World Bank’s IFC to provide Sri Lanka with $400 mn financing

A Lanarkshire charity that supports people's mental health through music has launched more meet-ups at a new location.

Colombo (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya stated on Saturday (4) that the government will honour the Supreme Court's interim order preventing funds allocated by the budget for the 2023 Local Government election from being witheld. He stated, accordingly, appropriate steps will be taken.Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday (3) issued an interim order on the country's Finance Secretary, and the Attorney General who represents the Finance Minister preventing them from withholding any funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the Local Government Poll 2023.The interim order was issued after permission was granted to examine an application that was filed by General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara.The application was taken up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P.

Hindustan Times.  Gates said that with the breadth of talent, the scale, if you’re going to track vaccination for these many people, a digital system was the only way to do that. “I was in the health ministry and they were showing how they did that with a digital system. That is something we want to have people from other countries to come and see," he noted.

CHICAGO - The man accused of killing Chicago police officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was ordered held without bond Friday afternoon after prosecutors disclosed new details of the deadly confrontation near a playground at a grade school in Gage Park.A Cook County judge denied bond to Steven Montano who has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm and two other misdemeanors seaming from the Wednesday shooting.The decision happened roughly an hour after the body of Vasquez Lasso was taken with a police escort from the Cook County medical examiner's office to a funeral home in Oak Lawn.Montano, 18, is charged with gunning down Vasquez-Lasso as he was being chased by the officer in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue near Sawyer Elementary School.During the bond hearing, prosecutors said Montano and a 37-year-old woman he was dating began arguing about their relationship and living arrangement.An 18-year-old man has been charged in the shooting death of a Chicago police officer in the city's Gage Park neighborhood.Montano allegedly tried to strike his girlfriend who stepped out of the way, according to the bond proffer. Montano then threatened to get his gun. Montano's girlfriend exited the home and called 911 to report he had a gun, prosecutors said.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The IMF Mission in Sri Lanka says that the decision taken by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to raise the policy rate is appropriate and in line with its objectives set under the inflation targeting framework.Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that it reflects CBSL’s commitment to the inflation target and is an important part of the disinflation strategy in the EFF program, which is fully committed by the Sri Lankan authorities and supported by the IMF.   Sri Lanka’s inflation is declining but remains at a very high level, which has been disproportionally hurting the poor, the statement added. "Upside inflation risks could reverse the trend and lead to persistently high inflation which is extremely costly to the economy," they further added.Therefore, CBSL’s decision to raise the policy rate shows its commitment to reduce inflation more quickly and firmly towards the single-digit target. Durable disinflation would help boost market confidence, reduce excessive risk premia and ease the financing conditions for the corporates, especially the small and medium enterprises, which supports recovery.Sri Lanka is ready to adopt the IMF program within March 2023, said Central Bank Governor Dr.

AUBURN, Wash. - An Auburn resident and Boeing employee has been identified as the winner of the record-breaking Powerball jackpot that was drawn on Feb. 6. The woman has worked as a supply chain analyst for Boeing for nearly 36 years. It was because of this that she decided to even buy a lottery ticket. She was in the Auburn Fred Meyer with her daughter on Feb.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania state representative accused of sexual harassment said Friday he is not resigning but has stepped down from the Judiciary Committee and plans to enter inpatient treatment of some kind.In a letter to House Democratic leaders, Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County said he was "very mindful of and saddened by the sensitive and disturbing allegations against me."A union lobbyist said this week that Zabel sexually harassed her four years ago.

Hot tub/pool exterior view. (Life at Sea Cruises )Have you ever wished you could travel the world but you have real-life responsibilities and bills to pay? Well, here’s a chance to live out that fantasy – for a few years, at least –  and you can still work remotely. Life at Sea Cruises is offering voyagers and adventurers a chance to live and travel the world on a cruise ship for three years. The program offers visits to 375 ports across 135 countries which amounts to more than 130,000 miles of travel across the seas. The price tag for such an extravagant three-year commitment amounts to $29,999 a year (totaling about $90,000 overall).

FILE - Ford car logo is pictured on Jan. 18, 2023.

