Politics

Sri Lanka police arrest over 45 for organising protests in violation of ban

Imesh Ranasinghe

Thursday July 8, 2021 2:33 pm

By Imesh Ranasinghe

Thursday July 8, 2021 2:33 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka police arrested over 45 people Thursday (08) for engaging and demonstrations and protests in violation of a COVID-19 ban on protests and public meetings, police said.

Thirty-one people including Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin Thursday morning over a protest held against the proposed Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) bill at the parliament roundabout in Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.

The protest was jointly organised by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF), the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union and the Frontline Socialist Party.

The bill, first presented in 2018 under the previous government, has been controversial, with left-leaning opposition parties including the Jantha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) alleging that it paves the way for militarisation of higher education in Sri Lanka.

Police Media Spokesman Senior Deputy Inspector General (SDIG) Ajith Rohana said that two monks and two females were among the 31 arrested.

Meanwhile, 13 members of the JVP, including two former provincial councillors, were arrested at a protest staged in Akuressa against the fuel price increase and the government’s controversial chemical fertilizer ban.

On Wednesday (07), former JVP provincial councillor Samantha Vidyaratna and national organiser of the All Island Govi Jana Federation (farmers’ collective) Namal Karunaratne and the three others were arrested over a protest against the fertiliser ban.

Four people including Nuwara Eliya district JVP organiser Manjula Suraweera Arachchi was arrested over another protest held in Hatton against the KDU bill on Thurday.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) held a protest near parliament Thursday morning against what it called the government’s suppression of the people’s right to protest.

Sri Lanka banned protests and public meetings until further notice on Tuesday (06) to prevent large gatherings and the further spread of COVID-19.

Director-General of Health Services Dr Asela Gunawardena had written to the Inspector General of Police informing him of the decision, a police statement said.

Police said that the violations of the said decision will be dealt with according to quarantine regulations. (Colombo/July08/2021)

FILED UNDER: arrest,COVID19,polcie,poltiics,protests,Sri Lanka

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Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka rupee closes stronger at 327.40/90 to the US dollar

Tuesday December 5, 2023 4:44 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s rupee closed at 327.40/90 to the US dollar on Tuesday, from 328.10/30 the previous day, dealers said.

Bond yields were stable.

A bond maturing on 01.06.2025 closed at 13.60/70 percent from 13.70/14.00 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.08.2026 closed at 13.90/14.00 percent from 13.90/14.10 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.01.2027 closed at 14.00/15 percent from 14.00/14.10 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2028 closed at 14.10/20 percent from 14.20/35 percent.

A bond maturing on 15.05.2030 closed at 14.20/35 percent, from 14.25/45 percent.

A bond maturing on 01.07.2032 closed at 14.10/35 percent, from 14.05/40 percent. (Colombo/Dec5/2023)

Markets

Sri Lanka stocks close down as investor sentiment dips

Tuesday December 5, 2023 4:40 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The Colombo Stock Exchange closed down on Tuesday, CSE data showed.

The All Share Price Index was down 0.40 percent, or 43.50 points, at 10,700.09.

The S&P SL20 index was up 0.43 percent, or 13.32 points, at 3,054.41.

Turnover was at 711 million. The capital goods sector contributed 172 million, the food, beverage and tobacco sector contributed 140 million, and banks 113 million of this.

Top positive contributors to the ASPI in the day were John Keells Holdings Plc (up at 193.00), Richard Pieris And Company Plc (up at 19.80), and Nation Lanka Finance Plc, (up at 0.40).

Negative contributors were Commercial Bank of Ceylon Plc (down at 89.70), Sampath Bank Plc (down at 71.00), and Central Finance Company Plc, (down at 106.00). (Colombo/Dec5/2023).

Education

Sri Lanka plans to reduce number of school grades from 13 to 12

Tuesday December 5, 2023 4:13 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The Ministry of Education proposes to reduce the number of school grades from 13 to 12, according to a government information department statement.

“Every child will be given the opportunity to finish school in 17 years through the proposed new education reforms,” education officials were quoted as saying after a discussion on budget allocations.

Under the proposed system, pre-school education will be at the age of 4 years, the primary section between grades 1-5, junior section between grades 6-8, and senior section between grades 9-12.

The General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Exam (GCE O/L) is proposed to be conducted in grade 10, and the Advanced Level Examination in grade 12.

It has also been decided to reduce the number of mandatory subjects at the GCE O/L Exam from 9 to 7.

Three new subjects, information and communication technology (ICT), technical and professional skills, and religion and values will be made mandatory and included in those 7 subjects. (Colombo/Dec5/2023)