of Sri Lanka. Stating that his political camp collapsed in an unexpected manner, MP Rajapaksa said that the mistake which they made was that they changed the people after promising to change the system, however let the newly appointed people function with the unchanged, old system. "There is no purpose if the President travels in a single car, if the children at villages are still travelling on bicycles.

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Ranil Wickremesinghe advised officials to revise the circulars immediately if it impedes on the implementation of development projects.The President chaired a discussion at the President's Office on Friday (09) to examine the progress of several development projects in the country based on Indian investment cooperation, said the President's Media Division.Deputy Indian High Commissioner Vinod K.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The outgoing Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Yury Materiy called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (08).Yury Materiy, who has ended his term in Sri Lanka, said that he will continue to work to strengthen the relations with Sri Lanka. He further stressed the need to enhance ties and develop the tourism industry between the two countries. President Wickremesinghe thanked Ambassador Materiy for his service rendered to Sri Lanka as the Ambassador of Russia. Ambassador Yury Materiy for his part pledged to do his utmost to foster bilateral relations between the two countries even though he is leaving Sri Lanka after completing his tenure. He also wished President Wickremesinghe the strength to take Sri Lanka out of the economic crisis and establish a stable country. President Wickremesinghe wished Ambassador Yury Materiy success in all his future undertakings and thanked him for all the assistance rendered during his tenure in Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has declared the 19th of September 2022 a Day of Mourning in view of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued the directive to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs on Friday (9).The President's Media Division also noted that the National Flag will be flown at half-mast until the 19th of September 2022.President Ranil Wickremesinghe said he was saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. "She was a symbol of stability and endurance, and she will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth" tweeted the President.Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years.She died peacefully on Thursday (8) afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer.The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a "moment of great sadness" for him and his family and that her loss would be "deeply felt" around the world.He said: "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother."I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."During the coming period of mourning, he said he and his family would be "comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was so widely held".The King and his wife, Camilla, now Queen Consort, will return to London on Friday, Buckingham Palace said.

COLOMBO (News 1);  Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed that all public buildings must lower the National Flag to Half-Mast in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday (8).The President had given the instructions to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs.The President's Media Division said a period of mourning will be announced in due course.President Ranil Wickremesighe said he was saddened to learn of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. "She was a symbol of stability and endurance, and she will be greatly missed. My heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth," tweeted the President.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed concern over the ill-health of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who is also the Head of the Commonwealth. The President has wished Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth her a speedy recovery, said the President's Media Division.The Queen is under medical supervision at Balmoral after doctors became concerned for her health, Buckingham Palace has said.All the Queen's children are either at, or are travelling to, her Scottish estate near Aberdeen."Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen's doctors are concerned for Her Majesty's health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision," a statement said.The Queen is comfortable, it added.Prince Charles has travelled there with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.The Duke of York and the Count and Countess of Wessex are travelling to the Scottish estate, about 40 miles (64km) west of Aberdeen.The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, was already in Scotland undertaking engagements.The Duke of Cambridge is also on his way, with the Duchess of Cambridge remaining in Windsor with their children.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had been in Germany, are travelling to Balmoral, a spokesperson for the couple said.The announcement comes after the Queen, 96, pulled out of a meeting of her Privy Council on Wednesday, with doctors advising her to rest.There are clearly pressing concerns for the Queen's health – much more explicitly put than before and without any reference to this only being about difficulties with mobility.There are also warnings against unfounded speculation, such as that she might have had a fall.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka appointed over 30 new Ministers of State on Thursday (8) at the President's Office in Colombo. The State Ministers took oaths in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.Jagath Pushpakumara – State Minister Foreign Employment Ranjith Siyambalapitiya – State Minister of FinanceLasantha Alagiyawanna – State Minister of Transport Dilum Amunugama – State Minister of Investment PromotionKanaka Herath – State Minister of TechnologyJanaka Wakkumbura – State Minister of Provincial Councils, and Local GovernmentShehan Semasinghe – State Minister of FinanceMohan Priyadarshana De Silva – State Minister of Agriculture Thenuka Vidanagamage – State Minister of Urban Development and HousingPramitha Bandara Tennakoon – State Minister of SecurityRohana Dissanayake – State Minister of Sports and Youth AffairsArundhika Fernando – State Minister of Urban Development and Housing Vijitha Berugoda – State Minister of Piriven Education Lohan Ratwatte – State Minister of Plantation Industries Tharaka Balasuriya – State Minister of External Affairs Sanath Nishantha- State Minister of Water Supply Indika Anurudhdha – State Minister of Power and Energy Siripala Gamlath – State Minister of HighwaysShantha Bandara – State Minister of Media Anuradha Jayaratne  – State Minister of Justice and Prisons AffairsS.

COLOMBO (News 1st); 36 State Ministers will take oaths in the presence of President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (8) at the President's Office. According to a Senior Cabinet Minister, 36 new State Ministers will be sworn in. A Senior Cabinet Minister also said that several MPs representing the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) are among the new State Ministers.

COLOMBO (News 1st); All the District Secretaries have been informed to make necessary preparations to face possible disaster situations.On the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Secretary to the President, Saman Ekanayake, has instructed the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to issue direct orders to the relevant ministries and departments.Accordingly, covering all the 25 districts, the district secretaries will coordinate the efforts while the Geology and Mines Bureau, Meteorology Department, and the Building Research Institutes will provide technical support.The Disaster Management Center under the Ministry of Defense will provide the necessary instructions to the relief service officers at the district disaster management coordination units and divisional secretariat level.All line ministries have been notified to take necessary measures to avoid emergency situations and maintain public life, as well as to provide the necessary support for the speedy implementation of necessary relief programs while maintaining the efficiency of the process at a high level, in the event of an emergency disaster situation.The 117 hotline will be operational round the clock while steps have also been taken to keep the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC) operational 24 hours a day, the Disaster Management Center said.Those affected by disasters will be provided food, lodging, and other facilities through the NDRSC. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United National Party’s (UNP) 76th Convention will be held on September 6th at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo on the theme Ekwemu (Let’s Unite). The Convention will be held under the patronage of UNP Leader and President Ranil Wickremesinghe.The UNP will hold this year’s Convention under a President of the party after 28 years. The last time the UNP held an annual Convention under a UNP President was in 1993.It was founded by D.