A new report is suggesting that Justin Bieber wasn’t the one responsible for the decision to cancel the remaining dates of his Justice World Tour.

World Health Organization (WHO) is still working to identify the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, its director general said on Friday, after a U.S. agency was reported to have assessed the pandemic had likely been caused by a Chinese laboratory leak.

School trips to the fire station were once the norm before the Covid pandemic and have since struggled to make a full return, until now.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Opposition alleges that MP Vajira Abeywardena had been appointed as the Acting Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance during Thursday's (2) COPF meeting, and that eight gazettes have been approved at the meeting.MPs Harshana Rajakaruna, and Chandima Weerakkody had opposed this move and walked out of the meeting.There was controversy surrounding the post of Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, as MP Mayantha Dissanayake was appointed as Chair based on a proposal by the ruling faction, while the opposition had already proposed the name of Dr. Harsha De Silva for the post.Thereafter, MP Dissanayake resigned from the post, and the opposition once against proposed for Dr.

harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water after finding they are dangerous in amounts so small as to be undetectable. But experts say removing them will cost billions, a burden that will fall hardest on small communities with few resources.Concerned about the chemicals' ability to weaken children's immune systems, the EPA said last year that PFAS could cause harm at levels "much lower than previously understood.""We as a community of scientists and policymakers and regulators really missed the boat early on," said Susan Pinney, director of the Center for Environmental Genetics at the University of Cincinnati.RELATED: Eating 1 fish from US lakes, rivers equal to a month of drinking 'forever chemicals' water, study saysThere is also evidence the compounds are linked to low birthweight, kidney cancer and a slew of other health issues.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka is ready to adopt the IMF program within March 2023, said Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe on Friday (3) during the Monetary Policy Review."When we negotiated the staff level agreement with the IMF and finalized the agreement on the 1st of September, we had inflation projections from both the IMF and the Central Bank," he told reporters."At that time we were hoping to get the program unlocked somewhere in December (2022), and the end-year IMF inflation target was 70% and we had a little over that.

Economic Research Department to ensuring price and economic stability, and financial system stability, thereby assuring the normalisation of the interest rate structure no sooner the price pressures are sufficiently contained in the period ahead. 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the urgent need for pandemic preparedness and health system strengthening around the world and was a stark reminder that pandemic preparedness is a global public good New Delhi : The World Bank and India on Friday signed two complementary loans of $500 million each to support and boost the country’s public healthcare system. Through this combined financing of $1 billion, World Bank will support India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), to improve public healthcare infrastructure across the country, the multi-lateral agency said in a statement.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Friday (3) issued an interim order on the country's Finance Secretary, and the Attorney General who represents the Finance Minister preventing them from withholding any funds allocated by the 2023 Budget for the Local Government Poll 2023.The interim order was issued after permission was granted to examine an application that was filed by General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Madduma Bandara.The application was taken up in the presence of Supreme Court Justices P.

A troubled mental health hospital has been slammed by inspectors, whose 'worrying' visit uncovered 'disproportionate levels of restraint'; 'care plans not being followed'; and 'people spending most of their time alone in their rooms'.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that a change of government can only be brought about through a parliamentary election and the streets is not an option for parliament.He made this comment on Friday (3) while participating in the Air Force cadets and other officers Passing Out Parade at the Trincomalee Air Force Base today."When you passed out today, you had to take an oath under the constitution. You also undertook an oath of the Sri Lanka Air Force in public. These two oaths underline your primary responsibility.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Election Commission will meet on Friday (3) to decide on the Local Government Election.The 2023 Local Government Election was scheduled to take place on the 9th of March, however, it was postponed indefinitely due to various issues, including the lack of funding.However, the Election Commission is expected to announce the next date of the Local Government Election following Friday's (3) meeting.

