Education

Sri Lanka to boost school internet links, AI education

Neshella Perera

Monday December 19, 2022 2:34 pm

By Neshella Perera

Monday December 19, 2022 2:34 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka plans to boost internet facilities at state schools and add artificial intelligence to the curriculum, as part of reforms to the education system, an official said.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be added to the syllabus of Grade 10 students from 2023 onwards and teachers will receive training, the official who declined to be identified said.

Sri Lanka’s education authorities are in talks with Microsoft to get help to implement AI education, he said.

AI is part of reforms that will also see Wellness and Sustainability added to school syllabi.

The Asian Development Bank will give a grant of 1.4 billion rupees to help move towards class assessment from the current exam-heavy system, the education ministry said in a statement.

It will be used over the next four years.

Next year 15 billion rupees had been allocated for infrastructure development in schools.

One billion will be used to provide internet facilities to 1,000 schools. For teacher training IT facilities will be set up in 14 educational zones, taking the total to 100.

The Ministry said it has allocated 1 billion rupees, apart from the ADB donation, towards providing internet facilities to 1000 schools island wide which comes from the overall budget allocation of 15 billion rupees towards Infrastructure Development of Schools.

The ministry said, taking measures towards a digitalization education system, 14 new IT facilities in 100 educational zones, will be used for the training and development of teachers. Three billion rupees have been allocated for teacher training.

In 2023 Sri Lanka’s education budget is 504 billion rupees. Sri Lanka is expected to manage spending in 2023 as the country attempts to reduce dependence on debt and finance more spending from people’s taxes. (Colombo/Dec19/2022)

Comments (1)

Ajith Tissera says:

December 20, 2022 at 1:26 am

These guys are pure crazy, so sad for the country, why not try to give a meal a day to all school children?

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Ajith Tissera says:

December 20, 2022 at 1:26 am

These guys are pure crazy, so sad for the country, why not try to give a meal a day to all school children?

Reply

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Accidents

Sri Lanka establishes committee to investigate aircraft incidents

An aircraft lands at the Jaffna International Airport, which was opened in October 2019 and promises to push the tourism frontiers in Jaffna.

Roshani Fernando

Thursday March 23, 2023 5:39 pm

By Roshani Fernando

Thursday March 23, 2023 5:39 pm

ECONOMYNEXT: Sri Lanka’s has established an expert committee under the state-run Civil Aviation Authority to investigate aircraft accidents and to implement precautionary methods in the Sri Lankan airspace, an Official said.

“Even if it is only one flight, there is a chance an accident may occur,” Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, Director General, P. A. Jayakantha said.

“This particular committee is there to investigate aircraft accidents and act as a mechanism to take over if something goes wrong”.

Sri Lanka has encountered around 2,700 minor aircraft accidents and incidents mostly on the ground in the 19 years through 2021, the CAA annual reports showed.

The new committee will analyze the past accidents and take precautionary measures while also conducting investigations and provide independent reports in the future, Jayakantha said.

The team is provided with required training and qualifications by the CAA along with an International organization, free of charge.

“Internationally also it is a requirement to have a team to investigate the aircraft accidents,” Jayakantha added.

“For a long time we have not fulfilled this requirement and that is why we established this team with the cabinet approval. Moreover, recently, Sri Lanka’s two aircrafts, one training aircraft and a commercial aircraft met an accident”

The committee will be on active duty, until the Accident Investigation Act is passed and a proper Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau is established. (Colombo/ Mar23/2023)

Bonds & Forex

Sri Lanka bond yields steady, Rupee 319/325 at close

Thursday March 23, 2023 5:35 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s treasury bond yields closed steady on Thursday while rupee closed weaker, dealers said.

A 01.07.2025 bond closed at 30.60/31.00 percent on Tuesday, down from 30.25/75 percent on Wednesday.

A 15.09.2027 bond closed at 27.80/28.10 percent, steady from 27.90/28.00 percent from Wednesday.

Sri Lanka rupee closed at 319/325 against the US dollar depreciating from 318/320 from a day earlier. (Colombo/ March23/2023)

Markets

Sri Lanka shares dive to two-week low on local debt restructuring fears

Thursday March 23, 2023 5:35 pm

ECONOMYNEXT – The Sri Lanka market fell for a fourth session to a two-week low on Thursday, led by financials, as worries over domestic debt restructuring continued after the IMF loan was approved earlier this week resulting in investors adopting a wait-and-see approach until further clarity was provided, analysts said.

The main All Share Price Index (ASPI) closed down 1.38 percent or 131.07 points to 9,395.98, lowest since March 02.

Analysts said, majority of the banks have been on slower investment trends on fears of domestic debt restructuring after the IMF approval and waiting for more clarity on the local debt restructuring.

“The market is on muted sentiments despite the IMF loan being approved and is going through a period of consolidation,” Ranjan Ranatunga of First Capital Holdings said.

The market saw a net foreign outflow of 298 million rupees and the total offshore inflows recorded so far in 2023 to 3.3 billion rupees.

The most liquid index, S&P SL20, closed 1.64 percent, or 45.33 points, down at 2,722.94.

The market saw a turnover of 3.4 billion rupees on Thursday, above this year’s daily average of 1.8 billion rupees.

This is the highest turnover generated since March 08, which is when the market was driven off of positive sentiments from International Monetary Fund deal hope after Chinese assurances.

Top contributors to revenue was Agalawatte Plantations, on off board transactions of a stake change, contributing revenue of 1.6 billion rupees, Ranatunga said.

Top contributors to revenue industry wise was Food and Beverage and Telecommunications.

Sri Lanka Telecom has been seeing positive uptrends as the Secretary to the Treasury has informed the Board of Directors of Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT) and Lanka Hospitals PLC that the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval in principle for the divestment of the stakes held by the Treasury Secretary in the two companies.

Top losers were Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank and Commercial Bank.

Sri Lanka is looking at options to re-structure domestic debt, or local law local currency debt (LLLC), without harming the banking sector and announce them the International Monetary Fund said in a report.

Banks have been witnessing profit taking and selling pressures after continuous uptrends prior to the IMF loan had been approved.

Analysts said, selling pressures is expected to ease as the IMF hopes to reduce inflationary pressures which will in turn lead to reductions in interest rates. (Colombo/Mar23/2023)