Ford is latest firm to stop making cars in India
US car giant Ford is to stop making cars in India and shut down both of its plants in the country, according to a company statement. Ford said it would close the plants in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu states by the second quarter of 2022 but it would continue to make car engines for export. The firm is the latest big car firm to leave India in recent years. In 2017, General Motors (GM) stopped making cars for the Indian market. And last year, Harley-Davidson stopping manufacturing and massively scaled back its sales operations in what is the world’s biggest motorcycle market. These exits have been a blow to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to lure or retain foreign manufacturers. Ford had run up operating losses of more than $2bn (£1.5bn) over the past decade in India and demand for new vehicles had weakened, the firm said. The car maker, which manufactured five models for the local market, said it would continue to provide maintenance services, parts and warranty support to existing customers. Ford would also “shift to iconic global vehicles and electrified SUVs in the future”, the statement said, although it was not clear whether they would be made in India. Ford has been manufacturing cars in India for 25 years, but it has struggled to compete. According to reports, it has a share of less than 2% of the passenger vehicles market and the firm is ranked ninth on the list of the country’s biggest car makers. (bbc)
There is a queue of underwear in addition to rice, milk powder and sugar queues- MP Saman Ratnapriya
The country is in a situation where there is a queue of underwear in addition to rice, milk powder and sugar queues, says the President of the Government Nurses Association, former UNP MP Saman Ratnapriya. He added that the government’s economic management had failed to reach such a level. Addressing a media briefing held at the UNP headquarters, he said that it was requesting the Rajapaksa regime to please go home without dragging the country further into the abyss.
The people of Angulana ran away Fearing a tsunami
The people of Angulana in Moratuwa have run towards the shore this morning,Fearing a tsunami police said. According to the Meteorological Department, a tsunami alert was issued on the west coast. Police say this is a false statement made by someone. The situation in the Angulana area has been brought under control and the police have been advised to stay at home as there is no tsunami alert.
Sri Lankans protest in Italy
Sri Lankans in Italy are preparing to hold a protest in Bologna today. Organizers say the peaceful protest is aimed at finding the masterminds of the Easter attack and revealing the truth. The Italian government has already given permission for the protest. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is also currently in Italy and is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session of the G20 Interfaith Conference in Bologna today.
Mobile phones are increasing in price Phones are in short supply – Apple Authorized Distributor in Sri Lanka
Rajiv Gunaratne, head of GENXT, Apple’s official distributor in Sri Lanka, says it will not be possible to buy low – cost mobile phones in the future. He says that due to the new restrictions, there will be a huge shortage of mobile phones in the market and through that the prices will go up significantly. He also said that only a few large scale entrepreneurs would be left and small scale entrepreneurs would collapse. He made these comments in an interview on a youtube channel.
“Do not vaccinate school children. If given, give Sinopharm or Sputnik ”- Prof. Tissa Vitarana
Prof. Tissa Vitarana states that a situation has not been created to open schools at present. He also demanded that school children not be given corona vaccines and urged them to look into the matter. He also asked the government to use only cyanoform or sputnit if school children are vaccinated. He said this while participating in a discussion on a youtube channel
Ishini Wickramasinghe says that she was helpless in protecting the elephants
Former Director General of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage Ishini Wickramasinghe says that she was helpless in protecting the elephants. She also says that the elephants kept there are being forcibly taken away at the will of one person. She said this while leaving a note on her social media account. Mrs. Wickramasinghe also resigned from the post of Director General of the Department of National Zoological Gardens recently.
There could be an oil shortage in the country in the future- The Commercial Services Industry and Progressive Services Association
The Commercial Services Industry and Progressive Services Association says there could be an oil shortage in the country in the future. Its chairman Bandula Saman Kumara said the situation was due to the decision taken to suspend fuel distribution on Saturday and Sunday. He said essential service providers, including the port, have the capacity to store fuel and therefore should distribute oil on Saturdays and Sundays. However, the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation states that there is no possibility of an oil shortage in the country due to the strike launched by the employees of the Sapugaskanda Refinery. Workers are intensifying their strike on Saturday and Sunday to protest the suspension of oil supplies.
The government instructed us to give the Pfaizer vaccine to the Hambantota district- Dr. Asela Gunawardena
The government has decided to give the Pfaizer vaccine to the Hambantota district and the relevant vaccine was sent to the Hambantota district as per the instructions received, said the Director of Health Services, Dr. Asela Gunawardena. He added that the decision on the distribution of vaccines would be made by the Corona Eradication Task Force headed by the President. He also said that no country that administers vaccines would recommend the areas where they should be given.
Our leaders and our government do not wear white peoples underwear- Madura Vithanage
Our government and our leaders do not wear white peoples underwear, ”said Madura Vithanage, Member of Parliament for the Sri Lanka People’s Front. “Our leaders and our government do not wear white underwear. Because we are a country with a vision of building a local economy with local thinking. At that time the Opposition always only wore cheetahs and the underwear of others. That is why we see it in these statements. They are looking forward to accepting and embracing any lot of rubbish coming from abroad. Because the other day we saw you bringing garbage containers ” He stated this at a media briefing held in Colombo.