FILE - A woman gets care at a facility that offers care to patients with overweight issues or obesity, and related pathologies such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or hypertension. (SULIANE FAVENNEC/AFP via Getty Images)A startling new report may be putting a lot of people on notice.Without significant action to change this trajectory, more than half the world's population will be overweight or obese by 2035, according to a new report.The World Obesity Federation's 2023 atlas is predicting that 51% of the world, or more than 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight within the next 12 years, according to Reuters.NORTH CAROLINA MAN, ONCE OBESE, INSPIRED BY NAVY SEAL TO QUIT DRINKING, GET FIT AND RADICALLY ALTER HIS LIFEObesity rates are rising especially quickly among children and in lower income countries, the report found.Saying that the data represents a "clear warning," Louise Baur, president of the World Obesity Federation, said in a statement that policymakers must act with haste to prevent the situation from getting any worse.FILE - A 10-year-old from Indonesia has weighed in at an unbelievable 192kg (423lbs).

WASHINGTON - With the recent warm weather, some people in the District are claiming more illegal ATVs and dirt bikes have been popping up in certain parts of the city.A viewer shared a video with FOX 5 showing maybe eight to nine illegal riders going through the intersection of 7th and K Streets. Northwest. She described the scene as, "off-putting." The woman said the ride happened a little after 5:30 p.m.

PHILADELPHIA - Students at a Philadelphia high school were abruptly moved to remote learning when the presence of asbestos was found in the building during a Tuesday night inspection. The Building 21 School in the city's West Oak Lane section will remain closed for the rest of the week after asbestos was found in stairwells and the auditorium. The School District of Philadelphia says it's working to clear the hazardous material, but they did not offer a timetable about when the job will be complete.Before the coronavirus pandemic, a dozen Philadelphia schools closed between 2019 and 2020 due to the presence of asbestos. District teachers say it's a health hazard that must be addressed. MORE LOCAL HEADLINES"You come in here, and you try to teach the kids, but you've got to worry about your own health, and their health, and there ain't nothing being done," Robert Smith said. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan says a lack of funding for school maintenance has caused problems like asbestos to keep reoccurring. "Our buildings have been neglected because of the lack of budget to keep them in good repair, this unfortunately happened," Jordan said.A recent court decision in Pennsylvania called state funding of Philadelphia school unconstitutional, but Senator Vincent Hughes has crafted a bill that he believes will provide appropriate funding."It provides $1B to fix up toxic and broken schools, it provides $2.15B – the largest increase in equity and adequacy funding in Pennylvania's history – to make our schools in compliance with the state's constitution," Senator Hughes said. He was optimistic that he could get newly-elected Pennsylvania Gov.

TRENTON, N.J. - Two weeks after the CDC rang the alarm on teen suicides, lawmakers in New Jersey are exploring how schools can help combat the ever-growing and tragic problem.The Senate Education Committee held a hearing on Thursday afternoon. Nearly a dozen speakers gave testimony on the great need for mental health resources among other interventions to support young people."I had one of my dearest friends come to me and tell me that they were suicidal.

FILE - Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., is seen outside a House Republican Conference meeting in the U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The International Monetary Fund Mission in Sri Lanka says that efforts to increase tax revenues should be pursued in a growth-friendly manner while protecting the poor and most vulnerable. Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka noted that it is however also important that those who can most afford it, make commensurate contributions to the financing of the necessary government expenditures. The tax package the authorities have introduced, including the new tax rate schedule for the personal income tax, helps to meet these objectives, the statement added.Peter Breuer, Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, and Masahiro Nozaki, Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, also noted that the tax rates proposed under the authorities’ program are also in line with international comparison.In response to recent media questions around income tax hikes in Sri Lanka, the statement noted that Tax reforms are needed to correct this imbalance. "Only with appropriate tax receipts will the Government will be able to fund essential expenditures, and avoid further slashing of critically important outlays. These reforms will also help regain confidence of creditors," it added."The current economic crisis has a number of origins, including the government’s inability to meet government spending needs through its revenue collections.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - A 16-year-old student was killed after being stabbed during a fight at a Santa Rosa high school on Wednesday morning and another student -- a 15-year-old boy – was taken into custody in connection with his death, authorities said. Family members identified the slain teen as Jayden Pienta, 16."He was a good boy. He was kind-hearted," said his grandmother Cheryl Griffith.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board said that Russia has put forward a proposal to build a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka, and has also put forward an agreement for this purpose.Professor S.R.D. Rosa, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, said this is a government to government program.Cabinet approval was given to consider nuclear energy as an alternative to meet Sri Lanka's future energy needs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) ; The first group of Chinese tourists to arrive via direct flight to Sri Lanka following the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Katunayake Airport on Wednesday (1) night.Accordingly, 125 Chinese tourists reached Sri Lanka from Guangzhou aboard a SriLankan Airlines flight at 11:10 PM.Tourism Minister Harin Fernando, State Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya, and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong welcomed them to Sri Lanka.From the 1st of April, 9 direct flights will operate between China and Sri Lanka per week.China was a leading source market for inbound tourism to Sri Lanka and one of SriLankan’s premier leisure traveller segments before the pandemic, and SriLankan is positioning for a strong comeback in China upon its return.With Chinese travellers eager to make up for lost time in globetrotting, SriLankan will be working closely with the local travel trade to reignite enthusiasm for Sri Lanka as a leisure destination in China. 

The 14th contingent of the Sri Lanka Force Protection Company (SLFPC) in the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) left for Lebanon early this morning on Thursday (02) amidst greetings and best wishes.The 14th SLFPC contingent, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D.P.I.T Kaluaggala and 2nd in Command, Major W.M.C.K Wanninayake is composed of 125 Army personnel, including 10 Officers and 115 Other Ranks and four sniffer dogs, ‘Frank’ – (German Shepherd), Jupiter’ (Golden Retriever), ‘Tiger’ (German Shepherd) and Leena’ (German Shepherd) who have been well-trained for detection of narcotics, explosives and mines.Major General Asanga Perera, Director General Overseas Operations with few more senior officers was at the airport to extend best wishes on behalf of the Commander of the Army and to see them off to Lebanon.The Sri Lankan FPC is mandated to provide protection to the Headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura and VIPs as required by the UNIFIL. The first group of the 13th SLFPC contingent returned home on Wednesday (1).

COLOMBO; Sri Lanka Air Force Proudly Celebrates its 72nd Anniversary today (2). In the seven decades that ensued, the Sri Lanka Air Force has come under the leadership of 17 commanders. Today, its leadership is in the able hands of its 18th Commander, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. The Sri Lanka Air Force has come a long way since its first flight in a humble Chipmunk and de Havilland DC 1, passing through Mig 27s, Kfir C7s, and F-7s today.

Former British health secretary Matt Hancock has said he is victim of a "massive betrayal and breach of trust" after the disclosure of WhatsApp messages revealing the inside working of government during the coronavirus crisis.

COLOMBO; The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is working together with the Ministry of Agriculture to increase the productivity and resilience of the rice-based ecosystems in the Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka.Seventy-five percent of the 890,000 hectares of agricultural land used for Paddy farming in Sri Lanka is under smallholder farmers. Despite the country’s potential, the productivity in major growing ecosystems in Sri Lanka (the Dry and Intermediate Zones) has been stagnant or declining over the last 10 years. This is in contrast to the increase in productivity seen in other paddy-growing countries in Asia.If paddy productivity is increased by just 10 percent in the Dry and Intermediate zones, Sri Lanka will produce an extra 0.5 million tonnes.

The annual Kachchativu Feast is set to take place on the 03rd and 04th of March 2023 on the Kachchativu Island. Kachchativu is a small islet belongs to Sri Lanka, located near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) of Sri Lanka and India. The main mass of the annual feast will be conducted by the Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, Rt.

COLOMBO (News 1st); China says it will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate its current situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday (28) said the Export-Import Bank of China provided a financing support document to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policies of Sri Lanka, saying the Bank is going to provide an extension on the debt service due in 2022 and 2023 to help relieve Sri Lanka’s short-term debt repayment pressure. "The Bank also noted that it will support Sri Lanka in its loan application to the IMF and continuously call on commercial creditors (including the International Sovereign Bondholders) to provide debt treatment in an equally comparable manner, and encourage multilateral creditors to do their utmost to make corresponding contributions," she added."What China did is first based on China’s existing policy and position on debt issue. At the same time, as a special arrangement, it also reflects the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Human Rights Commission said it would be conducting a special investigation over the delay in conducting the Local Government Election. A spokesperson said that several complaints have been filed with the HRCSL over the matter, and thus an investigation will be carried out.The spokesperson said that members of the National Election Commission would be summoned to inquire in to the matter.

cancer (CRC) cases are on the rise and the disease is being discovered among younger patients more frequently, according to Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2023, a new report on cancer facts and trends by the American Cancer Society (ACS), which is headquartered in Atlanta. Although deaths related to CRC are continuing to decline, the report indicated the disturbing trend within the landscape of fighting this disease.Notably, this includes the advanced stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and the patient’s age at which it's diagnosed. INDIANA PRIEST SAYS HE'S CURED OF BRAIN CANCER AFTER TRIP TO LOURDES: ‘THANKS BE TO GOD’The incidence of advanced stage CRC disease now occurs in three out of five people, while one out of every five CRC diagnoses are made in people under 55 years old, according to the study's investigators.Also, people who are natives of Alaska had the highest rate and mortality — almost four times higher than those of non‐Hispanic White individuals, according to the report.FILE - The United In Blue installation on the National Mall to raise awareness f the need for more colorectal cancer research, treatment options, and funding on March 16, 2022 in Washington, D.C.  (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fight Colorectal Cancer)It was published on Wednesday, March 1, in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians and in the publication Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures 2023-2025 on cancer.org. "We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population," Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report said

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia's governor signed a bill Wednesday allowing people with concealed carry permits to take firearms onto public college and university campuses."Proud day for me," Republican Gov.

Chilean Flamingos get to finally enjoy the sunshine today at Washington Wetlands centre in Sunderland. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images) UNITED KINGDOM - New research shows that flamingos may be similar to popular high school students – forming cliques with like-minded individuals within their flocks. In the study, published in the journal Nature on March 1, scientists analyzed the personalities and social behavior of Caribbean and Chilean flamingos to examine opportunities for social support.Data was collected from separately housed flocks of 147 Caribbean birds and 115 Chilean birds between March and July 2014. Researchers at the University of Exeter and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) in the United Kingdom found that birds of both species tended to spend time with others whose personality was similar to their own.  The bird and another flamingo escaped from the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita on a stormy night in June 2005.

SEASIDE PARK, N.J. - In the last 24 hours, in Brigantine, a dolphin washed up on the shore and a dead whale is floating offshore of Seaside Park.Different theories abound as to why so many dead mammals keep washing up, but nobody with eyes toward the breakers likes the look of it."It’s awful. It’s happening too much, it really is. Something’s gotta be done," resident Kathy Titus said.Some people just pulled up to see, while others have been on the beach for hours.

A new mental health help service for young people that can be accessed via smart phones has been launched by North Lanarkshire Council.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Railroads like the one involved in last month's fiery crash and toxic chemical release in Ohio would be subject to a series of new federal safety regulations and financial consequences under bipartisan legislation introduced Wednesday by the state's two U.S. senators.The Railway Safety Act of 2023, co-sponsored by U.S.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Even for the Thunder Bay area, a perilous swath of northern Lake Huron off the Michigan coast that has devoured many a ship, the Ironton’s fate seems particularly cruel.The 191-foot cargo vessel collided with a grain hauler on a blustery night in September 1894, sinking both. The Ironton’s captain and six sailors clambered into a lifeboat, but it was dragged to the bottom before they could detach it from the ship.

Global pop star Justin Bieber has cancelled all of the remaining date of his Justice World Tour, due to ongoing health problems.

Scottish comedian Janey Godley updated fans on her cancer treatment as she bravely goes through another round of chemo ahead of her Dundee gig tonight.

The Batch No. H29 of Artificial Eye Ointment, distributed by Delsam Pharma, is pictured in a provided photo.

The Court of Appeal yesterday held that provisions of the RTI Act are also applicable to the Members of Parliament The Secretary General of Parliament had filed an application challenging the Right to Information Commission’s decision that the information requested by a journalist should be released to him.   The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justices Sampath Abayakoon and P.